Dwarf poodle

A popular breed renowned for its charm, intelligence, and curly coat is the dwarf poodle. This little dog is a well-liked option for both families and individuals due to its charming appearance and energetic personality, which have won over many hearts.

The Dwarf Poodle’s versatility is one of its best features. With the correct care and attention, this breed flourishes in both large and small homes. Additionally, they have a reputation for being extremely trainable, which makes them excellent companions for both seasoned pet owners and novice dog owners.

Dwarf Poodles are not only amiable but also hypoallergenic, which means they shed very little—a huge benefit for people with allergies. They are more than just pets because of their loving nature and lively demeanor.

Characteristic	Description
Size	Small, usually 11 to 14 inches tall
Weight	Between 6 and 9 kg
Temperament	Intelligent, friendly, and energetic
Coat	Curly, dense, and non-shedding
Colors	Black, white, apricot, gray, and brown
Lifespan	12 to 15 years
Exercise needs	Daily walks and playtime
Grooming	Regular brushing and trimming

Description of the breed dwarf poodle and FCI standard

1. Country of origin: France.
2. Use: Companion.
3. Classification FCI: Group 9. Companion dogs. Section 2. Poodle. Without work tests.
4. General view: an elegant, harmoniously folded breed with a characteristic curly or cord wool.
5. Important proportions:
6. The length of the muzzle is almost equal to 9/10 of the length of the skull.
7. The length of the case is slightly larger than the height at the withers.
8. The height at the withers is almost equal to the height of the croup.
9. The distance from the ground to the elbows is 5/9 of the height at the withers.
10. Behavior/Character: intelligent, active, loyal and cheerful dog. Easy to train.

• Skull: when viewed from above, looks oval along the longitudinal axis, in profile slightly convex. Longitudinal axes slightly diverging. Width of the skull less than half the length of the head. Superciliary arches moderately pronounced, covered with long hair.
• Frontal groove: wide between the eyes, narrowing towards the very well-defined occipital protuberance. (In miniature poodles, the occipital protuberance may be less pronounced.)
• Stop (Transition from forehead to muzzle): slightly pronounced.

A picture of a tiny poodle wearing a hat

A picture of a tiny fawn-colored poodle

• Shoulder blades: sloping, with good muscles; the scapula forms an angle of about 110° with the shoulder.
• Shoulder: the length of the shoulder corresponds to the length of the scapula.
• Wrist: continuation of the line of the forearm.
• Mescarpus: strong, almost straight when viewed from the side.
• Forefeet: small, close, forming a short oval. Toes are arched, paw pads are hard, thick. Claws are black in black and gray poodles, in brown – black or brown. White poodles have horn-colored claws or of varying pigmentation up to black. Apricot and red poodles have brown or black claws.

• Hips: strong, with well-developed muscles.
• Metacarpus: rather short, vertical. A poodle should be born without dewclaws.
• Hindfeet: small, close, forming a short oval. Toes are arched, paw pads are hard, thick. Claws are black in black and gray poodles, in brown – black or brown. White poodles have horn-colored claws or of varying pigmentation up to black. Apricot and red poodles have brown claws or black.

• Curly-haired poodle: abundant, thin, fluffy texture, in a good curl, elastic and resistant to pressure by hand. The coat should be very dense, abundant, of uniform length, forming proportionate curls.
• Corded Poodle: abundant coat of fine texture, woolly and dense, forming characteristic cords of equal length, which should be at least 20 cm long.

• Height at the withers: 28 – 35 cm. The Miniature Poodle should be a miniature miniature poodle and, if possible, maintain the same proportions, excluding any signs of dwarfism.

• Carp-shaped or sunken back
• Tail set too low
• Excessively nervous behavior
• Teeth: absence of two P1 is not taken into account
• Absence of one or two symmetrically placed P2
• Absence of M3 is not taken into account

• Partially depigmented nose
• Pointed muzzle
• Spotted muzzle
• Aquiline nasal bridge
• Teeth: absence of two asymmetrically placed P2
• Eyes too big, too deep-set, not dark enough
• Ears too short
• Sloping croup
• Tail carried over back
• Hindquarters too straight in angulation
• Smooth and drawn-out movement
• Poor, flabby or harsh coat
• Indefinite or unevenly distributed color on body: black-gray or gray-white, faded apricot (red), cream, beige in browns or too dark brown

• Aggressiveness or shyness
• Completely unpigmented nose
• Insufficiently pronounced type, especially of the head
• Overshot or undershot bite
• Teeth: one incisor or one canine or one carnassial missing
• One P3 or one P4 missing
• Three or more premolars missing (except P1)
• Taillessness or natural short tail
• Dewclaws or traces of their removal on the hind legs
• Non-solid coat color
• White spots or white coat on paws
• Dogs taller than 62 cm for large dogs or less than 23 cm for toys
• Dogs showing signs of dwarfism: apple-shaped head, indistinct occipital protuberance, sharply defined stop, protruding eyes, too short or upturned muzzle, shortened lower jaw, indistinct chin
• Almost imperceptible frontal groove
• Too light bone in toys
• Ringed tail, tip falling over back or croup

Any dog exhibiting abnormalities, either in appearance or behavior, ought to be disqualified.

Note: Two testicles that appear normal should be fully lowered into the scrotum in male animals.

Due to its small size, intelligence, and affection, the dwarf poodle is a popular breed among both families and single people. These dogs are well-known for their playful nature and curly, hypoallergenic coat. They also happen to be highly trainable and adaptable to a variety of living conditions. They make wonderful pets for anyone looking for an outgoing and energetic dog because they are excellent companions that combine loyalty and energy.

Miniature Poodle color

• Solid coat: black, white, brown, gray, apricot and red.
• Brown color: not diluted, sufficiently dark, uniform and warm in color. Beige and lighter shades are undesirable.
• Gray: uniform, not weakened, not close to black, not whitish.
• Apricot: uniform, without transition to fawn, sand or red.
• Red: the entire coat should be uniform in color, without a tendency to apricot.

Pigmentation: Rich colors should be seen on the scrotum, paw pads, nose, lips, gums, palate, and eyelids. Natural openings should also have rich colors.

Dwarf poodle character

Poodle: a canine companion. possesses a remarkable capacity to blend in with his surroundings and pick up the exact behavioral traits that his owner finds most intriguing. A poodle can play fetch with a ball with its owner-athlete, run through the park, go fishing with his owner, or take a leisurely stroll down the boulevard with their elderly owners.

No matter what size your beloved poodle, royal, or toy is, they can accurately sense the owner’s melancholy and depressed mood. There he is, the four-legged "psychologist," licking and pitying his beloved, and suddenly life makes total sense.

Adores playing and having fun with kids; gets along well with them. Although he is very trainable, he communicates politely and carefully, demands respect from himself, and only then tries to please his owner by performing amazing feats of obedience and training. When living in a home with other dogs and animals, dwarf poodles do not bite.

They bark at strangers and attempt to defend their owner and his family from "uninvited guests"; only when they are certain that nothing dangerous is approaching will they start acting hospitable, licking and showing love to all, and of course, letting themselves be petted.

Although there are frequently obnoxious poodles that growl and snap at their owners, do not jump to judgments about the breed as a whole after encountering one of these examples.

An inadequate upbringing is the cause of this kind of behavior. Previously, the owner either raised the animal harshly or, conversely, overindulged in spoiling and gave the pet everything. Consequently, the poodle assumed the role of the pack leader, while the owner assumed only the role of an average member.

Dwarf poodle care and content

A picture of a dwarf poodle in various colors

Wool

The hair of dwarf poodles is curly and thick.

Two varieties of wool exist.

1. Curly wool – thick, elastic, forms curls, covers the whole body abundantly.
2. The cord type of wool is thick, abundant cover, fluffy wool forms at least 20 cm cords.

Some find the poodle’s wool cover problematic, while others see it as a fantastic way to realize their "hairdressing" dreams. When a dwarf poodle is owned "for the soul," its owner can change its appearance at least once a month by giving it haircuts and forms that are as varied as possible with the use of combs and scissors. You can trim the four-legged ward in the summertime to prevent the wool from degrading the quality.

An image of a dwarf poodle standing in the outdoors

The fact that a poodle’s coat doesn’t shed or trigger allergies is a huge benefit. Despite the fact that many people, particularly owners of short-haired dogs, who once hoped that their new dog would have less hair, are mistrustful of this fact.

A miniature poodle’s coat needs to be kept clean at all times. That is the most crucial requirement.

Bathing

Give the dog a bath every two to three weeks, or more often if it gets dirty. Bathing takes less time the more often you do it because the coat has less time to become matted and tangled. Furthermore, splashing in ponds is something that all poodles adore doing. Only animals on display are allowed on the path leading to natural bathing areas, as it’s likely that the dog will be covered in mats after such a bath.

Combing

Two small poodles on the paving stones in the picture

Each day, you should brush your pet. It will only take five to ten minutes, but the joy of interaction will benefit both of you. In addition, combing serves as a massage substitute and encourages blood circulation in the skin. It is preferable to use professional cosmetics when taking care of a miniature poodle. Selecting the right product for each dog won’t be tough because there are numerous brands available. You won’t need to brush your dog between washes if you give them regular baths with carefully chosen cosmetics.

Eyes

A miniature poodle’s healthy eyes are glossy, streak-free (tear marks are slightly more noticeable on white people), and do not weep. Examining the eyes and rinsing them with warm water or diluted black tea will suffice. Should your dog exhibit redness, teariness, or severe souring of the eyes, get in touch with a veterinarian right away. Refusing to self-medicate is preferable.

Ears

An exposed area on a poodle is its drooping ears. They have poor ventilation, so any water that leaks during a bath stays there. In order to shield the dog from otitis and other ear issues for the duration of its life, the owner needs to keep a close eye on the condition of the dog’s auricles. Examine the dog’s ears on a regular basis. If you find any unusual liquid leakage, an unpleasant odor, or an excess of sulfur, get in touch with the vet right away.

Anal gland issues can occasionally arise in poodles; if this has happened, frequent cleaning is required, best done while the dog is being washed.

Claws and paws

Make sure to frequently check the poodle’s paw and claw conditions. The pet’s claws should be clipped 1-2 times per month with a specialized claw cutter, even if it has an active lifestyle. After that, use a file to smooth out the sharp ends of the claws and get rid of burrs. Never forget that the front paws’ fifth toe is small and does not completely remove the claw. After walks, wash the paws and check for cracks and damage.

When given the right care, miniature poodles typically exhibit good health and long lifespans—12 years old is not at all old for many of the breed’s members.

Miniature Poodle Training

The high degree of intelligence exhibited by all Poodle breed members is well known, and miniature Poodles are no different.

They can clearly recall those acts and understand their meaning. The pet only needs to hear a word or see a gesture to understand what is expected of him. The Poodle is not deterred by humans or other dogs at the same time.

A dog’s greatest reward is receiving praise from its owner. It will be exceedingly challenging to train a pet to obey if it does not understand the meaning of the command.

Impatient owners frequently make the mistake of harshly training their pets before drawing snap judgments about how foolish and unyielding their dogs are. The monotonous and careless execution of commands will quickly wear down the Poodle, and he may even decide to quit working altogether.

A picture of a tiny Poodle in the backyard

Members of this breed are adept at entertaining training methods like:

• agility (a competition in which the dog is directed by the owner through an obstacle course)
• freestyle (dancing of the pet to music)
• flyball (a flying ball, a team or individual competition for dogs. The pet must catch the ball released from a special machine and quickly bring it to the owner. The game resembles a relay race)

These "vain" dogs cherish praise and admiration, whether it comes from winning a show ring, a sporting event, or a trick demonstration in front of houseguests. Conversely, some argue that training poodles—especially the "miniature" breeds—is unnecessary in order to preserve their natural free spirits.

But if you’re thinking about getting a miniature poodle, keep in mind that even the tiniest and most innocent dog can turn into a wild animal and cause a lot of trouble for its owner and other people if they don’t receive the necessary training and education.

Miniature poodle nutrition

An image of a cute little poodle

Whether to feed a miniature poodle homemade food or store-bought food is up to the individual owner.

The primary requirement is to avoid abruptly switching from one form of feeding to another.

For the first few days after bringing the baby home from the breeder, give him the food he is accustomed to in order to prevent digestive issues. It is advisable to seek advice from a veterinarian regarding the appropriate food for your pet and its quality before introducing it to ready-made industrial products.

Enumeration of natural ingredients suitable for preparing food for a miniature poodle:

1. Meat – beef, turkey, chicken, lamb.
2. Cereals – buckwheat, rice.
3. Boneless sea fish (river fish is not allowed)
4. Any vegetables, except potatoes and legumes (they cause bloating)
5. Fermented milk products
6. Eggs (preferably quail) and offal – no more than 2 times a week.
7. Sunflower and corn vegetable oil (especially in winter).
8. Fruits (apples, bananas)
9. Honey on the tip of a spoon as a treat.
10. Chocolate, cakes, cookies are not allowed .

For information on adding vitamins and mineral supplements to an animal’s diet, it is best to speak with a veterinarian. If your pet has renal or hepatic insufficiency, urolithiasis, food allergies, etc., its diet needs to be modified. Making adjustments is also necessary when feeding elderly, frail, pregnant, and nursing dogs.

All the guidelines point to nutrition as being crucial to your four-legged ward’s health.

Diseases of a miniature poodle

• progressive retinal atrophy
• epilepsy
• deafness
• allergy
• diabetes
• heart disease
• ear graying (often found in brown poodles)
• autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• excessive lacrimation
• ear infections

Photo of a miniature poodle

For anyone searching for a canine companion that is smart, sociable, and flexible, the dwarf poodle is an excellent choice. Despite being compact and ideal for apartment living, they have a lot of energy and enjoy playing outside.

They become extremely obedient and get along well with kids and other pets with the right training and care. For people who are allergic to dog hair, their hypoallergenic coat is a benefit, but regular grooming is required to maintain its best appearance.

The dwarf poodle is a great option if you’re searching for a devoted and caring pet that can adapt to a variety of lifestyles. They are a delight to have in any home because of their charming personality, sharp mind, and loving disposition.

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