Standard Poodle vs Toy Poodle

A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK
A Poodle (Toy)
Photo: Basile Morin

Side by side

Standard Poodle
Toy Poodle
Adult weight
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)1
1.8–2.7 kg (4–6 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm3
Males 24–28 cm; females 24–28 cm3
Lifespan
Median 14 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy3
Coat
Curly coat or corded coat3
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
No sourced figure
Gum disease (more likely)6
Class
Family
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Poodle is far larger: about 25 kg (55 lb) as an adult, against 2.3 kg (5 lb) for the Toy Poodle.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Standard Poodle: affectionate on its own terms; Toy Poodle: a lap or leaning dog) and on loyalty (Standard Poodle: bonded to its family; Toy Poodle: sticks close to its people).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Standard Poodle
Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the Standard is alert, quick to learn and energetic, moving with a springy gait and a proud carriage.

Toy Poodle
Companion & toy · Toy

In temperament the Toy Poodle is alert, lively and quick to learn, moving with a light, springy gait and a proud carriage.

The Standard Poodle page →The Toy Poodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Standard Poodle
Toy Poodle
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Standard Poodle
Toy Poodle
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Standard Poodle
Toy Poodle
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Poodle grows to the heavier adult, about 25 kg against the Toy Poodle's 2.3 kg.
Standard Poodle
Toy Poodle
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More comparisons

Compare the Standard Poodle with
Miniature Poodle vs Toy PoodleMiniature Poodle vs Standard PoodleLabradoodle vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Standard PoodleGoldendoodle vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Toy PoodleAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·