Miniature Poodle
Also known as Caniche, Poodle
- Height at the withers
- 28 to 35 cm
- Weight
- 4 to 7 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 16 years
- Daily activity
- 60 minutes
- Origin
- France
- FCI group
- 9 · Companion and toy dogs
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- a family with children
- apartment living, with regular outings
- a first dog
- living with a cat
Less suited to
- long absences: it struggles when left alone
- noise-sensitive neighbors: it likes to bark
Overview
A scaled-down Poodle, elegant, athletic and very intelligent, with a curly coat that barely sheds and a proud bearing.
History and origins
The Poodle descends from European water dogs, notably the Barbet, and was first used to retrieve waterfowl; the FCI recognizes it as a French breed. Its English name, “Poodle,” comes from the German “Pudel” (to splash about), though this says nothing about its origin. The miniature variety was bred down from larger poodles as a companion.
Health
Life expectancy is 12 to 16 years, and the breed is hardy. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Patellar luxation
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- Epilepsy
- Periodontal disease
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Medium-length, curly coat. Almost no shedding, very high coat care.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- High, 4 out of 5
- Apartment
- Perfect, 5 out of 5
- Home alone
- Poorly, 2 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With cats
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With strangers
- Polite, 3 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Very easy, 5 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Ideal, 5 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- Low, 2 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Very high, 5 out of 5
- Shedding
- Almost none, 1 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Frequent, 4 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Good, 4 out of 5
In our lists
Miniature Poodle FAQ
How big does the Miniature Poodle get?
The Miniature Poodle stands 28 to 35 cm at the withers and weighs 4 to 7 kg. It is a small dog.
Does the Miniature Poodle shed a lot?
It sheds almost nothing and its coat needs a great deal of care. It is one of the breeds that shed very little and are often better tolerated by people with allergies, with no guarantee: spend time with the breed before you decide. Its coat needs regular grooming, sometimes by a professional.
Can the Miniature Poodle live in an apartment?
Yes, very well: calm indoors, it adapts perfectly to an apartment. Mind the neighbors: it barks readily.
How much exercise does the Miniature Poodle need each day?
Allow about 60 minutes of activity a day: its energy is high. Add games and training exercises to keep its mind busy too.
Is the Miniature Poodle good with children?
Yes, it gets along well with children who respect it. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the Miniature Poodle live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 16 years, and the breed is hardy. The main health problems to watch for are progressive retinal atrophy and patellar luxation.
