How Long Do Toy Poodles Live? Examining Growth Chart And Life Expectancy

The Toy Poodle is one of the most popular dogs around. Carrying Poodle genetics, the Toy Poodle is among the smartest dog breeds. This tiny dog grows between 4 and 6 pounds, never growing more than 10 inches tall. Despite its small size, this puppy has a big and playful personality that can fill up a room. Today, we will talk about how long Toy Poodles live.

Before we go, here is one fun fact. Despite being associated with France, the Standard Poodle was actually developed in Germany.

So, if you are looking for a new dog, and you have your eyes set on a Toy Poodle, it is time to look at the breed’s life expectancy and potential health concerns.

Understanding the Toy Poodle Breed

We have to start with a word or two about the dog breed. The Standard Poodle was bred in the 1600s as the ultimate water-retrieving hunting dog. These dogs would accompany water bird hunters on their trip and bring back a bird after it was shot. Bred to be excellent swimmers, fast runners, and intelligent canines, Standard Poodles were quite popular back in the day.

Their coat was bred to protect joints and organs from the freezing cold water. As a result, they inherited a hypoallergenic coat. Nowadays, many breeders try to crossbreed Poodles with other canines to get a hypoallergenic coat.

Now we are getting to the Toy Poodle. The French nobility loved the look and intelligence of the Poodle. Yet, they wanted a smaller version, a pocket-sized. The breeding process continued until we got Miniature Poodle, and eventually, Toy Poodle.

This dog became a fashionable accessory to have. It could fit perfectly on the lap of rich people. They were so intelligent and easy to train, Miniature Poodle puppies and Toy Poodles were trained to perform in the circus.

The Toy Poodle we knot today was perfect in the United States in the 1900s. The dog was bred to be an intelligent, friendly, small companion that can fit comfortably in apartments and condos.

It is a shrunken-down replica of the Standard Poodle. Same as with the standard, the Toy Poodle is an excellent swimmer and fast runner.

Caring For A Toy Poodle

If you choose Toy Poodle as a pet owner, you have to know how to take proper care of this little puppy. This dog is not just an adorable little lap dog, it is an excellent and wonderful family pet. Intelligent and eager to please, the toy Poodle is easy to train.

The difference with the Standard version is these dogs have lower exercise needs. Yet, they still need a play session here and there.

Poodles of all sizes have a curly coat. That is why breeders love them, no matter the size. Their coat will grow continuously, and you need to trim it every four to six weeks.

How Long Do They Live?

Now we will try to answer how long Toy Poodles live. Generally speaking, they enjoy long lives. Same as most small dogs, they live longer than large dog breeds.

Generally speaking, the average life span of a Toy Poodle is between 15 and 18 years. With great and consistent care, they can live up to 20 years of age.

There are many factors that can impact the life expectancy of your Poodle puppy in a good or bad way.

How To Help Your Toy Poodle Live Longer?

Before we get to the negative factors, mostly health concerns, let’s talk about how you can positively impact your dog’s life.

Proper Nutrition

Everything starts with good nutrition. Balanced and quality nutrition is an important factor in any animal’s life. Make sure you get a formula that is great for puppies early on. And then, switch to an adult formula that is high in protein and healthy fat.

Proper nutrition helps with good and strong bones, joints, muscles, and organs. Remember, these are all developed in the first few years of your pup’s life.

Consistent Grooming

We have to say that Poodles are among the higher-maintenance dogs. While they are hypoallergenic, they need consistent care. That starts with their coat. They do not shed, but they need to be brushed and trimmed regularly. Brushing should happen at least once per week. More if your dog gets wet.

Trimming should be done once every four to six weeks. This ensures your dog’s coat is under control.

Physical And Mental Exercise

As we said before, Toy Poodles are not as high-energy dogs as the Standard Poodle puppy. Yet, they still need plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation.

Generally speaking, you should provide between 45 and 60 minutes of physical exercise per day. And on top of that, some mental stimulation to help your puppy work out its brain. Sometimes, it is best that you combine the two in training and playing games.

Some forms of mental stimulation include puzzles, obedience training, obstacle training, agility training, teaching tricks, and more.

How Size Impacts Life Span?

Statistics are clear in this case. If you look at the longest-living breed in the canine world, that is the small Chihuahua. The shortest-living breed is the Great Dane, the largest dog in the world.

We can easily come to the logical conclusion that size impacts life expectancy and life span. Researchers in Germany concluded that large dog breeds age at an accelerated pace.

That means many health problem issues will strike large breed dogs before small dogs become vulnerable. With that in mind, let’s talk about the life expectancy of Poodles. We answered the question of how long Toy Poodles live. But how do they compare to other sizes?

• The average lifespan of Standard Poodle is 12 years, ranging between 11 and 13
• The average lifespan of a Miniature Poodle is 15 years, ranging between 14 and 16 years
• Last, but not least, the average lifespan of a Toy Poodle is 15 years, ranging between 14 and 16 years

Toy Poodle Health Issues

When it comes to life expectancy and lifespan, you have to look at every health issue of your small dog breed. Let’s talk about Toy Poodles. Here are some health risks they are prone to:

• Skin tumors are a result of abnormal cell growth on your dog’s skin. Usually, they appear as lumps that won’t go away
• Bladder stones are especially uncomfortable for your Toy Poodle puppy. They occur when there are high concentrations of minerals in the urine
• Tracheal collapse, occurring as a result of a weakness in the cartilage rings of your dog’s windpipe
• Cataracts are common among small white dogs like Bichon Frise and Maltese
• Epilepsy is a neurological health issue that can dramatically shorten the life of your pet
• Cushing’s disease causes the adrenal glands to malfunction and create excessive amounts of hormones. Dogs with the disease will urinate more frequently and drink more water