Toy Poodle

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Toy Poodle breed is a pure breed dog. The origin of the dog is controversial as nobody knew the true country of origin. There are several claims of the dog's origin but AKC gives the honor to the Germans as they say that it was used as a water retrieval dog.

They are highly smart which makes them very easy to train. Sweet, cheerful, perky and lively. They enjoy being with people. The dog sheds very little to none which makes them perfect for people who are allergy sufferers or does not want to deal with dog hair.

Color

The Toy Poodle's color can come in all solid colors. This includes black, brown, blue, red, white, silver, gray, cream, apricot and cafe-au-lait. There are also some breeders who are breeding parti-colored poodles but these parti-colored dogs are not accepted as show dog competitions.

Coat

The breed's curly/corded long coat need to be groomed more than the usual dog. A more extensive grooming is required if the dog is to be shown. Toy Poodles shed little to no hair which makes them perfect for families with allergy issues. But they require regular clipping. Several types of poodle clips are popular for pet owners which is a pretty easy care clip called pet clip, puppy clip or lamb clip which means that all of the dog's coat is cut short. Some more popular show clips are the English saddle and the Continental clip where the rear half of the dog's body is shaved while bracelets are left around the ankles and there are pom-poms on the tails and hips. Other styles are the modified continental clip, town and country clip, summer clip, kennel or utility clip and the Miami of bikini clip.

Personality

This breed are very smart, sweet, perky, cheerful and lively. They enjoy being with people. Also very amusing, keen and delightful. If they are socialized well and handled by a firm, consistent, confident pack leader, providing daily mental and physical challenges you are sure to have a dog that is trustworthy and mentally stable.

Care

The breed should be bathed regularly and clipped every 1-2 months. Ensure that their ears are clean from wax, mites or infection. The hairs in the ear canals need to be pulled out as they grow. Their teeth requires regular scaling. Some of these dog breed are prone to Immune Meditated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), diabetes, epilepsy, slipped stifle, ear infections, digestive tract problems, heart disorders, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and runny eyes. Problems with their eyes like cataracts and PRA can lead to blindness. They are also prone to skin conditions if groomer doesn't know how to use the clipper. Allergies are also pretty common and are sometimes caused by the shampoo and/or color reinforcer used. Brown Poodles also tend to become prematurely gray.

Training

The Toy Poodle breed are highly intelligent and highly responsive that they are one of the most trainable dog breeds. They are good with children but so much better with older children who can display leadership skills. They tend to develop the Small Dog Syndrome so make sure that do not take over the house.

Activity

This breed are very active for a small dog who needs the regular daily walks. Play will also be able to consume their energy but walking will always satisfy their primal instinct to walk. It keeps them balanced and happy. They will also enjoy running around in dog parks or in a secured area.