Toy Poodle: The Pretty, Little Einstein

Smart, tiny, and full of personality, the Toy Poodle is more than just adorable; they’re a wonderful companion for families and single pet-parent households! These little balls of fur only get up to around six pounds and stand just under a foot tall. But what they lack in size, Toy Poodles make up for in spirit. They are highly intelligent and energetic, and they love soaking in the spotlight (why wouldn’t they with that luxurious coat?). They’re comfortable and confident on a walk, hike, or nature stroll, and they cherish quality time with their people. With each step, they flaunt their stuff, doing it all with runway-like poise. These dogs are miniature divas—but like, in the best way possible. 

At Happy Paws, we’re dedicated to helping all dogs, from purebreds to certified mutts, live their happiest, healthiest lives. We’ve designed our dog supplements to target a range of trouble spots in your dog’s health—many of which include common issues for a Toy Poodle. 

In this article, we’ll explore the history of this adorable toy breed, provide some information and advice on how to care for them, and help you decide which supplements are best for your furry friend that’s prettier than you, the Toy Poodle. 

Quick Facts

Origin: Germany

Size: Small

Breed Group: Toy 

Lifespan: 10–18 years

Coat: Long hair—special grooming recommended

Temperament: Intelligent, confident, playful & active

Exercise Needs: Like all dog breeds, Toy Poodles need exercise to maintain a healthy weight and sharp mental clarity. But these dogs definitely don’t need as much exercise as other, larger breeds. A couple walks a day mixed with involved playtime should be enough to keep your Toy Poodle healthy, happy, and active. 

Training: Toy Poodles’ exceptional intelligence comes from their larger cousins, the Standard Poodle and Miniature Poodle. These dogs are incredibly smart—sometimes too smart for their own good. Regular training sessions can be great for exercising their minds. Training helps them flaunt their intelligence while also guiding them toward appropriate canine etiquette. 

Dog Health: Like other dogs in the toy breed group, Toy Poodles have a couple unique health issues that affect their teeth, coat, skin, joints, and digestive health. Below, we’ll discuss how you can address each with healthy dog supplements. 

Happy Paws for a Toy Poodle

Enrich your Toy Poodle’s health with high-quality, tasty supplements like these!

In-Depth Look at Our Popular Supplements

Keeping a Toy Poodle looking red-carpet-ready may take monthly grooming sessions, but it all starts with their daily health.

Our high-quality, tail-waggin’ dog supplements use an array of all-natural, organic ingredients to enrich your dog’s physical and mental health, while satisfying their taste buds. Here are a few dog supplements to help you care for your little tiny Poodle.

Skin & Coat Dog Chews: Our Skin & Coat Dog Chews help keep the sheen in your Toy Poodle’s glow. These vegan, chicken-flavored soft chews use a blend of skin-supporting ingredients, like biotin and coconut oil, to restore dermal health and replenish your dog’s coat.

Dental Dog Chews: Like all dogs, Toy Poodles are prone to smelly, unpleasant dog breath. Our Dental Dog Chews combine the refreshing aroma of spearmint with an enzyme blend to neutralize dental bacteria and curb stinky breath. 

10-in-1 Multivitamin Dog Chews: Our 10-in-1 Multivitamin Dog Chews use multiple essential nutrients to strengthen your dog’s daily health and give them a well-rounded supplement. One vegan, lamb-flavored dog treat introduces ten critical nutrients to keep your dog healthy, happy, and active. 

Hip & Joint Dog Chews: Soothe the symptoms of joint dysplasia with our Hip & Joint Dog Chews! Packed with a blend of joint-friendly ingredients, this dog supplement helps reduce inflammation and support joint health, thanks to compounds like glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid.

Immunity Booster Dog Chews: Allergies are common for most dogs, and our Immunity Booster Dog Chews are here to help! These pumpkin-flavored soft chews use a range of adaptogenic mushrooms, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to enrich your dog’s immune system and build back stronger immunity.

Probiotic Dog Chews: Made with powerful antioxidants, probiotics, and superfoods, our Probiotic Dog Chews help strengthen your dog’s digestive system, while supporting their gut and bowel health. 

Common Health Concerns

Compared to other toy-sized dog breeds, the Toy Poodle is susceptible to unique health conditions like these:

Patellar Luxation: Patellar luxation occurs when a dog’s kneecap slips out of the joint. This can happen when a dog is consistently overweight—a problem that impacts smaller dogs, like Toy Poodles. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can help manage the condition, while joint-friendly supplements can help, too. If you believe your dog has patellar luxation, it’s best to speak with your veterinarian about first steps.

Digestive Issues: Digestive problems can develop in any dog at any age. Symptoms can include diarrhea, bloating, gas, low appetite, lethargy, and more. The issue can stem from the dog’s diet, lifestyle, or genetics. 

Skin Infections: Underneath their iconic coat, a Toy Poodle’s skin can get really oily, leading to seborrhea and dermatitis. While a snout-to-tail bath can help keep these problems at bay, skin-supporting supplements can also help maintain proper dermal health.

Allergies: Allergies are a sign of an overactive immune system. This problem can snowball into several types of dermal conditions. Signs that your dog has allergies include frequent skin infections, fur loss, constant licking, itching, scratching, or red, inflamed skin.

Dental Dilemmas: All dogs are prone to stinky breath—even the pretty ones. Without the proper dental care, Toy Poodles can experience plaque build-up and odorous breath, which can lead to several issues down the road. 

About Toy Poodles

Toy Poodles have all the characteristics, personalities, and intelligence of Standard Poodles and Miniature Poodles, but they come in a little handbag size. While their Poodle ancestors were bred as water dogs adept at hunting ducks in Germany, Toy Poodles have always enjoyed the finer things; they were first used as truffle scouts. These little, one-foot-tall furballs would prance around the forest floor, sniffing out rare, expensive mushrooms. And we wonder why Toy Poodles have fit so well in high society.

Toy Poodle Temperament

Today, Toy Poodles have become a popular family dog, especially for dog owners who love the Poodle’s essence shrunk down into a tiny companion. These dogs are small but mighty, walking into any room with an air of friendly confidence. If socialized early, they’re eager to meet strangers, greet pets, and play with children. They’re small enough to take on road trips and camping adventures and relaxed enough to binge-watch your shows with you—the ultimate couch companion.

How to Care for Toy Poodles

Like other Poodles, Toy Poodles gravitate toward training. They learn fast and are eager to please. But here are a few tips to help keep your Toy Poodle happy, healthy, and lively, from their puppy years and well into their golden years.

Special Grooming

The most iconic part of a Toy Poodle’s look is also the one that requires the highest maintenance: their lustrous coat. Poodles’ hair is not like other breeds. Their coat is more curly and dense. Poodles rarely shed, and their coat continually grows throughout their lives, which means you’ll need to groom their hair often. Most local groomers are comfortable (if not excited!) to trim a Toy Poodle’s overgrown coat. Many owners get creative with their dog’s look, going with fun, adorable hairstyles. 

Low to Moderate Exercise

Like any little energetic pupper, Toy Poodles need exercise, but not as much as other dogs. Toy Poodles don’t get very big, so long walks and high-energy playtime may just be enough to wear them out for the day. Toy Poodles also love hikes and nature strolls—will they ruin their haircut by rolling around in the dirt? Well, we’ll see.

Behavioral Training

Toy Poodles are pretty intelligent dogs, so obedience training can help them show off that big brain. Obedience training can help keep your dog sharp and engaged throughout the day. Plus, a little dolled-up Toy Poodle doing a couple tricks may be the cutest thing in the world. 

Happy Paws: High-Quality Dog Supplements

Keeping your dog happy, healthy, and active shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. At Happy Paws, we’ve designed our dog treats with the best ingredients and flavors possible (our dogs definitely approve!). We’ve made sure these treats are certified organic, non-GMO, and third-party tested for purity, letting you spoil your dog easily with healthy, tasty dog treats. 

FAQ

Are Toy Poodles good house dogs?

Toy Poodles can make excellent house dogs, with the proper training. They are calm enough to settle in on the couch, while their rambunctious high energy spills out in bursts, making playtime very entertaining. But make sure to train and socialize these dogs as puppies. This early start will help your dog understand how to behave appropriately around children and elderly family members or friends.

Are Toy Poodles high maintenance?

With one glance, a Toy Poodle’s coat looks a little high maintenance, doesn’t it? Well, some dog owners may see it that way. These dogs need regular grooming to clean up the hair around their eyes, ears, and feet. Without regular grooming, a Toy Poodle’s coat will continually grow into a wild mane—which might be adorable, too, come to think of it.

What is the difference between a mini poodle and a Toy Poodle?

The difference between these two Poodles is really about size. A Miniature Poodle and a Toy Poodle are both smaller versions of the Standard Poodle. The Toy Poodle weighs around four to six pounds, while the Miniature Poodle can weigh between ten and fifteen pounds. 

Do Toy Poodles stay small?

Yes, Toy Poodles stay small throughout their long lives. 

How do you give a Toy Poodle health supplements?

You can give your dog a Happy Paws health supplement in several ways. First, we’ve designed these supplements as dog treats, so you can give them to your pupper as a reward for good behavior. Or, you can add it to your dog’s kibble; they make a pretty tasty topper, too.