Toy Poodle

Feed a high-quality dog food suited to your Toy Poodle's age, activity level, and size. Some dogs gain weight easily, so watch calorie intake and keep an eye on body condition. Your vet can calculate your dog's caloric needs, and the feeding labels on the food offer useful guidance.

Because Toy Poodles are small, they do well with two to three feedings per day. Puppies should eat three to four small meals per day on a consistent schedule, which helps maintain blood sugar and guard against hypoglycemia.

In a small breed, calories in treats add up fast. Treats are useful for training, but they should make up no more than 10 percent of the daily diet, with the other 90 percent coming from dog food. Never feed cooked bones or fatty table scraps, and learn which human foods are safe.

Some Toy Poodles benefit from omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), found in fish oil, skin and joint supplements, and some dog foods. Omega-3s act as anti-inflammatories that help support the skin, coat, kidneys, joints, and heart. Check with your vet if you have concerns about your dog's weight or diet.

Poodles of all sizes have curly coats with extensive grooming needs, and the coat grows continuously. The relatively non-shedding coat makes the breed a good choice for some people with allergies, though no dog is completely hypoallergenic, so spend time with the breed first if allergies are a concern.

Brush daily, all the way down to the skin, so the coat does not mat. If a full coat is not brushed and combed to the roots, hair mats near the roots and has to be shaved off to start over. Most owners keep the dog in a shorter trim, which needs less home care. Whatever the haircut, most Toy Poodles need professional grooming every four to six weeks for a bath, trim, and nail trim.

Most Toy Poodles should be bathed every two to four weeks, using a gentle, dog-specific shampoo and conditioner on their curls. Your vet may suggest more frequent bathing depending on your dog's health.

Keep the ear hairs trimmed rather than plucked, and watch for redness, odor, or debris, which can signal an infection worth a vet visit. Wipe the eyes daily with a soft, moist cloth or a vet-recommended cleaner, and rinse the corners with saline to help with tear staining. Carefully trim hair around the eyes to prevent irritation, and see your vet if you notice squinting or discharge.

Toy Poodles are active dogs with higher energy than their size suggests, and they need daily exercise. They benefit from a daily walk plus at-home play sessions, and they enjoy staying busy. Swimming is good exercise, and most Poodles love the water. Bred from hunting stock, they have a retrieving instinct, so tossing toys, sticks, or balls works both mind and body.

Because they are so smart, Toy Poodles need plenty of mental stimulation to stay entertained and out of trouble. Bored dogs are more likely to bark, jump, and be destructive. Keep them busy with interactive playtime, puzzle toys, scent walks, and training sessions.

Toy Poodles bond closely to their families and may develop separation anxiety when left alone for long periods. They can also be sensitive to stress, and sudden changes at home may upset their stomach, so a steady routine helps.

Toy Poodles are intelligent and eager to please, which makes them an easy and fun breed to train. Keep training positive and consistent, built on praise and tasty treats, but be careful not to overfeed with rewards. They are people-oriented and quick to learn.

Agile and graceful as well as smart, they enjoy and excel in canine sports, including agility, obedience, and tracking. As natural water-retrievers, they also compete in dock diving and retriever hunt tests.

Socialize them young so they grow up playful and self-confident. When socialized early, most Toy Poodles are gentle with children and other pets. Because these dogs are so tiny, they can be hurt by accident during play, so supervise all interactions between dogs and kids.