About the Breed
The Toy version of the Poodle is recognised as a separate breed, in spite of the fact that it shares a common ancestry with both the Miniature and the larger Standard Poodle. These particular dogs are descended from working stock, in spite of their often-elaborate appearance, which may be more suggestive of a cosseted and delicate breed. In fact, Poodles were originally used to guard sheep, and, being descended from the Irish Water Spaniel, would also readily enter water as retrievers.
Interest in the Poodle as a lap dog meant that smaller individuals were favoured, and certainly the Toy form appears to have been established by the eighteenth century, according to contemporary Spanish portraits. Poodles do not moult their hair in a similar way to other breeds, and, certainly for show purposes, coat care is very time-consuming. In the case of a pet dog, however, this can be carried out at a grooming parlour.
Although show dogs have more elaborate clips, the simple lamb clip, which merely keeps the hair at an even length, can be recommended for a Poodle kept just as a companion. This will need to be carried out about every six weeks or so, and will add to the cost of keeping your dog unless you decide to undertake the task yourself. When purchasing a puppy of this breed, it is especially important to ensure that it is sound. Like some other smaller dogs, Toy Poodles can suffer from a problem affecting the knee-caps. Known as luxation of the patella, this problem can lead to lameness.
A very small dog has great charm for many people. With the Miniature Poodle enjoying such tremendous popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, American breeders and admirers of these little dogs began to breed them yet smaller and it was not long before British breeders followed suit. The earliest attempts were not very successful but within a few years very tiny and quite typical Poodles were being bred and in the 1950s the Toy Poodles became a third and officially accepted member of the family.
Height must be under 11 in (28 cm), in the U.S.A. under 10 in (25 cm)
Weight 15 lb (6.8 kg)
In all other respects the standard is the same as for the two larger varieties.

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