Description. The Miniature Poodle is a small to medium sized dog standing some 11-15 inches tall and weighing in between 15 and 17 pounds. Poodles come in a number of sizes being toy, miniature, and normal. In the past people have looked at a trimmed poodle and thought they look quite odd. The reason for the way a poodle is cut is, in fact, totally practical. The hair is cut to reduce the possibility of it getting caught in bushes etc. but was left about the head and joints to keep the dog warm, when hunting. As a breed they were commonly used for land and water hunting so the warmth aspect of their cut is quite important. The general appearance of a miniature poodle is similar in all but size to other poodles. They have the moderate round skull with a long muzzle that is straight. The oval eyes are dark in coloration and wide set. Their ears hang to the side of their head and the strong neck leads down to the average chest and muscular shoulders. Their tail is carried and set high, and the coat comes in numerous colors.

History. Poodles have been around, in the west of Europe for several hundred years, and breeding to differing sizes was mostly a matter of practicality. Germany is accredited with the origins of the overall breed but the French claim it was in fact them. It is known the French developed the Toy Poodle but the miniature poodle is still a mystery as to its true origins, from the main breed. As with all poodles the Miniature poodle is a hunting dog and it may be they were bred down in size to hunt smaller game, and gain access to areas the bigger poodles would not be able to get. Poodles are said to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds there is and the miniature Poodle is no exception to this.

Temperament. It is said that due to their intelligence the Poodle is the easiest dog to train, whatever size the dog. The Miniature Poodle stays firm to this claim and will train well. They are originally a hunting dog so quite a lot of exercise and mental stimulation are required, to avoid boredom. The Miniature poodle requires a firm fair pack leader that is clear in their wishes and communicates this to the dog. If allowed to think they are the pack leader then the Miniature poodle can suffer small dog syndrome, which is a condition caused by poor owners and is not a trait of any breed.

Health issues. There are a lot of health issues for the Miniature Poodle to contend with and it is always a good idea to check the breeder has had all the necessary tests carried out. They are predisposed to diabetes and eye problems; they also have a high incidence of heart issues.

Grooming. If the Miniature poodle is to be shown then grooming is extensive however if you have the dog as a household pet then regular brushing and having the coat trimmed from time to time should suffice.

Living conditions. As long as they get adequate exercise and mental stimulation the Miniature poodle will adapt to life in an apartment. They would prefer at least a small yard or garden.