There’s a lot more to a Miniature Poodle than a fancy haircut. These smart, sporty dogs are surprisingly active and energetic. Bred to be water dogs and to hunt ducks both in and around water, they love nothing more than outdoor adventures. Running, walking, swimming, playing endless games of fetch - they thrive on it all, especially when they’re by your side. Miniature Poodles are faithful companions who will impress you with their eagerness and speediness in learning. All they ask is that you give them the attention they deserve - Miniature Poodles are social, friendly pups who do best when they’re always surrounded by their loved ones.
Miniature Poodle Facts
Imagine a Standard Poodle shrunk a little and you have a Miniature Poodle. Although classed as non-sporting dogs, Miniature Poodles are high energy dogs that are hardier than their traditional fancy haircuts might suggest.
- Breed Group: Non-sporting
- Height: 25-38cm
- Weight: 4.5-7kg
- Life Span: 10-18 years
- Coat: Curly, long
What Does a Miniature Poodle Look Like?
Whether you’re looking at a Standard, Miniature or Toy Poodle, they all look the same apart from their height and weight. A Miniature Poodle is the middle size of the bunch, standing a maximum of 38cm tall and weighing up to 7kg. Like their different sized relatives, Miniature Poodles have a squarely built, muscular body.
But what really distinguishes the Poodle from other dog breeds is the long curly coat and equally long curly ears. The Poodle is thought to be the most hypoallergenic of all dog breeds because they shed so little. The Miniature Poodle comes in a range of solid colours, including apricot, black, blue, brown, cream and white.
Although you might be used to seeing a Miniature Poodle with a unique haircut on the screen, most Miniature Poodle parents go for an easy care, non-elaborate cut. Those distinct haircuts do serve a practical purpose though: Poodles were bred as water dogs who would hunt ducks in the water. Hunters wanted their Poodles to have freedom of movement in the water but also wanted to keep important areas of their body warm. So, they shaved the legs, neck and tail but left the chest, hips and leg joints coated.
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodle Temperament: Smart Sidekick
Forget what the silver screen has taught you: Miniature Poodles aren’t neurotic or delicate dogs that need babying. They’re proud, active, intelligent dogs who are known for being outgoing and friendly to humans and other pets alike. A good word to describe a Miniature Poodle is ‘versatile’. One minute they’ll be patiently paying attention as you teach them a new trick, the next minute they’ll be showing it off. The minute after that, they’ll be happily curled up by your side. But go to leave, and they’ll be right there with you, ready for the next outdoor adventure.
This versatility is reflected in how their mood can mimic those around them. Miniature Poodles who live in busy households that don’t have the time to spend training and socialising them will act out as they try to get the attention they crave. A bored and lonely Miniature Poodle can be surprisingly disruptive and destructive, whether that’s through excessive barking or chewing anything and everything.
Miniature Poodles love to please their family - their natural intelligence helps them get to grips with training well. Keeping them busy, with plenty of daily exercise and training, is key to a happy and healthy Miniature Poodle. For all their intelligence and energy, they’re not hugely independent dogs. A Miniature Poodle’s place is always by your side, and rarely on their own. That’s why they suit households where someone is at home with them the majority of the time the best.
Keeping Miniature Poodles Healthy: 4 Issues to Watch Out For
A Miniature Poodle can live up to 18 years - these are typically hardy, healthy dogs. Regular vet check ups and preventative care (like nail clipping and teeth brushing) will help keep them happy and healthy for life.
Joint Problems
All Poodle types are at risk of hip dysplasia, which is when the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t fit together as they should. This can cause them to struggle to walk and move properly. Keeping your Miniature Poodle at a healthy weight and ensuring they get enough daily exercise can help prevent hip dysplasia. If they do develop it, it can be treated with physical therapy, medication and surgery.
Miniature Poodles are more at risk of developing Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and luxating patella than Standard Poodles. Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease causes the ball of the hip joint to deteriorate, leading to limping, pain and stiffness. Luxating patella is when the kneecap moves out of normal alignment, causing lameness and other mobility problems. There are a range of treatment options for these joint issues.
Eye Issues
Miniature Poodles’ dark oval eyes are at risk of a range of eye issues, such as cataracts, optic nerve hypoplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and glaucoma. Some of these conditions (cataracts and glaucoma) can be treated with surgery. Unfortunately, the other conditions currently don’t have a cure and result in blindness. However, most Miniature Poodles adapt well to vision loss and will live long, happy lives.
Skin Disease
Sebaceous adenitis affects the skin of Miniature Poodles, causing the sebaceous glands (which lubricate the skin and hair follicles with natural oils) to become inflamed. This can irritate your dog’s skin, causing hair loss and scaly skin. Although it can be easily misdiagnosed as an allergy or other skin problem, with a proper diagnosis it’s simple to treat. Medicated lotions and shampoos can help maintain healthy skin.
Hypothyroidism
If your Miniature Poodle is obsese, lethargic or irritable, they might be experiencing hypothyroidism - a condition where their thyroid doesn't produce enough hormone. Your vet can confirm hypothyroidism with a blood test and medication for the rest of their life will manage it.
Caring for Your Miniature Poodle Dog
Even if you’re not going to show your Miniature Poodle, these low shedding dogs still require a large amount of daily grooming. They also need daily training and exercise sessions. But thanks to their high intelligence, they’re a pleasure to train and thrive on all your attention.
Grooming
Miniature Poodles need to be brushed every single day, otherwise their fur will curl in on itself. Without daily brushing, their hair is prone to matting, right down to the roots. Not only can this cause skin infections, but it usually needs to be shaved off.
As well as brushing, a Miniature Poodle needs a bath and haircut every 4-6 weeks. You can do this clipping and trimming at home yourself or take them to a professional groomer. Make it a doggy spa day and trim their nails at the same time. Also check their wide, folded ears - a Miniature Poodle’s hair will grow inside their ear canal, trapping wax and dirt so give them a gentle clean. Finally, 2-3 times a week brush their teeth. They have the same number of teeth as bigger Poodles but their mouths are far smaller. This makes it easier for food to get trapped, which can lead to tooth decay.
Nutrition
Miniature Poodles will do well on quality dog food that suits their life stage (puppy, adult or senior). Even though they’re small, it’s important to make sure that your pup gets enough exercise so they don’t become obese, which can put them at risk of health issues. Keep an eye on how many treats they’re getting as those calories can add up too.
You could look for food specific to their breed. Not only is it nutritionally balanced for their size but the kibble is smaller too, making it easier (and safer) for them to eat. Start them off with Royal Canin Poodle Puppy Food then transition to Royal Canin Mini Adult Dry Food, or Royal Canin Poodle Adult Dog Food.
Exercise
Miniature Poodle, miniature exercise needs? Not so much! The Miniature Poodle may surprise you with their high energy levels. Natural born athletes, Miniature Poodles can turn their paw to any form of exercise, especially if it’s outdoors and involves walking, running or swimming. Bred to be hunting dogs, they have an inbuilt impulse to retrieve. You can entertain them for hours with games of fetch. As water retrievers, try playing fetch (with toys designed to float!) in or near water so they can stretch their water wings.
Miniature Poodles need around one hour of exercise a day, which will include a walk and trips to the dog park to stretch their legs and meet other doggy mates. It also might include time playing in the garden.
Training Your Miniature Poodle
Like all Poodles, Miniature Poodles are highly intelligent dogs that have a love of learning. They’re always up for learning new tricks which makes training them a breeze. With their muscular bodies, they’re agile and graceful - it’s like they were born to be a trainer’s dream! Throughout their lives, try to spend around 20 minutes every day working on new tricks and commands and giving them the opportunity to show off their skills.
People-orientated, Miniature Poodles also love to please their humans and spend time with them. They respond well to fun, positive, consistent training sessions and should pick up the basics (sit, stay, come and how to walk nicely on a lead) in no time. Once they’ve mastered the basics, consider enrolling your Miniature Poodle in dog classes, including agility, to keep them mentally engaged and well socialised.
Early socialisation is important for Miniature Poodle puppies, helping give them the confidence and skills to play nicely with humans and other pups as they grow up. As Miniature Poodles are friendly and outgoing, they love spending time with other people and pets so puppy classes should be an enjoyable bonding exercise for you both.