Yorkie Bichon

Yorkie Bichons are a hybrid breed created by mixing a Bichon Frise with a Yorkshire Terrier. Also called Yorkshire Frises, Bichyorkies, Yorkie Chons, and Bichon Yorkies, these dogs are playful and intelligent. They can be independent, but generally prefer to spend most of their time with a trusted member of the family. Their personalities make them good family dogs for homes with older children. Yorkie Bichons have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Yorkie Bichons can come in a wide range of colors, including black, white, blonde, gray, golden, or dark brown.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Yorkie Bichon

Size and Weight

The Yorkie Bichon is a toy-sized dog breed. Males and females are both between 9 and 12 inches tall and only weigh between 6 and 8 pounds.

Evolution and History

There isn’t a lot known about when the first Yorkie Bichon was bred, but it was likely within the past 20 years or so in the U.S., when designer dog breeds were gaining popularity.

Looking at its parent breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise, is one way to consider this hybrid’s history. As they are both small breeds, the Yorkie Bichon takes after its parents in its size and typically only weighs between 6 and 8 pounds.

While Yorkshire terriers originated in Yorkshire in England during the industrial revolution of the 1800s, Bichons have French and Spanish ancestors. Initially used to catch and kill rats and other vermin in the mines and textile mills, Yorkies progressed to hunting bigger game in forests, and as their popularity increased, they became luxury pets valued for their small size and silky hair. Bichons were used by the Spanish for sailing and herding dogs and by the French as lapdogs of nobility. They were also featured in circuses where their agility, entertaining personalities, and skills in performing tricks were well used. Yorkies were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and the English Kennel Club in 1886. Bichons were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.

Common Health Issues

Before purchasing a Yorkie Bichon, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some potential health issues this breed may face. This will ensure you are prepared to offer your dog the best care possible and aware of some signs that may indicate that a trip to the vet is necessary.

Hypothyroidism is one potential issue to be on the lookout for with Yorkie Bichons. The thyroid gland in dogs with hypothyroidism is underactive, which can cause dogs to be lethargic or gain weight. You may also notice changes in your Yorkie Bichon’s coat or skin.

Another health issue some Yorkie Bichons face, like their parent breed Yorkshire Terriers, is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This is a degenerative eye disease that can cause blindness in dogs. The photoreceptor cells deteriorate and gradually cause the dog to lose their vision. There is currently no treatment for PRA.

Patellar luxation is a third health concern for Yorkie Bichons and is common among their parent breeds, Yorkies and Bichons. Also called a slipped kneecap, patellar luxation may cause a dog to look like they’re skipping or may cause lameness in one of its legs. The kneecap generally slips back into place, but you should consult with your vet if you suspect your Yorkie Bichon may be suffering from patellar luxation.

Temperament and Behavior

The exact temperament of a Yorkie Bichon can vary depending on which traits it inherits from its Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terrier parents. In general, however, Yorkie Bichons can be independent, but still enjoy spending time with their family. Most are fun-loving and enjoy being the center of attention at times as well.

Some Yorkie Bichons may develop separation anxiety like their Bichon parents if left alone for too long. They may also exhibit destructive behaviors when alone or bored. Training your Yorkie Bichon from a young age and ensuring they have enough toys to keep them entertained when alone will be important. Overall, though, a Yorkie Bichon’s personality makes it a great addition to a family.

How to Take Care of a Yorkie Bichon

As you prepare to care for a new Yorkie Bichon, keep the nutritional needs, potential health concerns, temperament, and other important information about this breed in mind. Each dog breed is unique, and the care your dog will need will differ from what other breeds require.

The Best Dog Food

Most Yorkie Bichons need about a ½ cup of food each day due to their small size. However, since each dog is different, you should consult with your veterinarian when developing a feeding schedule for your dog. A Yorkie Bichon’s weight, age, metabolism, health concerns, and other items can all impact how much food they’ll require. Choose a high-quality food designed for small dogs to feed your Yorkie Bichon. Keep in mind that this breed could easily become overweight, so take care to feed the correct amount of food and portion their food into two meals each day.

Yorkie Bichon puppies have much smaller stomachs. Until the puppies are six months old, they will need to be fed between three and four times each day. After the age of six months, switching to just two meals a day should be fine.

The hypothyroidism that Yorkie Bichons can experience may sometimes be linked to ingesting harmful things like unnatural preservatives and pesticides. One of the best ways to get around questionable additives is by feeding your Yorkie Bichon organic dog food.

Maintenance and Grooming

The coat of a Yorkie Bichon will require regular brushing. Their hair can easily become matted and tangled, so take care to brush them every day. You’ll likely find that you also need to give your dog a haircut or schedule an appointment with a groomer to have their hair trimmed as well. This will prevent it from getting too long and getting in their face or becoming too tangled.

Be sure to also brush your dog’s teeth daily and keep their nails trimmed. Like with their parent breed, Yorkies, Yorkie Bichons’ ears should be checked regularly and kept free of debris and wax buildup.

Training

Since Yorkie Bichons are intelligent, training them can be easy. This is especially true while they are still puppies and more eager to learn. This crossbreed is also known to be stubborn at times, which can make training more difficult. Use positive training methods and keep your training sessions fun for your pup for the best results. You may even be able to teach your Yorkie Bichon to do some tricks or complete an obstacle course.

Exercise

Making sure your Yorkie Bichon gets enough exercise is also important. Aim to take them for at least one walk each day and give them time to play either inside or in a fenced-in backyard. Giving your Yorkie Bichon enough exercise can prevent them from getting too bored and engaging in destructive behaviors.

Puppies

An adult Yorkie Bichon only weighs between 6 and 8 pounds, so it shouldn’t be difficult to imagine how small puppies will be. Due to their very small size, Yorkie Bichon puppies can easily be injured and should be handled very carefully. It is not advisable to have puppies around small children who may not fully understand how to be gentle.

As soon as you bring your Yorkie Bichon home, like with its parent breeds, you should begin the process of training and socializing. This will ensure the pup understands how to act in different situations and around different individuals.

Yorkie Bichons and Children

Yorkie Bichons are a great fit for homes with children. They can be playful and enjoy snuggling up with a child. If you have young children, however, you’ll need to watch them very closely if they’re around the Yorkie Bichon. This breed is very small and could easily be injured by a small child. This is especially true when they are still puppies and are even more delicate.

Dogs Similar to the Yorkie Bichon

Yorkshire Terriers, Bichon Frises, and Morkies are three dog breeds similar to the Yorkshire Frise.

• Yorkshire Terrier: Yorkshire Terriers are one of the parent breeds of a Bichon Yorkie. Both breeds are playful and love being the center of attention. Bichon Yorkies may suffer from separation anxiety due to the trait they inherit from their Bichon parent, but Yorkshire Terriers are not likely to develop separation anxiety.
• Bichon Frise: The Bichon Frise is the other parent breed of a Yorkie Bichon. Both breeds are very intelligent and easy to train. Even though Bichons are small dogs, their average weight of 12 to 18 pounds is higher than the 6- to 8-pound average weight of a Bichon Yorkie.
• Morkie: Morkies and Bichon Yorkies both have one parent that is a Yorkshire Terrier. The other parent breed of a Morkie is a Maltese, while the other parent breed of a Yorkie Bichon is a Bichon Frise. Both breeds are also hypoallergenic. Morkies are larger than Bichon Yorkies and generally weigh anywhere from 4 to 13 pounds compared to the 6 to 8 pounds that Yorkie Bichon weighs.