When we enter the fascinating world of toy poodles, it is inevitable that we come across a variety of sizes and weights that can baffle more than one person. However, we must understand that the toy poodle, like any other dog breed, has standards that establish certain desirable characteristics. These standards may vary slightly depending on the canine organization or country in which we are located. The fact that a baby or an adult does not meet all the standards does not mean that it is not a breed, far from it, it simply does not follow the standard. This is a problem that we have both with weight and withers height, and in two senses, due to dogs that are, let's say, too small and others that are larger than the standard.

According to the American Kernel Club AKC and the Kernel Club, the toy poodle is one that has a maximum withers of 28 cm with an extra 1 cm of accepted deviation. If we go by what is referred to by the FCI: International Cynological Federation, the toy poodle must be between 24 and 28cm in height. These would be the breed standards that are requested for competition and at no time do they talk about weight. It is important to understand that these are competition criteria and not breed purity. In fact, many of our dogs would not be suitable to compete in the FCI since their height at the withers is less than the 24cm established by the association.

In the poodle world, it is common to hear of cases of people who are upset because their toy poodle weighs more or has a higher height at the withers, however, when the same thing happens the other way around, because the puppy is too small, instead of A defect seems like a virtue. In our experience, although in 80% the size of the adult baby is usually the average for the parents, there are extreme cases both on one side and the other. If this worries you a lot, we offer the option of acquisition for breeding or exhibition with exhaustive compliance with the standard. In these cases, the puppy is delivered at one year of age, to ensure that development is according to standard. Finally, we insist on the concept that a toy poodle is not a dog with a specific height or weight, it is a dog with a whole series of associated characteristics, and that whether it is especially small or especially large, it is still adorable. In our case, our toy poodles are quite small, but just as we have had puppies that have not reached one kilo in adulthood, we have had cases of puppies that have reached five, of course, we must add that there is usually a great accompaniment by comes from an owner who really wants his furry friend to eat very well and who perhaps rewards him too much with things that we think are healthy but that make a dog gain exponentially. In fact, we find it very curious, since we have a pair of Great Danes, how in the world of the Great Dane a smaller dog seems to have less value and in the world of the Toy Poodle the opposite is true. In fact, the term tea cup has been coined for an especially small toy poodle, but there is no term for one that is larger and it is a mistake to classify it as a miniature poodle, it would be a Colacao cup toy poodle. Apart from this we insist that we try to make our line predictable and stable but we love to be sincere and both in this issue and in the color, we are going to do everything so that it is just what you want but the goddess nature has the last word.

Going into the topic in depth. One of the most well-known elements considered in the toy poodle standard is the height at the withers, that is, the height from the ground to the highest point of the dog's shoulder. According to the international standard established by the International Cynological Federation (FCI), the maximum height allowed for a toy poodle is 28 centimeters. However, it is important to note that some countries, such as the United States or Australia, have their own standards and may allow a slightly higher height.

In addition to height, the standards also address other physical aspects of the toy poodle. These include the color of the coat, the shape and position of the ears, the color of the eyes, the nose, the bite, the carriage of the tail and the general conformation of the body. For example, according to the FCI standard, the coat of the toy poodle must be of a single color, without white spots, although it is true that in puppies it is common for them to have some white on the chin, chest or paws that at the same time mature is going to disappear. Different colors are accepted, such as white, black, brown, gray, red and apricot, among others.

It is important to note that not all toy poodles strictly comply with all established standards. This does not mean that they are less valuable or that they are not authentic toy poodles. On the contrary, each toy poodle has its own personality and charm, regardless of whether or not it meets all the requirements of the standard.

Something we must understand is that, as with human beings, genetic and hereditary variations also exist in the canine world. We do all the tests available for veterinary genetics, including size, we are the first interested in the puppy being almost perfect and healthy, but there are more than ten genes involved in color and almost double in size, not to mention of the phenotypic part. This means that even if both parents of a Toy Poodle are of average height, the puppy in question may be smaller or larger than expected. That is why in the breeding of toy poodles it is common to find cases in which some specimens are smaller or larger than the established standard. So much so that the main cause of a poodle having a development higher than expected is not its genetics but its hormonal development. As with people, women gain height until sexual maturity, which is manifested with menstruation, and in men it is manifested with secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial or pubic hair. The same thing happens with puppies, those that have late sexual development can reach sizes and weights much higher than expected. In fact, it has happened to us that two males are born from the same litter and one remains at 24cm in the withers and weighs one kilo six hundred and his little brother ends up at 31cm in the withers and 5kg, it is one of the most extreme cases, since that one was small and the other larger than usual. We know and understand that when you choose us you are looking for a size, a color, some characteristics, we will always try to advise you and help you make the best choice, but both the sexual hormonal factors, as well as the growth hormone levels themselves, or those of other growth hormones. hypothalamic pituitary axis are factors that we cannot control. We recently returned from Japan to bring Sashimi a beautiful male who does not meet the standard because his withers are 23cm and he weighs 1 kilo three hundred and one year old. We reserved this dog a year ago and we waited until he reached that age. to make sure it was just what we wanted, because those small males are very useful for us to facilitate births. In fact, we have booked another one called Torii from another area of ​​Japan and we would have loved to bring it with us now that it was almost three months old, but we have to wait a year to see how it develops. That's why if you want 100% size, color, teeth, height at the withers, you have to buy it when it is one year old to know its complete development. That doesn't mean that our poodles tend to be kids within the standard, but if there's one thing we like to be honest, it's because we believe it's a super important decision for you and we want you to have 100% of the information. We will be delighted for you to come and meet us, see the moms and dads and fall in love with our family.

It is essential to remember that, beyond physical characteristics, what really matters in raising a toy poodle is providing it with love, proper care, and positive upbringing. A well-socialized, trained, and loved toy poodle will be a loyal and affectionate companion, regardless of its size.

In conclusion, Toy Poodle standards define certain desirable characteristics in terms of height, color, and physical conformation. However, it is important to understand that not all toy poodles strictly adhere to these standards and this does not make them any less valuable. Each toy poodle is unique and special in its own way, and its size does not determine its love and affection towards its owners.

Remember that when choosing a toy poodle, the most important thing is to find a companion that suits your lifestyle and with whom you can establish a strong bond. He has to choose you. Each toy poodle has its own personality and charm, regardless of whether or not it meets all the requirements of the standard. So enjoy your furry little one and give him all the love and care he deserves, regardless of his weight or size.