Yorkie Pom

Yorkie Poms, or Yoranians, are the result of crossing a Pomeranian with a Yorkshire Terrier. Yorkie Poms have been growing in popularity since their creation in the 1990s, due to their elegant and fancy looks which, paired with their endearing and loving personality, attract fans all over the world, from first to experienced dog owners, from families to singles and seniors. Yorkie Poms have a friendly nature and bond very easily with their owners, making them great companion pets.

Their tiny size is extremely convenient, as they can be carried everywhere, which they love, as they prefer to stay close to their human parent and are curious by nature. Yorkie Poms are also quite active, considering their small size, and love to play. They get along well with other pets and children, but should be monitored when playing around small children, for the safety of both. These are healthy dogs with moderate grooming needs and moderate trainability. Those with a Yorkie coat (rather than Pomeranian-like coat) are said to be hypoallergenic.

About & History

Yorkie Poms were probably first bred in the 1990s in the United States, but no breeder has been credited for developing the crossbreed. By crossing the good-natured and affectionate Yorkshire Terrier with the energetic and playful Pomeranian, breeders have created a dog that would hopefully reflect a combination of the best characteristics of both parent breeds. In fact, Yorkie Poms tend to be less assertive and wilful than the Pomeranian parent, though keeping its liveliness and curiosity; likewise, Yorkie Poms are sweet and loving like the Yorkies, without the aloofness and feisty personality that sometimes curses the parent breed.

Yorkshire Terriers originate from England, where they were bred to hunt rats in coal mines and cotton mills. They are the result of several crosses between Terrier dogs and eventually won wealthy owners over, with their elegant appearance, charming personality, and portable size. Pomeranians were also bred to be working dogs. They descend from large Arctic sled dogs from Pomerania, a region encompassing parts of Germany and Poland and the breed goes back to the 15th century.

Appearance

Yorkie Poms are sturdy and compact dogs, small in size, with a round face, black nose, dark eyes, and pointy ears that give them their typical alert looks. They have a double coat: a thick and wiry undercoat and a silky, shiny overcoat. Despite Yorkies having 18 possible coat colours, Yorkie Poms only come in the following colours (or combination of colours):

Yorkie Poms weigh between 1.5 and 3.2 kg (3-7 lbs) and are 15 to 30 cm tall (6-12 inches).

Character & Temperament

Yorkie Poms are adorable pets who are extremely fond of their family. They are a great choice for first-time owners with little experience, but also for senior people, due to their small size and affectionate nature. They are good with other pets, despite having some level of prey drive towards small pets, such as hamsters, which goes back to their Yorkie parent ancestry. Yorkie Poms also get along well with children older than 8 years old. Younger children should be supervised when playing with their Yorkie Pom pet because not only can the dog get hurt from reckless handling, but also the child, who can be bitten if the dog gets too anxious.

Yorkie Poms are intelligent, they love games, and they love to explore their surroundings. They are lively and curious, sweet and loving – an ideal companion. They can be over-protective, and for that reason, they may bark at strangers and be suspicious of people they have just met. Yorkie Poms do not like to be alone and should not be left alone for more than a few hours. Yorkie Poms have inherited the determination and independent character of the Pomeranian, only to be less stubborn and headstrong, which makes training and overall living a lot easier.

Trainability

Compared to the Pomeranian and the Yorkie, Yorkie Poms are easier to train. They learn fast, but training sessions must be short and regular, as they have short attention spans and get easily distracted. They can be yappy and bark quite a lot, so this should be addressed by training the dog the “hush” command. They love to learn new tricks, which they learn fast. Like most small dog breeds and crossbreeds, training must be consistent.

Owners must not give in to the dog’s wishes too often and should correct the dog whenever it ignores or fails to obey commands, otherwise “small dog syndrome” or other behavioural issues may arise. For this, socialisation is a must and should be done from an early age. House-training can be difficult and using pads around the house is recommended.

Health

Yorkie Poms may live up to 15 years old. Some of the health issues that may occur are usually those affecting their parent breeds:

Entropion

Entropion is an eye condition in which the eyelids fold inwards toward the eye. This abnormality causes the hair or eyelashes to rub against the eye, scratching it. This can lead to scarring and sometimes to perforation. It is extremely unconfortable to the dog, even compromising its eyesight. This disorder can occur in the upper eyelid, lower eyelid or both eyelids. Surgical correction of entropion is the permanent treatment for this condition.

Patellar Luxation

Patellar luxation is a condition of the knee joint that causes the kneecap to jump out of place sideways. It is most commonly seen in small or toy dogs, being caused by injuries or by a malformation of the kneecap. This is a painful condition that causes discomfort and lameness in the affected leg (or legs) and that can be controlled by using anti-inflammatory drugs.

Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal collapse is a syndrome that results from the weakening or from a defect in the tracheal (throat) cartilages. It occurs more often in small or toy dog breeds and crossbreeds. The diagnosis is achieved by chest X-rays and by examining the clinical signs, which include cough, intolerance to exercise, and difficulty in breathing. Tracheal collapse can be treated by the use of drugs that help decrease cough and inflammation, and also by keeping a healthy weight, as overweight usually worsens the condition.

Legg Calve Perthes

This is a disease in which the head of the femur (hip joint) starts degenerating, leading to arthritis. The cause is unknown but there is a genetic contribution to the disease. Diagnosis is done with X-rays and treatment is medical with pain medication playing an important role in alleviating clinical signs and improving the dog’s quality of life.

Other Issues

Yorkie Poms are fragile, toy dogs, so owners should be careful at all times not to step on them. They are also prone to hypoglycaemia, so it is important for them to always have food available and to eat before exercising.

Exercise and Activity Levels

Yorkie Poms are active, be it indoors or outdoors. A daily walk (using a halter leash, not a collar, which can damage their throat) will probably satisfy their exercise needs, but they should also have plenty of toys to keep them entertained and active inside the house.

They enjoy playtime and stimulating toys or games, which will prevent boredom and work as exercise too. Yorkie Poms are sensitive to harsh weather, so they are fine not leaving the house during winter time or extreme hot weather, as long as they have their playtime while indoors.

Grooming

Yorkie Poms have moderate grooming needs, as their coat needs daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling. Brushing also keeps the hair healthy and free of debris that may accumulate. Moreover, Yorkie Poms should be groomed by a professional groomer every season.

A monthly bath and trimming around the anus to prevent feces from sticking to the hairs around it are also an essential part of the Yorkie Poms grooming routine. Because Yorkie Poms have sensitive gums and teeth, and are prone to tooth loss and dental problems due to the buildup of bacteria, brushing their teeth daily is also recommended.