“Unless you cut their hair, their hair would just grow indefinitely.”īesides hair growth that’s out of control, the coat also can mat if not properly groomed. Poodles are one of the few dog breeds that doesn’t shed. Grooming is an important part of Poodle hygiene. And then a week later, I start clipping their feet and then their tail.” I might just clipper their face the first time. “You want them to experience it and make it a positive experience of what the grooming process is,” says Jason. One reason why you want to groom Poodles early on is just to get them used to being groomed. Nail trimming can start as young as three days old to prevent the pup’s from scratching mom when they’re nursing. According to Jason, many breeders will start some type of grooming-like trimming their Poodles’ face-around four to six weeks. This is largely due to their small size and the fact that their teeth don’t arrive until later.įor Poodles, grooming is a key part of development. “They need a little more time with their mother because they’re much smaller as puppies,” says Jason. Twelve WeeksĪt about the three-month mark, Toy and Mini Poodles are typically ready to leave for their new homes. “The weaning process, from getting them off nursing with mom to puppy kibble, you really have to watch the smaller breeds so that they eat enough and don’t suffer from hypoglycemia,” says Jason. Toy puppies can weigh just a few ounces at birth and their small size makes them susceptible to conditions like hypoglycemia or low blood sugar if they don’t consume enough calories. Toys and Minis are typically weaned at about eight weeks old. “Toys may not fully erupt teeth until seven or eight weeks of age.” Eight weeks “Toys and minis will develop their teeth a little bit later,” says Patti Jason, a board member of the Poodle Club of America and a Poodle breeder for 30 years. Six weeksĪt about six weeks, your Poodle’s teeth should start coming in. An example of supplemental food could be mixing goat’s milk with dog food, including one commercial puppy food that is mousse-like in its consistency, to make it easier for the puppy eat. This is intended to help them transition from mother’s milk to puppy food. Toy and Mini Poodles Four WeeksĪt around four weeks, Poodles should start to be offered other food and not solely nurse.
Learn more about Poodle development and when your Poodle may reach different growth milestones. The three varieties reach developmental milestones at different speeds, and this is mainly due to size. Miniature Poodles measure 15 inches or less. Standards are 15 inches and taller, at the shoulder, usually maturing at 23 inches for females and 25 inches for males. Poodles come in three different varieties: Toy Poodles, Miniature Poodles, and Standard Poodles. A big part of Poodle development depends on the variety of your Poodle. All dog breeds hit different developmental and growth milestones at various times, and Poodles are no exception to this rule.