Toy Poodles Need to Look Like Toy Poodles

Toy Poodle variety standard is the same standard as the Miniature and Standard varieties with only size being the factor of differences.

• Toy Poodle is 10 (ten) inches and under;
• Miniature Poodle over ten inches and up to including 15 inches;
• Standard Poodle is over 15 inches with no size DQ over the 15 inches in size.

There is only three varieties in the Poodle Club of America, Inc. Other countries have four varieties being higher for each of those varieties and a DQ on standards on size.

General Appearances, Carriage & Condition:

(This is the first paragraph in our standard that states it ALL!)

“That of a very active, intelligent and elegant-appearing dog, squarely built, well-portioned, moving soundly and carrying himself proudly. Properly clipped in the traditional fashion and carefully groomed, the Poodle has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself!”

Our Standard Gives A Value of Points:

• General Appearance, Temperament, Carriage, & Condition: 30 points;
• Head, Expression, Ears, Eyes, & Teeth: 20 points;
• Body, Neck, Legs, Feet, & Tail: 20 points;
• Gait: 20 points;
• Coat, Color, & Texture: 10 points.

In standing at the Toy Poodle ring, I have found that in the last few years Toy Poodles are not looking like Toys; they are not ten inches and they
are winning!

I am not the Poodle Police! It’s up to the breeders, owners, and handlers making entries as to which variety they should be entering in. It’s up to the judges who judge the breed, who have read the standard, to make the call for the wicket!

We have THREE approved in the Breed RING TRIMS:

The Puppy: Up to the birthday it becomes one year old, then it must go into an adult trim!

English Saddle and the Continental Trim: Many think the Sporting trim is an approved trim in the breed ring! Wrong, wrong, wrong! The Sporting clip is only for Stud Dog and Brood Bitch Classes, and in non-competitive classes such as the Parade Of Champions. This trim is only normally seen at The Poodle Club of America, Inc. national or regional shows.

With the Puppy Trim, English Saddle, and Continental Trims, nowhere in the Standard does it state how long the main jacket can or must be. It states where it must be shaved and smooth, with no unbroken line to be neat
in appearance

If you have any questions, any of us breeder-judges would be more than happy to go over our trims to answer any questions.