Toy Poodles are delightful canines with a sweet, lively and joyful personality. They are very social animals and love to be in the company of their human family. This breed is very enthusiastic and alert, and is a good watchdog that likes to make his voice heard. An active and energetic pet, Poodles are lovely and devoted companions, and are very popular dogs.
Brief History
The Poodle breed has been around for a minimum of 400 years and can be seen in paintings from the 1600’s. No one knows the true county of origin of the breed, as the subject has been quite controversial. That said, many believe that the roots of the dog are primarily tied to France and Germany. What can be agreed upon is that this pooch descended from the French Water Dog (a now extinct breed), the Hungarian Water Hound and the Barbet. The name "Poodle" is thought to have been taken from the German word "Pudel", which roughly translates to - "one who plays in water”.
Toy Poodles were bred down from the larger standard and miniature Poodle varieties and became quite popular with royals. They were used as retrievers, watchdogs, for competitive obedience, performing tricks and agility. The Poodle breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887.
Toy Poodle Breed Appearance and Characteristics
General Appearance - The Toy Poodle has a somewhat rounded skill with a small but defined stop. They have a long and straight muzzle. Their brown or black eyes are oval in shape, and their long, flat ears hang close to their head. Their four legs are proportioned to their body, and they have oval shaped, webbed feet with arched toes. The tail is set high and carried proudly. Sometimes the tails is docked half its length or even shorter to provide the dog with a more balanced appearance.
The coat of the Toy Poodle can be soft and wavy or wiry, curly or corded. It can be clipped in different styles, including the "Pet Clip" (hair is trimmed short all over), "Continental Clip" (The hindquarters, upper half of the legs and half of the tails is shaved, while bracelets are left around the ankles, and pom-poms on the hips and tail), and the "English Saddle Clip" (Similar to the Continental Clip with the exception that the hind quarters are not shaved). The coat is available in all solid colors that include, white, cream, apricot, red, brown café-au-lait, gray, silver, blue and black. There are even some parti-colored poodles.
Typical Temperament - The Toy Poodle is often considered to be the most reserved of all the Poodle groups and can be aloof with other people outside of his pack. To prevent this from occurring, owners need to provide this pooch with proper socialization while he is young. Socialization is also important when it comes to ensuring the poodle establishes good relationships with other household pets and children. In terms of kids, this dog is not recommended for very young children as he can become easily injured from rough handling or careless children, and will not tolerate teasing.
Poodles are cheerful, intelligent and thrive on human companionship. They have plenty of energy, are alert and are fabulous watchdogs. They will bark to alert their owners to strange sights or sounds, but sometimes they just like to make noise, so barking should be controlled. Overall he is a proud, bright, active and jovial dog.
Basic Toy Poodle Care Requirements
Grooming - Poodles, regardless of the style in which their coat is clipped, require daily grooming. The coat should be brushed and combed every day to keep it free from mats. Owners need to be gentle when they brush the dog and thick mats should be clipped out. The coat requires a trim every six to eight weeks and should be bathed every couple of months. To keep coat care as simple as possible, the dog should be kept in the "pet clip" (also known as the "puppy clip" or "lamb clip"). Note - Toy Poodles that are shown will require more extensive grooming.
The ears of the Poodle need to be checked and cleaned for wax, infection and mites frequently. The hair within their ear canal should also be plucked on a regular basis to help keep ears healthy. Their teeth should be brushed a few times per week, and need regular scaling. They shed hair very little and are often good pets for allergy sufferers.
Exercise - This breed enjoys being active and his exercise needs can be easily taken care of. Walks, playing fetch, learning tricks, swimming and letting him run around off lead in an enclosed space are all great ways to help him release his energy and stay healthy. They should be taken on a minimum of a 20 minute walk per day and must have exercise that involves social interaction for their mental wellbeing.
Approximate Food Cost - Toy Poodles typically eat a ½ cup of food daily.
General Health Information
Poodles are a long-lived breed, but some are prone to certain illnesses like IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia), heart disorders, diabetes, slipped stifles (dislocated kneecap), epilepsy, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), ear infections, digestive issues, and kidney disease to name a few. These dogs also have sensitive skin and can suffer skin problems caused by allergies, dryness and other issues.
Common Illnesses include: PRA, ear infections, kidney disease, slipped stifles.
Are You the Right Toy Poodle Owner?
Living conditions - Toy Poodles can happily live in city or country settings. They can adapt to apartment living well, and are perfectly content without a yard as long as they are provided with enough outdoor exercise. They love to play outside and should not be denied this joy. Furthermore, if they are exercised adequately every day, they are very docile indoors and are perfectly content to lie right next to their owner.
Training - Poodles need obedience and socialization in order to mature properly and develop the beautiful temperament they are known for. They are highly trainable and are eager to learn. They enjoy challenges and are quick to associate the tone and sound of their owner’s voice with commands. They respond well to direct and gentle teachings that are consistent, fair and feature praise and reward. They need a patient, reliable and loving leader they can understand, respect and follow. A well trained Toy Poodle can do exceptionally well at obedience, tricks, dog sports, agility, tracking and herding.
Common Problems - While he is a happy and devoted breed, he can develop some unfavorable traits, such as extreme barking. If you do not teach the Toy Poodle to stop barking on command, he can keep it up for a long time, and will also feel inclined to bark to get attention or simply because he feels like it. This can become very annoying to both you and your neighbors. Also, he needs to be exercised and requires social interaction on a daily basis or he can become high strung. Finally, without the proper training, he can develop Small Dog Syndrome, which can result in a number of unpleasant behavioral problems, including snapping, guarding, possessiveness, suspiciousness of stranger, and being untrustworthy with children. To stop this from occurring, the Poodle should never be allowed to think that he is the head of the pack.
The bottom line...
Toy Poodles are brilliant and attractive looking dogs who are great companions for active individuals and families. He is happy to call just about any size living quarters home. Though his coat does require daily care, he rarely sheds his hair, which makes him an ideal pet for allergy sufferers. The Toy Poodle is long-lived, affectionate, sweet, loyal, and a true little pal.
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