Poodle (Toy) puppies

About the Poodle (Toy)

The Toy is the smallest Poodle, bred down in size from the water retrieving originals rather than developed separately, and they kept the coat, the outline and the intelligence intact. Adults weigh 1.8 to 2.7 kg and stand under 25 cm at the shoulder, with a curly coat that grows continuously in solid colours. Toys are alert, quick to learn and firmly attached to their people, often picking one person in particular, and they notice everything that happens in the house.

Exercise needs are modest: a couple of short walks, indoor games and training that keeps the mind busy. Grooming is not modest, and means daily combing to the skin or a clip every four to six weeks. Small size brings fragile legs, so discourage jumping down from furniture. They bark readily and can become clingy without early work on being left alone. Let a Toy Poodle be a dog, and resist carrying them everywhere.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Poodle (Toy) 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 toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. 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
• Inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Patellar luxation, diagnosed by physical examination of the stifle, with imaging if needed
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, diagnosed by physical examination and x-ray of the hip
• von Willebrand disease, detected by measuring blood levels of von Willebrand factor

Your Poodle (Toy) puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Poodle (Toy).
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 1.8 to 2.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 18 inch (18 x 12 x 14 in, 46 x 30 x 36 cm) for an adult of up to 2.7 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

• Puppy pads: are they a good idea, and how to pick ones that do not leak
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other toy breeds

More on the Poodle (Toy)

Previous: Poodle (Standard) · Next: Porcelaine

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 (Toy) breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/poodle-toy/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: UszkarFoto92, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.