Poodles are a wonderful dog breed.  They come in 3 sizes Standard, Miniature and Toy.  Miniature and Toy poodles are just smaller varieties of the Standard Poodle breed.  All varieties of the poodle have the same build a proportions.  Poodles are intelligent, active and affectionate.

If you have been looking for a dog that you can train all kinds of tricks.  The poodle might just be the right breed for you.  Miniature poodles are those clever little dogs you see at the circus that do all kinds of tricks.  Miniature poodles are popular circus dogs.

The size of the Miniature and Toy Poodle and their quick learning make them a wonderful dog for people in many different living conditions.  All poodles are highly intelligent and learn quickly. Because the poodle is a high energy breed many people opt for the smaller varieties just because of space restrictions.

Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics for the Miniature Poodle and the Toy Poodle.

 

Breed In Brief:

Toy Poodle

• Height:  10 inches
• Weight:  6 – 9 pounds
• Life Expectancy:  10 – 18 years

Miniature Poodle

• Height:  11 – 15 inches (Larger than the Toy Poodle)
• Weight:  12 -20 pounds
• Life Expectancy:  10 -18 years

 

Temperament:

Toy poodles are clever, lively, loyal intelligent and easily trained.  Because they are so small they may not be good pet for very young children that do not understand how to be careful with the toy poodles tiny body size.  If they are handled roughly they can become nervous and snappy.

 

Miniature poodles are smart, adaptable, easy to train, friendly, easily bond with their family, easily bond with other pets and are good with children of all ages.

Poodles overall are very people oriented and can suffer from separation anxiety.  Consider this aspect if you will be absent from your pet for long hours everyday or if you travel frequently and will need to board.

Poodles are not aggressive (no watchdog) they are eager to please and quick to learn.  Most poodles are not barkers.  They can become barkers if they do not receive enough attention and stimulation.

 

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Overall Care:

Grooming:

Poodles have curly dense hair that is usually solid in color.  Their coats while generally solid can be in a wide variety of colors:  brown, blue , grey, silver, apricot and cream.

Poodles shed very little.  But they do require daily brushing to keep that curly hair from matting.  Most poodle owners find a good groomer and take them to be professionally groomed twice per month.  A short hair cut is another option to help with the grooming.  If you are fond of the “show poodle” cut your poodle will require frequent hair trimming.

Because of their low shed rate poodles are often called hypo-allergenic.  If you have allergies try to visit a poodle and see how you specifically react before purchasing.  All pets can affect allergies.  These breed just has less reactions than most.

Do not forget regular nail trimming.  If your dog is mainly an indoor dog their nails will not wear down naturally.  You will have to at the least invest in some dog nail clippers and keep them trimmed yourself.  Or take them to be trimmed.  To get your dog used to nail trimming start messing with their feet when they are small.  This will help them acclimate to having their nails trimmed.

Training:

Poodles are a working dog breed.  They were hunters and waterfowl retrievers originally.  They will perform will in agility training, obedience and can be good trackers.

Poodles can get bored easily.  So you may need to add variety to your training and exercise routines.  Remember that those clever little circus dogs were often poodles so the variety of tricks they can learn and the complexity is without limit.

Treats can be important in training.  Because of the dogs size to many treats can put them over their recommended daily calories.  Obesity in pets is detrimental to their health just like it is in people.

Exercise:

Miniature poodles will require more exercise than toy poodles.  This is due to their size differences.  However, all poodles are high energy dogs.  They will want to stay busy and active.  Long walks and or a variety of toys or training are important.  So it goes without saying that a standard poodle would need even more exercise.

All poodles need daily exercise.  The size of your poodle will determine how much exercise they need.  The larger the dog the more exercise required.  Poodles love to fetch, swim and do tricks.  They enjoy both physical and mental stimulation.

 

Health:

Before acquiring a pup it is wise to have a few health tests performed just to help screen for any apparent health issues.  Recommended tests include: hip evaluation, eye evaluation, a PRA optigen DNA test and a patella evaluation.

Genetic Issues for the Poodle Breed:

• Willebrand’s Disease
• Epilepsy
• Hip Dysplasia
• Diabetes
• Hepatitis
• Hypothyroidism

Toy Poodles:

• Ear infections
• Skin Conditions
• Luxating patellas
• Eye disorders
• Heart Disorders – DMVD

Miniature:

• Cataracts
• Luxating patellas
• DMVD
• Allergies

 

History:

Standard Poodles are the national dog of France.  This breed goes all the way back to the 1400’s.  Standard poodles were used for hunting and retrieving waterfowl.  Many French nobles had standard poodles as pets.  Miniature poodles were bred next and were sought after by French Royals for household pets.  Toy poodles were the last to be bred in the US in the 20^th century.  This toy breed was designed for urban living.

 

Costs:

Miniature and Toy poodles are not inexpensive.  Costs can range from $2000 to $4000 just to acquire a puppy.  You will then have veterinary bills, grooming, feeding, toys and treats on top of this initial expense.

 

Conclusion:

The Miniature and Toy Poodle is not only adorable but also very affectionate and cheerful dogs. They do not bark much and are great at socializing with other dogs and pets. They come in a wide range of sizes from 6 inches to 12 inches.

 

READ MORE:  Choosing The Right Dog Breed For You