Miniature Poodle vs. Toy Poodle: Which is Better For You? 

If you love small dogs, then I recommend you choose between the Miniature and Toy Poodle.

But, before you do, it’s important to know the difference first. While they’re both small, there are some benefits both can bring into your home. To help you, today we’re going to compare the two side by side to understand them better.

miniature poodle vs toy poodle size comparison (height and weight)

I get it; it might be confusing looking at both Poodle names, thinking which is the smaller breed? After all, Miniature and Toy are both small in general. To help clear up confusion, let’s compare their measurements.

Breed	Height	Weight
Toy Poodle	24 to 28cm / 9.5inch to 11 inches	1 to 3kg / 4 to 6lbs
Miniature Poodle	25 to 38cm / 10 to 15 inches	5 to 9kg / 12 to 20lbs

As you can see, the Toy Poodle tends to be a lot smaller and weigh less than the Miniature Poodle. Both breeds are great for apartment dwellers, but Toy Poodles are maybe a bit yappier than a Miniature. 

Temperament comparison

Personality can be a big factor when looking to buy a dog. While the Miniature and Toy Poodle do come from the same family, there are some slight differences. 

Toy Poodle

First of all, the Toy Poodle is a fantastic breed to bring into your home if you have kids. They’re full of energy and love to play with kids; however, they should play with slightly older children. Due to their small size, they can easily get hurt. 

However, they’re a highly intelligent breed which means they’re easy to train and learn quickly. They’re also good watchdogs; they love to bark, growl, snap and are slightly anxious around strangers. To avoid all of this, it’s best if you socialize them from an early age.

Miniature Poodle

A Miniature Poodle is a breed that’s always alert and is trying to please you. They’re also a dog breed that can easily adapt to other animals in your home; they’re generally quite peaceful. 

Miniature Poodles are also a confident breed that often walks around like a member of royalty. They do hold a lot of similarities to the Toy Poodle, one of which is that they love to play. Unlike the Toy Poodle, they love to play and can play with any family member in your home. 

Exercise & living needs

If you don’t have much time on your hands, then you might want to own a Toy Poodle. Regarding exercise, a Toy Poodle should have 60 minutes of exercise a day. This is often best done split into sessions through games, playtimes, and walks. 

On the contrary, the Miniature Poodle requires a bit more exercise, often one or two walks, and vigorous playtime each day. This breed also requires a lot of mental stimulation like Kong toys, Tug of War, hide and seek, and more. Without mental stimulation, they may gnaw on furniture or cry.

Both types of Poodle love playing and exercising in dog parks, as long as they’re kept away from large dogs. 

Grooming

Poodles, in general, tend to be a hypoallergenic (a low shedding) dog breed. This means they’re less likely to trigger allergies in pet owners. There’s not much difference in the grooming requirements of a Toy Poodle or Miniature Poodle, though. Both dog breeds are renowned for their soft, thick curly coat. 

Their coat needs to be brushed daily to stop it from matting and causing a potential infection. Many people choose to take their Poodles to professional groomers to trim their coats to make things easier. 

Similarly, their ears should be checked once a week to see if there’s any dirt, bacteria, or moisture is trapped inside. Pet owners should clean their ears with tissue or cotton swab. 

toy poodle vs miniature poodle lifespan comparison

Owing a Poodle is a life changing experience; they become part of your family and a member you never want to leave your side. However, just like our lives, a Miniature and Toy Poodle will eventually pass away. 

This is why lifespan is an important factor to look for when buying a Poodle.

On average, a Toy Poodle can live 12-15 years, whereas a Miniature Poodle can live between 13-15 years.

Keep in mind that these are just averages, and they can vary a little depending on how they eat, how much they exercise, their health, and more.

If you plan on owning either Poodle breed, you should be aware of their health problems to allow them to live as long as possible. 

Toy Poodle

The Toy Poodle can have the following health problems: 

• Epilepsy: As mentioned above, it’s a condition that can cause seizures, and lifelong medication is needed.

• Ear infections

• Addison’s disease: This is a rare disorder where a Toy Poodle’s adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone.

• Heart disorders

You can’t always be sure that these dogs will have health problems, but you should always take them to the vet twice a year to make sure.

Miniature Poodle

The Miniature Poodle may have the following health problems:

• Cataracts: A cloudy film forms in front of their eyes, making it hard for them to see and eventually making them blind.

• Diabetes: A condition where a Miniature Poodle’s pancreas can overproduce insulin or produce too little. Treatment usually involves daily insulin injections.

• Epilepsy: This is a neurological condition that occurs in dogs that causes seizures. Treatment normally involves lifelong medication.

If you want to read more about the health of the Miniature Poodle, make sure you check out our more in depth article.

Which is better for you? 

Regarding the two different types of Poodle, it can be a subjective topic on which is better. Both breeds require the same amount of grooming and exercise. 

There are slight differences in their temperament; the Toy Poodle tends to be better with older kids and has guard dog tendencies. At the same time, a Miniature Poodle is great with humans of all ages. 

They do have a slight independent attitude acting like royalty. Finally, in terms of health problems, they’re slightly similar; they don’t have too many. 

Ultimately, I can’t tell you which type of Poodle breed is better. To get an idea for yourself, you might want to consider adopting a breed for the weekend to see how it fits in with your lifestyle. 

You could also visit a breeder to see them in person, to see which one you’re drawn to the most.