Toy Poodle: Small And Energetic Dog Breed

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
How small is a Toy Poodle? Are they energetic as Standard and Miniature Poodles are? Read on to find answers on these questions and much more.

Breed Characteristics:

Toy Poodle is a self-confident, highly intelligent, and agile dog of Toy Group dogs. For decades they have been among the ten most popular dogs.

With its noble-look and long neck, this breed stands as a true proud dog of excellent capabilities.

The coat is profuse and curly and often styles. Toy Poodle comes in various colors, including greys, blue, brown, cream, silver, and even apricot.

Quick Facts

Real name: Toy Poodle
Breed type: Toy Group
Weight: 4-6 pounds
Height: No more than 10 inches
Lifespan: 10 – 18 years
Littersize: 1 – 4 years
Color: Variety of colors
Coat: Curly and soft

Poodles come in three sizes (Standard, Miniature, and Toy size), and all three varieties have the same build and proportions.

Poodles are best-known as athletic and eager dogs, with an attitude and fantastic versatility.

So, Toy Poodle will expect you to treat him as an equal, and a real dog, no matter the size, or otherwise you can expect to go through a small dog syndrome stage.

Toy Poodle History

The Poodle is the national dog of France, and its globally known just how much French love this breed.

You may think that there is a breed named the ‘French Poodle,’ but that’s just not the case. In France, Poodles are known as the Caniche, or ‘duck dog.’

The Poodle is very associated with France, but the breed (according to many) originated as a duck hunter in Germany, where the word ‘pudelin’ refers to splashing in the water.

The Standard Poodle began its development as a retrieving water dog more than 400 years ago.

This breed was known for its superb swimming ability and high intelligence. Yes, this may sound unusual, but Poodle is a fantastic retriever.

Did you know that the Standard Poodle is the only breed classified as a non-sporting dog that is eligible for AKC Retriever Hunting Tests?

Poodles are known for their rich and elegant coat, but the truth is that this coat initially had a practical purpose.

Hunters wanted a breed that will swim easily but also has protected vital areas of the anatomy from the cold.

So, they shaved the dog’s legs, neck, and tail but decided to leave the coat on the chest, leg joints, and hips.

Now, he rounded tufts on the legs, hips, and tail tip are called pompons.

Dog Of Luxury

So, how did a retrieving dog become a lap of luxury? Thanks to its many fine qualities, the Poodle moved from the lake area to a more luxurious space.

Elegant Poodles of the Standard and Miniature varieties found favor among France’s nobles and then the rest of Europe.
People loved the breed’s appearance and elegant posture.

On top of that, people were fascinated with the breeds personality and love toward entertainment.

For decades this breed has been associated with the European circus tradition, while others associate this breed with truffle because they have an excellent nose and are able to find truffles in a matter of minutes.

The Standard Poodle was bred down to the Miniature. The Toy Poodle was first bred in America, in the early 20th century, as a companion dog.

Well-bred specimens of each variety are exact replicas of each other and are bred to the same standard.

Toy Poodle Physical Appearance

The Toy Poodle is a squarely built and well-proportioned dog with a proud attitude.

The Head is moderately rounded, while the cheekbones and muscles are flat. The chest is deep and wide with well-sprung ribs.

The tail is straight, set on high, while the loin is broad and muscular. The forequarters are strong, while the forelegs are straight and parallel when viewed from the front.

Dewclaws may be removed. The coat is curly and dense. Hindlegs are straight and parallel.

Toy Poodle Personality

Toy Poodle owners often describe this breed as loving, loyal, and mischievous.

They are also described as people-pleasers and friendly dogs who love to spend time both with people and other dogs.

They have a great sense of humor and are natural-born clowns. They love being the center of attention.

Of course, these traits may vary from dog to dog, but these are general guidelines.

Toy Poodle isn’t the best choice for families with children, since children tend to the harsh to them because they see them as toys.

Make sure to educate your children on how to behave around dogs.

Toy Poodles are the ultimate companion dogs, and they will demand to be a part of every family activity.

They hate being alone, especially for a long time, and it can lead eventually to separation anxiety, which can be treated, but it will demand a lot of work and patience.

They are also full of empathy, and they are often seen as companions of less active people.

If you lead an active outdoor life, this breed may not be the best choice for you.

People tend to be fascinated by the Toy Poodle’s size and lavish the dog with strong attention. However, your Toy Poodle needs to be a real dog, and as such, he needs:

To know how your Toy Poodle will turn around, look for parents’ traits, and how well they are socialized.

Toy Poodle Grooming

If you don’t want to keep your Poodle clipped in a short trim, you will have to learn how to brush your Toy Poodle daily.

Yes, daily brushing is mandatory to avoid coat matting.

If you don’t brush and comb your Toy poodle completely to the skin, the hair will mat (but remain odorless), and this tiny dog will have to be shaved so his hair can start growing again.

Most Toy Poodle owners choose to keep the dog in a shorter trim. Some owners choose to take the dog to the groomer, while some just learn how to clip and trim.

At groomers, your dog can have a full service of bathing, grooming, brushing, and nail trim.

Don’t overdue with bathing, because dogs have different skin than humans do, and they don’t need as much bathing as humans do.

Toy Poodle has a relatively nonshedding coat, making Toy Poodle an excellent choice for people with allergies.

Toy Poodle Training

Toy Poodles might be small in size, but they will still need the same discipline and order as any other dog.

It would help if you thought about your Toy Poodle as a large breed dog or any other size dog who needs to know where his toilet is, where his bowl stands, and what areas are out of dog limits.

Since this breed is very agile, you should try a variety of canine sports, including tracking, agility, and obedience.

Poodles are very people-oriented, and they will enjoy every moment of training as long as its good structure, engaging and fun.

Start training as soon as your Toy Poodle enters your home. Be well prepared in terms of toys, treats, and dog beds.

Provide enough treats to enhance training sessions, but don’t overdo it, because too many sweets can lead to obesity.

Toy Poodle Exercise

Don’t let the size fool you, because small size dogs need proper exercise. Poodles of any size are very active dogs, and they require a fair share of activity every day to suit their high energy level.

Overall, Poodles are eager for all kinds of activity, and they love being busy.

They love swimming, so if you have access to water, your Toy Poodle will adore you for it.

Tossing toys, retrieving sticks, and running after balls all works for them and keeps their mind and body active.

They also love long walks and jogging (this should be short and on good ground, without pushing your dog’s limit).

Toy Poodle Health

There is no healthy dog breed, just like there isn’t a superhuman. So, all dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just like people can inherit numerous health conditions.

If you are adopting, the shelter will inform you about the dog and his health condition.

Of course, right from the shelter, you should ake a dog to your veterinarian for a full check-up.

If you are getting a dog from a breeder, expect to see medical papers, and even to see the puppy’s parents.

At least, that’s what you can expect from a responsible breeder.

Always find a good breeder who will show you health clearances for both your puppy’s parents. In Poodles, expect to see clearances:

  • From the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
  • For hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Von Willebrand’s disease
  • From Auburn University for thrombophilia
  • From the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certifying that eyes are normal

Recommended health tests for this breed are:

  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation
  • PRA Optigen DNA Test
  • Patella Evaluation

Toy Poodle Nutrition

Its a general rule that toy dogs have a fast metabolism. This means that they burn energy at a high rate, although they eat little. Toy size dogs eat little, and they eat often.

Small-breed dogs should eat foods specially designed for them with appropriate levels of essential nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also helps to chew and improves digestion.

Is A Toy Poodle For You?

Having a dog is a big responsibility. Once you decide to get a dog, you are actually committing to years-long responsibility.

If you are sure that you have conditions to welcome a dog into your life, and you can handle it financially, then you should think about the breed carefully.

If you want a Toy poodle, you should know that you are actually getting a tiny and athletic dog ready for an adventure.

This small breed comes in a variety of colors, is playful, and polite toward strangers – this is why shouldn’t leave this dog alone when outside or in front of a shop because they are often targeted by dog thefts.

If you are ready to have a playful, easy to train dog with an if you don’t want to deal with emotional sensitivity, barking, clipping the curly coat every six weeks, a toy poodle may not be right for you.

Are you looking for more information on Poodle breeds? Check these adorable Poodle mixes today and see if your next dog is actually a Poodle mix.

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