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Toy Poodle

Breed Dog Canis lupus familiaris

Written with AI assistance, not yet checked by a person. Treat the details as a starting point and confirm important decisions with a vet or a breeder.

Overview

The smallest poodle size, about 24-28 cm at the shoulder. Clever, lively and easy to train, with a curly coat that needs clipping every 6-8 weeks. Puppies are tiny and need frequent meals.

The poodle is one breed in four sizes (standard, medium, miniature and toy) in the FCI standard. It has a curly, low-shedding coat that keeps growing and must be clipped every few weeks, and is one of the most trainable breeds. France is the country of origin in the FCI standard.

Recognised by: FCI.

Care difficulty
Intermediate
Coat type
Curly
Colours and markings
Solid colours: black, white, brown, grey, fawn (apricot) and red; some clubs also accept particoloured dogs.
FCI group
9
Original purpose
Originally a water retriever (standard size); the small sizes were bred as companions.
Adult weight
2–4 kg
Adult height (shoulder/withers)
24–28 cm
Friendliness
Affection towards owner
Energy level
Trainability
Noise level
Shedding
Grooming need
Good with children
Good with other pets
Suitable for apartment living
Tolerance of being alone
Prey drive
Temperament
Bright, people-oriented and sensitive. Learns fast with reward-based training and gets bored and noisy without mental work.
Exercise needed per day
30–60 min
Friendliness to strangers
Drooling

Does this suit me? Est-ce sans danger ? Aliments et plantes toxiques

Health and common problems

These are common issues for this animal, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your animal, see a vet.

Hypoallergenic (low allergen)
Non
Heat tolerance
Cold tolerance

Collapsing trachea

Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 4 ans to 12 ans Typical vet cost €100–€600

The cartilage rings of the windpipe are weak and flatten, so the airway narrows. It is typical of toy breeds and often worsens with age, excess weight and pulling on a collar.

Signs to look for
A dry, honking cough, especially with excitement or pulling on the lead; noisy breathing; tiring quickly.
How to handle it
A vet can prescribe cough and airway medication; severe cases may need a procedure.
Prevention
Walk on a harness, not a collar, and keep the dog slim.
When to see a vet
When the cough becomes frequent, and at once if the gums turn bluish or the dog struggles to breathe.
First aid
Use a harness instead of a collar, keep the dog slim and calm during coughing fits, and avoid smoke.

Epilepsy

Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 6 mois to 6 ans Typical vet cost €200–€800

Repeated seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In dogs it is often inherited (idiopathic) and starts between about 6 months and 6 years of age.

Signs to look for
Falling over, paddling legs, stiffness, drooling, loss of bladder control, confusion afterwards; milder seizures can be just twitching or staring.
How to handle it
Long-term medication prescribed and monitored by a vet; keep a seizure diary.
Screening tests (ask your breeder)
No reliable DNA test for the common form; breeders should not breed from affected dogs.
When to see a vet
After any first seizure. Go at once if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or several follow each other.
First aid
Move furniture away, keep hands away from the mouth, dim the light and time the seizure. Film it if you can.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 4 mois to 12 mois Typical vet cost €1,000–€3,000

The blood supply to the head of the thigh bone fails in a young small dog, so the bone breaks down and the hip becomes painful. It usually appears between about 4 and 12 months of age.

Signs to look for
Limping on one hind leg that gets worse over weeks, wasting of the thigh muscle, pain when the hip is moved.
How to handle it
Usually treated with surgery on the hip followed by physiotherapy; most dogs walk well afterwards.
Screening tests (ask your breeder)
No DNA test; avoid breeding from affected lines.
When to see a vet
When a young small-breed dog limps on a hind leg for more than a few days. Treatment is often surgery.
First aid
Limit jumping and stairs and keep the dog comfortable until it is examined.

Low blood sugar in toy puppies (juvenile hypoglycaemia)

Frequency: Uncommon Urgence Starts from 1 mois to 4 mois Typical vet cost €50–€300

Very small puppies have little energy reserve, so missed meals, cold, stress or illness can make their blood sugar drop quickly.

Signs to look for
Weakness, trembling, wobbling, glassy eyes, sleepiness that is hard to wake from, seizures.
Prevention
Feed small meals 4-5 times a day while the puppy is small; keep it warm.
When to see a vet
Immediately. Feed toy puppies small meals several times a day to prevent it.
First aid
Keep the puppy warm and rub a little honey or sugar syrup on the gums if it is conscious, then go to a vet at once.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

Frequency: Uncommon Serious Starts from 3 ans to 8 ans Typical vet cost €100–€400

An inherited disease in which the retina slowly dies. It is not painful, but it leads to night blindness first and then to full blindness. DNA tests exist for several forms.

Signs to look for
Bumping into things in dim light, reluctance to go out at night, wide pupils, eyes that shine more than usual.
How to handle it
There is no cure; blind dogs cope well with a stable home layout and voice cues.
Prevention
Buy from breeders who DNA-test their dogs (prcd-PRA in poodles).
Screening tests (ask your breeder)
DNA test for prcd-PRA and regular eye examinations of breeding dogs.
When to see a vet
When the dog seems unsure in the dark or its eyes look different; an eye vet confirms the diagnosis.
First aid
Keep the furniture in the same place and use the voice to guide the dog. Blind dogs adapt well at home.

Patellar luxation

Frequency: Common Modéré Starts from 6 mois to 4 ans Typical vet cost €50–€2,500

The kneecap slips out of its groove. It is common in small breeds and ranges from occasional skipping to a permanently dislocated knee.

Signs to look for
Sudden skipping on a hind leg, holding a leg up for a few steps, then walking normally again.
How to handle it
Mild grades are often managed with weight control and muscle-building exercise; higher grades may need surgery. A vet grades the knee.
Prevention
Keep the dog slim, use ramps or steps to furniture and limit jumping from heights.
Screening tests (ask your breeder)
Breeding dogs should have their knees examined and graded by a vet.
When to see a vet
When skipping happens regularly, the dog limps for a day or more, or cries out.
First aid
Keep the dog calm and do not try to push the kneecap back yourself.

Dental disease

Frequency: Very common Modéré Starts from 2 ans to 8 ans Typical vet cost €150–€500

Plaque and tartar build up and inflame the gums, which can loosen teeth and let bacteria enter the blood. It is one of the most common health problems in dogs, cats and small mammals.

Signs to look for
Bad breath, red or bleeding gums, drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth.
How to handle it
Professional cleaning under anaesthesia when tartar or gum disease is present; loose teeth are removed by the vet.
Prevention
Brush the teeth daily from puppyhood with dog toothpaste; small mouths crowd the teeth and tartar builds up fast.
When to see a vet
If you see loose or broken teeth, swollen cheeks, or the animal stops eating normally.
First aid
Gentle tooth brushing with pet toothpaste and suitable chews help prevention. Do not use human toothpaste.

Care and maintenance

  • Brush the coat every 2 days

    Brush and comb down to the skin; curly coats mat close to the skin even when the surface looks fine.

  • Clip at the groomer every 6 weeks

    A full clip every 6-8 weeks keeps the coat manageable.

  • Check and clean the ears every week

    Look for redness, smell or discharge; hair in the ear canal is removed only if the vet advises it.

Connexion to add these tasks to your reminders for your Toy Poodle.

Who it gets along with

Worked out from the traits of this animal. Individual animals differ, and introductions should always be slow and supervised.

Usually good with

  • Cats
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (4/5).
  • Dogs
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (4/5).
  • Small pets
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (4/5).
  • Birds
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (4/5).
  • Fish
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (4/5).
  • Seniors
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (4/5).

Be careful with

  • Children
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (3/5).
  • Strangers
    Based on the typical temperament of Toy Poodle (3/5).

Set-up and food

Alimentation

  • Complete dry food for small breeds

Never feed: Chocolate, Cooked bones, Grapes and raisins, Onion and garlic, Xylitol (sweetener in gum and sweets). Full toxic foods checker

Family tree

Varieties and crosses of Toy Poodle

General information, not veterinary advice. Every animal is an individual. Typical values and costs are estimates. Talk to a vet, a breeder or a shelter before you decide, and see a vet if your animal is unwell.

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