Yorkillon Dog Breed

The Yorkshire Terrier and Papillon mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but both parent breeds are in the Toy group in most clubs, so these hybrids would fit nicely in that category as well. Neither does any info exist about the origin of the Papillon and Yorkie mix; while the Papillon mixed with Yorkie has probably existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. This hybrid likely gained popularity during the designer dog "explosion" in North America in the late 20th century. That popularity is understood, too: these lively, affectionate little dogs make terrific companion pets for families of any size, especially for seniors and those who live in apartments.

A few facts about the Yorkie and Papillon mix: they're toy-sized, averaging nine inches at the shoulders in height and six pounds in weight; they have fairly long, fine coats that don't shed very much; and they need a lot of companionship, and will suffer separation anxiety if left alone.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Papillon-Yorkshire Terrier mix:

Some important Yorkillon information: these hybrids are the offspring of two well-known companion breeds, which makes them fantastic companion pets in their own right. Yorkillon mixes are small, too: they're typically 8-10 inches at the shoulders in height and 4-8 pounds in weight. Their silky coats come in a wide variety of colors including black, brown, red, white, among others, and the coats usually have multi-colored patterns.

In terms of personality, these hybrids are definitely people-oriented. They're affectionate, lively, and eager to please (which means they're usually pretty easy to train!); they're also alert and vocal, so they can be good watchdogs. The downside of their sparkly personalities is that they demand a lot of attention, and without it they'll become anxious, destructive, and disobedient. Give these dogs too much attention, though, and they can develop Small Dog Syndrome--or they'll be spoiled rotten, in other words. Overall, owners say, plenty of socialization and obedience training (starting when the dog is a puppy, if possible) will help your Yorkillon have a well-balanced temperament.

And since they're small, Yorkillon mixes don't need a ton of exercise--but they need some physical activity on a daily basis. A couple of walks and a good period of play will do nicely for these dogs.

The Yorkillon, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including patellar luxation, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, a common condition in toy-sized breeds) and eye issues like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Yorkillon mixes can also be prone to collapsed trachea, an inherited condition that reduces the flow of air to the lungs and causes a "honking" cough.

Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Yorkillon is 12-15 years.