8 Dog Breeds That Start With Y, From Tiny Terriers to Arctic Sled Dogs
October 23, 2026
Only a handful of dog breeds start with the letter Y, but the ones that do range from a palm-sized lap companion bred in English textile mills to a thick-coated working dog that has hauled sleds across Siberian tundra for thousands of years. Between those two extremes sits a whole family of Yorkshire Terrier crossbreeds that American breeders have popularized over the past two decades.
This lineup covers all eight dog breeds that start with Y, including the purebred Yorkshire Terrier and Yakutian Laika alongside six designer mixes that blend the Yorkie’s spunky personality with traits from poodles, terriers, and other small companion breeds. Each one has its own grooming needs, temperament quirks, and ideal household.
Pro Tip: Most Yorkie-based crossbreeds inherit a moderate-to-high grooming workload from their Yorkshire Terrier parent, so budget for regular brushing or professional trims regardless of which second breed is in the mix.
1. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier, or Canis lupus familiaris, nicknamed the Yorkie, is a small dog breed that traces its roots to 19th-century Yorkshire, England. England’s Industrial Revolution attracted many workers from Scotland, who brought with them a variety of terriers, including the blue and silver Paisley and the blue and tan Clydesdale, both dogs with long silky coats and prick ears. These dogs interbred with the native English terriers, including the 10-pound Waterside terrier, a breed that excelled at ratting, along with crosses to a cross-bred Scotch terrier, an old style Skye terrier, and an Old English terrier.
The breed was exhibited as Broken Haired Scotch Terriers until 1870, when the name was changed to Yorkshire Terrier at the suggestion of a reporter. A Paisley-type show dog named Huddersfield Ben helped cement what the breed should look like during this period. In the late 1860s, this popular Yorkshire Terrier show dog, owned by a woman living in Yorkshire, Mary Ann Foster, was seen at dog shows throughout Great Britain and defined the breed type for the Yorkshire Terrier.
Yorkshire terriers were in America by the 1870s, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1885. Despite weighing no more than seven pounds, the Yorkshire Terrier carries a surprisingly bold personality. True to its terrier heritage, it is spunky, busy, and often mischievous, and tends to pick fights with larger dogs while sometimes chasing small pets, especially rodents.
Owners researching other small companion dogs often compare the Yorkie against the dog breeds that start with W, since several toy breeds in that group share a similar terrier temperament. The Yorkie also has an unusual claim to fame in modern breeding circles: a recessive piebald gene that occasionally appears in Yorkie litters eventually gave rise to the Biewer Terrier, a distinct breed the AKC recognized in 2021.
2. Yakutian Laika
The Yakutian Laika could not look or act more different from its toy-sized alphabetical neighbor. This ancient Northern breed originated in the Sakha Republic, located in northeastern Siberia, Russia, developing naturally under extreme Arctic conditions and long associated with the survival and cultural traditions of the Yakut people.
The breed’s working history stretches back further than almost any other dog on this list. Excavations on Zhokhov Island in the New Siberian Islands revealed sled fragments, harness parts, and canine remains dating from 7,800 to 8,000 years before present, representing the earliest known evidence of dogs being used for transportation. The Yakutian Laika was traditionally used for three main purposes: transportation by sled, hunting of both small and large game, and guarding of reindeer herds and family dwellings.
Formal documentation of the breed is far more recent than its archaeological footprint. In 1843, Ivan Pavlovsky’s Guide to the Geography of the Russian Empire described the Yakutian dog as a “special breed used for sledding and hunting,” marking one of the first formal breed descriptions. The breed nearly vanished during the 20th century as motorized transport replaced sled teams, but dedicated preservation work brought numbers back up.
Recognition in the United States is a fairly recent development. According to Embark Veterinary, the Yakutian Laika was officially accepted into the AKC Foundation Stock Service in August of 2017. Physically, the breed is often pied or spotted, frequently with striking blue or heterochromatic eyes, and its thick double coat and compact spitz build help conserve heat in extreme subzero Arctic conditions. Fans of working and spitz-type dogs may also want to compare it against the dog breeds that start with K, several of which share similar cold-climate ancestry.
Key Insight: The Yakutian Laika and Yorkshire Terrier sit on opposite ends of the size and purpose spectrum, yet both breeds owe their survival to small groups of dedicated breeders who standardized loose regional dog types into recognized breeds.
3. Yorkipoo
The Yorkipoo crosses a Yorkshire Terrier with a Poodle, typically a Toy or Miniature Poodle, to produce a small companion dog that blends the Yorkie’s feisty confidence with the Poodle’s trainability and low-shedding coat. Breeders began deliberately pairing these two breeds as part of the broader designer-dog movement that gained traction in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, following the earlier success of the Cockapoo and Labradoodle.
Because coat type depends heavily on which parent genes dominate, Yorkipoo litters can range from loosely curled to nearly straight, and shedding levels vary from dog to dog within the same litter. Most Yorkipoos stay in the same general weight range as their Yorkshire Terrier parent, making them a popular choice for apartment dwellers who still want a dog with terrier spark. Like the purebred Yorkie, they tend to bond closely with one or two people and can be slow to warm up to strangers without early socialization.
4. Yorkie Russell
The Yorkie Russell pairs a Yorkshire Terrier with a Jack Russell Terrier or Rat Terrier, producing a small-to-medium dog with considerably more energy than either parent alone might suggest. This cross leans heavily into the terrier side of the family tree, and owners frequently describe the result as a dog that needs daily exercise and mental stimulation to stay well-behaved indoors.
Prospective owners comparing terrier-heavy mixes may also want to browse the dog breeds that start with R, since the Rat Terrier side of this cross shares ancestry with several breeds in that list. Yorkie Russells typically have a shorter, coarser coat than a purebred Yorkie, which can mean less grooming upkeep but a higher prey drive around smaller pets.
Important Note: Because designer crossbreeds like the Yorkie Russell are not standardized by a single breed club, individual puppies within the same litter can vary noticeably in size, coat texture, and temperament depending on which parent traits dominate.
5. Yoranian
The Yoranian, sometimes written as Yorkanian, combines a Yorkshire Terrier with a Pomeranian. Both parent breeds carry long, flowing coats and a toy-sized frame, so the resulting mix usually inherits a thick double or single coat that needs frequent brushing to prevent matting.
Temperament-wise, the Yoranian tends to combine the Yorkie’s terrier boldness with the Pomeranian’s alert, vocal watchdog instincts, which can make for a small dog that barks readily at unfamiliar sounds or visitors. Owners drawn to this fluffy, foxlike look might also enjoy exploring the dog breeds that start with P, where the Pomeranian itself is profiled in more depth.
6. Yochon
The Yochon crosses a Yorkshire Terrier with a Bichon Frise, two breeds that already share a reputation for being cheerful, people-oriented companions. The Bichon Frise contributes a curlier, often more hypoallergenic-leaning coat, while the Yorkie side tends to add a bit more independence and terrier confidence to the mix.
This cross generally produces a cheerful, adaptable small dog that does well in households looking for a companion with a gentler edge than some of the more terrier-forward Yorkie mixes on this list. Coat color in Yochons often leans toward white, cream, or tan, reflecting the Bichon’s typically lighter coloring blended with the Yorkie’s steel-blue and tan pattern.
7. Yorkillon
The Yorkillon pairs a Yorkshire Terrier with a Papillon, a breed known for its butterfly-shaped ears and lively, intelligent disposition. The resulting mix tends to be small, alert, and quick to learn, drawing on the Papillon’s strong trainability alongside the Yorkie’s spirited personality.
Because both parent breeds were originally bred as companion dogs for European nobility rather than working roles, Yorkillons generally do well as devoted lap dogs that still enjoy short bursts of play and mental enrichment. Their coat often falls somewhere between the Papillon’s silky feathering and the Yorkie’s fine, straight hair, so grooming needs vary from dog to dog.
8. Yorktese
The Yorktese, also sometimes called the Morkie’s cousin in casual conversation due to similar parentage patterns, crosses a Yorkshire Terrier with a Maltese. Interestingly, some breed historians believe the Maltese already played a role in the Yorkshire Terrier’s original development, which makes this cross something of a reunion between closely related bloodlines. Some specialists believe that in addition to other terrier breeds, the Maltese was also used to breed the first Yorkshire Terriers.
Yorktese puppies typically inherit a long, silky coat that can appear white, cream, tan, or a blend of Yorkie steel-blue depending on which genes express more strongly. Temperament tends to favor the gentler, more affectionate Maltese side, producing a companion dog that is generally easier around strangers and other pets than some of the more terrier-dominant mixes on this list. Those curious about other small companion breeds with Mediterranean roots similar to the Maltese may want to check out the dog breeds that start with C or the dog breeds that start with V for further comparison.
| Breed | Primary Parent Breeds | Typical Size | Grooming Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire Terrier | Purebred (terrier ancestry) | Up to 7 lbs | High |
| Yakutian Laika | Purebred (spitz/laika ancestry) | Medium, around 27 lbs | Moderate to high (double coat) |
| Yorkipoo | Yorkshire Terrier x Poodle | Small | Moderate to high |
| Yorkie Russell | Yorkshire Terrier x Jack Russell/Rat Terrier | Small to medium | Low to moderate |
| Yoranian | Yorkshire Terrier x Pomeranian | Small | High |
| Yochon | Yorkshire Terrier x Bichon Frise | Small | Moderate to high |
| Yorkillon | Yorkshire Terrier x Papillon | Small | Moderate |
| Yorktese | Yorkshire Terrier x Maltese | Small | High |
Beyond their shared first letter, these eight breeds illustrate just how differently dogs can be shaped by purpose and geography. The Yakutian Laika survived millennia of Arctic hardship as a working partner, while the Yorkshire Terrier went from mill ratter to Victorian fashion accessory, and its many modern crosses now fill a very different role as companion dogs in American homes. Anyone drawn to the Yorkie’s personality but curious about other letters of the alphabet might also enjoy browsing the dog breeds that start with N or the dog breeds that start with D for more small-breed comparisons, while working-dog enthusiasts may want to continue research into the dog breeds that start with U and dog breeds that start with T for additional cold-climate and terrier-type breeds.