Toy Poodles are extremely intelligent and affectionate, making them great therapy dogs.
Toy poodles are highly intelligent and devoted, making them a crucial part of any family. They are very affectionate towards their human family, and this love extends to their other family members as well. If properly socialized at a young age, toy poodles have no problem with other dogs, cats, or children. Their intelligence helps them learn games they can play with the kids, such as hide and seek.
This intelligence comes with a downside, however. Toy Poodles quickly learn what is expected of them, and if they feel they are being left out or ignored, they will act out due to being such clever pups. These negative habits can be countered with vigilant training and rewarding good behavior. Eager to please, Toy Poodles will quickly come to love the praise and appreciation that comes as a result of their good choices.
Toy Poodles can thrive in both a small apartment or a full-sized home, but special care must be taken to ensure they get their energy out in an appropriate manner. Highly energetic and playful, it is best to keep them focused on a task that will test their mind or train their agility. This training can extend to their need to bark, allowing them to alert you when there is a visitor without being excessive. With these visitors, you can expect your dog to be largely friendly, unless they are threatened or made to feel uneasy.
With proper care for your toy poodle, you can expect a long, healthy life for your new family member. Daily walks and mental health exercises that encourage ongoing learning will help them lead a fulfilling life. However, the breed is prone to certain health issues, so it’s best to understand these conditions.
Despite how scary the name sounds, this condition is largely manageable with medication and careful monitoring. It is usually found in middle-aged and older dogs where their coughs are violent and loud but unproductive.
Patellar luxation. This occurs when the dog’s patella (kneecap) shifts out of alignment. Owners may notice a skip in their dog’s step for short periods, then return to normal as if nothing happened. Surgical treatment may be needed for dogs with a more severe grade of patellar luxation because it can lead to long-term problems such as arthritis.
Gingivitis and other diseases related to oral health are more common with this breed than with some others. As with any chronic health issue, it’s better to be proactive with your dog’s oral health to prevent problems in the future. From water additives to dental chews, there’s a lot you can do to keep your pup’s mouth clean.
Also known as PRA, this degenerative eye disorder affects the photoreceptors at the back of the eye, eventually causing blindness. PRA is a hereditary condition, though most reputable breeders have their dogs’ eyes certified annually by a veterinary ophthalmologist and don’t breed dogs with the disease. Toy Poodles are also prone to cataracts.
Mitral valve degeneration occurs when the valves responsible for moving blood through each chamber of your dog’s heart deteriorate. While the cause is unknown, vets believe that genetics may play a part.
No one wants to think that their dog will be the one that comes down with a condition or illness, but it is very important to be ready in case you are one of the unlucky few. The cost of taking care of your toy poodle can extend from a simple veterinary visit all the way up to thousands of dollars. You don’t want to see your friend suffer needlessly, so it is best to start planning now to help them in the future. Setting up a pet savings account will help with budgeting any future medical expenses, and you can also look into purchasing pet health insurance to help with any unexpected events.
To understand where your little Toy Poodle puppy came from, it is important to know their heritage. Poodles are often shown in the media as fancy dogs that are dainty, lofty show dogs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Poodles originated in Germany as water fowl retrievers. Pudel or Pudelin, their German name, means “splashing the water.” They are so well known for their retrieving abilities that standard Poodles are the only non-sporting dog breed that is eligible for the AKC Retriever Hunting Tests.
Your Toy Poodle comes from a strong lineage of retrievers that wanted to do all they could for their human companion to make them happy with them. Smaller standard poodles were bred with each other to create the miniature and toy variants, but they did not lose any of their instincts. French owners have been known to use the toy poodle’s keen instincts and high intelligence to search for mushrooms and truffles for their cuisine.
The American Kennel Club recognized the Toy Poodle as an official breed in 1887, and since then, they have found their way into the hearts of many loving families.
Choosing to bring a new puppy home is a big decision, but betterpet can help make your first few weeks with your toy poodle less stressful. By using our guides to puppy-proof your home and prepare for the teething stage, you can avoid some of the initial transition headaches. With that taken care of, you will have a moment to breathe before tackling the first trip to the vet and scheduling your dog’s vaccinations.
As scary as it can be to think of your pet getting lost, it’s best to be prepared. Sign up for FidoAlert and get the free Fido ID tag that will help find them again.
Finally, be careful when traveling with your dog to the vet and to other locations; invest in a proper carrying case or harness that can be buckled into your vehicle in case of an accident.
Proper exercise is obviously important for your Toy Poodle’s physical health, but it is also very helpful for their behavioral and social health. It will give you time to take them around strangers to help them grow more comfortable around people. Exercise also helps to rid your pup of any excess energy that could become destructive stress or anxiety. In addition to regular walks, your Toy Poodle would benefit from play time, agility training, games, and other training exercises that keep their body and mind active.
In summer, plan for a break in the shade and on soft grass so your dog can relax with some water to drink and stay hydrated. In winter, use paw wax and nose butter to protect both from the elements, and make sure to dress yourself and your Toy Poodle in clothing that will help with the cold.
Daily brushing is in your future; there is no way around it. Owning a toy poodle comes with a lot of responsibilities, one of which is proper grooming. Because they have hair rather than fur, poodles have a tendency to get matted very easily. Therefore, you must make a habit of brushing them everyday to try and keep that from happening. It is important to go completely from root to tip to make sure none of it is missed.
Thankfully, there are multiple haircuts that can help alleviate some of this stress. It is common to keep your poodle’s hair trimmed in a short clip. This keeps their coat thick over their hips, chest, and leg joints to keep them insulated against the cold. The rest of their body, however, will have short hair that is much easier to groom and take care of. This will also make it easier to keep them regularly bathed, which should be done every 3-4 weeks to maintain good skin and coat health.
While no breed is truly hypoallergenic, Toy Poodles’ hair makes them considerably less allergenic than other breeds. Allergic reactions occur due to the protein found in a dog’s dander, hair, and saliva. Rather than shedding freely like other dog breeds, Poodles’ hair falls back into itself and can be removed with brushing rather than letting it drift in the air freely.
It is important that you give your Toy Poodle food that is rich in what they need to stay energetic. There are many good food choices available, and it is important to make sure you choose the right one.
It’s best to ask your veterinarian for advice on how often you should feed your Toy Poodle. Generally, 2-3 meals a day is best for adults, while puppies benefit from 3-4. This splits up their eating schedule so that your dog is not going to be too hungry between meals.
Toy Poodles are extremely intelligent and eager to please, so training them should be fairly easy. They are agile and excel in canine sports such as obedience, tracking, and agility training. Poodles also greatly enjoy water-oriented sports, so letting them near the water will be training and rewarding for your pup.
With their intelligent, people-oriented personalities, Toy Poodles will excel if your training methods are fun and engaging. Your dog will want to please you and be rewarded for it, so they will quickly learn the habits you want them to learn. However, with this intelligence, you must be vigilant not to let bad habits take root. They can become confused if you are not consistent, so make sure you do not lead your puppy astray when issuing commands.
Not quite sure that a Toy Poodle is right for you? Even if you are, it’s worth taking the time to research and consider other similar breeds. Here are a few to get you started:
Measuring at 10 inches at the shoulders and less than 6 pounds, Toy Poodles are easily manageable and very small dogs.
Toy Poodles can become overly dependent on their people and could suffer from separation anxiety, but proper training can help to mitigate this. Assigning them a task before you leave the house will help keep them distracted and awaiting your approval while you are gone.
Compared to standard poodles, toys are much easier to maintain as they have much less hair that you have to groom. However, they do require daily grooming care, so it is relative to whether or not you are willing to put in that daily, necessary effort.
Toy Poodles are extremely intelligent and easy to train. You just have to be careful because their high intelligence means they can quickly learn bad habits.
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