Description

The smallest of the Poodle size variants, the Toy Poodle is small and elegant, with a square frame and good proportions. The ears are floppy, and eyes are oval and usually dark. The chest is quite deep, reflecting the Poodle’s potential for athleticism. The tail is straight and high-set; in some areas it was usual to dock the tail, but docking is now considered cruel and is banned in many countries.

Origin: Germany

Look

The Toy Poodle has a gorgeous curly coat. The fur is very dense, and although the Toy Poodle does shed, the shed fur becomes tangled in the surrounding fur. As a result, Poodles are a high maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. Your Poodle will need thorough grooming every three to six weeks, depending on whether they are clipped or not. Daily ear and eye care are also important, as they are prone to ear infections, and tear stains tend to form under their eyes (these are easily removed with a damp cloth). The advantage is that Poodles can be considering hypoallergenic dogs, and are suitable pets for people with certain allergies.

Toy Poodles come in many different solid colours, including white, black, brown, silver, grey, silver beige, apricot, red, cream, and sable. Patchy, spotted, or even brindle Poodles may also be seen.

Health

The Toy Poodle is a fairly healthy dog, but the breed is prone to a few health conditions:

• Hip dysplasia
• Patellar luxation
• Eye problems
• Chondrodysplasia
• Addison’s Disease
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
• Collapsing trachea
• Dental Disease
• Heart Disease
• Allergies
• Skin problems
• Epilepsy
• Low blood sugar

At Newdoggy.com, we recommend that you buy your puppy from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines.

Learning

Some people, when faced with the traditional haircut and daintiness of the Toy Poodle, are fooled into thinking the breed a “sissy” dog that is just there to look pretty. Not true! Poodles are very intelligent dogs, and are highly trainable. Larger Poodles have mastered many tasks, from obedience to dog sledding (though a Toy Poodle might struggle with the latter, though not for lack of trying!).

Toy Poodles are quite docile and are clever enough to learn a wide variety of commands. Early training will prove very useful for this breed, and will help to bring out the dogs’ best. When training, be gentle but consistent, as being rough or domineering can ruin a Poodle’s good nature.

Temperament

The Toy Poodle was bred to be a companion to the wealthy, and in fact the breed does have an air of dignity about it. They are confident and even regal at times. In spite of this, the Toy Poodle is loving and affectionate, and craves attention. They can be anxious dogs, so proper socialisation and training are very important to ensure that your Toy Poodle is self-assured and relaxed. This breed is very playful and can be quite the comedian. Like all Poodles, they are very intelligent, which can occasionally get them into trouble!

Remember that Toy Poodles should not be treated as literal toys nor dainty ornaments. Over-indulging any dog can ruin its character. A Toy Poodle is tiny but they tend to be tough and even athletic. As much as they love to be petted and cuddled, a Toy Poodle will also appreciate playing outside and learning all sorts of tricks.

Living with

The Toy Poodle is a wonderful addition to the family. They are clever, energetic, and affectionate, to name a few of their brilliant characteristics. This breed gets on well with most people and animals, and are also fantastic with children. They can live happily in most places, and will be as comfortable in an apartment as in a villa.

Make sure that your Toy Poodle is groomed frequently and gets a good amount of exercise. Although they may become less energetic with age, regular exercise is still important to keep them in good health. In general, Poodles tend to bark a lot, but fortunately they can be trained not to do this (or at least, to bark less!).