The Toy Poodle

Billie

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​Origin:
The original Poodle, the Standard Poodle, doesn’t have a confirmed origin. Named the ‘French Poodle’ for many years, they were thought to have originated there, however others believe they originated in Germany. Over time, the Standard Poodle was developed into smaller sizes, creating the Miniature, Toy and Teacup Poodle. These smaller breeds came about due to the popularity of the breed among Royal families, wanting a smaller lap dog. It’s believed to have been in the early 20th century that the Toy Poodle came about.
The name Poodle is believed to have derived from the German word ‘Pudel’ which means ‘one who plays in water’ relating to the Poodles love for the water.  

Purpose:
The Toy Poodle was bred as a companion dog but was also used in circus performing. Being a highly intelligent breed and also driven by a want to impress their owners, they were the perfect dog to train for tricks.

Coat care:
The poodle is popular for anyone with allergies and is the reason the breed has been cross bred with hundreds of other breeds in recent years. Grooming is high maintenance for a Poodle as their coat is actually considered hair and not fur. It continues to grow, as does human hair, and requires bathing and clipping at least every 6 – 8 weeks. They do not shed any hair and for this reason it must be clipped and brushed daily, to help remove dead skins cells and maintain a clean coat.
They are prone to wax build up in the ears so require the hair inside their ears to pulled when groomed. There are a number of clips suitable for the breed, with the well known Poodle clip very popular. This keeps hair around the ankles and bracelets and tail and hips. This clip was originally used for working Poodles, to keep their extremities warm and protected when in the water.
Trimming around the eyes and snout helps to keep eyes clean and avoid too much build up from eye discharge too.  

Health & Temperament:
The Poodle is a very intelligent, loving and sweet breed of dog. They are said to be one of the most trainable breeds of dog so can quickly adapt to a new household with good leadership and boundaries. They are very versatile and do great in small apartment living as well as with a large space and area to roam around in. They are very happy to snuggle up on the couch with you and laze around the house, providing they have received enough exercise, with a daily walk being suitable. When socialised well and from a young age, they get along well with other dogs and pets. They can be good with children but are best to be supervised with smaller children and most ideal for a house hold with older children.
Being small and adorable, the Toy Poodle can often be treated like a human baby, which leads to Little Dog Syndrome and serious behavioural issues. These behavioural issues are not natural traits of the Toy Poodle, however are brought on by poor leadership and guidance.
They are, in general, considered a very healthy breed of dog and have a life span of 14+ years.