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Toy Poodle Breed and Insurance Guide

By Christy True and medically reviewed by Jennifer Coates, DVM
published: January 30, 2023 • 6 min. read
Toy poodle in yard

Introduction to Toy Poodles

Known for being tiny dogs that are intelligent and agile, the toy poodle is a well-established toy-size dog that is recognized by the American Kennel Club. These are good family dogs that are fun-loving and have many wonderful characteristics to share with their owners.

Toy poodles are the same breed of dog as miniature and standard poodles, but their temperament and health risks can be somewhat different. If you are looking for an affectionate, funny, and adorable little dog to keep you company, a toy poodle might be just the right kind of dog for your household.

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Size of Toy Poodles

One of the most notable characteristics of a toy poodle is its size, as these dogs reach heights of no more than 10 inches and have adult weights of between four and six pounds. Some of these dogs end up weighing a little more than that, however.

Toy poodles grow quickly during their first six months of life, but then that growth slows down and tapers off by about nine months. A toy poodle is considered to be fully grown by one year of age. There are only very small differences in size between male and female toy poodles.

Here’s how big you can expect your toy poodle to get when fully grown.

Weight Chart3 months6 months12 months
Male and Female Toy Poodles1.7 – 2.6 pounds3.3 – 6 pounds4 – 6 pounds
Toy poodle face

Characteristics of Toy Poodles

Toy poodles are considered to be among the best family dogs because they are affectionate and fun-loving. However, they are not recommended for households with very young children or large dogs because they are rather delicate. They are low-shedding and low-drooling dogs but they do require grooming every month or two. These dogs are popular among people who have allergies.

Toy poodles are a bit shy with strangers and thrive on routine. They are moderately playful but also more than happy to lounge around with you and be a couch potato. As you get to know a toy poodle’s personality, here’s what you can expect based on his or her breed characteristics.

Breed CharacteristicLevel (High, Medium, Low)
Affectionate with PeopleHigh
Good with KidsMedium
Good with PetsMedium
Need for ExerciseLow
Energy LevelMedium
Intelligence LevelHigh
Able to Be TrainedHigh
Amount of BarkingMedium
Amount of SheddingLow
Toy poodle

History of Toy Poodles

Poodles are the national dog of France, where the dogs are locally known as the Caniche or “duck dog.” However, poodles originate from Germany, where they were first used as duck hunters that had excellent swimming abilities and high intelligence. The coat of a poodle is useful for its movement through water and to keep it warm during cold weather.

Today, poodles are mostly known as lap dogs and luxury dogs that exude elegance and nobility. Poodles have worked in circuses as entertainers and continued to serve as hunting dogs because of their great sense of smell. Standard poodles have been bred down to miniature poodles, which have been bred down even further to toy poodles. Toy poodles were first bred in the U.S. in the early 20th century. The goal of this breeding was to create city-dwelling, companion dogs that have many of the same desirable characteristics as their larger poodle counterparts.

Toy Poodle Standard Information

The American Kennel Club includes specific requirements for toy poodles in its Official Standard of the Poodle. The requirements are the same as for standard and miniature poodles except for height. According to the standard, the height of a toy poodle should be 10 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders. By comparison, a standard poodle is over 15 inches tall, and a miniature poodle is between 10 and 15 inches tall.

Toy poodle

Aside from height, here is an overview of the breed standard information for toy poodles.

Head:

  • Dark, oval eyes
  • Moderately rounded skull
  • Long, straight, and fine muzzle
  • Teeth with a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body:

  • Level topline, not sloping
  • Deep and moderately wide chest
  • Straight tail, set on high and carried up

Forequarters:

  • Strong and smoothly muscled shoulders
  • Forelegs straight and parallel when viewed from front

Hindquarters:

  • Angulation of hindquarters balances forequarters
  • Hindlegs straight and parallel when viewed from rear

Coat:

  • Curly or corded coat
  • Can be shown in puppy, English saddle, or continental clips

Color:

  • Even and solid color at skin
  • Natural variation in shading is not a fault

Gait:

  • Straightforward trot with light springy action
  • An air of distinction and dignity

Caring for Toy Poodles

Toy poodles don’t need a lot of space to live a great life and get the exercise they need. However, they do have substantial grooming needs and require frequent brushing to maintain the dog’s coat, particularly if it is kept long. Many people who have toy poodles trim the coat short so that it is easier to brush and maintain. A bath, haircut, and nail trim every month or two is usually needed to keep a toy poodle healthy and looking good. They aren’t very hardy or fast dogs, but they are athletic and agile. These are intelligent dogs that are very trainable and make wonderful household pets for many people.

These tiny dogs are often more mischievous than standard poodles and like being the center of attention. They know how to command attention in a room and can be stubborn because of their high intelligence. Yet toy poodles love to learn and are excellent at picking up new tricks, becoming therapy dogs, and getting spoiled by their pet parents.

Here are some general tips for taking the best care of a toy poodle.

Best Living Environments:

  • Excellent apartment-dwellers
  • Usually fine with other dogs and cats
  • Great for seniors and people with mobility issues
  • Not in homes with young children

Type of Exercise:

  • Playtime inside a house or apartment
  • Don’t need a lot of outside play time
  • Short daily walks
  • Swimming for exercise and fun
  • Playing fetch with balls

Mental Enrichment:

  • Interactions with humans
  • Simply sitting by you on the couch
  • Does not like to be left alone for a long time
  • Social dogs that benefit from interaction with other small dogs and cats

Training Strategies:

  • Can be trained as therapy dogs
  • Able to learn new tricks easily
  • Use only positive training methods

Grooming Tips:

  • Needs to be brushed every day if coat is kept long
  • Prone to matting
  • Bathe about once per month
  • Can cut the coat short so it is easier to maintain
  • Very low shedders
  • Brush teeth daily
  • Trim nails as needed
Toy poodle

Common Health Problems of Toy Poodles

Toy poodles are unique in that they have a varied life expectancy ranging anywhere from 10 to 18 years. Toy poodles are prone to many of the same health conditions as standard and miniature poodles since they are all the same breed of dog but have some special concerns due to their small size.

These are some of the most common health issues that arise with toy poodles.

  • Dental issues, such as plaque and gingivitis
  • Blood-clotting disorders, such as von Willebrand’s disease
  • Diabetes
  • Luxating patellas
  • Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Cushing’s syndrome
  • Addison’s disease
  • Collapsing trachea
  • Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Sebaceous adenitis

The National Breed Club recommends that toy poodles get the following health tests: ophthalmologist evaluation, patella evaluation, and PRA optigen DNA test.

Diet and Nutrition for Toy Poodles

Toy poodles need to get enough exercise each day and eat a healthy diet so that they do not become obese. Feed the amount of dog food needed to keep your pet slim. You should be able to see your toy poodle’s waist and feel (but not see) their ribs without having to press too hard.

Feed puppy toy poodles four small meals per day until the age of three months, then switch to three slightly larger meals until six months. After that time, you can start feeding the dog just two larger portions daily, in the morning and evening. Toy poodles should usually eat a nutritionally complete and balanced puppy food until they are around 10 months of age at which point they can be switched to a high-quality adult dog food.

Where to Adopt or Purchase Toy Poodles

If you want a toy poodle puppy in your life, choose a reputable breeder who specializes in the toy size of poodles. A breeder should let you meet both of the puppy’s parents before purchasing the puppy and provide health background information on the parents. It is common for these tiny dogs to cost hundreds to thousands of dollars when purchased from a breeder. The Poodle Club of America is a good resource to learn more about toy poodles and find local clubs and breeders near you.

However, toy poodles also end up in animal shelters and foster homes due to no fault of their own. You can contact local rescue organizations in your area to inquire about any toy poodles or toy poodle mix dogs that are available for adoption and give a pup in need a second chance at life. The Poodle Club of America Rescue Foundation aims to save poodles from neglect, abuse, and abandonment by finding loving homes for poodles.

Related Breeds

The toy poodle is certainly a unique dog, but other dogs have similar appearances and characteristics too. If you love toy poodles, you might also be interested to learn more about these breeds of dogs:

  • Bichon frise
  • Toy Manchester terrier
  • Papillon
  • Miniature labradoodle
  • Miniature goldendoodle
  • Miniature cockapoo

Pet Insurance for Toy Poodles

Healthy Paws is a top-rated insurance plan for your toy poodle to help you take the best care of your dog’s health. With no maximum or lifetime payouts and most claims processed within two days, we take the hassle and confusion out of pet medical expenses to cover accidents and illnesses that toy poodles suffer from. Our toy poodle pet insurance plans are easy to understand, have no pricey add-ons, and let you use any licensed veterinarian you trust.

For a free quote on toy poodle health insurance, visit our website or give us a call at 855-898-8991 to learn more.


Christy True and Nelson outside
By Christy True

Christy has been writing about pets for Healthy Paws for 35 dog years. She also coordinates media requests. A background in journalism may be why she enjoys writing about offbeat animal studies and the latest viral pet trends. She has been owned by several dogs, including current pup Nelson, a rescued mini-Aussie, and she volunteers with a local dog rescue. Outside of work, she can usually be found sliding down a mountain near her home in Bend, Ore. with Nelson in hot pursuit.

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jennifer coates
By Jennifer Coates, DVM

Dr. Jennifer Coates received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. After graduation, she worked for several years in the fields of conservation and animal welfare before pursuing her childhood dream—becoming a veterinarian. She graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and has worked as an Associate Veterinarian and Chief of Staff in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado. Jennifer is also a prolific writer about all things related to veterinary medicine and the well-being of our animal friends. She has published several short stories and books, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms, Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian. She currently contributes to the Healthy Paws pet insurance blog as a freelance writer. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys life in Colorado with her family and friends… many of whom walk on four legs.

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