![Toy Poodle Dog Breed](/sites/default/files/styles/square_medium_440x440/public/2022-08/Toy-Poodle.jpg?itok=NHmD9IwH)
Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
Easy to train: | 5/5 |
Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
Energy level: | 4/5 |
Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
Shedding: | 1/5 |
The Toy Poodle breed can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Legg-Perthes disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
- Distichiasis¹ which is an often painful condition where small eyelashes grow from the inside of the eyelid, rubbing on the surface of the eye.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Eye screening scheme
- DNA testing for progressive rod cone degeneration- progressive retinal atrophy which tests whether or not a dog has the potential to be affected by this condition.
¹K. Zdzisław et al, 'Co2 Laser Treatment Of Canine Distichiasis', 2014, Eastern European Journal of Veterinary Ophthalmology
The Poodle is a lively, sociable and affectionate dog who is both intelligent and amusing, and makes a wonderful and fun companion. They love to be included in all family pursuits and can be good watch dogs, announcing visitors without being aggressive. They bond closely to their owners and so do not like to be left home alone.
Poodles - especially the ones you see in the show ring - seem to have all kinds of crazy hairdos but these often flamboyant-looking styles all started off with a purpose. Poodles were originally water-retrieving dogs but their coats could easily get water-logged and pull them down. The answer was to clip off all their hair but leave some around their vital organs to keep them warm, and around any vulnerable joints to protect from injury.