Toy Poodle Vs Yorkie [Breed Comparison With Photos]

If you know that you’re ready to welcome a small dog into your home, it’s common to want to know the differences between the Toy Poodle and Yorkie.

Here’s the good news: Both breeds are loving, energetic, and excellent lap dogs.

Table of Contents

I’ll help you understand what areas the Toy Poodle and Yorkie are similar and where they diverge.

Breed Appearance of Toy Poodle vs. Yorkie

Toy Poodles and Yorkies share the characteristic of being small, but they have distinct appearances.

The Toy Poodle has long, slender features. They have a prominent muzzle, brown eyes, and a short tail. Their fur can come in many colors, including:

White
Cream
Black
Apricot
Grey
Blue

In contrast, Yorkies have a petite head with a slightly flat top. They have a well-balanced face with an average-sized muzzle and an even bite. They have a black nose, dark eyes, and erect v-shaped ears.

As puppies, most Yorkies have a black and tan coat. Once they reach adult age, they may lighten in color. However, the face usually remains a tan or golden color with strands of black mixed in, and their body is principally black or dark blue.

toy poodle and yorkie puppies — A cute Toy Poodle and Yorkie sit quietly.

Coat Types of Toy Poodle vs. Yorkie

Toy Poodles have a dense set of curls. Although they don’t have the soft-to-the-touch feel of Yorkie coats, a notable feature is that they’re hypoallergenic.

Hypoallergenic dogs shed less than most dogs. Therefore, your floor won’t need as frequent vacuuming, and anyone in your household with allergies might not have an issue cohabitating with a Toy Poodle.

It may come as a surprise, but Yorkies are also hypoallergenic despite having a completely different coat profile than Toy Poodles.

Yorkies have long, silky coats with straight, human-like hair. You should plan to trim your Yorkie’s hair frequently or bring them to the groomer. Otherwise, their hair will drag on the ground.

Like Toy Poodles, you won’t find a daily floor full of hair by having a Yorkie.

toy poodles and a yorkie — Toy Poodles and a Yorkie both sitting in the garden.

Size Difference in Toy Poodle vs. Yorkie

Both Yorkies and Toy Poodles fall under the small dog category.

relaxed and happy Toy Poodle — A relaxed Toy Poodle with a flower collar design. (Image: Instagram/@iam_bailey_button)

Yorkies are six to nine inches tall and weigh between four and seven pounds. In contrast, Toy Poodles can get slightly bigger, growing up to ten inches tall and weighing six to ten pounds.

Since these dogs don’t even reach one foot high, it’s common for them to suffer injuries from people accidentally stepping or sitting on them.

Therefore, to prevent size-related injuries to your Toy Poodle or Yorkie, you should keep them away from young children who may roughhouse them. Furthermore, don’t walk your pet on a leash in a high-traffic area, and only let them play with other dogs of a similar size.

Unlike Yorkies, it’s possible to purchase a larger Poodle if the Toy Poodle’s small size makes you nervous; Miniature and Standard Poodles are significantly larger than the Toy variety.

yorkies love water — Not every single Yorkie will love to swim – but most end up enjoying water and the beach

Temperament and Personality in Toy Poodles and Yorkies

Toy Poodles and Yorkies both make excellent pets as they love to curl up in your lap in between their bursts of high energy.

Poodles have an excellent reputation for being intelligent and quick learners. Part of the reason for this is that they love to please their owners.

In contrast, Yorkies enjoy acting out more independently, even if they know they’re doing something wrong. So, their stubborn ways mean that you’ll need to practice patience with them.

Although Toy Poodles and Yorkies are affectionate dogs, you shouldn’t let small children be near them. These animals have fragile frames because of their small stature. So, even a well-meaning pat could injure a Toy Poodle or Yorkie and cause them to bite out of defense.

poodle running outside — A Toy Apricot Poodle running happily outside

Health and Longevity [Do Toy Poodles or Yorkies Live Longer?]

As small dog breeds, you can expect your Toy Poodle or Yorkie to enjoy a long and fulfilling life.

Toy Poodles have a lifespan of 12-15 years, whereas Yorkies average an even longer life, at 13-16 years.

The age ranges of these breeds match what research shows about smaller animals within the same breed living longer than larger ones. In fact, by bringing home a Toy Poodle or Yorkie instead of a Saint Bernard, you can expect to have at least double—if not more—-time with your pet.

black and tan yorkie — How is this for a pose! A black and tan Yorkie

Breed-Specific Health Problems

Aside from the real threat of your Toy Poodle or Yorkie experiencing a physical health problem from someone accidentally injuring them, these breeds have individual health predispositions.

If you bring home a Toy Poodle, you’ll need to watch them for signs of the following conditions:

Addison’s disease
Thyroid problems
Collapsed trachea
Progressive retinal atrophy

You’ll also need to monitor your Toy Poodle for bloat, as they’re more susceptible to this than other dog breeds. To prevent this from happening, keep their food bowl on the floor, feed them in increments throughout the day, and don’t let them eat right after exercise.

On the other hand, Yorkies commonly suffer from the following ailments:

Spinal malformation
Heart Murmurs
Hypoglycemia
Legg-Perthes disease

In the case of both breeds, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye problems are relatively common.

silver poodle coat — A Silver Poodle in the car

Toy Poodle and Yorkie Needs and Training

Training a Toy Poodle is a treat, given that they’re smart dogs that love the challenge of learning something new.

Toy Poodle loves pile of clothes — The Toy Poodle loves to lie on a pile of clothes. (Image: Instagram/@junethetoypoodle)

However, because they’re so intelligent, you’ll need to ensure that you mix up your training style with them. Otherwise, they may quickly become bored.

If you’re interested in getting a Yorkie, there’s no need to be fearful of training them.

Although they’re also intelligent dogs, the Yorkie’s independent attitude can make it more challenging to train them than Toy Poodles. However, with consistency and identifying something that will motivate them (such as their favorite treat), they’re capable of learning everything that a Toy Poodle does.

yorkie playing tug of war — Yorkies are strong-minded and intelligent. They thrive when trained correctly.

Cost Comparison

You can expect to pay more for a Toy Poodle than a Yorkie.

Toy Poodles often start at around $1,200, with an average-priced puppy often selling for upwards of $2,000. However, if you want to purchase a show Toy Poodle with outstanding genes, these dogs sometimes run for $10,000 or more.

On the other hand, Yorkies typically start in the mid-hundreds range and can get up into the thousands, depending on the breeder, size, and dog’s lineage.

If you don’t have this kind of money to shell out for a Toy Poodle or Yorkie, consider adopting one from an animal shelter.

Poodle and Yorkie outdoors — A Poodle and a Yorkie off to adventures in the outdoors. (Image: Instagram/@poodle_yorkie)

Final Thoughts

Toy Poodles and Yorkies are excellent dogs for people looking for a small dog breed that sheds little.

Whereas the Toy Poodle has a curly coat and is a people-pleaser, the Yorkie has soft fur and an independent style.

Regardless of what breed you end up choosing, prepare for lots of licks and cuddles!