Small they might be, but Toy Poodles are sassy, smart, self-confident dogs that know what they like - and aren’t afraid to tell you about it. Underneath that long, curly, low-shedding coat lies an athlete (honestly - Poodles were bred to be hunting dogs and are excellent swimmers). Poodles are known to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds. This, combined with their attention-seeking and people-pleasing ways, means they’re highly trainable and love to show off their latest tricks. With this strong personality comes a dog that needs plenty of mental and physical stimulation and human companionship. Without it, they’re prone to separation anxiety and unwanted behaviours, including nipping and biting.
Toy Poodle Facts
Toy Poodles live up to their name: they grow to a maximum of 25cm tall and weigh up to 3kg. Even though they’re small, they have a long lifespan and will quickly gain a place in the centre of your household (and your heart).
- Breed Group: Toy
- Height: max. 25cm
- Weight: 1.8-2.8kg
- Life Span: 10-18 years
- Coat: Curly, long
- Colour: Various including black, white or brown
What Does a Toy Poodle Look Like?
A Toy Poodle looks like a standard poodle, just a lot smaller. They’re roughly square shaped, as they’re about as long as they are tall. This is topped off by a triangular head with a long muzzle and wide, droopy ears. Toy Poodles are proud of how they look, so their heads are usually kept high while their large, dark eyes hint at their intelligence.
It can be difficult to tell what a Toy Poodle looks like because of their long, dense, curly coat that’s often cut into a wide range of styles. There are many haircuts a Toy Poodle can rock! Plus, Toy Poodle fur comes in lots of colours, ranging from black and brown through to cream and white. Whatever colour they are, a Toy Poodle’s fur barely sheds and is as close to hypoallergenic as a dog can get, making them a good choice for allergy sufferers.
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle Temperament: Whip Smart Attention Seeker
Some of the Toy Poodle outlandish haircuts can make them look like show dogs that need to be carried everywhere and cuddled endlessly. But in fact, Poodles are highly intelligent dogs that began life as hunting dogs - they’re excellent swimmers. So, they’re surprisingly athletic dogs.
That’s not to say Toy Poodles don’t love a lap to curl up in - they really do. But they have a lot more to offer, especially to families. Toy Poodles are whip smart, pick up new tricks quickly, love going on walks and playing with kids, and have big personalities inside their tiny dog bodies. They believe they’re an essential part of the family and will let you know if they think they’re being left out. That being said, Toy Poodles do best in homes with older children who can safely handle them - younger children can cuddle too hard or accidentally drop them.
A Toy Poodle’s place is at the centre of attention - they crave affection and mental and physical stimulation. Because of this, Toy Poodles are prone to separation anxiety and don’t cope well with being left alone for a long time (or being ignored). If either of these things happen, a Toy Poodle can become passive aggressive and do things they know you don’t like. See? Whip smart. This tendency towards anxiety and fear also makes Toy Poodles a bit skittish and prone to nipping and biting. Training them from a puppy will help manage this unwanted behaviour.
Although it might be tempting to baby a Toy Poodle (they’re so tiny and so cute!), they’re still dogs and should be allowed to be a dog - let them walk and play. Otherwise, their intelligence is going to come out again. A Toy Poodle that’s carried everywhere will quickly come to expect to be carried everywhere - and you won’t like how they behave if they don't get what they think they deserve. That’s why training a Toy Poodle is so important. With their heaps of intelligence and eagerness to please, you’ll find it pretty easy to train a Toy Poodle.
Keeping Toy Poodles Healthy: 5 Issues to Watch Out For
Poodles are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. Not all Poodles will get any or all of these diseases, but it's important to be aware of them if you're considering this breed.
Joint Problems
Toy Poodles are more likely to experience luxating patellas and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease than standard Poodles. Luxating patellas are kneecaps that don’t sit in the normal place, causing mobility issues. Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease causes the top of the thigh bone to degenerate and the bone to die and collapse. Symptoms include trouble walking or getting up, favouring one leg or holding one leg up.
Blood Clotting Disorders
Von Willebrand’s disease and haemophilia both cause problems with your Toy Poodle’s blood clotting. Without normal blood clotting, they’re at risk of bleeding uncontrollably. There normally aren’t any symptoms of blood clotting disorders until your dog suffers an injury, undergoes surgery or gives birth. After any of those things, you might spot excessive bruising or bleeding.
Cushing's Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome causes your Toy Poodle’s body to produce too much of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms include your dog drinking, eating and weeing more (even housebroken dogs might pee inside the home), losing their hair (or it’s slow to grow) or developing a pot belly. Cushing’s can be tricky to diagnose because it looks a lot like other health issues. But if you spot any of those signs, take them to the vet ASAP. It can be treated with medication or surgery.
Tracheal Collapse
Tracheal collapse happens because of a weakness in the cartilage rings of your Toy Poodle’s windpipe. Look out for your Toy Poodle having breathing difficulties, wheezing or coughing. They’ll need urgent vet care.
Cataracts
Cataracts cause the lens of your Toy Poodle’s eyeball to get cloudy, resulting in vision problems. If your dog is walking into walls and furniture, take them to the vet for an eye check. Cataracts can be treated with surgery.
Caring for Your Toy Poodle Dog
With their beautiful long curly coats, Toy Poodles need a lot of grooming - daily, in fact. You’ll also need to invest time in training them but at least exercising them is easy as they don’t need much to wear them out.
Grooming:
Toy 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 Toy 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 Toy 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:
Toy 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:
All Poodles are active, high energy dogs - including Toy Poodles. They love to keep busy (that’s their intelligence coming into play again) and enjoy all types of activity, especially swimming and walking or even jogging. Bred to be hunting dogs, they have a strong instinct to retrieve. Keep their mind and body busy with long games of fetch.
Athletic they might be, but they’re not fast or particularly hardy so any type and amount of exercise you can give them, they’ll be happy with.
Training Your Toy Poodle
Thanks to their intelligence, Toy Poodles are easily trained. They’re also keen to please their people and enjoy having a job to do. Keep training fun and positive, and they’ll quickly pick up new tricks. Training should be firm yet fair and consistent. Focus on obedience training to begin with, before letting them impress you with their skills - roll over and play dead anyone?
It’s a good idea to socialise Toy Poodles with children from when they’re a puppy.