Toy Poodle Puppies

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A loyal and intelligent breed with a big personality

The Toy Poodle is the smallest out of the Poodle breeds, but don't let its tiny size fool you! These pups are full of spunk and energy, and they are quite athletic for a toy breed. Toy Poodles are known to love people and form strong bonds with their families.


Toy Poodle At a Glance

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Toy Poodle At a Glance

  • Size: Under 10", 4-6 lbs.
  • Lifespan: 10-18 years
  • Energy Level: high
  • Coat: Curly, dense, and harsh-textured
  • Shedding: light
  • Hypoallergenic: Yes
  • Dog Group: Toy
  • Common Nicknames: Pudelhund, Caniche

Toy Poodle Breed Guide

Learn More About Toy Poodles

  • Temperament

    Toy Poodles are intelligent, trainable, and faithful companions that make great family dogs. Of the three sizes of Poodle, the Toy is the most companion-like. Toy Poodles thrive on being involved in family activities, and they do not tolerate being alone too often. It's not uncommon for Toy Poodles to develop separation anxiety if left by themselves for too long. These dogs are energetic, but they require less space and less exercise than larger Poodles. That said, Toy Poodles are a great choice for apartment living. Like all Poodles, Toys are very smart and have no trouble catching onto commands and tricks. While easy to train, it's important to establish clear boundaries with a Poodle. Otherwise, they may try to walk all over you. However, as long as boundaries are set early on, Toy Poodles are easygoing, well-behaved pets.

  • Health

    Toy Poodles are relatively healthy dogs but can be susceptible to eye issues, hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, and Legg-Calve-Perthes.

  • Activity Level

    Toy Poodles are energetic dogs who enjoy long walks and jogs, as well dog sports like agility and retrieving. Despite their size, Toy Poodles need a fair amount of daily exercise, but they are happy to burn off their energy in a wide variety of ways.

  • Grooming

    Even though Toy Poodles don't shed a lot, their coats still need regular grooming. This breed's coat grows continuously, so expect frequent haircuts. Regular teeth cleaning and nail trimming is also a must.

  • Shedding

    Toy Poodles do not shed and are considered a hypoallergenic breed, which is part of the reason they are so popular. They're a great choice for allergy sufferers.

  • Appearance

    Toy Poodles look much like their larger counterparts in all ways except for size. The Toy Poodle breed is much smaller than other Poodle breeds, standing no more than 10 inches at the shoulder. This breed's coat can be trimmed and styled in many different shapes, giving a unique appearance to each dog. Toy Poodles have dark eyes, rectangular bodies, and slim builds. These dogs can be basically any color including black, white, brown, yellow, gray, red, and a rare bi-coloring.

  • History

    While the Toy Poodle's origins are a bit unclear, it is believed that the breed originated in Germany, where they worked as water retrievers. Of the three sizes of Poodle, the Toy was the last to develop. However, it didn't take long for the Toy Poodle to become a crowd favorite. These dogs were especially popular among royalty, namely King Louis XVI. In fact, the King was so smitten with the Toy Poodle that the breed unofficially became France's national dog. In 1886, the Poodle was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Since then, the Toy Poodle has retained its popularity, and all three sizes are among the most popular dog breeds.