Toy Poodle Facts
Toy Poodle: Poodles are a group of formal dog breeds, the Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle. The origin of the breed is still discussed, with a prominent dispute over whether the poodle descends from Germany as a type of water dog, or from the French Barbet.
Ranked second most intelligent dog breed just behind the Border Collie, the poodle is skillful in many dog sports and activities, including agility, obedience, tracking to herding, circus performers and assistance dogs. Poodles have taken top honors in many conformation shows, including “Best in Show” at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1991 and 2002, and at the World Dog Show in 2007 and 2010.
History
Even though this breed is associated with France, the early ancestors of the Toy Poodle were likely to be the Central Asian curly-coated dogs. These ancestors helped in herding and followed their masters to various routes taking them to different parts of Europe.
Many rough-coated water dogs are also said to be the ancestors of the Poodle. Poodle is derived from pudel, a German word meaning “to splash,” or puddle, indicating the breed’s water abilities. It was also known as chien canard in France, reflecting its duck-hunting abilities. The Poodle served as a guard dog, military dog, wagon puller, guide dog, and a circus performer.
For swimming, its coat was sheared but was left a little long on the chest to keep it warm. The Poodle later became a stylish companion for trendy ladies. The French aristocracy also favored it and finally it became France’s national dog. The dog’s characteristic clip was highlighted and smaller varieties of the breed were successfully made.
Toy Poodle Puppies
Miniature and Toy Poodles were created by gradually scaling down the Standard Poodle. This was first done for specific hunting tasks. But changed to breed them for companionship. Toy Poodles aren’t a recent development, in fact they’re widely documented as far back as the 18th Century!
Poodles are loved by everyone throughout history. In fact they’ve even been a popular pet for celebrities and royalty! Elvis was one of these well known Poodle lovers! He adored Poodles so much he often gave them as gifts to his loved ones.
Generally your Toy Poodle should appear squarely built and well proportioned. They have dark, oval eyes and their ears hang close to their heads. Toy Poodles have long, straight muzzles, and of course a very distinctive coat. Let’s take a look at their coat in more detail.
Red Toy Poodle
The red Toy Poodle is a purebred Poodle with a red coat. Many experts believe his red coloring is the result of a recessive gene that has led to the darkening of the natural apricot or brown shade in his fur. This rare colored pup has many people falling head over heels in love.
Does this unique and stunning coat color have any coloration on the breed’s health or temperament? Poodles, in general, make fabulous pets due to their family-friendly nature, clever mind, and knack for performing. However, the color of a dog’s coat is still a hot topic among those who believe some colors are linked to health and temperamental issues
Black Toy Poodle
With so many Poodle colors, many cannot choose a favorite. However, the stunning solid black and the snowy pure white are the 2 most common Poodle colors. When it comes to a black Poodle, let’s take a look at how one may be confused when the puppy is a newborn and begin to look at the genes that are involved with this color dog.
Poodles have 2 coats of hair, an outer coat (the one that you will see) and the inner coat (the one which you will usually only see when grooming). In a study using 50 Poodles and using a microscope to study hairs, it has been found that: 70% of black poodles have a black inner coat. The remaining 30% have inner colors ranging from grey to blue.
3 different colored Poodles can be born black. Therefore, if you have or see a black Poodle newborn puppy, one must look at the points of the dog and the pup’s pedigree to determine if a change will take place.
The 3 colored Poodles that are born black are:
- Blues
- Silvers
- True Blacks
Toy Poodle Breeders
Grooming. A lot of people are attracted to Poodles because they’re so light-shedding and hypoallergenic. But light shedding always comes with a trade-off. In the Poodle’s case, it’s the amount of clipping they require. To keep their curly coat short and free of mats, Toy Poodles require clipping every 4 to 6 weeks. Without fail.
Avoiding neurotic temperaments. Whenever a breed is common, many people breed them just to make some money, without having enough knowledge of how to produce healthy, stable dogs. As a result, obedience instructors and behavioral consultants, like myself, see lots of Poodles with neurotic behaviors, including hyperactivity and senseless barking. Obviously you want to avoid those dogs!
How Much Is A Toy Poodle?
Giant and standard pups cost around $1000 from your average, reliable pup breeder. For toy poodle puppies, it can be anywhere between $1200 and $2000+ depending on the gender and coat. Minis can go for a massive $6000 if at breed standard or as little as $700 from a standard reliable breeder.
Are Toy Poodles Good Family Dogs?
But whatever the build, a good Toy Poodle is one of the smartest and most trainable of all breeds. With other dogs and cats, Toy Poodles are peaceful and accepting. However, this breed is by no means perfect. Besides the regular clipping, they do need daily exercise, as they are lively dogs.
Are Toy Poodles Smart?
The smallest of the Poodles, your Toy is a highly trainable, very intelligent, athletic, and versatile breed. While you might have chosen a Toy Poodle because they are lovable and loyal companions and excellent dogs for small living spaces, your dog’s ancestors were considerably larger.
How Big Is A Toy Poodle?
There are three sizes of Poodle: toy, miniature, and standard. These aren’t different breeds, just different sizes of the same dog. The Toy Poodle stands up to 10 inches tall, and weighs about six to nine pounds. The Miniature Poodle stands 11 to 15 inches tall and weighs 15 to 17 pounds.