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Poodle Toy

General
Other Names		Carniche
Dog Group Kennel Club		Utility
Breed Classification		The Toy Poodle belongs to the utility group (although a toy breed and shown in the toy group in the USA). They are used as companions and seen in the show-ring.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		< £4 per week
Feeding Requirements		Very small dogs should be fed twice a day to prevent hypoglycemia. Biscuit is good for helping keep their teeth a bit cleaner and healthier.
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		A puppy will cost around £550 to £600. It must be remembered that there will be additional costs for professional grooming which is needed every six weeks.
Average Puppy Price		£300-500
Lifespan		> 15 years If healthy, this is a long lived breed, lasting between 14 and 17 years.
Average Litter Size		3 Litter sizes are between 2 to 4 puppies
General Physical Description		This is a noble looking dog with a slender muzzle and long neck. The coat is profuse and curly and is often styled. They move with a graceful and prancing gait.
Height Min Max Bitch 25cm (10") 28cm (11") Dog 25cm (10") 28cm (11") Weight Min Max Bitch 4kg (9lbs) 5kg (11lbs) Dog 4kg (9lbs) 5kg (11lbs)
Size Category		Tiny
Weight Height Range		The Toy Poodle stands 25 to 28cms and should not weigh more than 4.5 kg.
Ailments		All poodles are prone to eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. The toys and miniatures are prone to patellar subluxation. Epilepsy is another disease that plagues all the poodle varieties.
Common Ailments		Missing teeth, sensitivity to rabies vaccine
Susceptibility To Illness		Low
Other
History		This size of poodle was known to exist at least 500 years ago. During the 17th and 18th centuries the poodle became a favourite with the nobility. They wanted dogs smaller than the Miniature variety and so the Toy Poodle was developed. Today the Toy Poodle is exclusively a companion and show dog.
Intelligence		The Poodle is an extremely intelligent and eager to please dog, thus he is inordinately easy to train. As a result, the Poodle has a history of performance, appearing in circus and street acts for hundreds of years. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. Many pet owners, using gentle and consistent training methods, have seen their poodles excel in obedience trials, flyball and agility.
Show Characteristics		The Poodle standard asks for a moderately rounded skull with a slight but definite stop. The cheeks are flat and the muzzle is long and fine with slight chiseling under the eyes. The muzzle should show the strength of the retriever but still have an aristocratic outline. The teeth should be set in a scissor bite. Oval, wide set eyes must be dark and full of intelligence. The ears are set low on the skull and hang close to the head. The earflap is long, rather wide and well feathered. A proud dog with a haughty head carriage, the poodle needs a long, strong neck, with a smooth deep throat. Muscular shoulders slope back from their point of angulation at the upper foreleg. Well-sprung ribs support a deep and moderately wide chest. The back is short and slightly hollow, fitting with a short, well muscled loin area. A gaily carried tail, set high, is docked to be in proportion with the body. The forelegs are straight from the shoulder and should be parallel, with strong pasterns (ankles.) The hindquarters must be very muscular with well bent stifles and hocks well let down. Facing forward, the small feet should be oval, with well arched, close toes. The pads should be thick and hard. These physical characteristics enable the poodle to have
Country Of Origin		France/Germany
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		Medium
Overall Exercise		20 - 40 minutes per day. This is a fairly active breed that likes to get out on walks and particularly enjoys games. It is a good idea to enroll a poodle in some sort of activity so that the mind is stimulated along with the body. Poodles can do well in obedience, agility and most dog sports.
Distress Caused if Left Alone
Personal Protection		Low
Suitability As Guard Dog		Medium
Risk of Sheep Worrying		Low
Tendency to Bark		High
Ease of Transportation		High
Level of Aggression		Low
Compatibility With Other Animals		High
Suitable For Children		Low
General Character And Temperament		Getting along with the kids, the cat and the guinea pig is no problem for the poodle. Lively and affectionate, they make wonderful companion dogs, the Toy will adapt to life in more confined quarters as long as they get adequate exercise. They can be good guard dogs, announcing visitors but never being aggressive. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. Many pet owners, using gentle and consistent training methods,have seen their poodles excel in obedience trials, flyball and agility. Children should be trained to handle these small, delicate dogs carefully though.
Grooming
Coat Length		Medium/Long
Grooming Requirement		> Once a week
Trimming
Requires Professional Groomer		True
Grooming		Poodles do not shed and are often tolerated by allergic people. Their coats do take a great deal of care though, generally requiring professional grooming, as well as regular combing and brushing at home. The poodle should be taken to a groomer about every six weeks for a clip of your choice. The poodle’s ears need frequent cleaning or they will become infected and, especially in the smaller poodles, daily teeth brushing is recommended or tartar will build up rapidly and lead to gingivitis.
Colour		They come in a variety of colours. Blues, grays, silvers, browns, café-au-laits, apricots and creams can be varying shades within the coat, for example, darker feathering on the ears and tipping on the ruff. The colour will fade on all coats (apart from
Shedding		None
Suffers From Allergies		True
Tendency to Cause Allergies

Breed results: P-T
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