Toy Poodles have become extremely popular due to their adorable size and interactive nature. They can be groomed to display a variety of different hairstyles, and they love spending time with humans no matter their age. Toy Poodles are much like Standard Poodles, just smaller! So, how much do Toy Poodles cost?

Here is everything that you need to know.

Bringing Home a New Toy Poodle: One-Time Costs

Bringing a Toy Poodle home is usually not a cheap endeavor, although there are certain instances when you might find a free dog of this breed to call your own. There are always breeders to buy from, but that’s far from your only option.

Free

The only way that you can get a free Toy Poodle is to find a stray one and rescue it or find someone who is looking to get rid of theirs for one reason or another. But getting a Toy Poodle for free does not mean that won’t cost you anything once you get the dog home.

A stray dog will likely require extra veterinarian care, and all dogs require things like bedding, toys, food and water dishes, and the food itself.

Adoption

Another option to consider is adoption. You can expect to pay an adoption fee, as this helps cover the veterinarian, vaccination, and general care costs that the adoption center incurred when taking the animal in. But this fee should be minimal compared to buying from a breeder. Depending on where you live, the condition of the dog, and the rescue center you work with, adoption fees could be anywhere from $25 to $200, give or take.

Breeder

Reputable breeders take pride in their puppies and ensure that they come from the best pedigrees and ancestries. They also make sure their dogs get the best vet care possible. Therefore, they command a high price for their pups. Expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for a Toy Poodle from a breeder.

It’s important to keep in mind that there are many unwanted doggies in the world, so if you can find a stray Toy Poodle or adopt one from a rescue center, you can help be a part of the solution and feel proud that you’re keeping a dog off the street or from becoming the victim of euthanasia. If you do decide to buy from a breeder, consider spaying or neutering to help ensure that no unwanted pets come into the world on your watch.

Initial Setup and Supplies

There are many supplies that you will need to purchase to ensure that your new Toy Poodle is well taken care of. It’s not just food, water, and a safe place to sleep that you need to get.

Check out this breakdown of initial costs:

List of Toy Poodle Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Toy Poodle Cost to Care for Per Month?

The cost of caring for your Toy Poodle can vary depending on the dog’s needs and your preferences. You will likely spend on the lower side of these estimates most months, but there may be months when costs run toward the higher end. Here is a breakdown of potential monthly costs as a Toy Poodle owner.

Healthcare

You may go months without having to spend any money on your Toy Poodle’s healthcare, but there will be times when spending money on vet visits is unavoidable. You may spend $100 for a checkup or just a few dollars on flea preventative care. There also may come a time when your dog has an accident or gets ill, and you will need to pay hundreds of dollars for treatments.

Food

Depending on the type of food that you decide to feed your Toy Poodle, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $150 a month on dog food. It’s a good idea to ask your vet for recommendations, as they can determine whether your dog has any allergies or special nutrition requirements.

Grooming

Toy Poodles must be groomed regularly to keep their coats in good shape. However, there is a bit of leeway when it comes to how you groom your dog, which affects the costs of overall grooming in a given month. You can purchase a hair trimmer, a good comb or brush, and nail clippers once, and then do the grooming yourself at home for free.

Alternatively, you can pay someone else to do it for you, which could cost anywhere from $25 to about $100, depending on the specific services that you get.

Medications and Vet Visits

All dogs require regular vet visits to ensure good health and a long, happy life. A wellness checkup should happen once a year, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $250, depending on the services rendered. You won’t have to worry about monthly vet visits unless your Toy Poodle gets ill or injured. Medications may cost a monthly fee, whether temporarily or for a lifetime.

Medicine costs can vary widely, but you can expect to pay between $5 and $200 per month for as long as necessary. If your dog gets injured or requires surgery due to an illness, you could spend thousands on services to address the issue. Basically, medication and vet costs per month could theoretically be nothing or thousands of dollars depending on the month and the situation that your dog is in.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance typically covers unexpected illnesses and injuries, but not wellness care. So, while you may still have to pay out-of-pocket for things like checkups and vaccinations, you can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on vet costs if your Toy Poodle were to get seriously ill or injured.

The cost of pet insurance can range from about $30 to about $50 a month, depending on the plan and company that you decide to go with.

Environment Maintenance

Environment maintenance involves the things that you must spend money on each month to maintain a high quality of life for your pup. For example, you may have to buy puppy pads for a few months while you potty train your Toy Poodle. Toys tend to get ruined and need to be replaced regularly.

Treats and snacks are always handy to have on hand. Here’s a breakdown of average monthly costs for such things:

Entertainment

The truth is that you don’t have to spend any money to entertain your dog. Giving your dog time and attention, making sure they have plenty of toys and opportunities to run around and play outside, and working on training regularly are all things that you can do to keep your dog entertained each day.

However, you can spend money on things like camping and taking road trips to offer even more entertainment to your dog, and you’ll benefit from the entertainment value too.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Toy Poodle

Sometimes, certain costs are out of your control, but most of the time, you should be able to manage expenses as you see fit. It is a good idea to plan ahead and consider starting a savings account, where you can put away a portion of your paycheck so you can pay for unexpected vet costs.

This should help ensure that you can easily budget for the costs without having to sacrifice your household’s overall quality of life in the process.

Additional Costs to Factor In

There are additional costs that you might have to factor in while caring for a Toy Poodle as time goes on. For instance, if you decide to go on vacation and you can’t take your dog along, you may have to pay a sitter or a boarding kennel to care for them while you are away.

Your dog might end up damaging something in your household as they learn obedience training, so you may incur extra costs unexpectedly for this reason. Behavioral training is also something that you might want to pay for if you aren’t experienced when it comes to training a dog or if your dog displays behavioral issues that you can’t fix yourself.

These are just more reasons to consider maintaining a savings account for your dog. If you have money saved, you won’t have to worry about things like possibly canceling a vacation due to the added costs of a dog sitter.

Owning a Toy Poodle on a Budget

If you can find a Toy Poodle for free or at a rescue center, utilize state-funded service programs (like those for spaying and neutering), and if you opt for less expensive commercial food, you can take care of a Toy Poodle on a budget. However, costs should never be cut when it comes to checkups, vaccinations, illness treatment, and items for nutrition and comfort.

Therefore, you must have a budget of at least $50 a month to manage the most basic needs of your dog.

Saving Money on Toy Poodle Care

There are always ways to save money on caring for your pet Toy Poodle. First, don’t outsource any of the work. Learn how to potty and obedience train your dog yourself instead of hiring a professional trainer. You can find training books at the library and training videos online for guidance.

Instead of utilizing a grooming service, buy clippers and a good brush, and do the grooming yourself. Instead of buying expensive toys, make them out of old clothes and unbreakable objects that you find around the house. Go on long walks rather than gas-guzzling drives. Spend time at the dog park instead of using electricity at home watching television.

Make your own doggy treats utilizing food in your kitchen instead of buying commercial ones. You can also save money by being proactive with your dog’s health. Daily exercise, a proper diet, and plenty of attention will go a long way. Regular checkups can help catch problems before they become too expensive to address.

Conclusion

Toy Poodles are adorable little dogs that deserve plenty of love and attention throughout their lives. These dogs, if purebred, are not usually cheap, though, and you’ll be lucky to find a truly purebred one for free or at a rescue center.

Many aspects of care will end up costing you money sooner or later, so it’s important to make sure you can financially care for a Toy Poodle before you consider taking one home for good.

---

Featured Image Credit: NDAB Creativity, Shutterstock