Toy Poodle vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison

More and more people are opting not to clip their Poodles ith those ridiculous hair cuts with pom poms. Clipped properly, he can be just as cute as any other dog.

It is thought that the Toy Poodle hails from France, with the standard poodle having originated in Germany. The first poodles were used as herders so they’re not just useless dogs with silly pom-pom haircuts.

Some rough-coated water dogs are believed to be ancestors of the Poodle. It was in the 19th century that these dogs became show dogs. Their popularity died out in the 1920s, but it has once again become a popular dog.

The Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

Toy Poodles stand between 24 to 28 cm in height and weigh in the region of 2 to 5kg. Poodles are light-shedding dogs and are thought to be hypo-allergenic. If you have an allergy, a Toy Poodle can e a great dog for you.

The crip, curly coat comes in a number of colors – cream, apricot, brown, chocolate, and black and he can be clipped if you find that he is too high maintenance. If the hair is allowed to grow it can become very matted and turn into dreadlocks.

Many Toy Poodle owners find this very difficult to maintain and opt to have the dog’s hair clipped. The poodle has medium-length floppy ears. Docking of the tail is important if you want to keep the distinctive look of your poodle. Fortunately, docking is still permitted in the USA and this is best done when the puppy is very young.

Temperament:

Toy Poodles are intelligent dogs and are capable of learning a whole lot of commands and tricks. They’re also excellent athletes, being lively and energetic.

Being lively and alert, the Toy Poodle can be a good watchdog too, barking sharply at intruders. The Toy Poodle is very social and won’t take kindly to being left alone for hours.

Then again, he is gentle and sensitive and won’t do well with undisciplined children and their shrill screams. They are definitely dogs that want peace and harmony. And having him trained and socialized will get you a well mannered, obedient dog. He is small enough to adapt to life in the city or the countryside.

With good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

This dog breed is very loyal to its family. It doesn't do well when left for hours on its own.

Energetic and lively, you’ll find your Toy Poodle such a pleasure to have around. He is very intelligent too, so with training and socialization he becomes a super little pet.

Playful and social, he is like a small ray of sunshine that comes into your home and your heart.

When you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

Good food and exercise keep the Toy Poodle as healthy as possible, but like other dogs, the Toy Poodle can also get sick. Cancer, bloat, ear infections, and obesity are common dog ailments.

Too many dog owners don’t realize the importance of healthy teeth. You need to look into the mouth of your pet regularly to make sure there are no rotting teeth. These problematic teeth can jeopardize the health of your pet.

Infection of teeth and gums can cause a host of other problems such as kidney and heart disease.

Check your Toy Poodle for parasites – fleas, ticks, worms as these can take a toll on your pet’s health. Your pet can become lethargic and the coat becomes listless, thin and dull. Your pet will also lose weight. Speak to your vet about treatments that can prevent these infestations.

Dog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

Make sure to exercise your Toy Poodle every day. If you’re lucky to have a garden, play ball games with him, play hide and seek and take him for walks.

Brush your Toy Poodle twice a week. His curly coat can become a source of concern for you and then you can have his coat clipped short.

Provide your pet with training and socialization and get him used to walking on a leash.

Take your Toy Poodle for regular visits to the vet. There are some serious canine diseases that can kill your pet.

Provide your pet with a nice dry, peaceful sleeping area. He needs his own water and food bowls. Wash these regularly.

Provide your Toy Poodle with the best dog food there is. Try and go for natural foods free from colorants and fillers. Try and also give him some home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Dogs like the same good foods which are simple and nutritious.

Grooming:

If you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your pet.