Thinking about getting a toy poodle to add to your family? It’s no surprise! Toy poodles are great family dog breeds for a number of reasons. Since the toy poodle price isn’t extremely high, it’s a popular choice for those looking for a toy-sized dog. Dog owners around the world love the toy poodle for its affection and penchant for apartment living.
In addition, in comparison to other dog breeds, the toy poodle has a hypoallergenic coat, making it an attractive option for those who suffer from allergies.
If you’re considering adding a toy poodle to your family, you may be wondering about how much a toy poodle costs. This can be anything from the initial price range of purchasing a toy poodle to how much a toy poodle costs per month. We’ve broken the costs down for you in order to determine if this dog breed will be the right furry friend to add to your family.
How Much Does a Toy Poodle Cost?
The initial purchase price of a toy poodle varies from $500 to upwards of $4,000 for a show dog. There are a number of factors that affect the toy poodle price range, which we will break down below.
You normally can’t find toy poodles in shelters and must go to a breeder. If you do find a toy poodle in a shelter or animal rescue, it will likely not be purebred (if this is something that matters to you!). Purebred dogs will always be more expensive, and this is something that affects your toy poodle price.
Toy poodle puppies are normally less expensive than their standard poodle counterpart, both for initial investment and long-term cost. A standard poodle costs more to feed, train, and house over the course of a lifetime.
About the Toy Poodle
Breed
The toy poodle sometimes referred to as a teacup poodle, is small enough to fit in a handbag. Generally, males will weigh between 7 lbs. and 10 lbs. A female toy poodle is slightly smaller, with her average weight in adulthood ranging from 6 lbs. to 9 lbs. Besides the slight difference in size, males and females exhibit few differences.
A toy poodle is no taller than 10 inches at the shoulder, according to the American Kennel Club. It is smaller than a miniature poodle and much smaller than a standard-sized poodle.
Temperament
The main reason that toy poodle puppies are so popular is because of their awesome personality. In addition to being great family dogs, they are highly intelligent and friendly. They have a wonderful temperament that makes them a very popular breed among pet lovers.
While they are great companion dogs and among the most trainable breeds, most toy poodles can develop separation anxiety if left alone too long. This can result in destructive behavior if not addressed.
A toy poodle puppy is a very energetic dog and will benefit from daily walks. They get along with other pets and are good with children. Still, given their small size, children should not handle a teacup poodle without adult supervision.
Common Medical Issues
Toy poodle puppy costs can be exemplified if they have underlying medical issues. Some common health problems affect the toy size of this breed. The serious health conditions to know about include:
- Cushing’s Disease
- Tracheal Collapse
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (resulting in blindness)
Other health conditions to be cautious of, but are generally not as serious, include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Bloat
- Thyroid issues
- Epilepsy
The cost of these different health conditions varies, but it’s always wise to factor a little extra into your budget for emergencies.
Factors that Affect Toy Poodle Price
The number of factors determines how much toy poodles cost. The main things that affect the price range include coat color, breeder, and bloodlines.
Color
Some coat colors of toy poodles will affect their price range when considering the rarity of the color. Coat colors such as apricot, silver, cream, or red are considered rare and the price tag generally reflects this. A black toy poodle will probably cost less than a red toy poodle, for example. You can expect to pay the most for apricot toy poodles, as they are the rarest.
Breeder
The breeder you choose for your toy poodle puppy will arguably be the biggest factor in determining the toy poodle cost. Toy poodle puppies from an irresponsible breeder may be less expensive, but they are bound to have more health issues than toy poodle puppies from reputable and responsible toy poodle breeders.
Responsible breeders will not be running a puppy mill and generally really care about the well-being of their dogs. While professional breeders still have to make a living, choosing one who cares more about the breed over making money will be in your better interest, though the price may be a bit higher.
Remember, in addition to being cruel and inhumane, puppy mills virtually never produce healthy puppies.
Be aware that going to a breeder who sells cheap toy poodles may not mean the dog will be cheap in the long run – you may encounter serious health issues when you work with a less experienced or less reputable breeder, which could increase the overall cost of your toy poodle.
Bloodline
Toy poodles are one of the three types of poodles that are registered with the American Kennel Club. Alongside miniature poodles and standard poodles, toy poodles can have champion bloodlines or can be bred to be show dogs. These dogs will be more expensive than your standard toy poodle.
If AKC papers are important to you and you’d like to enter your puppy into a dog show, this is something to consider when factoring in the price.
Lifetime Cost of a Toy Poodle
Feeding Costs
For a toy poodle, you can expect an average price of $50 per month on food. This is assuming your toy poodle eats around 1 cup of food per day. The price range may vary depending on the brand of food and where you purchase it.
Be careful not to feed your toy poodle too many table scraps, as these small dogs can be prone to obesity which can lead to other health problems down the line.
Medical Costs
Routine veterinary visits will probably cost in the price range of $500 to $700 per year. This is assuming your toy poodle puppy is in good health.
Take your dog to a professional veterinarian for wellness visits to get pet health advice and ensure your dog or puppy isn’t exhibiting signs of the conditions toy poodles are known for.
If your pup has some underlying medical issues that the toy poodle breed is known for, you can expect to pay more in monthly or yearly medical costs. Purchasing from reputable breeders eliminates some of the risks of medical problems, but there are no health guarantees.
Training Costs
Toy poodles, and all poodle breeds, for that matter, are highly trainable and intelligent dogs. They can be a bit feisty and would benefit from basic obedience training from a young age, particularly in the areas of destruction and separation anxiety. You may also want a trainer to teach your puppy to stop barking.
A private trainer cost has an average price between $40 to $60 per session.
Doggy classes, where your dog is in a group setting, usually cost in the range of $25 to $80 per class.
Miscellaneous Costs
Grooming
Toy poodles, though hypoallergenic, usually need to be groomed once per month to keep their fur short and neat. Depending on your area and groomer rates, the price could range from $40 to $60 per visit.
pet insurance
Considering the fact that there are a number of health-related issues associated with the toy poodle breed, it might be wise to consider pet insurance. This can be costly, with an average price in the range of $300 to $800 per year.
