Toy poodles are a small dog breed — the smallest of all the poodle breeds actually. People love these cuties because they are so affectionate and energetic. This tiny dog is also super smart and adapts easily. This means that you can raise one in any environment and train them really well.
If you are not worried about pedigree and just want your toy poodle for companionship, a puppy could cost you anything between $1,100 and $1,800 (US). But, if you want a top-grade toy poodle with a pedigree, you could look at as much as $8,000. To completely answer the question of how much a toy poodle costs, you will also have to factor in their high-maintenance upkeep costs.
Once you have the dog, there will be other costs involved to keep it healthy, keep it fit, and feed it. Let’s find out more about toy poodles and calculate how much it would be to buy one and take care of it for the rest of its life.
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The First Degree
Toys are ranked in the top 10 popular breeds by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The rule of thumb is that these dogs need to be smaller than 10 inches at the shoulder to classify as toy poodles. They only weigh about four to six pounds and have a lifespan of 10 to 18 years (source).
A Brief History
We normally associate poodles in general — including the other poodle breeds: the miniature, and the standard — with the French and their upper class. The poodle is actually the national dog of France, but there is no such thing as a French Poodle.
Even though no one is one hundred percent sure, poodles evolved from a type of water dog in Germany, and people used them for hunting ducks and other birds.
According to the official Small Dog Breeds Website, the name poodle probably comes from the German pudel, which literally means “to splash about” (source).
The toy was very popular in the performing arts, especially circuses, in France because it is so easy to train them and teach them to do all sorts of tricks.
Toys and Us
As we’ve said before, the toy poodle is an intelligent dog that adapts quickly and actually loves to learn new tricks and other things. This is also an affectionate pup that wants to be close to their owner.
With loads of energy, toy owners need to stimulate them mentally and leave them space to work off that energy. These little doggies are quite sensitive, though, so it is not a good idea to expose them to small children. They tend to bite when they are nervous or feel afraid and are fiercely loyal.
Toys are not dogs that you should leave alone for a long time. They are social creatures and will get up to no good if they don’t have someone to play with.
Image by Fernando ell_bolla via Pixabay
The Pedigree
The amount of money you will pay for a toy poodle depends a lot on the pedigree or lineage of the dog. For you to know the pedigree, the dog needs to have papers that can trace its parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
Pedigrees usually include the last three to five generations so that you can see exactly where the dog you are buying came from. This will include any achievements of their ancestors but does not tell you about health risks or issues that your puppy might have inherited (source).
Top Class
You will basically come across three kinds of poodle breeders. When dealing with a breeder that sells purebred poodles, you will be face to face with a poodle enthusiast that breeds them specifically for shows but will also sell them as pets.
To get one of these superior-quality dogs, the breeder will interview and check out you and your household. It’s almost like adopting a child. For these high-end dogs, you can expect to pay a minimum of $3400 and as much as $8000.
Purebred breeders will be able to give you the proof of pedigree as well as guarantee the dog’s health for about a year because they not only know what quality food the dogs they raise eat but also the quality of food their parents had.
You should also get a list of vaccinations and any other medical procedures that the dog has had, most of these breeders will usually be happy to share their expertise with you as long as the puppy is with you.
Middle Class
Backyard breeders won’t give you any of the information you can expect from purebred breeders. They simply will not know who the parents of the poodle are, and they are not as expert in dog breeding.
You will have absolutely no guarantees and, not to generalize, but many of these types of dog breeders don’t care about the dogs at all and are just in it to make a quick buck.
When buying from these guys, you will pay a lot less for your toy poodle puppy because there are numerous things that could be wrong.
You will also be able to negotiate, so it might be a good idea to do proper research on toy poodles, what they look like, and how to check that they are in generally good condition. This way, you can stand your own when dealing with these breeders.
The Lowest Class
The last type of breeder is the worst, but also the cheapest. People refer to puppy mills, which are breeders that just want to make money by selling puppies with the largest profit margin.
They do not take care of the poodles at all because they want to spend as little money as possible to make as much as possible. It is best to steer clear of puppy mills. You don’t want to be the one to support anyone that is exploiting these wonderful creatures just to make a quick buck.
Now that we have looked at the initial price for toy poodles, let’s look at other costs that you need to bear in mind before getting one of these adorable dogs.
The Price Degree
Buying a toy poodle is a huge commitment. You are not just investing the initial money to buy the puppy but also making a commitment to take care of your new pet.
You need to feed it, play with it, groom it, take it for check-ups at the vet, as well as nurse the dog if it gets sick or injured, and all of this costs money. So let’s find out just how much your toy poodle is going to cost you in the long run.
Health
As with other puppies, toy poodles need to get vaccines and regular shots about every three years. On top of that, you’ll also have the costs of deworming, a flea deterrent, and dental care. All of these health factors warrant a trip to the vet, which you will have to pay for as well.
All in all, you’re looking at close to $300 per year. If you want to get your toy puppy spayed or neutered, that will be an extra, one-time fee of about $200.
Toys are susceptible to epilepsy and skin allergies, as well as lung and heart disease, eye problems, and joint disorders when they get older. These are all things that you need to budget for.
Food
Because toy poodles are so small, they don’t eat all that much, and you will probably spend about $200 annually on food and treats for your puppy.
It is important to give your dog quality food that is nutritious to keep your puppy healthy. A healthy dog costs a lot less money than a sickly pup that needs to go to the vet regularly with all kinds of ailments that could be avoided with proper nutrition.
Grooming
Toy poodles do not shed a lot but, because they have such curly hair, you do need to clip them regularly. A trip to the doggy parlor will cost you about $60 per visit. The other alternative is to buy the necessary supplies to clip your toy at home.
All in all, you should like at another $200 per year to keep your toy poodle comfortable and looking good.
For show dogs that will be competing, you will be in a whole different league, and all these costs will be so much higher.
Image by Fernando ell_bolla via Pixabay
Final Thoughts
A toy poodle can cost, on average, about $900 annually, after you have invested the initial amount to purchase it, which can range from any amount between $1000 to $8000.
The quality of poodle that you want to invest in will depend heavily on why you specifically want a toy poodle in the first place. Whatever the reason, these dogs make wonderful companions that will love you fiercely as long as you take good care of them.
The fact that they are so easy to train also makes them super fun to have around if you are really just looking for a pet. At the end of the day, you need to decide if the money you invest is worth the joy and pleasure you get out of having one of these amazing dogs as your companion.