Toy Poodle Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

If you’ve ever run across a Toy Poodle before, you would know the breed immediately. These adorable dogs don’t get over 10 inches tall and weigh in at from six to nine pounds tops as adults. One of the smallest of the Poodle breed, this puppy makes up in energy and love what it lacks in height and weight.

Breed Overview

It’s an extremely popular breed of dog with celebrities and ordinary citizens alike. One thing for sure, you’ll have no trouble identifying the breed of this pup, as they are poodles through and through, just a miniature version.

Fun and intelligent, your toy poodle will romp with you during the day, then sink happily onto the couch to cuddle when the sun goes down. If you’re considering purchasing or adopting a Toy Poodle, there are a few things you should know first. We’ll go into what you should know before you buy this breed of pet, the costs you can expect to incur, and a few facts you might not have known about your future family member as well.

Toy Poodle Characteristics

Toy Poodle Puppies

Before you decide to purchase or adopt a Toy Poodle, you need to know a bit about the breed you’re adopting. With their standard curly fur, small appearance, and tiny stance, the Toy Poodle has been called a handbag dog and even a teddy bear. While these things are cute, this pup’s size has nothing to do with its energy levels and loving attitude.

A Toy Poodle is a descendent of its bigger counterpart, the Poodle itself, and the Toy Poodle shares many of the Poodle’s qualities, traits, and even health issues. So if you’re looking for a puppy that you can pamper like you would a newborn baby, and don’t mind pampering sessions at all, then you’ve chosen the right breed of dog for your newest family member.

Selectively bred, the Toy Poodle is as intelligent, sometimes more so, than the standard version of Poodle, it’s bred from. So now that you know a little about the Toy Poodle, it’s time to look at the costs involved in bringing this miniature darling into your own home.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Toy Poodle

Toy Poodles and Poodles in general often get a bad rap as temperamental because they tend to bark a lot. However, the Toy Poodle, like its parents, is actually loving and cuddly. Toy Poodles are calm and welcoming but are known to bark when strangers appear at their front door.

This breed is also very intelligent, which is great for when it comes to training him to get along with other pets, families and even training them to use the bathroom outside.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Toy Poodles are very good with families, but they are good with anyone. So whether you’re single and need a companion or part of an active family, a Toy Poodle will make you a great pet.

However, this breed is better with older children than younger ones because he can be so easily hurt. Also, with the size of the Toy Poodle, smaller children aren’t sure how to handle him and might play too rough. So make sure to instruct children on how they should play with your Toy Poodle, no matter what age they are, for the best results.

While this breed is great for families, they do need to be socialized and trained from an early age to ensure compliance as they get older.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Toy Poodles are sensitive to loud noises, negative emotions, and sudden movements, so while they get along good with other pets, it’s best to keep an eye on them when those pets are around. As with families, it’s easier for your Toy Poodle to get along with other animals if he’s trained and socialized from the time he’s a puppy to do so.

Things to Know When Owning a Toy Poodle:

Now that you know all there is to know about purchasing a Toy Poodle, you’re probably ready to run on out and get one. First, however, you need to know a bit about exercise, training, food and diet requirements, and any major and minor health issues you might have to deal with. So, we’ll go into those things in our last section.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Toy Poodles are tiny, so they don’t require much food to keep them healthy and happy. It’s best to split their food into two meals a day. Most Toy Poodles need from ¼ to ½ of high-quality food a day. However, that’s also going to depend on their metabolism. These little mites will beg for table scraps but watch what you feed them, as they are prone to becoming overweight, and that’s dangerous for this breed.

Exercise 🐕

While a Toy Poodle requires less exercise than the Standard Poodle, they still need enough exercise to help release built-up energy and keep them healthy. It’s recommended that you exercise your Toy Poodle for no more than

While a Toy Poodle requires less exercise than the Standard Poodle, they still need enough exercise to help release built-up energy and keep them healthy. It’s recommended that you exercise your Toy Poodle for no more than 30 minutes a day, including walking and playtime. Remember, they have tiny limbs, so too much exercise can end up with your puppy becoming injured.

Training 🎾

Toy Poodles are intelligent so training them is relatively easy. Positive reinforcement in the form of treats and toys is your best option for training this breed.

As with any other dog, starting early is your best bet if you want a well-trained Toy Poodle when he reaches adulthood.

Grooming ✂️

A Toy Poodle might be miniature, but they still need daily grooming sessions to keep them healthy, looking great, and happy as well. Brush your Toy Poodle every day, or at least every other day, to avoid painful matting and to keep their fur silky and fluffy. You might also want to take your Toy Poodle to the groomer regularly to be pampered and groomed as well.

Health and Conditions 🏥

As with all breeds, you need to be on the lookout for a few serious and minor health conditions. Those will be listed below.

If you notice any symptoms of the above conditions in your Toy Poodle, it’s best to get him to the vet right away from a diagnosis and possible treatment options.

Male vs. Female

There are very few differences between the male and female Toy Poodle. The male is known to be a bit bigger than the female, but that’s where the differences end.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Toy Poodle

Below you’ll find a few little-known facts about the Toy Poodle you might not have known before.

1. Elvis Presley was a Poodle Fan

Elvis Presley was a self-admitted Poodle fan. He loved them so much, in fact, that he often gave them as gifts to family and friends.

2. Toy Poodles Don’t Shed

If you’re looking for a dog that’s hypoallergenic, Toy Poodles don’t shed, making them the perfect choice for many people with allergies.

3. Toy Poodles will Fit in Your Purse

The rumor that celebrities carry their Toy Poodles around in their purses could or could not be accurate. However, what is true is that this pint-sized Poodle would certainly fit in one.

Final Thoughts

Toy Poodles are adorable little mites that would be at home in an apartment or a large house. As long as they have someone with them, they’re happy as they can be. What’s so great about the Toy Poodle is they’ll fit anywhere, including in your handbag. They’re loving, intelligent, and energetic.

If you’ve decided to adopt or purchase a Toy Poodle, do your research to determine this is the right choice of dog for you. Remember, you’re giving this adorable, tiny creature a forever home, and nothing needs to come along that will ruin that for either you or the new pet you love.

• You may also want to read: 8 Best Dog Food for Toy Poodles in – Reviews & Top Picks

Featured Image Credit: Linas T, Shutterstock