The toy poodle or toy poodle is one of the most popular, appreciated and loved types of poodle in the world. We must know that, in total, the FCI recognizes 4 types of poodle according to their size. In this breed file we will talk about the smallest of them all, considered "miniature".
These little ones have become the most widespread companion dogs in recent years. Keep reading this breed file on our site and discover the characteristics, character and he alth of the Poodle or Toy Poodle.
Origin of the poodle or toy poodle
The poodle is a direct descendant of the barbet, a breed of African origin that came to the Iberian Peninsula to interbreed with water dogs Portuguese. Later, both breeds would separate due to the efforts of breeders, who wanted to develop a dog for waterfowl hunting However, originally they shared many characteristics. As for its name, the French word "poodle" is considered to come from "cane", the female of the duck. Thus, the term is in relation to the action of these animals in the water, as if they were ducks, splashing.
Thanks to their sociable, extremely faithful and positive character, poodles ceased to be hunting dogs to become domestic animals and, already in fifteenth-century France, they would be considered thenational dog breed of France From then on, breeders strove to achieve a uniform coat color in this breed, avoiding spots and other undesirable patterns.
The fame of these animals was such that already in 1922 the Poodle Club was founded in Paris the Poodle Club A few years later, in 1936 the The FCI established the official breed standard, but for the toy-sized poodle this recognition would not come until many years later. It took until 1984 for the toy poodle to be recognized. Some of the names of the poodle in other countries are poodle in the USA or pudel in Germany
Characteristics of the poodle or toy poodle
Toy poodles are small dogs, whose height must not exceed 28 centimeters at the withers, and its weight should be around 2 and 2.5 kilograms. Therefore, we must be attentive to possible signs of dwarfism, as it would be pathological for these to appear. Its body is symmetrical, with strong and well-developed legs, ending in small oval feet. The tail is set high and has traditionally been kept intact in wire-haired poodles but not in curly-haired poodles, which were formerly cut until only a third of the original remained.
The head of a toy poodle has symmetrical lines, an elongated and narrow shape, with marked and expressive cheekbones and dark almond-shaped eyesAs for the coat, there are two types of toy poodle: those with curly hair or curly, with abundant, dense and uniform hair, or those withcorded hair or in tufts, which have finer, softer and more woolly hair, also very abundant. They can be toy poodle brown , toy poodle black, toy poodlegrey, toy poodle orange, toy poodle reddishocaniche toy white, but always monocolored and uniform.
Toy poodle character
Toy poodles are, like other poodles, active, obedient and intelligent, which allows it to be a breed easy to train and educate. In fact, it is considered one of the most intelligent dogs in the world according to Stanley Coren. Unlike other dog breeds, the poodle requires few repetitions to understand a command, exercise or situation and is capable of performing almost perfectly. We are also talking about a breed particularly sociable, so it does not take well the absence of its caretakers. In fact, excessive and repeated loneliness can cause this dog to display unwanted behaviors such as destructiveness or stress.
The poodle or toy poodle is ideal for families with children, because given its good nature and energy, it is the ideal companion for the little ones in the house. He is also capable of great socialization with other pets and elderly people, as long as he interacts positively with everyone in his sensitive period of puppyhood. Well cared for, the toy poodle adapts well to both small and large spaces.
Toy poodle or poodle care
Due to the characteristics of their fur, toy poodles must be brushed daily, in this way we will avoid the formation of tangles, the accumulation of dirt and excess hair throughout the house. As for the bath, it is advisable to perform a monthly bath Remember that for correct brushing it is important to follow some guidelines and correctly choose the most suitable brush taking into account the hair of our poodle or toy poodle. Let's not forget eye hygiene, ears, teeth or nail trimming as part of the basic care of the poodle or toy poodle.
Another important aspect will be the physical and mental stimulation, since we are talking about a very physically active dog with an alert mind. The poodle or toy poodle requires caregivers who can provide a higher enrichment than other dogs require. We will offer him between 3 and 4 walks daily, in addition to practicing physical exercise or some dog sport. We will also teach him obedience, canine skills or play intelligence games so that he can develop his cognitive abilities. Environmental enrichment at home will also help us in this regard.
To finish, we must not forget the importance of feeding, which will affect the quality of the coat and the he alth of the animal. We can find out about the best dog food on the market or go to a veterinarian to consult the most suitable for our toy poodle. Likewise, we can also ask the specialist to help us prepare cooked homemade recipes or raw homemade recipes, such as the BARF diet.
Toy Poodle Education
The education of the toy poodle should begin early, when it is still a puppy. The most important stage will be the socialization period, which begins at 3 weeks and ends around 3 months of age. The poodle or toy poodle must learn to relate to all kinds of individuals (people, dogs, cats…), as well as to know different environments. Of course, as long as you have received all the vaccines. Otherwise, our poodle or toy poodle may experience socialization problems in the future, such as fear or aggressiveness In the case of not being able to socialize with their parents or siblings, we will consult with a canine educator to attend classes for puppies
Also in his puppy stage we will teach him to urinate in the newspaper, to manage the bite and we will begin to play games and activities with him to begin to stimulate his mind. Of course, always in a positive way and as if it were a game.
Later on, once he has all his vaccinations up to date, we will teach him to walk, to urinate in the street and we will start with education exercises and the obedience commands basic, including sitting, lying down, standing still, and coming here. They are essential for your safety and for good communication with the caregiver.
Toy Poodle He alth
Poodles have certain pathologies associated with the genetics of the breed, so most of the ones we are going to mention are from hereditary origin. Some of them affect sight, such as entropion, cataracts, glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy Poodles can also have hypothyroidism, which affects thyroid hormones, epilepsy or otitis. To avoid these otitis, it is recommended to clean their ears following a series of guidelines, such as doing it with suitable cleaners or that after cleaning the ears are completely dry. Poodles can also develop diseases that affect the he alth of the skin such as fungus, allergies or pyoderma. Finally, highlighting in the joint field the possible presence of hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease or patellar dislocation.
To prevent and/or detect some of the he alth problems mentioned, it is important to go to the veterinary every 6 or 12 months, since Regular supervision by the specialist will help us detect any anomaly promptly. We will also strictly follow the vaccination schedule for dogs or the deworming schedule.
