Smaller breeds have grown in popularity in the last couple of decades—teacup, toy, and miniature—and are just bursting with options! People seem to love the idea of a tiny version of a dog breed, whether it’s the desire to plop them into a handbag or carry them around like babies. Two examples of these tiny pups are the Toy Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier (also called a Yorkie). Although the two breeds look very different, does being a tiny dog result in similar personalities?

Continue reading to explore the differences between Toy Poodles and Yorkies, and which breed is best suited for you.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Toy Poodle Overview

Toy Poodles are the miniature version of the Standard Poodle. They are still very similar in terms of personality, coat, and friendliness. Poodles are well-known for their agility and intelligence, so they will be happy to listen to training commands and show you what a good dog they can be! With high energy and a short, curly coat, these dogs will require a lot of affection and regular grooming and care.

Personality / Character

Toy Poodles are generally friendly when it comes to strangers, new puppy friends, and children. These dogs love to please others and will happily accept a pet or two from others. This breed loves to swim and needs at least a few hours of mental and physical stimulation each day.

Training

The Toy Poodle is highly intelligent and will do as much as they can to please their owner. When it comes to training, this is especially important because they will catch on to simple training commands and be well-behaved in no time.

Health & Care

When it comes to their health, the Toy Poodle has similar health issues as its standard counterpart. Their high agility can result in issues with their knees and hips. Common health issues that can come from this are patella injuries and hip dysplasia (the moving of the knee or hip out of place).

Grooming

Poodles are known to need grooming more often compared to other dog breeds. They have short, dense, and curly fury that needs to be groomed daily. Most Poodle owners will shave down their Poodle’s fur regularly to avoid matting.

Suitable For:

Toy Poodles are best for people who have an active lifestyle and don’t mind getting their new pup outside multiple times per day. They are great for families with younger children or those who have other pets already. Their highly social and affectionate behavior tends to jive well with people who want to give their pet a lot of attention.

Yorkie Overview

Yorkies have become increasingly popular over time as one of the most popular dog choices for individuals. With their long, silky fur and small stature, they are often misunderstood as barky and snappy little dogs. While this can be attributed to their terrier breed, they are also intelligent and affectionate with both strangers and their owners alike.

Personality / Character

While having a feisty personality, this breed is known to seek affection and attention from their family on a regular basis. They do bark quite frequently, much like other small breeds, but this can easily be trained out. Yorkies are intelligent and make great companions. From their origins as royal companions to city dwellers, the Yorkie has quite a history.

Exercise

The Yorkie is highly active and requires a lot of physical and mental stimulation every day. Exercise is a great way to keep Yorkies healthy and happy. They don’t require full days of sprinting back and forth, but they will benefit from regular walks and occasional bouts of high-activity play with their favorite toy.

Training

The Yorkie is known to be quite intelligent and can easily be trained. These dogs are eager to please and will happily accept a training command for treats and pets. It’s important to use positive reinforcement with Yorkies and keep training situations calm and happy. Socializing them with other dogs and people outside the household from an early age will keep their social skills high as well.

Health & Care

Yorkies tend to be generally healthy dogs and don’t run into many health issues throughout their long lives. Much like other small breeds, they can have issues with their joints, mainly the knees. Possible health issues can be identified early in a Yorkie’s life and avoided. For example, preventing them from jumping from high places.

Grooming

An interesting fact about Yorkies is that they have similar fur to human hair – it’s silky, long, and relatively fine. Their fur can easily be cared for with regular grooming and care. They should be monitored for any long pieces of fur getting in their eye areas, which can easily be rectified with trimming.

Suitable For:

Yorkies are best suited for both individuals and families who are either used to or seeking out, high-energy pets. They are great around other people and friendly with other dogs, so if you want a sociable dog the Yorkie is right for you. Yorkies are also great with children and won’t mind being chased around or played with (just don’t grab their tails!).

Which Breed Is Right for You?

When looking for a smaller breed, both the Toy Poodle and Yorkie will satisfy this desire. Both breeds are intelligent, agile, and friendly. Training both the Poodle and Yorkie will be much easier in comparison to other dogs. They will tend to listen to your commands more often than other breeds, so training them won’t be too much of a hassle.

Some of the main differences between the two breeds are of course their appearance and grooming needs. The Poodle has a short and curly coat that needs more regular brushing and requires more attention and time. The Yorkie has straight hair that’s silkier than the Poodle, so although they also require grooming, it tends to be easier.

See Also:

• English Mastiff vs. American Mastiff: The Key Differences (With Pictures)
• English Mastiff vs Neapolitan Mastiff: Visual Differences & Overview (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Toy Poodle (Linas T, Shutterstock) | Yorkie (carlitocanhadas, Pixabay)