Mini Poodle puppy
for sale in Tampa Bay
born 3/13/2023, Cream

Miniature Poodles are active, smart, and incredibly intelligent. On average, you can expect them to stand around 10 to 15 inches tall, can weigh 10 to 15 pounds, and live anywhere from 10 to 18 years. Mini Poodles are extremely affectionate and are great with young children, as they blend into families well. Mini Poodles are identifiable by their curly coats, muscular bodies, dark eyes, and long ears. 

Miniature Poodles have been a favorite of many for decades. These intelligent, happy dogs make great family pets. Although they are German dogs by breeding, they are the National Dog of France and are famous throughout the world for being a hypoallergenic breed. Mini Poodles are smaller, but still very trainable. Their fun and playful personality makes them a great addition to just about any family. While they are hypoallergenic, they have a fairly regimented grooming routine and will need to be brushed and combed daily to avoid any matting. Because they do not shed, their hair can get matted fairly quickly. 

Mini Poodles have a lot of energy and will need quite a bit of exercise daily. We like to mix together walks, training, and an interactive playtime to engage both their bodies and minds. Feed your Mini Poodle a high quality dry food that is designed for smaller breeds. 

We can trace the Poodle all the way back to Germany, where “Poodle” comes from “Pudel” which means puddle. Poodles have worked as a guard dog, circus performer, and police dog throughout Europe. French royalty loved Poodles so much that they became the national dog of France in the 1800s. Poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs and would retrieve ducks from the water and bring them to their owners. Some Poodles are still used as waterfowl hunters. 

The Miniature Poodle was first recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club back in 1887. They were very popular until the 1920’s, when they almost died out. Following World War II, they surged in popularity and became the most popular breed in the United States from 1960 until 1982. Of all the Poodle sizes, the Miniature Poodle is the most popular. 

They ranked seventh out of all breeds in popularity in 2021. Today, many Poodles are used as therapy or service dogs. Poodles have long been favored by celebrities. Elvis Presely, Lucille Ball, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, and Walt Disney were all Poodle owners. Mini Poodles are one of the smartest breeds out there, and with their size, they work well caring for the elderly or comforting those living with psychiatric disorders. Mini Poodles were also used as war dogs in World War II. Interestingly, Mini Poodles can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. 

You might be familiar with one of the many popular designer dog breeds that are mixed with Poodles, including Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and ShihPoos. 

Mini Poodles are an excellent choice for first time dog owners because of their temperament and size. Poodles do not make perfect watch dogs because they will make just about anyone their best friend. Your Mini Poodle will never get tired of playing and will take just about any opportunity to get some play time in. They are very eager to please. This, combined with their intelligence, makes them highly trainable. Mini Poodles love to have a job to do to keep their mind stimulated, so it will be fun to teach them all sorts of commands. 

Mini Poodles are known to be agile and graceful and can be trained relatively easily. When training, start by teaching your Mini Poodle their name. Then, work on basic commands like “sit,” “come,” “stay,” and “lie down.” Your Mini Poodle should catch onto these commands very quickly. Use positive reinforcement to master commands, and when your Mini Poodle seems to have mastered them, you can move onto more complex commands. They have strong noses and can work on scent work and learn many special tricks. 

When housetraining your Mini Poodle, we recommend using a crate. Dogs typically want to keep their areas clean, so they will resist going to the potty inside of the crate. When they alert you that they need to go outside, reward this behavior and they will catch on very quickly. Some Mini Poodles have even been trained to use the bathroom on potty pads made of fake grass for indoor settings. 

Mini Poodles are alert and faithful dogs. They are not typically aggressive, but may show signs of aggression if they are experiencing anxiety. Poodles are prone to separation anxiety, so they make a great choice for families or people who are able to work from home.

Mini Poodles typically do well with other dogs in the household, but early socialization is important. They are very adaptable, meaning that they can fit into just about any environment. Mini Poodles tend to be very talkative, but this can be trained out of them if you are on top of it from a young age. They are great with young kids and can even befriend cats in the household. 

Their coat allows them to handle cold weather better than some other breeds, but do be careful when taking them out below freezing. Their coats are great at regulating their body temperature, so they are also able to handle higher heat than other dogs. However, if the temperature is high, make sure they have access to shade and water. On walks, make sure they can walk on grass rather than asphalt, which can burn their paw pads. 

Due to their love of exercise, we recommend having a house with a fenced in backyard for your Mini Poodle to be able to run around as much as they want. However, it is possible to have a Mini Poodle in an apartment. Be sure to stay on top of any barking so your neighbors do not get bothered and take them on walks or to the park regularly to get in their exercise fix. Their size makes them much more suitable for apartments than the Standard Poodle.

Poodles are hypoallergenic, so you luckily will not need to worry about shedding very much, if at all. However, you will want to establish a regular grooming routine to prevent any mats or tangles in your Poodles fur. Mini Poodles have a long, curly coat that can come in a variety of different colors.  We recommend starting your Mini Poodles grooming routine as soon as you adopt them. Getting them comfortable with brushing, nail clipping, and bathing will be helpful in the long term. 

You will want to brush your Mini Poodle daily to prevent mats and tangles. We recommend using both a slicker brush and a comb to reach hair right next to the skin. A slicker brush is one that has a lot of short pins close together on a flat surface. These are great at reaching the undercoat of any dog. If you do not get all the way to the base, it might appear as though they have been brushed but have painful mats close to the skin. Make sure to check their eyes during their grooming routine for any lashes or hairs that might irritate their eyes. If you do notice any hairs here, carefully cut them away so they can see. 

We recommend taking your Mini Poodle to the groomer every four to six week for a full trim, bath, and nail trim. The typical Poodle haircut was actually designed to be functional. Leaving extra hair above their vital organs allows them to still be lightweight enough to be great swimmers but have enough fur to protect them from cold water. If you choose to trim your Mini Poodles hair at home, we recommend shampooing and conditioning first, then drying with a towel and hair dryer, then trimming. It is much easier to trim clean, dry, and fluffy hair than it is to trim prior to bathtime. 

Other grooming needs include regularly brushing your Mini Poodles teeth. Dental hygiene for dogs is crucial, especially as they age. We recommend brushing their teeth every day, but at least two to three times a week. Clip their nails around once a month, or whenever you start to hear them on hard surfaces. 

Unlike many other dogs, Mini Poodles fur actually never stops growing. Much more similar to human hair, their fur will grow as long as you let it, which is why it is so important to brush and trim regularly. 

Mini Poodles are active, high energy dogs. Luckily, Poodles love just about any kind of activity, from fetch to swimming. Mini Poodles were bred to be hunting dogs, so they have an instinct to retrieve objects like balls and sticks. We recommend giving your Mini Poodle at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. Split up the exercise throughout the day, especially when your Mini Poodle is still a puppy. Too much vigorous exercise while your puppy is growing can lead to joint and bone issues.  

Take your Mini Poodle out for walks at least once, if not twice per day. They will be able to walk anywhere from half a mile to a mile in a 25 to 30 minute walk. When you are not out for walks, structure play time to include a variety of active games. We love playing hide and seek, using interactive toys, and playing fetch. You can also practice agility and obedience training during play time. Mini Poodles work best on routines, so it would be great if you can go on walks at the same or similar times every day so they know what to expect. 

Keeping your Miniature Poodle exercised and stimulated will make a happy and healthy dog and will avoid any destructive behaviors that are the result of pent up energy. If your dog is well socialized and likes being around other dogs, take them to the dog park to run around and get some social time in. Make sure your Mini Poodle is up to date on all shots prior to bringing them to the park. Poodles are also known to be great hiking dogs, so bring your friend with you on your next adventure. 

Although they love to exercise, Mini Poodles also love to sleep. Adult Mini Poodles are known to sleep up to 13 hours every day, making them the perfect cuddle and lap dogs.

We recommend feeding your Miniature Poodle a high quality dry food designed for small dogs. When looking for the appropriate food, you will want to find one that has high quality protein and fats balanced with the appropriate caloric intake, depending on their age, size, and activity level. Make sure to find a food where the primary ingredient is a whole meat protein and not an animal byproduct. Look for foods high in fatty acids like Omega-3’s to promote hair and skin health. 

Dry kibble is recommended to promote teeth and gum health. Using wet food might be delicious, but it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Besides whole meats and healthy fats, look for vitamin and nutrient rich food for healthy eyes and minds. They will need a quality source of fiber, which can come from fruits and veggies. You will not need to find a grain free diet unless your dog is allergic, but whole grains are always better than fillers. Avoid any artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. 

Bloating is a major issue for dogs and can happen when your Mini Poodle eats too much too quickly. This can be life threatening, so we recommend splitting meal times into two or three separate meals throughout the day, rather than one big meal per day. Not only will this help prevent bloat, but it will help keep them fuller for longer and avoid overeating. You can also find bowls designed to slow your dog down so they do not eat too quickly.