Frequently asked questions about the toy and miniature Poodle
On this page Alma Lady Kennel, a toy and miniature Poodle breeder with an ENCI/FCI registered kennel name, answers the most frequent questions about the breed: sizes, weight, temperament, health, feeding, coat care and daily management. The answers are based on the kennel’s direct experience and on the relevant technical and health information.
To learn about our toy Poodle kennel and available puppies, visit our home page.
According to FCI standard no. 172, the toy Poodle measures over 24 cm and up to 28 cm at the withers, with a tolerance of −1 cm on the lower limit; weight, roughly 2 to 4 kg, does not determine the size (see Poodle sizes). Below you will find answers on temperament, feeding, grooming, training and health.
Adopting a Poodle
Toy and Miniature Poodles have an indicative life expectancy of 14–16 years, as reported by Wikipedia (Italian). This figure refers to the Toy and Miniature varieties, not to all Poodle sizes.
Individual lifespan varies with genetics, health, diet and lifestyle. A balanced diet, regular exercise and veterinary check-ups help support your Poodle’s well-being. See our guide to Poodle sizes.
How often to bathe your Poodle depends first and foremost on its lifestyle—whether it spends a lot of time outdoors or is mostly indoors.
Bathing is essential for keeping your Poodle clean and healthy, but it’s important not to overdo it so as not to damage its coat and skin. In general, a Poodle should be bathed every 3–4 weeks. This frequency is ideal for removing dirt and debris, keeping the coat soft and free of unpleasant odors, without disrupting the natural balance of the skin’s oils.
Let’s clarify how often we should brush our Poodle’s coat
The Poodle’s coat, which is curly and dense, requires daily care to stay healthy and beautiful. This breed does not shed, but it does require regular grooming to prevent knots and tangles.
Daily brushing is essential: use a brush designed specifically for curly-haired dogs or a wide-toothed comb to remove dead hair and detangle any knots. It’s important to pay special attention to the most delicate areas, such as the ears, neck, and paws.
After brushing, you can apply a spray conditioner specifically formulated for a Poodle’s coat, which helps keep the fur moisturized and soft. In addition, a bath with a mild shampoo is recommended to keep the coat clean; avoid harsh products that can irritate the skin.
We always recommend professional grooming every 4–6 weeks to shape the coat and keep it in the desired style. Finally, a balanced diet rich in protein and fatty acids contributes to a healthy coat.
Taking care of your Poodle’s coat and brushing it every day not only improves its appearance but also strengthens the bond between you, ensuring a happy and healthy dog.
Alma Lady
As a rule, the puppy is collected at the kennel by the family at around 90 days of age: it is the best way to receive the documents and the instructions for the first days in person.
For families who cannot reach the kennel, we can consider personalised deliveries to other locations in Italy, with any reimbursement of travel expenses agreed in advance. Every puppy is accompanied exclusively by us, never by couriers or intermediaries.
We also assist families living abroad and prepare the documents required for export: EU pet passport, rabies vaccination and certificates. More information on the page Where we are and how to reach us and on the Puppies page.
Alma Lady Kennel is located in Villanova Mondovì, in the province of Cuneo, in southern Piedmont, Italy, a few minutes from the Mondovì exit of the A6 Turin–Savona motorway. We are about 1 hour 15 minutes from Turin, 1 hour 30 minutes from Genoa and 2 hours 30 minutes from Milan.
We receive visitors by appointment only: we ask families to come in person at least once before reserving, to meet the puppy’s parents and see the kennel facility, licensed by the local veterinary authority (ASL CN1).
Distances, travel times, address and map on the page Where we are and how to reach us.
Toy Poodle Character
We generally advise against leaving your poodle home alone for many hours. So before you make a commitment to take a poodle home with you and risk leaving your poodle home alone think carefully about how much time you can devote to it: tell us about your lifestyle and habits so that we can suggest how to go about it, locate the right puppy for your habits or sometimes unfortunately advise against adopting a poodle puppy if your habits are not suited to the needs of this magnificent breed. Poodles can spend time alone while you are at work, but it is important to take a few steps to make sure they are comfortable while you are away. Poodles are very intelligent and affectionate dogs known for their strong bond with their owners.
Because of this, they tend to suffer from loneliness if left alone for extended periods. To help your poodle manage alone time, you can start with short absences, gradually increasing the duration to get him used to it. Leaving interactive toys, such as ones that hand out kibble, available will help stimulate his mind and keep him occupied. Another useful measure is to create a comfortable and safe space where the dog can feel protected, such as a kennel with his favorite toys. If you work outside the home for many hours, consider having a dog sitter come to the house or take him to a day care for dogs. This will ensure that your poodle gets a chance to socialize and exercise. Finally, before going out, a long walk will help him to release energy and relax during the day.
Here are some tips on How to introducing a poodle with other dogs . Introducing a poodle into a home with other dogs requires some tricks to ensure a peaceful coexistence. First, it is important to make a gradual introduction in a neutral environment, such as a garden or park, to prevent resident dogs from feeling territorial.
The initial meeting should be calm and supervised, allowing the dogs to sniff and get to know each other without pressure. During the first few days, it is essential to constantly monitor the interactions between the dogs, especially during meals and playtime. You need to make sure that each dog has its own space, such as a kennel or corner to take refuge in, to avoid competition or jealousy. It is also advisable to provide separate bowls and toys to avoid conflicts. The poodle, being a very intelligent and sociable breed, tends to adapt well to the presence of other dogs, but it is important to reward it with positive reinforcement when it interacts properly with its new companions. In conclusion , settling how introducing a poodle with other dogs requires patience and attention, because each dog has different adjustment times.
We read very often, in authoritative sources that the poodle is one of the most intelligent breed. I personally consider that a dog’s intelligence can be evaluated in many aspects such as learning ability, adaptability, socialization, response to given instructions etc… so I absolutely do not agree with general rankings by “breed”. However, good selection can certainly consolidate certain character and cognitive aspects such as poodle intelligent breed. Without a doubt, he is extremely sociable and loves to be in the company of his family, showing constant affection. In addition to its sweet disposition, the poodle is incredibly lively.
Full of energy, he loves to run, play and interact, both with people and other animals. This energy is well balanced by poodle intelligence: the poodle is easily trained and quickly learns new commands and games. Because of this combination of liveliness and intelligence, it is perfect for those looking for a dog that is active, but also well-behaved. His harmonious temperament makes him suitable for a variety of situations. He is patient and gentle with children, but he also adapts to the quiet life of a couple or an elderly person. Its balanced personality makes it a dog capable of being lively without being overly exuberant, making it a pleasant presence in any family setting.
The toy poodle is an excellent choice for families with children because of its affectionate, playful and intelligent nature. Small in size, this dog is easy to handle in small spaces such as apartments, making it suitable for a variety of family situations. Despite its size, the toy poodle is an energetic dog and loves to participate in play activities, making it an ideal and suitable companion for families with children. It is important to consider that, although affectionate and patient, the toy poodle is a small dog and, therefore, children should be taught to treat it with respect and kindness, avoiding too rough play.
Toy Poodle features
Poodles shed very little compared to other breeds.
One of the Poodle’s main characteristics is its curly coat and the absence of an “undercoat,” which helps keep the home cleaner.
“Mini toy” is not a separate FCI size variety. Toy Poodles measure over 24 cm and up to 28 cm at the withers, with a −1 cm tolerance at the lower limit; weight does not determine the variety.
Let’s explain the issue of the mini toy poodle pedigree. All poodle puppies, if the breeder arranges to register them with ENCI, are registered as Poodles. Therefore they will be issued a pedigree. When they are 12 months old, it will be possible to take them to an official ENCI show where an “expert judge” will define their size. If the puppy has a height at withers of less than 23cm it will retain its pedigree but cannot be used either for breeding or to participate in dog shows. So yes, mini toy poodle pedigree is possible.
For measuring the poodle size it is necessary to measure the ‘height at the withers once our puppy has reached 12 months as shown in the figure below.
The weight has no relevance for the purpose of measuring the poodle size.
The “official” definition of the size, in order to be able to report it on the pedigree, must be carried out by an “expert judge” during an official ENCI event once the puppy has reached at least 12 months.
Do you know how much does a toy poodle weigh ?
The weight of the poodle is not decisive in determining its size: to understand, we cannot define whether a poodle is toy or miniature by its weight, but only by its height at the withers. So don’t ask how much does a toy poodle weigh but focus on the height at the withers !
Usually, however, the “toy” size poodle weighs between 2 and 4 kg.
Toy Poodles measure over 24 cm and up to 28 cm at the withers, with a tolerance of −1 cm at the lower limit, according to the FCI Standard No. 172. The variety is determined by adult height at the withers, not by weight. See our Poodle size guide.
“Mini toy” and “teacup” are informal terms, not additional size varieties recognised by the FCI. The Toy variety measures over 24 cm and up to 28 cm at the withers, with a tolerance of −1 cm at the lower limit. A height below 23 cm is a disqualifying fault under the FCI Standard No. 172. The variety is determined by adult height at the withers, not by weight. See our Poodle size guide.
Let’s explore which are the poodle coat colors
- Black: The black toy poodle has a uniform, deep, glossy coat. This coloring is highly valued for its elegance and intensity. Black is one of the most classic colors and can remain fairly stable over the dog’s lifetime.
- White: The white toy poodle has a pure and refined appearance. This color is delicate and requires special care, especially to prevent the coat from yellowing or getting dirty easily.
- Fawn: The fawn, or red, coloration is very vibrant and attractive. Toy poodles of this color can range in shade from cream i.e. a very light fawn to a shade of very deep red but it is common for this to lighten with age.
- Brown: The brown toy poodles have a uniform chocolate-colored coat, which can range from darker to lighter shades. This coloration may also fade with age, taking on a slightly lighter shade.
- Gray: The gray toy poodle is a charming coloration that is not obvious as a puppy. Gray poodles are born black and later gradually develop a gray coat as they grow
- Other colors: More distinctive colorations have recently been recognized, such as two-tone poodles or those with white spots or focal shades.
The difference between a Toy Poodle and a Miniature Poodle is EXCLUSIVELY the height at withers and NOT the weight.
Find out how to measure height at whiters here.
So do not evaluate the difference between toy poodle and Miniature poodle by weight.
Toy Poodles measure over 24 cm and up to 28 cm at the withers, with a tolerance of −1 cm at the lower limit.
Miniature Poodles measure over 28 cm and up to 35 cm at the withers. Reference: FCI Standard No. 172.
There are several reasons for why choosing the poodle breed and to adopt a toy or miniature poodle. If you are therefore looking for a small dog that combines elegance, intelligence and affection, the toy or miniature poodle may be the perfect choice for you. This breed, certainly popular for its versatility and playful nature, is ideal, with proper care, for families as well as for single people or the elderly. Characteristics of the Toy Poodle : The Toy Poodle is first and foremost one of the smaller variants of the breed, with an average weight ranging from 2 to 4 Kg. Despite its small size, it is an energetic, lively dog with surprising intelligence. puppies of this breed are in fact known for their ease of training, thanks to their ability to quickly learn new commands and skills… so do not hesitate to contact us on why choosing the poodle breed.
