Dog Breed Guide

Miniture Poodle

Profile

Size

Small

Country of origin

France

Origin

18th century

Bred for

Companion, Circus dog

Height

28 - 35cm (11 - 14in)

Weight

5 - 8kg (11 - 18lb)

Life span

13 - 15 years

The Poodle sized between the Standard and the Toy. Though small, it is sturdily built and light on its feet. The curly coat sheds little but keeps growing, so it needs regular grooming. Colors include black, white, brown, apricot, silver and red.

Very intelligent, it reads people's feelings well. It is bright and cheerful and loves nothing more than playing with its family. It is a natural at learning tricks and happily learns more the more you teach it.

It is a size larger and sturdier than the Toy Poodle, which makes it an easier size for families with children. It loves exercise and play, so never skip its daily walks. Kneecap dislocation (patellar luxation) and eye diseases are concerns.

Good to know

The circuses of 18th- and 19th-century France played a big part in creating the Miniature Poodle. Clever and quick to learn tricks, Poodles were circus stars, and smaller dogs that were easier to handle on stage were selected for breeding. One theory says the flamboyant clips also developed to look good on stage.

Poodles were hugely popular at the French court as well, and King Louis XVI is known to have doted on small Poodles.

Interestingly, dogs of this size were called Toy Poodles until 1907. When even smaller dogs were later developed, those became the Toy, and this size became the Miniature.