What size poodle?

[ImagineRainbows]

We are getting a puppy spring /summer once our garden is finished and dog proof. Exciting!

We have decided to go for a poodle and think the breed suits us well but we can’t decide on what size and keep going back and forth between toy and mini.

We are wanting a small dog but is toy TOO small. Would help if we could see and compare adults in this size and we don’t know anyone with poodles but I feel we can’t re contact breeders and say we’re not getting a pup yet but can we visit your adults.

Anyone with either size have any advantages or disadvantages to other size?

We have cats, does this have an impact? They are large breed cats (4-5 kg), would a toy be less threatening to them? Or more likely to be injured by them?

I recommend going to a Kennel Club Championship Dog show in your area. They take place over about 3 days. Contact the Secretary to check which day the Poodles will be shown. Toy Poodles are in the Toy Group. Miniatures and Standards, the Utility Group. They could be shown on different days, but are often shown on the same one. Here is a list. You can also look up Kennel Club registered breeders and ring around them. Many breeders will keep a couple of sizes. Most are happy for serious people to visit to see their dogs even if they don’t have a litter planned and know you will be purchasing elsewhere.

It’s so refreshing to read a post from someone interested in a Poodle and not something crossed with one. I myself had Standards for many years and now have Toys.

Sorry, I forgot the link
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events-and-activities/dog-showing/dog-show-secretary-information/general-and-group-championship-shows/

If you are planning a poodle in spring or summer, you very much need to be contacting breeders now as the good ones will have waiting lists.
Why not contact your local breed club and ask for advice on planned litters.
Pp suggestion of visiting a champ show is a good one, or discover dogs at Crufts.... if you went on toy/utility day you would meet hundreds!

I have a small mini/large toy size. She's about large cat size. We have two cats - one is bigger than her and one smaller.

I have a miniature poodle and she’s absolutely gorgeous and a perfect size. She weighs seven kilos and I can easily pick her up, to put her in the car. She pretty much holds her own with other dogs, although the really big dogs scare her a bit. I personally wouldn’t want anything smaller. Poodles are great dogs, good choice.

I used the Champ dogs site to find puppies.

I had a miniature poodle for 18 years. They do seem to be the longest lived and have fewer problems than the otber sizes. Mine lived very happily with my cat, who came on walks in the woods behind my house with us. He also lived with a German Shepherd and was definitely the boss. Small enough to pick up if you had to, but big enough to walk all day if you did. They're brilliant dogs.

Surprisingly, Toys can also go all day!

I have what is registered in the U.K. as a standard poodle, however he is from European/American lines which is more the fourth size the Moyen (medium) sized poodle. He weighs 20 kg and the top of his head is mid thigh for me and I am 163cm tall.
I would investigate the kennel club site for what health checks they should all have many breeders do additional testing beyond what the KC require. Then you can fall down a worm hole of what colours you like as the party ( white with other colours) and phantoms ( black with ginger tips) are actively being breed for. I have a red they are the cheeky ones.

@StrikeForever Unfortunately nothing near us for a long time and hoping to get a dog spring / summer as it falls in my partners work break and perfect time so settle a puppy.

@Abc1weabc1 I’m aware of waiting lists which is why we need to decide on size ASAP but we’re so torn.

We’ve always had big dogs (Lab and than a Rottie) which is why a toy breed seems too small I guess. But we did say we wanted a small dog this time. I just wish there was something to differentiate between them so we could confidently choose.

@itstrue Are your cats any particular breed? We have Ragdoll’s which are a largish breed and wouldn’t want a dog smaller than the cats. If a cat is bigger than a large toy I guess toy is too small for us.

Can you make it to Crufts and Discover Dogs?

We had a large poodle mix (65 lbs) who the cat met when he was only 8 lbs, the same size as her. They did not ever really get along. She would wait until she knew he was wiped out and then snuggle up beside him, otherwise his prey drive meant he chased her around the house.

Now, same cat and a 25lb poodle mix (daschund or similar). He has an even higher prey drive but the cat now knows to walk VERY SLOWLY so as not to trigger him. No cuddling up yet.

Hello @ImagineRainbows welcome to the poodle club! I have 2 minis and they are absolutely fantastic dogs, everyone loves them. I think they're the perfect size, one is 6.5 and one is 7.5, so easy to pick up but not too small, they're about the same as all the cockapoos you see everywhere.

If you want to PM me I can send you some pics/videos of my pups!

Only downside of my gorgeous pair is they're very barky, and both hate bigger dogs than them. We've had behaviourist input for the barking which has helped a bit but ultimately they're a barky breed!

However I 100% recommend them, their temperament is just so chilled and loving, they snuggle all day, love everyone who comes in our house, never barked at the door at all because they think everyone is a friend :)

@ImagineRainbows - a toy poodle is almost certain to be smaller than a ragdoll. A small mini could also be smaller than a large ragdoll.

Congrats on the breed choice! Poodles are wonderful dogs and so clever.

Mine is a cockerpoo but DNA test showed she inherited over 80% poodle. She looks like one, behaves like one and gets mistaken for one all the time. I love it about her. :-) She has made me fall in love with the poodle breed. I'm so in love with the breed now I want to rescue a standard!! Absolutely majestic animals.

I wouldn't go any smaller. I'd even consider a medium poodle rather than a miniature. The smaller the dog is, the closer it is to the ground obviously which can make it slightly trickier to train. Not impossible just a bit trickier. I look at people training their labs and goldens and everything is so much higher it just seems easier.

Toys really are teeny tiny, but that's just me.

We can describe the size online but you really need to get a feel in person. Completely agree with a PP that going to a poodle show is a good idea.

Yep. I'm probably one of the people you are thinking of 😬

But I agree, I ended up with a cockerpoo (when I was considering beagles or goldens!) because she was left and poor thing needed a home, but everything I love about her is the poodle. All the reasons people want cockerpoos tend to be the poodle traits... in which case... get a poodle...?

I've fully embraced the poo and have her groomed in that style. she's made me love the poodle breed and if i ever get another dog, it'll be a full on poodle.

Hi I have a mini he weighs about 8kg and is very very slightly over the maximin height allowed for a show dog; 15 inches, his breeder suspected he’d be over height which is why she sold him to me.
He is now elderly at 13 but still exceedingly healthy and runs around like a two year old and has never had a days illness.
He has lived with a larger cat and was unfazed but that is because he believes he is is charge he also regularly walks with much larger dogs and again is fazed and in fact keeps them in their place if necessary.
They are devoted intelligent dogs and super easy to train they just want to please. Mine rarely barks. They are devoted to their “family” so are quite needy I can leave mine and he’s fine but he likes to sit on you/be very close to you all the time and he’s jealous of my other dog or just any other dogs being too friendly with the people who he considers his family.
They dont shed which was a total revelation when I first had having always had shedding dogs, I take mine to the groomer every 12 weeks and rarely brush him. Theyll walk miles or but also just go round the block if your too busy they dont seem overly bothered either way mine goes out in all weathers unlike my other dig who has a thick double coat and I have to drag him out in the rain! .Mine has a very low prey drive and I can walk him through a flock of sheep off lead. and he wont even look at them.
I went through the miniature poodle club uk these are breed dedicated breeders and was given a list of breeders expecting puppies but this was a long time ago when perhaps there was less demand. I was extensively screened about my home experience with dogs etc and at that time the breeders I spoke were particularly concerned that I was only buying one to breed some sort of poodle cross which they really don’t approve of.
I was told by the women I got mine from who is considered to be only one very small step down from God in the world of Mini poodles that it’s generally accepted that the black ones are the calmest and least neurotic and the white ones are the most neurotic. Most poodles of all sizes and colours are usually going grey and usually by 7 are grey/whitish mine hasn’t and this is very unusual.
If you want a totally devoted but needy dog (friends who visit me comment on it and some don’t like it and my other dog is the opposite of needy) thats super easy to train is unlikely to chase livestock and is very adaptable to your lifestyle and doesn’t shed then you cant beat a miniature poodle.

Personally I would go for a mini over a toy - they're just a bit more robust IMO, but then I'm not a big fan of very small dogs in general so I'm definitely a bit biased!

All sizes of Poodles are in the Utility Group. I have owned all sizes, I love the Standards best but I do prefer bigger dogs.

We have previously had dogs around 30 kilos and now have a poodle cross who you can see has very much taken after the poodle. She's 8 kilos and to me that's a lovely size. Small enough to pick up if you need to or can tuck under a cafe table etc. Equally big enough to feel a bit sturdier and a lovely size for cuddles etc.