Toy Poodle

All you need to know about the Toy Poodle

The smallest of the Poodle sizes, the Toy Poodle is by default considered the cutest one. These loving pups share many of the same traits as their bigger Poodle counterparts.

However, their tiny size makes them unique in their own way! These pups measure no more than 10 inches in height, making them super cute. Their petite frame and generally adorable appearance will surely draw the looks of passersby wherever they appear!

Other than that, its physical characteristics are the same as the Standard and the Miniature Poodles. They are an active and intelligent dog breed that requires you to spend a lot of time with them!

If you are thinking about getting a Toy Poodle as your pet but are unsure because you heard they are high maintenance dogs, we have all the info you need to decide!

Fast Facts 

Group: Toy

Weight: 4-6 Pounds

Height: No more than 10 Inches

Coat: Dense and curly

Shedding: Low shedding

Lifespan: 10-18 years

The Appearance of the Toy Poodle

As we already mentioned, the main difference between the Toy and the Standard or Miniature Poodle is the size. The Toy Poodle is the tiniest of the bunch, making it especially appealing to many pet owners.

Even though they have a tiny frame, Toy Poodles do have an athletic build underneath the coat. Their shoulders are broad and muscular, and they do pack a lot of energy and strength!

The look in their eyes is that of constant alertness and intelligence. They are dark and oval, and will win over just about anyone with just one gaze!

Their ears hang close to the head, just like with other Poodle sizes. This gives them an adorable look and is one of the traits that makes them so beloved.

Naturally, Toy Poodles are also known for their gorgeous coats. They are curly, and their unique look is the main reason these dogs are as popular as they are!

The tail of a Toy Poodle is not too long, but they always carry it around with pride. It is placed high up while the dog is walking.

What colors does a Toy Poodle come in?

The AKC breed standard names several colors that are accepted for Poodles:

• Apricot
• Black
• Blue
• Brown
• Cream
• Gray
• Red
• Silver
• White

But that is not all! Eighteen two-tone combinations are accepted as well! This is different from other Poodle sizes, where only single-colored dogs are allowed to compete.

It seems as if you won’t have trouble finding the right Toy Poodle for you when it comes to looks. What about their temperament, though?

All about the Toy Poodle personality

Many inexperienced pet owners create this sort of prejudice about the Poodles and consider them high maintenance and picky dogs! The thing is, people also love to think the same about small dogs in general! However, you should not be afraid. That isn’t the case.

Toy Poodles enjoy working together with humans and make excellent companions! These dogs love being active and are known to be very proud, intelligent, and good-tempered! Expect a Toy Poodle to become your best friend.

These pups adore your company, and they won’t like being left out. You should not leave them home alone for more than a few hours. They will become bored and stressed if you do so!

If you work full time, we would advise that you have someone at home during that time to take care of your Toy Poodle.

Is a Toy Poodle easy to train?

You might think that small dogs don’t require as much training and exercise as bigger ones do. They would be mistaken!

Toy Poodles do require training and exercise as much as any other dog breed. These pups are energetic and will love going outside with you. They will take any opportunity to exercise you can provide for them.

Expect to spend an hour each day exercising with these puppies! 

Training won’t be an issue at all since these pups are brilliant. Poodles used to work as hunting partners, and those genes are still in the Toy Poodle. It means they can be trained quite easily!

You will need some patience and practice but will be able to train your pet into a well-behaved dog in no time!

Socialization is also quite important, naturally. Start early, so your Toy Poodle will grow into a confident adult dog that knows how to behave in front of others.

It seems as if there won’t be any problems with your Toy Poodle’s behavior if you follow the right instructions. What about grooming?

How much Grooming does a Toy Poodle need?

When it comes to grooming, everything we already mentioned in the Standard Poodle description goes for this one as well.

If you want to bring your dog to competitions, you will need a professional dog groomer, most likely until you learn the skills necessary for some of the more popular puppy cuts!

The many different clips that your Poodle can be styled in are fascinating. The Continental clip, the English saddle clip, and the Bikini clip, and these are just some of them.

Grooming will always seem like less of an issue when you know that this breed barely sheds! This makes the Toy Poodle a great pet for people with allergies. 

Other than that, following all of the tips we talked about with other Poodles works just fine here! There is not much of a difference.

The Living Environment of the Toy Poodle

The Toy Poodle will love spending as much time with you as possible inside of your apartment. However, it needs exercise, so make sure always to give it plenty of room to play. That should not be an issue, given its size!

Naturally, you should take it outside for walks at least once per day. An hour of exercise should be enough.

If you have children, these pups will love playing with them. They are a great fit for larger families. However, you need to teach your kids how to handle these dogs if they are still young.

Toy Poodles are small and fragile, and if your child is rough with them, it can hurt them. This, in return, can result in the dog barking or acting aggressively! Make sure to teach your child how to approach the pet correctly and not to be too rough!

The Health of the Toy Poodle

Toy Poodles are generally a healthy dog breed, although some issues continue to plague them.

• One such health condition is Progressive Retinal Atrophy. This causes the retina at the back of the dog’s eye to start degenerating, resulting in a complete loss of sight. 
• Other conditions include cataracts, Patella Luxation, and von Willebrand’s disease. Patella Luxation is a knee issue that causes the shin bone to slip out of position. 
• Von Willebrand’s disease is an inherited blood disorder that causes excessive bleeding. 

You should visit the veterinarian regularly with your Toy Poodle to avoid these issues. Also, they will help you pick the right dog food for your pet. They will also help you determine the proper amount of food you should be giving it daily. 

Where does the Toy Poodle come from?

Although many consider Poodles to be French dogs, they come from Germany. 

Poodles were bred to retrieve ducks and waterfowl from water. The Standard Poodle was the first size to appear. They derived from Barbets, the French water dogs. 

Breeders started working on smaller versions of the Poodle because they needed them for various hunting tasks. However, once this breed became popular among the nobility, the Miniature and Toy Poodle were born!

Aristocrats started gradually scaling down the Standard Poodle because they needed gorgeous pets to be their companions inside of their mansions! The first Toy Poodles appeared in the 18th Century, despite many considering them a recent trend!

Toy Poodle Mixes you would like to know about*

Dog crossbreeds or mixes are sometimes called designer dogs. The name fits since you are “designing” a new dog by mating two purebred dogs. It has become popular in recent times, and more and more breeds have several noteworthy crosses we could write about.

The thing with mixed puppies is that it is hard to know which characteristics they will inherit from their parents. You should research as much info as possible on the parent breeds to understand what you can expect. This way, you will find a mix that has all of the characteristics you want and love.

Read on to see the most popular Toy Poodle mixes:

• Cockapoo - Toy Poodle & American Cocker Spaniel mix
• Yorkipoo - Toy Poodle & Yorkshire Terrier mix
• Maltipoo - Toy Poodle & Maltese mix
• Pomapoo - Toy Poodle & Pomeranian mix
• Peekapoo - Toy Poodle & Pekingese mix
• Schnoodle - Toy Poodle & Miniature Schnauzer mix
• Shih Poo - Toy Poodle & Shih Tzu mix
• Chipoo - Toy Poodle & Chihuahua mix

*Not all breed mixes are equal in quality! Pets4you.com neither condones nor endorses any example of unethical and unhealthy crossbreeding. We encourage everyone to research in detail before they choose to get a crossbreed.