Toy Poodle
🧠 Temperament & character
The Toy Poodle is lively, decidedly clever and very cuddly, while closely bonded to his people. He learns exceptionally quickly and loves to cooperate with his family and to be kept busy. Towards strangers he is usually open, with other dogs generally compatible. As a sensitive little dog he needs loving leadership and truly blossoms with plenty of attention and mental stimulation.
📜 Origin & history
The poodle originally comes from France as a water-retrieving dog, where he was used to flush out and retrieve waterfowl; France holds the patronage of the breed today. From the large original type, ever smaller varieties were bred over the centuries through targeted selection, down to the Toy Poodle. Especially in the time of the French nobility the small poodles became sought-after salon and society dogs. Today the Toy Poodle is popular worldwide as an intelligent, low-shedding companion dog.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Toy Poodle's curly coat sheds hardly at all, but grows continuously and must therefore be clipped every six to eight weeks and brushed regularly in between. As a highly intelligent dog he absolutely needs mental exercise through tricks, scent games or dog sport, otherwise he quickly gets bored. His need for exercise should not be underestimated despite his small size; daily walks and active play keep him content. Thanks to his love of learning he is one of the most easily trained dogs of all and is excellently suited to little tricks.
🩺 Health
For his small size the Toy Poodle is quite robust and often reaches a great age of thirteen to sixteen years. Among the breed-typical risks are patellar luxation, tartar, eye conditions such as PRA and problems of the tear ducts. Responsible breeders have the knee joints and eyes examined and use available genetic tests to avoid hereditary eye diseases. As with all very small dogs, regular dental care and monitoring of body weight are particularly important.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Toy Poodle is an ideal companion for singles, seniors, couples and families with older children looking for a small, clever and affectionate dog. As a low-shedding flat dog he is excellently suited to the city and is considered by some allergy sufferers to be better tolerated. He is also well suited to first-time owners thanks to his love of learning, provided they keep him mentally exercised and take him regularly to the dog groomer. In Switzerland he is a popular, travel-friendly city dog that needs plenty of company and occupation.