Training: The Toy Poodle is a highly trainable breed that can excel with the right regimen. They love to play games and you’ll find them on the agility circuit as well as out in the fields with their hunting party. Toy Poodles are usually less confident and calm than the larger Standard Poodles, but this fact is up for debate among breeders. Even the smallest Poodles shouldn’t be too neurotic or skittish around other dogs and humans. Like with all dogs, the Toy Poodle benefits greatly from proper training and obedience school early in life.
Barking: Poodles aren’t that talkative or loud, but they will bark to draw your attention to something. The Toy Poodle can often get scared and bark around larger pets or children when they are excited. A couple of warning barks are expected when a stranger calls, but excessive barking is usually a sign of a problem. Make sure you take your Toy Poodle to obedience classes and expose them to a variety of environments and people early in their life. Early socialization helps them feel comfortable and safe as they grow up.
Your Toy Poodle is very smart, so don’t be surprised when they learn things quickly. Poodles have a great memory and will pick up new habits easily. You can use this to your advantage with proper training, or suffer the consequences when they learn bad habits! They are ranked as the second-most intelligent dog breed after the Border Collie.
Personality: Toy Poodles are very friendly once they get to know you. A properly trained Poodle will be a bit reserved at first, but after they get to know a stranger, they should display love, warmth, and affection.
Temperament & Behavior: Toy Poodles are generally patient and well-behaved given the proper training and early socialization. With gradual introductions and lots of love/support, your Poodle can be a gentle and personable companion. Poodles are very protective of the home and family.
One of the most outstanding personality traits of the Toy Poodle is intelligence. Poodles are all very smart, often shockingly so. Through their cleverness and curiosity, they will astound you with their human-like minds. The smaller varieties of Poodles like the Toy Poodle can be a little skittish around small children and larger dogs. Poodles can be a little goofy and playful, despite their elegant and almost regal presence in a room.
Behavior with Kids: Generally, Poodles are great family dogs. They are protective and loving when it comes to family. Toy Poodles are not the best Poodle for children, since they are small and fragile. Make sure to supervise any young children or anyone not familiar with dog handling. Those little Toy Poodle bones are prone to break during rough play.
Protection: Poodles are generally calm and welcoming, but they are a bit suspicious of strangers who come to call. After a nice introduction and some time to get used to new people, your Poodle shouldn’t act like a bodyguard. Toy Poodles are not very imposing, but they don’t know that.
