I was told that toy poodles act like babies even when adults is this true? As much as I like babies and baby puppies I wouldn't like them to be babies all their life, or is it how you bring them up?

We have a 13yr old toy poodle, 14 in June and she does not show her age.  She looks as she did at four and acts like she was much much younger but in a good way.  She is in no way like a puppy but she is still as full of fun as she was when much younger.  She was always highly trainable and will still do new tricks (daugher is always teaching her something new) but she was always treated as a dog and not a human child.  I would say with the toy poodles we've owned that never did people get their ages right always assumed they were much younger, not because of bad behaviour but because they looked younger and never got old and stiff.  This one (in my profile) amazes people when they're told her age!  Of course most people we meet in the park assume she is a pup of the bigger standard, while the standard is two and she is nearly 14!

Could they be trained to do agility?

Absolutely they are brilliant at agility, we did agility with one about 20 years ago and I had a friend then who had 5 all competing they were hard to beat, fast and furious and made it great fun.  If you want a breed for agility you won't go wrong with a toy poodle, they jump way higher than nessecary and have an absolute ball!

And competitive obedience? only at beginners level.

40 years ago I used to trim poodles for a living, but haven't done it since as I gave up work when my first baby was born. Where could I go to learn to trim them again? I wouldn't want to trim other breeds. If I belonged to the toy poodle club would somebody be able to teach me there?

>Could they be trained to do agility?

See for yourself!

40 years ago I used to trim poodles for a living

A fair bit longer ago than that I used to work in a dog act with Miniature Poodles and they were brilliant very intelligent and willing, not surprising really when you consider their original purpose and I don't think the toys would be any different. Babies no, active yes and as they derive from working dogs they need plenty to keep the mind active.

Are they hard to house train?

If you've trimmed poodles before you will fall back into it no problem, check youtube for videos on clipping poodles you will see styles and new techniques then if you still think you'll need tuition which I doubt then speak to some poodle people in the club or facebook.

Poodles are extremely intelligent and are easy to train, they will do obedience for you as well as agility.  You won't be able to start agility until the dog is a year old so plenty of time to do basic training and some obedience work, this will be your foundation for agility - a well tained dog.  We've never had problems house training any of our poodles, in fact they are virtually trained when they arrive, they copy Mum and learn very quickly.

Thanks everyone. :)

I have several friends with min and standard poodles who do agility and / or obedience, so I'm sure a toy can do it too. They're very intelligent little dogs.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">speak to some poodle people on facebook.<br />

Have you got a link please.

Sorry I'm on Std Poo facebook page, there is likely a toy one but you'd probably be able to google it.  Can't link to St poo one right not but will check it out later for you.

Poodles compete in agility at all levels and some top handlers run poodles and compete at very high levels.

A couple of videos
Crufts 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPpEav1CRWA

Team event Crufts 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VcJK7RJiyU

I've wanted a Toy Poodle all my life (well since I was 2!) and still do. Big dream. In Sweden we have a saying; "Clever as a Poodle". It's widely known as THE most intelligent of all dogs breeds to Swedes.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I've wanted a Toy Poodle all my life (well since I was 2!) and still do.

Why don't you get one then Goldmali?

Malipoos??? :-D :-D

Malipoos??? :-D :-D

LOTS of that around every day with 9 Malinois. :) :)

Why don't you get one then Goldmali?

The time's just never been right. As I have so many dogs already, and am involved with two breeds (as in showing and breeding), it would make no sense to get a dog of a breed totally different to the rest, needing grooming etc -the Poodle will come when I feel I have some spare time. :) OR, perhaps more likely, one day a rescue Toy Poodle will be in urgent need.

Have to say I have always had a yearning - yes thinking about it right word a yearning for a poodle. My great Aunt had one and he was a smashing dog. My breed has always been SBT however I think this Staffie I have now broke the mold - so would be looking to consider another breed hence my other post/thread. My favs are poodles Toy, Minature,Smooth collies and Pugs. Now that is why I am confused.....so different yet all dogs. 

I too have always wanted a poodle as well, for me it would have to be Standard or Mini not so keen on the toys but would consider a solid black, also only like them in a lamb cut. Don't suppose I will have one but you can think about it.

When I was about 10 I bought a book on dog breeds and was instantly drawn to the poodles, in those days all the dogs were shown in show trim and I read the three pages over and over again and swore one day I would have poodles and when I was 14 I got my first toy and have had poodles ever since. 

I wonder just what attracts us to a breed?  Anyone know?

>And competitive obedience? only at beginners level.

Definitely Tricolours.  My last Toy Poodle enjoyed ringcraft so much that I thought we would try obedience.  If you could have seen the faces on the Border Collie owners, when they saw this Toy Poodle in full show coat.  They had to sneer on the other side of their faces when she ended up doing the demonstrations for the "leave" command. 

We went on to try tracking, and she never let me down once.  In fairness, they are recognised as being in the top 3 breeds of dog for intelligence.  There is a woman at training class that does obedience with 2 standards.  They learn very quickly, and similar to a Collie in as much as their eyes never leave your face.  Just waiting for the next command.

Be ready for a very, very deep bond.  :-)

I too am a closet toy poodle wanter. 

Toy poodle and Italian greyhound would be top of my list, having seen several of each at class now.

Bit of a change from large breed gundogs...

I wonder just what attracts us to a breed?  Anyone know?
For me it is the fact that they are not exaggerated in anyway a dog shaped dog, who although intelligent and willing the are not fawning and do not exhibit any of the neurotic tendencies that some of the other breeds do who have similar backgrounds and abilities.

Personally I prefer the solids and of those the black and I like my dogs of a reasonable size so not that keen on the toys - think I am drawn to the miniature because they are nearer to the size of dogs I have owned for many years

I wonder just what attracts us to a breed?  Anyone know?

For me, all breeds I have ever had, or wanted, have been breeds I have already KNOWN. I grew up with Poodles, both Toy and Miniature, lots in the family. I also grew up with Papillon, took me 39 years before I got my first but I got there in the end LOL.

I also wanted a standard,a red one ,fell in love with the look ,also with a lamb cut,Unfortunatly OH is  GSD man and no changing him ,
So only way for me to get my dream is to divorce the OH (thinking)

I prefer the lamb cut too and solid colours. Think the minature would be my preference really just need to find a good breeder....and start looking.

My toy poodle is 13 months old now and still mad as a bag of ferrets !!!
She is so loving and playful, and I can't imagine not having her in my life. If I can't take her somewhere with me then I don't go.
She loves to play football in the garden and loves to play with my children.
At the moment we just do training classes but i hope to do agility in the future as she would love it as she is so lively and clever.

Was wondering Multitask do the breed clubs have a rescue? If I am to have one that would be the only way as I would not wish to take on a puppy now but an adult would suit me well.

I'm not sure about breed club rescue for specific sizes but they will have reps each in club for dogs in need.  Poodles in Need is a very reputable rescue for all sizes in the breed.  http://www.poodlesinneed.com/Pages/AVAILABLEDOGS.aspx You could give them a shout :)

A Brown Standard won the bitch Obedience championships at Crufts a few years back.

> My toy poodle is 13 months old now and still mad as a bag of ferrets !!!
>

I'd expect one of my pups to be that way until it is two.  I always tell puppy buyers that the breed are pups to two years, Adolescent to 3 or 4 and adults after that.

At the other end I don't consider our breed to reach old age before 10 years of age, and they tend not to get senile unless they manage to get over 15.

Silly question maybe but do shown poodles have to be shown in a show clip.
I'd love to add a poodle, but would like to show and not sure how a high maintenance "do" would stand up to muddy walks with lots of collies

There is not rule about it and of late you will see more in clips other than the classic one although I expect there are judges who would not entertain anything but the one they like - the standard says all traditional clips are permitted and should be treated with equal merit.

So next question (idle curiosity on my part) what are the 'Traditional' clips that are to be given equal considertaion?

Well, I was just quoting the standard that says "All traditional trims permissible in the show ring and the dogs judged on equal merit, as long as there is sufficient length to demonstrate colour and quality of coat."  so it sounds like almost any clip that is sensible, not sure if you write your lovers name down one side and yours the other but would think any reasonable clip would be OK.

I would hope this might encourage less extreme coat presentation, thereby removing the need for product to artificially enhance the huge hair do's.

I'm seeing more lately in what I would call a puppy show clip - a medium sort of mane at the front, though not as extreme as a true lion clip, and then shorter but scissored at the back. Much nicer than the bare skin / giant pompom look!

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Sorry I'm on Std Poo facebook page, there is likely a toy one but you'd probably be able to google it.  Can't link to St poo one right not but will check it out later for you.

Did you find the toy poodle facebook page? :)

Sorry I didn't get back to you.  I had a quick search on Facebook there seems to be a Toy Poodle group although it is a closed group and looking at the members I don't see any names I would recognise from the show world so I think it is pet orientated.  Someone has asked on the Standard facebook about learning to groom their dog and advice given was to speak to their breeder, go along to shows and speak to exhibitors and also to check all grooming shops and schools in your area to see if they do poodle workshops.  Also to check on Youtube.

ok thanks.

I have 1 toy and a houseful of mins. The toy and oldest min are both 12 now and they are as active as the rest of the gang. I take them all up to the fields together where they romp and run till their hearts are content and the toy manages to keep up with them. She doesnt look her age and I often get asked if she is one of the mins puppy. The mins are proper clowns so there is never a dull moment in my house. 

Lucky you !
One poodle is definitely not enough. I just need hubby to agree !

>I have 1 toy and a houseful of mins

:-(
Jealous!

There is a 3 year old toy poodle looking for an agility home on North West Small Dog Rescue at the moment.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">There is a 3 year old toy poodle looking for an agility home on North West Small Dog Rescue at the moment.

Gone to new home. But thanks anyway.

I will keep my ears open to see if any come into rescue that may be suitable.

Contact breed rescue and get on their waiting list.