Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix – Everything You Need To Know

The Yorkie Bichon is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise. This mix breed can inherit the feisty nature of the Yorkshire Terrier and the playfulness of the Bichon Frise, making it a great dog to choose for older families.

As with most of these “designer dog breeds”, as they are also known, it is possible you won’t know a lot about the Yorkie Bichon unless you know somebody that owns one.

With that in mind, I’ve assembled everything I could find on the Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix so you can learn more about them. We’ll cover what they look like, their exercise & grooming requirements as well as potential health problems to watch out for.

Yorkie Bichon History

As with almost all of these types of mix breed dogs, it is difficult to determine the exact origins of this breed.

It is believed that the breed first existed in the United States but not much further is known.

What we do know is that the Yorkie Bichon is a mix between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise. With that in mind, it’s worth looking at the parents of this mix breed in more detail to better understand them.

A Yorkie Bichon’s Parents

Now that we’ve taken a look at the history of this mix breed, let’s examine its parents in more detail, the Yorkshire Terrier & the Bichon Frise.

As the Yorkie Bichon is a mix breed this means that there are no defined breed standards for this type of dog.

Consequently, this means that we must look to the parents of this mix breed to better understand what a Yorkie Bichon may look like and its temperament.

With that in mind, in the next sections, we’ll look at a brief overview of the Bichon Frise and the Yorkshire Terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier or Yorkie originated in Yorkshire in England in the mid-19th century.

This breed originally functioned as ratters i.e. their job was to catch rats and other vermin.

The Yorkshire Terrier that we see today is slightly smaller in size than the original Yorkies. You will often see them strutting around show rings with their long perfectly manicured long glossy goat.

Below you’ll find a table that summarizes the main facts about the Bichon Frise:

Bichon Frise

The affectionate white fluff ball that is the Bichon Frise was originally kept as a sailing dog on board ships. This meant that they traveled great distances around the world.

As the breed developed, they began to be used as lapdogs by the nobility of the time. In some cases, the Bichon Frise was also used as a street performer, which is likely where their sociable temperament comes from.

If you would like to learn a lot more about the Bichon Frise breed, you can read this very comprehensive article I wrote:

Bichon Frise – Everything You Need To Know

Below you’ll find a table summarizing some key facts about the Bichon Frise:

Yorkie Bichon Appearance

We’ve already mentioned that the Yorkie Bichon isn’t classed as a pure breed dog. With that in mind, there is no definitive way to determine their appearance.

Each litter and even each puppy could look very different from the next depending on how much is inherited from each parent.

With that being said, let’s look in more detail at what a Yorkie Bichon can look like in the next sections.

What Does A Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix Look Like?

As the Yorkie Bichon is a mix between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise, it’s safe to say the resulting puppies will inherit some of the physical traits of each parent.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog with a long glossy brown and dark grey coat. They have small, v-shaped ears that stand pointed on their head. Their eyes are brown and they have a black nose. They have a relatively short back and their tail is long and straight.

The Bichon Frise is small in size with a short white coat. They have round black or brown eyes and dropped ears that frame their face. Their tail is fluffy and curled so it sits on their back.

With all of that in mind, the resulting Yorkie Bichon will likely inherit some of each of the physical traits of each of its parents.

What Height Is A Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix?

The average height of the Yorkie Bichon is between 9 and 12 inches. This will vary greatly depending on how much is inherited from each parent.

How Much Does A Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix Weigh?

The average weight of the Yorkie Bichon is between 6 and 8 pounds. This will vary quite a bit depending on how much is inherited from each parent.

Yorkie Bichon Temperament

The Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise vary a great deal when it comes to temperament. The Bichon Frise is very sociable and affectionate, making it the perfect breed for a young family.

On the other hand, the Yorkshire Terrier, while still sociable, is less inclined to get on well with small children and even other dogs unless they have been trained to do so from a young age.

With all of this in mind, it is difficult to say for sure what exact temperament will be inherited by the Yorkie Bichon.

What we can say most likely is that because both the Yorkie and the Bichon are extremely loyal, the Yorkie Bichon may inherit this trait from its parents.

In addition to this, separation anxiety is something that could be inherited from the Bichon Frise so this is something to keep in mind.

Do Yorkie Bichons Bark?

The Yorkie Bichon will most likely inherit the watchdog or alert barking trait from both parents, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise.

The Yorkie Bichon will commonly bark when the doorbell rings or if they hear a knock on the door. This can make the Yorkie Bichon a great watchdog however, if not trained properly this could develop into a very bad habit.

To learn more about why this alert barking happens in Bichon Frises and their resulting mix breeds, I would recommend reading this article I wrote:

How Often Does A Bichon Frise Bark? With Simple Training Tips

Can Yorkie Bichons Suffer From Separation Anxiety?

The Yorkie Bichon can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. This is something that could be inherited from the Bichon Frise side of the mix.

Separation anxiety is a very unfortunate side effect of the Bichon Frise’s sociable nature.

If this trait is inherited by the Yorkie Bichon, this can mean they will become destructive if left alone in the house for long periods.

Consistent training and minimal periods of time spent alone are the best ways to reduce the effects of separation anxiety in the Yorkie Bichon.

Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix Health Problems

In order to determine the potential health problems of the Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix, we need to examine those of its parents the Bichon Frise & Yorkshire Terrier.

In the table below you can find the common health problems associated with the Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise:

How Long Does A Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix Live?

It is estimated that the average life span of the Yorkie Bichon is about 10 to 12 years.

Does A Yorkie Bichon Shed?

The Yorkie Bichon will likely inherit the low shed coat of both the Yorkie and the Bichon Frise.

With that said, the coat of the Yorkie Bichon which can be like that of the Yorkie requires frequent brushing to prevent tangles and mats from developing.

It’s worth noting here that all dogs do shed, even minimally, for a number of reasons.

To understand more about this concept, I recommend you read this article I wrote:

Does A Bichon Frise Shed? The Definitive Answer You Should Know

Is A Yorkie Bichon Hypoallergenic?

As both parents of the Yorkie Bichon are considered to be hypoallergenic, this means that the Yorkie Bichon is considered to be a hypoallergenic breed.

While that may sound great, it’s important to note that the term hypoallergenic has no medical basis. This means that some people may still have an allergic reaction around these dogs due to their dander and saliva.

With that being said, it’s a good idea to understand the term hypoallergenic in more detail. To read more on the origins of this term (which may surprise you), you can read this article I wrote:

Is A Bichon Frise Hypoallergenic? The Definitive Answer

Grooming Your Yorkie Bichon

Let’s now take a look at the grooming requirements of the Yorkie Bichon in more detail.

How Often Should You Groom Your Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix?

The Yorkie Bichon requires very regular grooming to ensure their coat stays free from tangles and mats.

It is generally advised that you brush the Yorkie Bichon’s coat up to 3 times a week to prevent matting. Additionally, you should bring your Yorkie Bichon to a professional groomer every 2 months or so.

As well as regular brushing, you will also need to keep on top of ear cleaning, eye cleaning, and teeth cleaning every week.

To learn more about grooming your Yorkie Bichon, you can follow along with the advice that I’ve outlined in this article:

Bichon Frise Grooming – A Helpful Beginners Guide

What Brush Should You Use For Grooming A Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix?

The 2 brushes that are recommended to use for brushing your Yorkie Bichon are:

1. Slicker Brush – used to remove tangles and to break up mats
2. Pin Brush – used for light brushing and won’t damage your dog’s coat

How Often Should You Bathe A Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix?

It is widely recommended that you bathe your Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier about once a month.

This can be done more frequently if your dog is outside a lot running around in the grass or the mud.

Exercising Your Yorkie Bichon

The Yorkshire Terrier is considered to be a very active and energetic dog while the Bichon Frise is slightly less so. With this in mind, the Yorkie Bichon is a relatively active dog in terms of its exercise requirements.

Let’s look at this in more detail below.

How Much Exercise Does A Yorkie Bichon Need?

It is recommended that the Yorkie Bichon get between 20 to 30 minutes of physical exercise each day. This can be a walk around the block or a game of fetch or frisbee.

Plenty of mental stimulation each day is also necessary to prevent the Yorkie Bichon from becoming bored and destructive.

Tips For Exercising Your Yorkie Bichon Inside

Sometimes it’s not possible to get outside to exercise your dog. This is why it’s important to learn how to exercise your dog inside.

Here are some simple things you can do to exercise your Yorkie Bichon inside:

• Playing with a Kong toy
• Practicing obedience training
• Playing with puzzle toys
• Trying out a ball launcher
• A game of tug of war

To learn about these tips in more detail plus even more tips, I recommend you read this article I wrote:

9 Of The Best Indoor Dog Activities For Your Bichon Frise

Tips For Exercising Your Yorkie Bichon Outside

Being able to exercise your Yorkie Bichon outside is the ideal situation for most dog owners. A simple walk around the block can often suffice as far as exercise is concerned.

However, if you want some more ideas for exercising your Yorkie Bichon outside here is a quick list:

• Going on a group walk with other dogs and their owners
• Going to a different park each week
• Creating a dog agility course
• Going to the beach
• Playing frisbee in an open field

To get some more detail on these tips plus even more ideas for outdoor exercise, I recommend you read this article I wrote:

9 Of The Best Free Outdoor Dog Activities To Do With Your Bichon

Conclusion

We were able to cover a lot of useful information in this article so let’s summarize before we finish:

• Firstly, we talked about the history of the Yorkie Bichon
• Next, we looked at what the Yorkie Bichon looks like in terms of its appearance, height, and weight
• After that, we talked about the temperament of the Yorkie Bichon
• Next, we examined some of the potential health concerns that could be inherited by the Yorkie Bichon
• Next, we looked at some common questions about this mix breed including age span, if they shed, and if they are hypoallergenic
• After that, we talked about the grooming requirements of the Bichon Frise Yorkie Mix
• Finally, we looked at the exercise requirements of the Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix.

I hope you found a lot of value in reading this article. If you did, please consider sharing it on social media. It will help other dog lovers like you to find it.

Finally, if you enjoyed reading this article on the Bichon Frise Yorkshire Terrier Mix, here are some similar articles you might enjoy reading next:

• Bichon Frise Poodle Mix – Everything You Need To Know
• Bichon Frise Cavalier King Charles Mix – Everything You Need To Know
• 7 Helpful Pros And Cons Of A Bichon Frise Mix Breed You Need To Know