Toy Poodle

To stay physically and mentally fit, the Toy Poodle needs a lot of exercise. It enjoys accompanying its family on walks and light hikes. Small obedience training or retrieval exercises as well as scent work provide variety to its daily walks. At home, the tiny dog can be well entertained with puzzle toys.

How Much Walking Do Toy Poodles Need?

A Toy Poodle should be allowed to go outside for at least two hours a day. Many of these Poodles love water and enjoy splashing around in lakes and streams. After all, their ancestors were hunting dogs used for retrieving shot waterfowl. The lively, athletic Toy Poodle can also be enthusiastic about Agility—however, the obstacles must be adjusted to its small size. They can also have a lot of fun with their owners during Dog Dancing or Obedience Training.

The curly hair of the Toy Poodle doesn’t shed but continues to grow. To prevent tangles and skin infections, its coat must be brushed daily. About every eight weeks, a visit to a dog grooming salon is due: the little one gets a professional haircut.

Popular styles include the fashionable teddy cut, which enhances the natural contours of the little dog. A simple short haircut is especially practical, allowing the mini to romp outside without plant parts getting stuck in its fur. Before appearances at dog shows, Toy Poodles often receive a special show grooming.

Checking Teeth, Eyes, and Ears

Besides coat care, regular checks of claws, teeth, eyes, and ears are important. Due to its narrow muzzle, the teeth of the Toy Poodle are closely spaced, which can promote the development of dental diseases.

Moreover, the minis are prone to ear infections because of their hairy floppy ears. These can be very painful and therefore need to be treated by a vet as soon as possible.

Due to the overbreeding issue, some Toy Poodles have degenerated eyeballs. If the tear ducts are blocked or even completely missing, it leads to increased tear flow, which also requires special care.

Food for the Toy Poodle

High-quality food with a high meat content is the ideal diet for this little bundle of energy. If you want to feed your Toy Poodle dry food, make sure that the kibble is adjusted to its small size.

Due to the problematic breeding, which aims for dwarfism in this dog, numerous hereditary diseases are observed in Toy Poodles. They normally do not appear in their larger Poodle relatives in this form or frequency.

For example, kneecap dislocation, or a dislocating kneecap, can cause problems. Another condition affecting the musculoskeletal system is Legg-Calvé-Perthes Syndrome: It leads to pain in the hip joint and lameness. A constriction of the trachea, technically called tracheal collapse, can lead to breathing difficulties.

Eye Problems in Toy Poodles

Typical eye diseases that occur in Toy Poodles are Cataracts (grey star) and Glaucoma (green star). Some also suffer from a condition known as Entropium: this is an inwardly rolled eyelid that can impair vision. Despite the long list of potential hereditary diseases associated with extreme dwarfing, Toy Poodles tend to reach a fairly old age. They have a life expectancy of 15 to 17 years.

Poodles were originally hunting dogs, responsible for retrieving shot game from the water. In the 19th century, these friendly, affectionate quadrupeds were increasingly kept as companion and lap dogs. Around this time, the breed also began to be developed in various sizes. Initially, only Standard and Miniature Poodles were differentiated. Later, the Dwarf Poodle was added, from which the particularly small Toy Poodle eventually emerged. The breed Poodle is believed to originate from France. French breeders also pushed for the recognition of the Toy Poodle against the concerns of other FCI member countries.