One question toy poodle owners ask frequently is “When is a toy poodle full grown?” Poodles have been recognized as a breed for more than a century, with three variations: standard, miniature, and toy. Toy poodles are one of the tiniest dog breeds officially recognized.
In fact, toy poodles are so small that you may have difficulty knowing if you have an adult or a puppy! In this guide, you’ll learn about fully grown toy poodles and how you should care for them.
Before scrolling down this article “When is a Toy Poodle Full Grown,” check out these related guides: How Do I Help a Fat Poodle Lose Weight and What is a Phantom Poodle?
How Big is a Toy Poodle at Birth?
As you might expect, toy poodles are tiny at birth, usually weighing only a few ounces. However, the dogs grow at an astonishing rate that surpasses the other poodle varieties. At only twelve weeks old, toy poodles are often half the size of their adult version!
Just as a toy poodle will grow more quickly than standard and miniature poodles, they also stop growing more quickly. Toy poodles are finished growing before they are a year old, which is much earlier than the other varieties.
Related: Black Toy Poodle Guide and Important Facts About The Moyen Poodle.
How Big Does a Toy Poodle Get at Full Size?
At full maturity, toy poodles reach about 10 inches at the shoulder. They weigh an average of between 4 and 6 pounds, but in rare cases may weigh up to 10. The males are usually slightly larger than the females.
This makes toy poodles some of the smallest dogs of any breed. Because of this, they are prone to injury since their tiny size makes them more fragile than most dogs. Unfortunately, common causes of injuries to toy poodles include being stepped on, sat on, or dropped.
Related: Maltipoo Size Guide
At What Age Is a Toy Poodle Full Grown?
Toy poodles usually reach their full height — about 10 inches at the shoulder — between six and seven months. However, they will continue to fill out and gain weight for several months afterward.
Related: Schnoodle Size Guide.
At What Age Does a Toy Poodle Stop Expanding in Size?
Although toy poodles stop growing in height at the age of six or seven months, they’ll continue to get broader and heavier for several months after that. For this reason, we have separated the “growing” category from “expanding in size.”
Because of this ongoing time of growth, toy poodles are not considered fully grown until they are about a year old. They continue to fill out and gain weight during these last few months, even though they do not usually grow taller.
How Does This Compare With Other Poodle Types?
The other poodle varieties are, of course, much bigger than toy poodles. Standard poodles stand at a minimum of 16 inches at the shoulder when fully grown but may get up to 27. They may weigh anywhere from 38 to 70 pounds.
Miniature poodles, meanwhile, average between 10 and 15 inches at the shoulder when fully grown. As a result, they usually weigh between 10 and 20 pounds.
At What Age Do Toy Poodles Reach Sexual Maturity?
Most dogs reach sexual maturity between six and nine months old, and the poodle is no exception. You can expect toy poodles to be sexually mature (males and females) by about six months.
If you plan to spay or neuter your dog, your veterinarian may want to wait until they are a bit older, usually between nine and eleven months old. Some vets think it is healthier to fix dogs only once their growth plates have closed to ensure proper bone development.
However, remember that your toy poodle will reach sexual maturity long before then, so it is important to keep them separated from other intact dogs to avoid unintentional pregnancy.
What Do Adult Toy Poodles Look Like?
Adult toy poodles are usually between four and six pounds and stand 10 inches (measured at the shoulder). They have a square, stocky build, and even proportions. Their coat, which sheds very little, is curly, and they have shaggy ears that hang low beside their head.
Related: Silver Standard Poodle Guide.
When Is a Toy Poodle Full Grown?
The best indication that your toy poodle is full grown, if you do not know when it was born, is his size. If they have reached the lower limit of average toy poodle sizes (4 pounds and about 10 inches at the shoulder), they may be fully grown — or they may still have some growing to do.
Reaching the upper limit of height and weight is an indicator that your toy poodle is an adult. If you are still unsure, you can always ask the opinion of your vet.
How Do I Know How Big My Toy Poodle Will Be?
The size of your toy Poodle will depend on a lot of things. There is no surefire way to know how big your dog will be when it is fully grown, but there are a few ways to make an educated guess.
- Gender: The gender of your toy poodle affects its adult size, with males being slightly larger than females.
- Parentage: If you know the breeder where your puppy came from, you can ask to see the parents.
- Nutrition: Dogs who are fed the proper diet may be larger due to healthier development.
- Spaying/Neutering: Spaying or neutering your dog when they are too young may impede their growth.
History of Toy Poodles
Toy poodles are one of the three variations of the poodle breed. Poodles may be standard, miniature, or toy varieties. As the name implies, toy poodles are the smallest of the breed variations.
Because of their small size, toy poodles have an above-average life expectancy for dogs, living between 10 and 18 years. The poodle and its variations were recognized as official breeds more than a century ago, in 1887. Today, toy poodles are still popular dogs.
However, because of their tiny size, they have distinct health needs and are prone to injury. They should be treated with extreme care. Despite their size discrepancies, each of the poodle varieties has similar builds and temperaments as friendly, intelligent, and affectionate dogs with boundless energy.
Related: Puppy Growth Stages and Development.
Conclusion For “When is a Toy Poodle Full Grown”
Even within the toy variety, there are variations in the size of toy poodles. Though these tiny dogs are fragile, they have a big personality and a long life, which means they may be your loyal companion for many years.
For more content with mentions of the Toy Poodle, you can check out:
You can watch a Toy Poodle’s update after one year down below:
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.