Maybe you’ve thought about getting a small, fluffy Poodle and wondered, “Which is smaller, the Toy Poodle or the Miniature Poodle?”
The Toy Poodle is the smallest Poodle standing under 10 inches tall at the withers (the top of the shoulder blade) and weighing only 4 to 6 pounds. The larger Miniature Poodle stands from 10 inches to 15 inches tall at the withers and weighs between 10 and 15 pounds. These low shedding, hypoallergenic dogs make excellent family pets.
So you’ve decided you want a small dog! Now you’ve narrowed it down to the adorable Toy Poodle or the just as adorable Miniature Poodle. How do these different sizes of Poodles compare to each other? This article will help you decide once and for all which one is best for you!
Poodles are proud, confident, smart, and extremely cute, but what about personality, temperament, and grooming needs? We will discuss further below!
History of the Poodle
Poodles come in 3 sizes, the Toy Poodle and the Miniature Poodle which we’ve mentioned, along with the largest of the breed, the Standard Poodle. The Standard Poodle is over 15″ tall at the withers and typically weighs 45 to 70 pounds.
The proud, energetic Standard Poodle originated in Germany over 400 years ago as a retrieving water dog. The name Poodle is derived from the word Pudel in German meaning to splash in water. The athletic Standard Poodle is an excellent swimmer, highly intelligent, and able to run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
This combination made the Standard Poodle a desirable hunting companion. The Poodle is also the national dog of France known as the Caniche, which means duck dog.
These three sizes of Poodles are recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). This means if you buy a Poodle registered with the AKC you will receive a history of the dog and will have access to the dog’s lineage. The Poodle became a recognized breed by the AKC in 1887.
The Miniature Poodle was bred in France in the 1800’s and emerged as a popular member of wealthy French aristocracy.
The Toy Poodle was bred in the United States in the early 20th century and became a popular dog for families in apartments or smaller homes.
The miniature and toy Poodles were bred down from the standard Poodle. Their lifespan is in the range of 12 to 15 years.
Poodles come in a variety of beautiful colors. Here is a complete list of poodle colors:
- Apricot
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Cafe Au Lait (ooo la la!)
- Cream
- Gray
- Red
- Silver
- Silver Beige
- White
In addition, you may see a combination of these 11 colors on a Poodle. There is also the Parti – Poodle which is a Poodle that has white as a base color and patches of another solid color mixed in. They are considered Parti Poodles if over 50% of their base coat is white. The word Parti stands for particular as in ‘a particular coloration of Poodle’. The Poodle coat is curly and thick and requires frequent brushing, at least three times a week although daily brushing is recommended.
Grooming a Toy or Miniature Poodle
An important consideration when getting a Poodle is the need for frequent grooming of these beautiful dogs. Since they have curly, thick hair that grows continuously (like human hair) they require visits to a dog groomer about every 6 to 8 weeks. If you are industrious the other option is to buy some good clippers, a slicker brush, and combs and do it yourself. It is best to brush a Poodle daily to keep the hair from becoming matted. If they become matted it may become necessary to have your Poodle shaved by a groomer.
Poodles typically transition from their soft “puppy hair” to their adult Poodle hair between 9 and 18 months old. The adult Poodle hair tends to be more coarse and develops into a single layer coat of curly hair. This adult hair is described as soft curls (curly) or ringlets, also known as corded hair.
Most Poodle owners will say it’s well worth the grooming and hair brushing in order to have a Poodle as a member of their family. It’s not surprising for Poodle owners to get a second or third Poodle because of their love for the stylish, fun loving Poodle!
As a reference point I’ve paid from $60 to $85 plus tip of about $15 to have my standard poodle groomed here in the suburbs of St. Louis MO. In my opinion this is a bargain considering everything the groomer does when grooming Annie. The price for a Toy or Miniature Poodle will be comparable but a little less.
Here is a list of tasks included by my groomer each time I bring her in for a grooming:
- Haircut of choice
- Warm massage jet wash
- Fluff dry
- Nails trimmed
- Paw pads shaved
- Ear cleaning
- Mink oil coat shine
- Fragrance
- Bandana
Most of the time I have her cut short the same length all over. Occasionally I’ll have her in a semi-poodle cut with a poof on top of her head and a fluffy tail.
As mentioned previously, some Poodle owners opt to buy some good electric trimmers such as the Andis trimmer found online. It is a reliable brand and is used by many professional groomers if you decide to groom your toy or miniature poodle you’ll need a good trimmer. The Andis dog trimmers typically cost from $120 to $250.
You will also need some good slicker brushes. Slicker brushes are used to detangle the Poodles curly hair and to remove mats. The slicker brush has very fine, short wires close together on a slightly curved or flat surface. The slicker brush can vary in price from $10 to $75. I’ve purchased a good slicker brush that has lasted at least 6 months for around $15.
After brushing with a slicker brush a comb is needed to check if any mats remain by combing from the dog’s skin out to the hair ends.
Keep in mind when grooming a Poodle it takes time to develop the necessary expertise. Professional groomers are very good at being careful around sensitive areas such as the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and feet. They are also gentle around the hind quarters.
Poodle Temperament
Toy Poodles: The smallest of the 3 Poodles, the Toy Poodle loves company and is a great lap dog. They tend to have a great sense of humor and like to play. They are active, intelligent dogs and make good apartment companions. They can be skittish around small children so if there are small children in the family you may think twice about getting one of these adorable pups.
Like Poodles in general they tend to be “velcro” dogs that will follow you around as you move about the house. On the flip side they can experience separation anxiety when you leave. They may become bored and get into mischief when you’re away for long periods. Daily exercise is preferred but they don’t require a large space to be active dogs.
Miniature Poodles: Miniature Poodles are spunky and elegant but they can also be silly clowns that love to play. Being a bit larger than the Toy Poodle allows Miniature Poodles to go on longer walks or short runs with it’s family.
Since Miniature Poodles are a bit larger they are more dog to hug and cuddle with. Again, Miniature Poodles similar to Toy Poodles are considered velcro dogs that will follow you around and stick with you.
Toy Poodle vs Miniature Poodle: How Much Exercise?
As you may imagine, it is recommended that both the Toy Poodle and Miniature Poodle get exercise everyday. Poodles, including my Standard Poodle, Annie, love to play fetch! This is a great way to burn some energy and fetch can be played in a relatively small area.
Miniature Poodles will need at least a small yard to play fetch while the smaller Toy Poodle can get a good game of fetch indoors if needed. The Miniature Poodle may also need a daily walk around the block or a visit to the dog park.
Poodles are great athletes and as highly intelligent dogs do well training in agility and athletic activities. My Poodle Annie enjoys a good game of tug-of-war.
As highly intelligent dogs both will need mental stimulation. I highly recommend lots of durable dog toys to play with.
Toy Poodle: The Good and the Bad
The Good About the Toy Poodle
- Toy Poodles are very low shedding dogs. You won’t see dust bunnies of dog hair floating or rolling about the house.
- Toy Poodles are hypoallergenic. If a household member is prone to allergies the toy poodle is a great choice for a pet.
- Toy Poodles don’t require a large area to exercise. A fun game of fetch and a game of tug-of-war indoors will help satisfy a Toy Poodles need for exercise although a nice walk would help too.
- Toy Poodles are excellent athletes that do well in advanced athletic competitions such as retrieving, jumping, and agility drills.
- Toy Poodles are very smart and are capable of being trained very quickly.
The Bad About the Toy Poodle
- Like other small dog breeds they can be skittish around children. The unpredictable nature of children can cause Toy Poodles to be defensive or even nip at children to protect themselves.
- Frequent grooming is required. Like humans, their hair doesn’t stop growing. Toy Poodles require brushing at least 3 times a week to avoid their hair becoming matted and unmanageable. In addition, they will require grooming every six to eight weeks which can be expensive.
- Toy Poodles can be high strung, nervous dogs. Typically this behavior is the result of being pampered or ignored from ages 4 to 14 weeks. This is a critical socialization period. If you intend to get a toy poodle puppy be sure and ask the breeder if the puppy has been properly socialized. It’s especially important they’ve had interaction with people.
- Toy Poodles can exhibit neurotic behavior if left alone by themselves for extended periods. The Toy Poodle may not be a good fit for someone who is away from home for extended periods during the day.
- Toy Poodles can be moderate to heavy barkers so may require some training to curb this behavior.
Miniature Poodle: The Good and the Bad
The Good About the Miniature Poodle
- Miniature Poodles are very low shedding dogs.
- Miniature Poodles are hypoallergenic.
- Since the Miniature Poodle is 11 to 15 inches tall and weighs 15 to 17 pounds it is a better fit for families with children as they are not as small as the Toy Poodle. They tend to be more accepting of small children.
- Miniature Poodles are excellent athletes and do well in advanced athletic competitions such as retrieving, jumping, and agility drills.
- Miniature Poodles are also very smart and one of the most trainable dog breeds.
- Miniature Poodles are capable of going on longer walks or runs than Toy Poodles if that is your preference.
The Bad About the Miniature Poodle
- Miniature Poodles will need to be brushed at least 3 times a week or daily if possible to avoid matting. In addition, they will need to be groomed every 6 to 8 weeks.
- Miniature Poodles like other sized Poodles can be high strung, nervous dogs if not properly socialized.
- Miniature Poodles can also exhibit neurotic behavior if left alone by themselves for extended periods.
- Miniature Poodles can be moderate to heavy barkers and may require training to address this habit.
Conclusion: Toy Poodle vs Miniature Poodle
Both the Toy Poodle and the Miniature Poodle are elegant, energetic dogs that have amazing athletic abilities. They also love to cuddle and are very loyal family members. Keep in mind although they are highly intelligent they will also be funny little clowns. Each Poodle will make a great family pet although they will require regular grooming.
The Toy Poodle may be skittish around small children making the Miniature Poodle a better choice for families with small children. These 2 Poodle sizes don’t require the space a Standard Poodle needs so they do well in smaller homes or apartments. Plus, these two smaller size Poodles do not have as much hair to brush and maintain.
Either one, the Toy Poodle or the Miniature Poodle will make a great family pet.
(Toy Poodle Source: American Kennel Club) (Miniature Poodle Source: American Kennel Club)