The Toy Poodle is a type of the Poodle breed. There are three types of poodles: toy, miniature, and standard, with each type denoting a size. Poodles are considered hunting dogs, due to their bird-hunting skills and their ability in the water. Although some dispute the claim, France is officially recognized as the origin of the poodle. The Toy Poodle lives an average of 12 to 15 years. To be considered a Toy Poodle, its size can only be up to 10 inches with a weight of 6 to 9 pounds.
Toy Poodles are considered intelligent and are among the easiest to train. Without constant training, Toy Poodles will become stubborn, independent, and can bark a lot. Toy Poodles like to be around people, but can be aloof around strangers, making them good watchdogs. Some toy poodles are known to be high strung and will snap. For this reason, it is important to socialize a toy poodle early and to be careful around young children. This does not mean that a Toy Poodle does not make a good family pet. Toy Poodles tend to be loyal to their families and some are good with children. This breed has a lot of energy, but doesn’t demand a lot of exercise, making it a good choice for apartment dwellers.
It’s a good idea to exercise a Toy Poodle at least once a day to alleviate any boredom that may occur. The familiar curly coat of the Toy Poodle is constantly growing and must be clipped every four to six weeks to maintain it. If the fur is not maintained, the fur can become matted and can only be removed with scissors. The familiar ‘Poodle Cut’ was really important to the dog when used for hunting. The cut helped protect vital joints and organs in the cold water. Now the clip is not necessary and many owners opt for a complete short cut.
There are a variety of coat colors for Toy Poodles and the coat tends to be relatively shedding free, making them a good choice for allergy sufferers, although they will create dander. There are health issues that exist with this breed. Toy Poodles are prone to ear infections, watery eyes, digestive tract and heart disorders, skin conditions, slipped knee, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), IMHA (immune mediated hemolytic anemia). ), cataracts, entropion, epilepsy, spinal disc degeneration, Legg-Perthes, patellar luxation, trichiasis and urolithiasis.
There is a website that has excellent information on toy poodles and most other dog breeds. It has details related to dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more. The website is called: Cat and Dog Facts and can be found at this URL => http://www.dogandcatfacts.com
By Robert W. Benjamin Copyright © 2007
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