Toy Poodle: Is this the Right Breed for You?

By Janice Jones   |Last Updated 07-20-2021

Thinking about a toy poodle?  Well, If you are looking for a playful, highly intelligent and overall sweet dog then this breed may be the one for you.

The name Poodle comes from the German word Pudel that means “puddle” because these dogs are actually water retrievers. The Poodle is a very beautiful and elegant dog and they also are blessed with a very proportionate body.

They are the only breed that comes in three different sizes and are thus registered with the AKC under separate groups. (Toy Breeds and Non-Sporting Breeds).  These include the standard, the miniature, and the toy, which stands less than ten inches.

The toy poodle can be slightly yappy sometimes, but they all make excellent watchdogs.

Probably the most beneficial reason to have a Poodle, for most people, is that they are hypoallergenic.

This is a key characteristic for a lot of people, especially those who have bad allergies.

Poodles are also crossbred with other breeds to make a wider variety of hypoallergenic dogs.

Poodles are also crossbred with other breeds to make a wider variety of hypoallergenic dogs.

Some of these include, but are not limited to the “Labradoodle” ( Poodle and Labrador), the “Woodle” (Wheaton terrier and Poodle), and the “Cockapoo” which is a mix between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle. 

Among small dogs, the Malti-Poo, Shi-Poo, and Yorkie Poo are becoming the number one choice of people wanting playful, loving, yet hypoallergenic dogs.  All of these are beautiful dogs with a coat that doesn’t shed.

Because of the Toy Poodle’s intelligence, they are extremely easy to train. They are very smart and pick up on commands very easily.

There are Poodles successful in essentially every activity that dogs have tried, and are unofficially ranked second to Border Collies in intelligence.

The need to please makes them perfect Seeing Eye dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs.

These dogs are adaptable and make the perfect pet for families or singles. As long as they have plenty of space to run and roam about to please their active personality, they will be the perfect dog for you.

History

Standard Poodles were originally hunting dogs with roots in northern Europe. They were known to be originally from Germany, but standardized in France where they were very commonly known as water retrievers.

Whereas Miniature Poodles may have been used to truffle hunters and Toy Poodles were used in circuses and performances. The Standard Poodle is said to be the oldest type, but other research shows that there might have been a smaller breed of Poodle before the Standard came along.

You may wonder how we got from these strong and menacing hunting dogs to the fluffy, little foo-foo dog that has been bred over time.

The pattern and clip of the Poodle was actually originally designed by hunters and they shaved all the hair and then kept the poofs by the joints and vital organs which was to help them move quicker and more comfortably through the water. With that being said, it is a false accusation to say that Poodles are always feminine and only for females.

Personality

Poodles are highly energetic, but have a tendency to get bored rather quick.

If they are not occupied with some sort of toy or treat, they sometimes will become curious and find something to do themselves, which may not be on the same terms as what the owner would like.

They are also very alert, which is why they make such good watchdogs. They are highly trainable and are also very faithful to their owner(s).

With good training, these dogs will never bite the hand that feeds them.

Toy Poodles are also very active and do well with active families.

Any chance they can get they would love to be playing fetch, or running around the yard as long as they are being supervised. However, with Toy Poodles, if they get enough exercise outside, they will be pretty calm indoors and follow you around, or lie with you.

The Toy Poodle, At a Glance

Traits	Rating
Playfulness
Affection Level
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Good with Children
Good with Other Dogs
Good for First Time Owners
Exercise Needed
Ease of Training
Watch Dog Ability
Grooming Requirements
Shedding
Cold Tolerant
Heat Tolerant

Dog Breed Ratings Got You a Little Confused?
Here's a little help in understanding them

• Playfulness:   Most Playful = 5    Least Playful = 1
• Affection:  Most Affectionate = 5   Least Affectionate = 1
• Friendliness Towards Strangers: Most Friendly = 5  Least = 1
• Good With Children:  Great= 5    Not Good with Children = 1
• Good With Dogs:  Great = 5   Not Good Around Dogs = 1
• Good With First Time Owners:  Fine=5  Not Appropriate = 1
• Exercise Required:  Extensive Daily Exercise = 1  Minimal = 1
• Ease of Training:  Very Easy = 5     Difficult = 1
• Watch Dog:  Excellent Watch Dog = 5  Minimal = 1
• Grooming:  Time Consuming = 5   Minimal = 1
• Shedding:  Heavy Shedder = 5     Minimal = 1
• Cold Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5   Poor Tolerance = 1
• Heat Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5  Poor Tolerance = 1

Toy Poodles make the perfect pet for anyone who is dedicated to them and can give them the proper care they deserve. Perky, sweet, and lively, this dog loves to be around people and is quite sociable.

However, do not let their kindness and playfulness trick you, because they definitely need a pack leader. Without a confirmed leader in charge, your Poodle could snap, and that is not what anyone wants.

Also without proper training, your pup could be high-strung and timid. With training being such an ease that should never be a problem, as long as you’re willing to commit to your Poodle, as you would do with any breed of dog.

Grooming

Toy Poodles can be quite tricky to groom because instead of the double layer of fur that most breeds have, they have a single layer of hair.

The difference is that fur will grow to a certain point and then shed out, but hair on the other hand keeps growing longer and longer and when it does fall out, it becomes intertwined with the surrounding hair, which is why Poodles do not seem to shed.

They do shed a little bit, but it usually is not enough to bother someone, and this is why they are one of the only small hypoallergenic dogs.

It is said that there is no breed of dog that you will spend more money on potentially than a Poodle. With their curly hair, it can get very knotted and needs to be groomed very often.

They need to be bathed regularly, every 1-2 weeks to keep everything in check and should be taken to the groomers to get the proper cut every 6-8 weeks or so.

There are many different cuts for Toy Poodles; some include the puppy clip, the bikini clip, and the most popular, the continental clip.

Puppies have a different clip altogether. The continental clip where the rear half of the body is shaved, bracelets are left around the ankles, and pom-poms are left on the tails and hips.

Another popular, and overall easy clip is the puppy clip where the hair is just kept short over the whole body. This is most popular for owners that have no intent to show their Poodle. Of course for every dog, their teeth, ears, anal glands, toenails, etc. needs to also be checked regularly.

Health Concerns for the Toy Poodle

Even though Toy Poodles have been bred over such a long period of time, they are still prone to diseases that include, but are not limited to...

Addison's Disease

Addison’s Disease is the illness most commonly reported congenital problem in the poodle.  Addison's disease is characterized by insufficient production of glucocorticoid and/or mineralocortoid in the adrenal cortex. Addison's is often not diagnosed because early symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for other conditions. The most common findings include frequent episodes of gastroenteritis, loss of body condition and a poor response to stress. 

Read more about Addison's Disease

IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia)

Normally, red blood cells live around 4 months in dogs. As the age, they are destroyed and removed by other cells in the system. IMHA is when the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely; at a rate faster then new ones can be produced. It can occur at any age, but is more common in middle-aged female dogs.

Cataracts

As with humans, a cataract in dogs leading to impaired vision and blindness and is due to clouding of the lens inside the eye.

Read more about Cataracts

Heart Murmurs

Heart murmurs are caused by a disturbance in the blood flow through the chambers of the heart. They're an indicator that there may be a disease or condition of the heart that will need to be monitored and treated.

Epilepsy

A brain disorder that causes the dog to have physical attacks (seizures) that are sudden and uncontrollable. If you think your dog may have this, contact the vet immediately.

Read more about Seizures

Collapsed Trachea

A condition in which the rings in the trachea flatten or collapse making breathing more difficult. 

Read about Tracheal Collapse

Books Worth Reading

Thinking about getting a Toy Poodle?  Already have one but want to learn more?  It is always a good idea to read as much as you can about the breed.  Here are a few of the best books I've found on this breed and it is well worth looking into getting at least one breed book.

Interesting Facts

Did you know that there are actually contests and competitions where people color and shave their poodle’s hair into sculptures?

Some Toy Poodles can live up to 20 years, if they are healthy.  The oldest recorded poodle that ever lived was Lady who lived to be 28 years and 218 days old. (1908—1937) 

Breed Club:

Poodle Club of America Inc.

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