small Breed Dogs
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Toy Poodles
Toy Breed Dogs
Small Breed Dogs







What you MUST Know Before Getting a Puppy

Forget about the normal list that everyone writes about..."puppy proof your home", "choose the right breed".  The information you must know, goes MUCH deeper than that. This is insider information that no one talks about, the behind-the-scenes info you really must know before you make your choice....Click to Read More
Average Weight:  6-9 pounds  (2.72 to 4.08 kg)
 Average Height: 10  inches or under (25.4 - cm)
Pronounced: Toi Poo-duhl
Group:  AKC Toy
Life Span: 14 Years
Average Litter: 4
Origin: Germany | Developed in France


Appearance

In America, there are 3 different varieties of the Poodle, this profile is regarding the smallest of the 3, Toy Poodles.  Aside from their size, the breed standards are identical.

Toy Poodles are a very elegant small dog.  They are squarely built and well proportioned.  Walking with a sound gait and giving a vibe of walking with pride, this breed is known for its dignity.  The eyes are very dark and oval in shape.  The muzzle is long and straight.  The long, wide ears hang close to the head and are thickly feathered with hair.  (The Poodle has hair as opposed to fur).

In the United States, tails are docked. The normal length used to be very short, however recently tails are docked to a medium length. There are many countries which ban docking and cropping.  The Poodle ears are never cropped.

The paws of Poodle dogs are very small,oval and with arched toes and thick pads.

Coat

The coat of Toy Poodles is a single coat of curly dense hair.  It can be corded, hanging in tight cords of varying lengths.  Cords begin to develop at a young age of 9 to 18 months old.

Many breed registries allow only certain clips for poodles shown in conformation. With the AKC, adults must be shown in the "Continental" or "English saddle" clips. Dogs under 12 months old may be shown with a "puppy clip."
         

Color
Most Poodle dogs are a solid color and that color will either "stay" or "fade". When the Poodle color stays, this means it will remain that same color throughout the life of the dog.  When it fades, the color will begin to lighten as the dog matures.  In most cases, the color will not change to a different one, it will just lighten.  Even though the majority are solids, the AKC has many categories for parti dogs (more than 1 color).

The AKC Poodle colors are: Apricot, black, brown, blue, Cafe Au Lait ( a light brown), cream, gray, red (a deep orange, silver (a shiny gray), silver beige (a diluted silver), white ( a pure white without any other hues), black & apricot, black & brown, black & cream, black & gray, black & red, black & silver, black & white, blue & white (blue is a faded, diluted black), brown & apricot, brown & white, cream & white, gray & white, red & apricot, red & white, white & apricot, white & silver.

There are also black or white masks ( color across surrounding the dog's eyes).

The color of the nose varies according to the coat.

Personality
Toy Poodles are calm and almost never act shy.  Most get along very well with children, although toddlers should be told to not tug at the dog's coat, as this may cause a quick aggravated behavior.  This breed is well known for its good nature, amusing antics and eagerness to please its human family members. 



Health

Unfortunately, the list of health issues that this small dog breed is prone to is quite lengthy. It includes:
  • Epilepsy - seizures
  • Hypothyroidism - low thyroid
  • Legg-Salves Perthes disease - blood clotting disease
  • Patella Luxation - dislocation of the dog's kneecap
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy - a slow clouding of the eye lens without a current cure
  • Hip Dysplasia - dislocation of the dog's hip joint
Exercise

The amount of exercise that a Toy Poodle needs is a daily walk to burn off pent up energy and an occasional game to bond closer with its owners (and to have some fun).

Grooming

To keep a miniature toy Poodle's coat in excellent condition the coat must be brushed, with regular baths and clipping.  These all ensure that matts are caught when very small.  Regular attention should be paid to the ears, to be sure that they are clean at all times.

Care & Training

While many think of this breed as being in the show ring, many people have pet Poodles.  These dogs need appropriate training just as any other dog breed would: housebreaking, command training, socialization training and specific counter-training for any behavioral issues. Poodle Owners - Click Here For Detailed Information



                                              
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