Breeds / Small
Poodle (Miniature) puppies
Gay-spirited and good-tempered, a glamorous and intelligent companion breed.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin France
- Adult weight 4.5 to 6.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 10 to 15 lb
- Adult height 25 to 38 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Coat type Long curly
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 10 to 18 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Poodle (Miniature)
The Poodle was a water retriever in Germany and France long before Poodles were show dogs, and the clipped coat began as something practical: hair left over the joints and chest, the rest taken off to cut drag in cold water. The Miniature is the middle variety, 4.5 to 6.8 kg and 25 to 38 cm at the shoulder, with the same dense curly coat and the same quick, people focused mind as the larger dogs. Reported lifespan runs from 10 to 18 years.
Coat care is the standing commitment: daily brushing to the skin in full coat, or a shorter clip with a professional groom every four to six weeks. The coat sheds very little, which means hair collects in it rather than on the floor and mats if it is left. Miniatures are athletic and want real daily exercise plus training or games. They learn fast and bark fast. Budget realistically for grooming, and do not let the coat felt.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Poodle (Miniature) puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Osteochondrodysplasia (OC), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Hereditary eye disease screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
Your Poodle (Miniature) puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Poodle (Miniature).
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4.5 to 6.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.8 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Poodle (Miniature)
Previous: Poochon · Next: Poodle (Standard)
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Poodle (Miniature) breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/poodle-miniature/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Boxerista96, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.