Pros and Cons of Owning a Toy Poodle

The decision to add a dog to the household is not an easy one, as caring for a canine is a lifelong commitment. There are hundreds of dog breeds to choose from, but if you’re looking for one that’s friendly, adorable, smart, and full of spunk, a Toy Poodle may be the exactly what you need. But as with any breed of dog, there are some pros and cons to owning a Toy Poodle. So before you welcome one of these pint-size pooches into your home, here are a few things to consider.

Pros of Owning a Toy Poodle

Poodles are highly intelligent, and they’re one of the easiest dog breeds to train. At adulthood, Toy Poodles weigh between 6 and 9 pounds. Their small stature makes them ideal for modest living spaces. As long as Toy Poodles are exercised regularly, they adjust well to apartment life.

Toy poodles don’t shed, so they’re ideal for people who suffer from allergies. The no-shed coat of a Poodle spares owners the hassle of cleaning dog hair off of furniture, carpets, and clothes. The best thing about owning a Toy Poodle is that this pooch is virtually odorless.

The mild disposition of Toy Poodles enables them to get along great with everyone (if trained and socialized properly). For this reason, these dogs make excellent pets for households with children. However, Toy Poodles have fragile bones, so kids need to be taught to handle them carefully to prevent injuries. A Toy Poodle that’s cared for properly can give a family up to 15 years of loyal canine companionship.

Cons of Owning a Toy Poodle

Since Poodles don’t shed, their thick, curly coats must be groomed every six to eight weeks to prevent long, unruly mats and tangles. These grooming sessions can cost anywhere from $40 to $100 each. Of course, the expense of having your Toy Poodle groomed can be avoided if you pay the upfront cost for grooming supplies, and learn to do it yourself. But grooming a Poodle at home can be a very time consuming and messy task.

Toy Poodles enjoy being in the thick of things, and they thrive with human companionship. So being left alone or isolated for extended periods of time can be a great source of stress for these canines. These dogs are prone to several genetic health conditions including skin problems, mitrovalve disease, cushings disease, epilepsy, eye problems, hypothyroidism and slipped joints in the hind legs.

Toy poodles are smart, fun-loving, and great for allergy sufferers. But they are also expensive to maintain, and hate being alone. Knowing the pros and cons of Toy Poodle ownership can help you decide if this canine companion is right for your family.