Toy poodle price: How Much Does a Toy Poodle Cost?
Toy Poodles have become extremely popular due to their adorable size and interactive nature. They can be groomed to display a variety of different hairstyles, and they love spending time with humans no matter their age. Toy Poodles are much like Standard Poodles, just smaller! So, how much do Toy Poodles cost in 2023? Here is everything that you need to know.
Bringing Home a New Toy Poodle: One-Time Costs
Bringing a Toy Poodle home is usually not a cheap endeavor, although there are certain instances when you might find a free dog of this breed to call your own. There are always breeders to buy from, but that’s far from your only option.
Free
The only way that you can get a free Toy Poodle is to find a stray one and rescue it or find someone who is looking to get rid of theirs for one reason or another. But getting a Toy Poodle for free does not mean that won’t cost you anything once you get the dog home. A stray dog will likely require extra veterinarian care, and all dogs require things like bedding, toys, food and water dishes, and the food itself.
Breeder
Reputable breeders take pride in their puppies and ensure that they come from the best pedigrees and ancestries. They also make sure their dogs get the best vet care possible. Therefore, they command a high price for their pups. Expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for a Toy Poodle from a breeder.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are many unwanted doggies in the world, so if you can find a stray Toy Poodle or adopt one from a rescue center, you can help be a part of the solution and feel proud that you’re keeping a dog off the street or from becoming the victim of euthanasia. If you do decide to buy from a breeder, consider spaying or neutering to help ensure that no unwanted pets come into the world on your watch.
Adoption
Another great way to welcome a toy poodle into your home is through adoption.
Rates will vary widely depending on several factors. Every animal organization will set its own rates, which can vary depending on what is included in the adoption price. The cost of living in the area you live in can also determine the price of the adoption, simply because veterinary care will likely be more expensive there. The age of your prospective pet will also affect the adoption price; puppies are generally more costly than older dogs.
Be sure to ask the organization you’re adopting from what is included in the cost of the adoption. Many will include basic veterinary care costs such as a wellness exam, vaccinations, and microchipping. The more that comes with the adoption, the more you should expect to pay.
Initial Setup and Supplies
There are many supplies that you will need to purchase in order to ensure that your new Toy Poodle is well taken care of. It’s not just food, water, and a safe place to sleep that you need to get. Check out this breakdown of initial costs:
List of Toy Poodle Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $25 |
| Spay/Neuter | $100 – $250 |
| Initial Vet Visit | $150 – $350 |
| Initial Vaccinations | $100 – $500 |
| Microchip | $25 – $50 |
| Kennel | $40 – $250 |
| Bedding/Pillows/Blankets | $25 – $100 |
| Nail Clippers | $10 – $20 |
| Brush/Comb | $5 – $25 |
| Food and Water Dishes | $10 – $30 |
| Toys | $10 – $150 |
| Training Videos/Manuals (optional) | $10 – $100 |
| Flea/Tick Medication | $40 – $100 |
| Shampoo and Towel | $15 – $50 |
How Much Does a Toy Poodle Cost to Care for Per Month?
The cost of caring for your Toy Poodle can vary depending on the dog’s needs and your preferences. You will likely spend on the lower side of these estimates most months, but there may be months when costs run toward the higher end. Here is a breakdown of potential monthly costs as a Toy Poodle owner.
Grooming
Toy Poodles must be groomed regularly to keep their coats in good shape. However, there is a bit of leeway when it comes to how you groom your dog, which affects the costs of overall grooming in a given month. You can purchase a hair trimmer, a good comb or brush, and nail clippers once, and then do the grooming yourself at home for free. Alternatively, you can pay someone else to do it for you, which could cost anywhere from $25 to about $100, depending on the specific services that you get.
Food
The dog food industry has come a long way in the last few years. Instead of manufacturing the bare minimum in nutrition, dog food companies are shifting towards premium and natural foods. Pet parents have also started humanizing their pets more than in previous generations, so they want to feed their dogs the highest quality food, regardless of the price.
Dogs need a high-quality diet to ensure they get the nutrients and vitamins they need to live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately for dog owners, this means spending a fair bit of money on their pet’s food.
The above quote assumes that your toy poodle doesn’t need a special prescription diet.
Healthcare
You may go months without having to spend any money on your Toy Poodle’s healthcare, but there will be times when spending money on vet visits is unavoidable. You may spend $100 for a checkup or just a few dollars on flea preventative care. There also may come a time when your dog has an accident or gets ill, and you will need to pay hundreds of dollars for treatments.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance typically covers unexpected illnesses and injuries, but not wellness care. So, while you may still have to pay out-of-pocket for things like checkups and vaccinations, you can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on vet costs if your Toy Poodle were to get seriously ill or injured. The cost of pet insurance can range from about $30 to about $50 a month, depending on the plan and company that you decide to go with.
Medications and Vet Visits
All dogs require regular vet visits to ensure good health and a long, happy life. A wellness checkup should happen once a year, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $250, depending on the services rendered. You won’t have to worry about monthly vet visits unless your Toy Poodle gets ill or injured. Medications may cost a monthly fee, whether temporarily or for a lifetime.
Medicine costs can widely range, but you can expect to pay between $5 and $200 per month for as long as necessary. If your dog gets injured or requires surgery due to an illness, you could spend thousands on services to address the issue. Basically, medication and vet costs per month could theoretically be nothing or thousands of dollars depending on the month and the situation that your dog is in.
Environment Maintenance
Environment maintenance involves the things that you must spend money on each month to maintain a high quality of life for your pup. For example, you may have to buy puppy pads for a few months while you potty train your Toy Poodle. Toys tend to get ruined and need to be replaced regularly. Treats and snacks are always handy to have on hand. Here’s a breakdown of average monthly costs for such things:
| Puppy Pads | $20/month |
| Toys | $5 – $30/month |
| Training Treats/Snacks | $5 – $10/month |
Entertainment
Toy poodles have surprisingly high energy levels for their size and, as such, need plenty of opportunities for play daily. So while you shouldn’t expect to play long, grueling games of fetch in the dog park with your pup, you’ll need to invest in fun and engaging toys to keep it entertained.
Subscription boxes are a great investment as you’ll receive new toys and treats every month. They usually run in the $15 to $50 range.
Agility classes are another fantastic entertainment opportunity for your toy poodle. This breed is a miniature athlete, excelling in agility courses. The cost for this type of training can vary depending if you’re opting for group or private lessons. You can be looking at $50 to $75 per private session or $200 to $300 for six-week courses.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Toy Poodle
Sometimes, certain costs are out of your control, but most of the time, you should be able to manage expenses as you see fit. It is a good idea to plan ahead and consider starting a savings account, where you can put away a portion of your paycheck so you can pay for unexpected vet costs. This should help ensure that you can easily budget for the costs without having to sacrifice your household’s overall quality of life in the process.
Additional Costs to Factor In
There are additional costs that you might have to factor in while caring for a Toy Poodle as time goes on. For instance, if you decide to go on a vacation and you can’t take your dog along, you may have to pay a sitter or a boarding kennel to care for them while you are away.
Your dog might end up damaging something in your household as they learn obedience training, so you may incur extra costs unexpectedly for this reason. Behavioral training is also something that you might want to pay for if you aren’t experienced when it comes to training a dog or if your dog displays behavioral issues that you can’t fix yourself.
These are just more reasons to consider maintaining a savings account for your dog. If you have money saved, you won’t have to worry about things like possibly canceling a vacation due to the added costs of a dog sitter.
Owning a Toy Poodle on a Budget
Dog ownership is expensive, but owning a toy poodle won’t be totally out of reach, even if you’re on a tight budget. You can cut down on some of the high costs by shopping for the best store to buy your food and supplies. Of course, food is generally something you won’t want to cheap out on, but there are plenty of toys you can make at home with supplies you probably already have to help save some money.
