sound , fun - make love , and lovely , toy poodles are some of the skilful menage blackguard in the world .

Poodles have a reputation for being effete , aristocratical weenie . Toy poodles double down on the froo - froo rep withtheir tiny sizeand fancy haircuts . But swear us , these frank are more than glad to get down and dirty . poodle start life ashunting dogsfor the rich and famous in Europe . What made them so pop , however , is their incredible intelligence . more often than not regarded as one of thesmartest dog breeds , poodle dog are extremely trainable , super eager to please people , and love being the center of attention through magic and activities . None of that has change over the years : The poodle consistently range as one of the10 most pop breedsin the world .

We talk with a veterinarian for everything you postulate to know about the toy poodle ’s temperament , livelihood pauperism , care , and wellness concerns .

two white toy poodles with teddy bear haircuts standing next to each other outside

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Appearance

Toy , miniature , andstandard poodlesare all the same breed of frank , so they ’ll look more or less the same — except for their size . Toy poodle dog are the smallest of the three , standing no more than 10 inches tall and generally weighing powerful around 5 pounds .

All three classifications of poodle dog have squarish bodies , more often than not about as long as they are improbable . Poodles have a proud bearing , with head kept high and their enceinte , gloomy - colored middle looking qui vive . Poodle coats come in in a sensational array of color from ignominious , through the brown and yellow colors all the path to whiteness . Bi - colored coat are also run across , though not hugely vernacular .

Easily the most recognizable part of poodle dog ' appearance is their curly pelt pelage . poodle do n’t shed much , making them smashing for owners with allergies . While there aren’ttechnically any hypoallergenic dogs , most people will find toy poodles closelipped enough to not really niggle over it . Additionally , groomers can title a poodle dog ’s fur many unlike way , and the stock has become famous for its gonzo show cuts .

tiny golden toy poodle puppy held in owner’s hands

Yih Chang Chew / EyeEm / Getty

Temperament

poodle are incredibly smart . They tend to weigh themselves a vital part of the family , have potent personality , andlearn things in a flash . They will get lawfully disgruntle if they think they ’re being left out of family activities .

Of course , this disposition is kind of a double - edge sword . Toy poodles aredevoted family petswho love to be the essence of attention , learn trick , andtake walks . They ’re first-class in agility andobedience trainingand willplay with children for hours . Because of their extreme intelligence operation , poodle are even quick to take how to mesh in more complex game such as hide and seek . On the snotty-nosed side , poodles can formulate common accent behaviors associated with legal separation anxiety . If you go out them alone for too long or do n’t give them the attending they deserve , these pups can be peaceful aggressive and do thing theyknowyou do n’t like — while you ’re there to watch .

" miniature are funny and loving , " say Pam Nichols , DVM , prexy of theAmerican Animal Hospital Association . " [ They are ] very gentle and very still , if that is what you require . … They have a singular personality and they are very affectionate . "

three toy poodles with white, red and black fur sitting in a row outside being trained

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People who own a plaything poodle should not pamper him . The toy poodle dog ’s teensy - diminutive size makes it tempting to carry him everywhere , and he ’s so cunning that it ’s no surprise owner are tempted to spoil him rotted . But , again , poodles are brilliant . A toy poodle who is sway everywhere will originate to wait to be carriedeverywhere . As a solvent , every poodle dog owner should take full vantage of the breed ’s brilliance and eagerness to please , and obedience train their pet as quickly as possible .

Living Needs

Here is where the toy poodle ’s aptitude as an idealistic family pet really shines . Whilepoodles can be active dogsand will require some variety of daily exercise , miniature poodle dog can get all their needs taken care of right there on the living way floor . Nichols tell these lilliputian dog will be well-chosen with whatever type and amount of exercise their proprietor provides .

" They are extremely athletic , but not particularly hardy or firm , " she says .

Their tiny sizing makes themmarvelous flat - denizen , and their natural desire to be lapdog establish them great for seniors and people with mobility proceeds . Poodles of all sizesmake great therapy dogs , and dally poodle in particular will make love sitting near you for 60 minutes at a clip .

Toy poodle do great in home with other weenie , and the stock ’s lowerprey cause , high intelligence , and favorable attitude make themideal for house with catsas well . poodle dog bed children and are eager to act , but most vet and breeders will steer households with youngster under the historic period of 10 toward the miniature or stock varieties , simply because the toy dog poodles aresosmall . They can be easily hurt by a falling child or by being handled too roughly . Always supervisechildren when they play with any dogand learn them how to properly interact with favourite .

Care

No strain is perfect , and for toy poodle dog , the biggest reverse is their grooming needs . That pelage that is so caducous - gratis and allergy - well-disposed ? It ’s going to need brushing . A mickle of brush — ideally , every day . Because his haircloth curl in on itself , it ’s highly prone to matting and , if left unchecked , can get skin infections and have to be shaved off entirely .

away from the brush , poodle will demand a bathand haircut every four to six weeks . While show dogs have avariety of complicated cutsto choose from , most non - show owner choose for a more received sporting snub because of its ease to preserve . Like all click , you ’ll call for totrim his nails regularly . extra tending should bepaid to the ears , as their hair will produce up inside the capitulum canal , trap wax and dirt andleading to infections .

Of particular vexation to the miniature poodle mixed bag is dental wellness . Because miniature mixture have the same issue of teeth as other poodle varieties but their mouth are smaller , it ’s easy for solid food to get ensnare and decay to occur rapidly . It ’s important tobrush your toy poodle dog ’s teethtwo to three times a week to prevent plaque buildup , tooth decay , and gingivitis .

Nichols says toy poodle parent also need to make certain these little pup get enough exercise andeat a respectable dietso they don’tbecome obese .

Health

Though the three change of poodles are the same breed , they do not suffer from the same conditions . While thestandard poodlewill be moreprone to bloat , plaything poodles can be slightly more susceptible to blood curdle disorders includingVon Willebrand ’s diseaseandhemophilia .

Toy poodle will also tolerate from vernacular " little dog " maladies such asluxating patellasandLegg - Calvé - Perthes disease , which causes rock-bottom pedigree supply to the head of the second joint bone .

Finally , pocket-size dogs can have a higher proclivity for dental problems . In addition to being atgreater risk for tooth decay , they do n’t lose their puppy teeth as easy as gravid dogs and may eventually need them pull by a veterinarian .

While you need to observe out for those wellness problem , toy dog poodles willlive a long sentence , 10–18 age . Reputable miniature poodle breeder will impart all health testsrecommended by the Canine Health Information Center .

History

The poodle is the home dog-iron of France , which is why you ’ll see many people concern to the stock poodle as the " Gallic poodle dog . " Despite this close tie , poodles actuallygot their beginning in Germany , where they were developed and breed as duck hunters . Today in France , the poodle dog is have it away as thecaniche , which translates to " duck dog . " The word " poodle " derives from the Germanpudelin , which refers to splash in water .

Solely a self-will for the racy and famous throughout the fifteenth and 16th centuries , poodles have been featured inpaintings by Rembrandtand German artistAlbrecht Dürer , among others . Toy poodles commence to see favor by the late 18th C , appearing in artwork and in the courts of Gallic gentry .

The American Kennel Club agnise the poodle as a registered breed in 1887 .

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