How Big Do Toy Poodles Get?
- As the smallest member of the poodle family, the Toy Poodle is small enough for any household. They’re often simply called ‘toys’. Toy poodles are low allergen dogs known for their fierce intelligence and sensitivity to stress. They make excellent pets for small spaces and they’re extremely loyal and adjust well to families. Their coats are usually kept short, and need to be groomed every 6-8 weeks. Pet poodles shed little, and groomers usually keep their fur short. Show Poodles, on the other hand, are known for their big, bouffant fur.
- Here, we’ll learn just how big toys get, both as puppies, and as adults. Then, we’ll take a look at size differences between male and female Toy Poodles. Next, we’ll compare the size of toys to the sizes of other dogs, and to other types of Poodle. Finally, we’ll take a look at whether or not a Toy Poodle might be a good addition to your family.
How Big is a Full Grown Toy Poodle?
- According to AKC standards, in order for a poodle to be called a ‘toy’, it can stand no taller than 10 inches at the shoulder once fully grown. Because of selective breeding, it’s rare to see purebred toys larger than this. Along with the short stature comes a low weight. Most weigh between 5-10 pounds as adults.
- Toy Poodles should have their full adult stature and weight by the time they’re one year old. Often, they finish growing by the time they’re six months old. Furthermore, toys do most of their growing in the first few months of life – most stand eight inches tall at only three months of age.
How Big are Toy Puppies?
- At birth, Toy poodles weigh less than a pound. By the time they’re three months old, they weigh in between 2-3 pounds, on average. They grow very fast in the first few months of life, and by the time the puppies are six months old, they’ve gained most of their adult height and weight. Most are done growing by nine months, and grow only marginally between 9-12 months of age.
- Because of their tiny size, toy puppies are not a good fit for homes with small children. Baby toys can easily be held in one hand, or in a purse. They should only be handled by children with adult supervision.
Male vs Female: Which is Bigger?
Male Toy Poodles are slightly larger than females. Though toys are largely the same size regardless of sex, they do exhibit some mild sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism refers to the physical differences between male and female members of a species. A common example of this is males that are larger than females.
In Toy Poodles, this difference is small. Males generally weigh slightly more than females, with an average weight of 7-10 pounds. The average weight for females is 6-9 pounds. Males can grow up to 12 inches tall, which is considered slightly too tall for toys, while females only rarely exceed 10 inches in height.
How Big are Toy Poodles Compared to Other Dogs?
Though toy poodles are not the smallest breed of dog in the world (that honor generally goes to the chihuahua), they’re not far from it. Chihuahuas weigh as little as three pounds when fully grown, and may stand under six inches tall. In comparison, a fully grown toy can weigh more than twice as much, and stand several inches taller.
