Facts about Toy Poodle Puppies

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the breed originated in Germany as a water retriever.

The Poodle comes in 3 sizes - Standard (the largest), Miniature and Toy. The Standard Poodle was developed first and is the prototype for both, the Toy and the Miniature Poodle.

The breed got its name from a German word "pudel", meaning "to splash in water".

Today, the Toy Poodle is one of the most popular companion dogs breeds.

Physical Characteristics of Toy Poodle Puppies

This is the smallest of the Poodle breeds.

It has an elongated head, dark oval eyes, black or liver nose and long drop ears. The tail is docked.

The coat is curly and comes in apricot, black, white, blue, gray, silver, brown and cafe au lait colors.

Temperament

Like all Poodles, this is an intelligent and trainable breed. In fact, it's one of the smartest dog breeds.

It's friendly and loves to be around people. It gets along well with other dogs and children.

They make excellent family pets but...

• some have a shy personality
• some pets get bored quite easily and when they do, trouble tends to find them!

Visit puppy socialization to learn how to make your pet more sociable and easier to get along with.

Best Owner / Living Conditions

The Toy Poodle is more active than his larger cousins but it will still adjust pretty well to an apartment lifestyle. It will do better with a more active owner.

Some Poodle breeders will interview prospective owners to make sure this is the right breed for them.

Activity and Exercise

To prevent boredom and behavioral problems, provide your Toy Poodle with plenty of play and exercise. At a minimum, take him for one or two brisk walks every day.

If you have a fenced yard or can take him to a safe area, your pet will enjoy running off leash.

If your yard is not fenced, consider getting an electronic dog fence. There are a lot of systems that are cheap (a lot cheaper than a physical fence), easy to install and will keep your pet well protected.

Grooming

Most Poodles shed very little, some don't shed at all. Because of little or no shedding, they are good for those suffering from allergies.

Clip the hair every 6 to 8 weeks. You may find it easier to have the clipping done by a professional groomer.

You also need to check their ears for any signs of dog ear mites.

Health Concerns

Like all dog breeds, the Toy Poodle is susceptible to complications caused by parasites such as dog ticks, fleas, and puppy worms, including tapeworms, roundworms, and heartworms.

Additional health concerns include runny eyes, hip dysplasia, PRA, epilepsy, and skin problems. For more information about dog diseases and health, visit dog health problems.

Bloating is another common problem. To deal with it, feed your pet 2 or 3 smaller meals instead of 1 large one.

To reduce the risk of the above and many other health problems, buy only from reputable Toy Poodle breeders (visit dog breeders to learn how to identify responsible dog breeders).

No matter how small the risk of health problems is, any puppy may get sick or injured. Many health problems will require an immediate attention from your Vet, but there are many others that will not, and you may handle them on your own.

To save time and money, learn how to diagnose and treat dog health problems that don't require your Vet's attention.

Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy for a Toy Poodle puppy is between 12 and 15 years.

Did you ever consider adopting your next pet?

If this is the breed you are interested in, and adoption appeals to you, consider contacting your local Toy Poodle rescue. There are thousands of pets waiting for a loving home and, yes, it's possible to adopt a purebred dog.