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If you’re looking for a small dog then a toy poodle might be the breed for you.
Now you may be wondering how big do toy poodles get when full grown?
A toy poodle may be a maximum of 10 inches in height at the shoulder to be considered a toy poodle and not a miniature poodle.
Whether they stand at 10, 15, or 20 inches in height, the poodle is an intelligent dog that needs time everyday to exercise and stretch its legs.
Toy poodles were bred to be the clever companions of city dwellers with condos in the 1900s. Although they look demure, they have the heart of a hunting dog that is always raring to go.
However, the toy poodle is not the ideal dog for everyone, as they can be fairly demanding in terms of how much time and money you need to spend on their needs every day.
Read on to find out if your home is the right one for a toy poodle to take over!
Main Breed Characteristics Of The Toy Poodle
Before we do a deep dive into the toy poodle and determine whether it is the dog for you, let’s take a quick look at the main characteristics of this tiny ball of energy and fur.
- Breed Name: Toy poodle
- Height: Maximum 10 inches
- Weight: 5 to 10 pounds
- Average Lifespan: 15 to 18 years
Coat Color: Apricot, white, cream, red, black, gray, blue, brown, café au lait, silver, silver-beige
Where Do Toy Poodles Come From?
Poodles were originally bred in France starting in the 1600s.
However, if you’re looking for a poodle in France, you won’t find one, because instead of being called the “French poodle” by locals, they are referred to as “caniche,” which translates to the title of the job they were originally bred to do: duck hunter.
Early standard poodles in the 1600s and 1700s would accompany hunters on their hunts for waterfowl and retrieve the birds from the icy cold bodies of water.
The poodle’s fur was bred to be tough and thick in order to protect their joints and organs from the cold water.
The standard poodle was highly intelligent, athletic, and well-loved. A smaller version was sought after by truffle hunters and circus owners.
As a result, the miniature poodle was developed for its agility and slightly smaller size.
Not wanting to be left out, city dwellers wanted their own variety of poodle that was small enough to live in apartments but still retained the breed’s trademark sporty nature and keen intellect.
By the 1900s, the even-smaller toy poodle we know today was developed.
How Big Do Toy Poodles Get?
According to the breed standard, an adult poodle is considered a toy if it is a maximum of 10 inches in height at the shoulder.
Miniature poodles stand at a maximum of 15 inches in height, and the standard poodle stands anywhere over 15 inches in height.
The height restrictions are enforced strictly, especially if the dog is being entered into competitions.
Whether they are standard, miniature, or toy, the poodle is well-loved and ranks as the seventh most popular dog breed by the American Kennel Club.
Toy Poodles At Birth
At birth, toy poodles are miniscule and typically weigh in at under a pound!
It is important to note breeding these dogs can be tricky and dangerous if you don’t have experience dealing with puppies this small.
Toy poodle puppies are very fragile during this time.
Toy Poodles At 3 Months
At three months old, most toy poodles will have grown to a little over two pounds and will be tottering around on the tiniest of paws.
They will begin putting on weight more quickly following this growth stage.
Toy Poodles At 6 Months
At six months old, most toy poodles will have gained a fair amount of weight and will be nearing the height they will end up being as an adult.
By this time, they will be very active and giving you a good run for your money!
Toy Poodles At 9 Months
At nine months old, your toy poodle will likely be nearly fully grown.
Some toy poodles may bulk up slightly and put on an additional half of a pound or so by the 12-month mark.
Is The Toy Poodle The Dog For You?
While the toy poodle is an adorable fluff ball, it is not the ideal dog for everyone or for every home.
It takes a special kind of person to care for a toy poodle so the dog can live a full, healthy, and happy life.
Here are the big questions to think about if you are considering a toy poodle based on their size and breed.
Do You Have The Time To Train Your Toy Poodle?
Toy poodles are insanely intelligent. They require as much mental stimulation as a standard poodle twice or three times their size.
This means they need to be trained properly to follow a variety of commands as well as receive daily mental stimulation.
Mental stimulation is key to preventing your toy poodle from becoming bored and destroying anything in its reach or from becoming sad and moody.
You can mentally stimulate your toy poodle by giving it puzzles, lick mats, and snuffle blankets.
Do You Have The Time To Exercise Your Toy Poodle?
Even though toy poodles are tiny compared to standard poodles, they need the same amount of exercise time.
One to two hours of daily physical exercise will help keep your toy poodle active, healthy, and sufficiently worn out.
A toy poodle that is brimming with energy from being cooped up in an apartment or condo all day will suffer from anxiety issues, behavioral problems, and start to take their frustration out on their surroundings by chewing on your valuables and yapping the day away.
Daily hikes, walks, obstacle courses, or runs around town will keep your poodle happy and healthy.
Do You Have The Patience To Groom Your Toy Poodle?
Toy poodles are a fraction of the size of standard poodles. However, they require the same amount of grooming.
Poodles do not shed their hair as frequently as many other dog breeds, which has led many people to incorrectly calling them hypoallergenic.
No dog is truly hypoallergenic, as all dogs shed their hair and dead skin cells. Still, poodles are as close as you could come to having a hypoallergenic dog.
That being said, they need to have their coats brushed once a day–not to remove loose hair, but to prevent knots from forming in their thick curly coats.
This takes dedication and time on an owner’s part.
Every six to eight months, your toy poodle will also need to go for a haircut to prevent their coat from getting too long and matting.
Finally, poodles are excellent swimmers, and the toy poodle is no different.
However, if their coat gets wet, they need to be dried and brushed immediately to prevent their coat from cording.
What Kind Of Family Do You Have?
Toy poodles are not large enough dogs to withstand the attention of small children.
As puppies, they can easily fit in the small hands of toddlers who don’t understand their own strength and the delicate nature of a toy poodle’s body.
Toy poodles fare best in homes with no children or older children who are responsible enough to handle such a small dog with care.
FAQs About A Toy Poodle’s Size
Does the size of my poodle make a difference to its lifespan?
Yes, the size of your poodle will actually affect its lifespan.
The smaller your poodle is (such as the toy), the longer their lifespan will be.
Standard poodles live for 10 to 12 years on average, miniature poodles live for 12 to 15 years on average, and the toy poodle lives for 15 to 18 years on average.
Is there a difference between the size of male and female toy poodles?
Male toy poodles are slightly larger than female toy poodles as is common in almost all dog breeds.
However, because the breed is so small, the difference comes down to just a few pounds. Males typically weigh 7 to 10 pounds, whereas female toy poodles weigh 6 to 9 pounds.
Is there a difference between toy and teacup poodles?
Toy poodles are a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club separate from the standard and miniature poodles, whereas the teacup poodle is not.
A teacup poodle is considered to be just a very small toy poodle.
Can you get toy varieties of poodle crossbreeds?
If a breed is successfully crossed with a standard poodle, it can be crossed with a toy poodle to get a smaller variety.
Obviously, logistics and safety must play a role as a giant breed, such as the Great Dane, will produce a puppy that would be too large for a toy poodle to carry or safely give birth to.
There are many varieties of poodle crosses that can produce adorable toy versions such as the corgipoo, the Aussiedoodle, goldendoodle, and the Whoodle.
Rolling Over On How Big Toy Poodles Get…
How big do toy poodles get?
A toy poodle can be a maximum of 10 inches at the shoulder to be considered a toy poodle and not a miniature poodle.
Toy poodles are every bit as intelligent, agile, and needy as their larger counterparts.
Finally, let’s recap the main characteristics of the toy poodle before you decide whether it’s the dog for you.
- Breed Name: Toy poodle
- Height: Maximum 10 inches
- Weight: 5 to 10 pounds
- Average Lifespan: 15 to 18 years
- Coat Color: Apricot, white, cream, red, black, gray, blue, brown, café au lait, silver, silver-beige
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