When you’re in the market for a new poodle, it can be hard to choose.
With so many different colors, patterns, and sizes – there’s a lot to choose from.
However, if you’re looking for a dark-colored poodle, that looks beautiful, is intelligent, and is easy to train – a black poodle might just be what you were looking for.
Black poodles are one of the most common poodle colors. They are available in three different sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. Black poodles have jet-black coats, black-colored noses, lips, eyeliners, paw pads, and toenails. These poodles have very-dark, oval-shaped eyes.
In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about black toy poodles: their personality, how big they get, care tips, and grooming tips for keeping them healthy and happy.
Black Poodle Vital Stats
- Origin: Germany, France
- Other Names: Caniche, Barbone, French Poodle, Teddy Poodle, Pudel
- Coat Color: Solid black
- Size variations: Black toy poodles, Black miniature poodles, and Black standard poodles
- Lifespan: 12 to 18 years
- Coat: Curly, Long
- Rarity: Common
- Exercise: > 30 minutes
- Personality: Intelligent, Versatile, Eager to Please, Active, Energetic, Confident, Agile, Loyal, Shy, Sharp
- Traits: Intelligent, Highly Energetic, Non-Aggressive, Decent with other dogs, Good with children, Highly affectionate with family members, Low Shedding (Hypoallergenic), Require Regular Grooming, Less Likely to Drool, Highly Playful, Highly Trainable, Very Vocal, Needs a lot of Mental & Physical Stimulation, Highly Open to Meeting New People
What Is A Black Poodle?
Regardless of the size of a poodle, the black coloration is the most common.
These poodles have jet-black coats and have black-colored noses, lips, eyeliners, paw pads, and toenails.
The eyes of a black poodle are very-dark and deep brown, not as dark as a white poodle; but still very dark. The shape of a black poodle’s eye is oval (shaped almost like an almond) – this gives these poodles an alert and active look.
Black-colored poodles are available in three different sizes: Black toy poodles, Black miniature poodles, and Black standard poodles.
Black toy poodles have a solid black colored coat that is even throughout. They have long curly hair that is dense and has a naturally harsh texture.
How Big Can A Black Poodle Get?
How big a black poodle gets is based on two major factors: their size variation (toy, miniature, moyen, or standard) and the gender of the black-colored poodle (male or female).
The official poodle standard recognizes three different poodle sizes: toy, miniature, and standard.
However, over time people have created their own unofficial classifications such as the Moyen Poodle (aka Medium or Klein Poodle) and Teacup Poodle (aka Micro Poodle).
Here’s a table that shows you a range of height and weight of fully grown black-colored poodles based on their size variation.
| Black Poodle Size | Black Poodle Height (in inches) | Female Black Poodle Weight | Male Black Poodle Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Black Poodle | 15 to 24 in. | 40 to 50 lbs. | 60 to 70 lbs. |
| Moyen Black Poodle* | 16 to 20 in. | 20 to 35 lbs. | 25 to 40 lbs. |
| Miniature Black Poodle | 10 to 15 in. | 10 to 15 lbs. | 10 to 15 lbs. |
| Toy Black Poodle | 6 to 10 in. | 4 to 6 lbs. | 4 to 6 lbs. |
| Teacup Black Poodle* | 5 to 8 in. | Under 6 lbs. | Under 6 lbs. |
* There are no official height and weight standards for royal, moyen, and teacup poodles. The height and weight range presented in the table above are the ones that are marketed by breeders.
According to AKC’s Poodle Breed Standard:
- A standard black poodle is over 15 inches tall at the highest point of the shoulders.
- Standard poodles that are less than 15 inches tall are not allowed to compete under standard poodles and are disqualified.
- A miniature black poodle is over 15 inches tall at the highest point of the shoulders.
- A miniature poodle that is over 15 inches tall and is 10 inches or under is not allowed to compete under miniature poodles and is disqualified.
- A toy black poodle is 10 or under 10 inches tall at the highest point of the shoulders.
- A toy poodle that is over 10 inches tall shall not be allowed to compete under toy poodles and will be disqualified.
In general, irrespective of size and color, female poodles are smaller than their male counterparts.
But what do these sizes mean for your (future) Black Poodle? Here are some things to consider:
- Do you have a lot of space in your home? Do you have a backyard? If so, then a Standard or Moyen Black Poodle might be right for you! The larger sizes can take up more room because they’re bigger.
- Do you have a small apartment or condo? If so, then the smaller Miniature or Toy Black Poodle may be a better fit for your lifestyle. They’re easier to take care of in smaller spaces!
How Long Do Black Poodles Live For?
Black poodles are healthy dogs that have a long lifespan of 10 to 18 years on average based on the size of the poodle. Toy and miniature black poodles in general live longer than standard black poodles.
Here’s a table in which you can see the average expected lifespan of different poodle sizes:
| Black Poodle Size | Life Expectancy |
|---|---|
| Black Standard Poodle | 10 to 15 Years |
| Black Miniature Parti | 12 to 18 Years |
| Black Toy Parti | 12 to 18 Years |
Now, you’re probably wondering, if the standard, miniature, and toy are all different size variations of the same poodle breed – then why is there a difference in expected lifespan?
Research conducted by the University of Washington that included over 2.3 million dogs concluded that larger dogs had a shorter life expectancy as compared to smaller dogs.
In the same study, the researchers concluded that purebred dogs had a shorter lifespan than mixed-breed dogs.
The reproductive status of the dog, that is whether the dog is spayed/neutered or not, also has a significant effect on a dog’s life expectancy.
In this research, spayed females had the longest life expectancy out of neutered males, intact males, as well as intact females.
The difference in lifespan was found to be around 30 weeks when comparing spayed female dogs to intact female dogs.
In the case of male dogs, the difference was far less than in female dogs.
Comparing the difference in lifespans between neutered males and intact males, the difference was found to be about 3 weeks which is still a positive relationship between neutering a dog and an increase in life expectancy.
Do Black Poodles Shed?
Unlike breeds that have fur instead of hair, such as Huskies and German Shepherds who are known for shedding a lot – black poodles don’t shed nearly as much.
This means that black poodles do shed from time to time, just not closely as some of the other dog breeds.
But aren’t poodles supposed to be hypoallergenic and not shed any hair o cause any allergies?
Let me explain.
According to a study conducted by the researchers at Henry Ford Hospital, there were no findings that could support the claim that households with hypoallergenic dogs had fewer allergens as compared to homes with non-hypoallergenic dogs.
So why is it a widely accepted ‘fact’ that parti poodles are hypoallergenic dogs and they don’t trigger any allergies?
Here are a few theories as to why that may be.
Toy poodles have hair instead of fur.
The main difference between dogs that have fur and dogs such as toy poodles is the fact that fur is denser, grows quickly, and sheds often.
Whereas a poodle’s hair grows out very slowly, which means they shed far less than dogs with fur.
Notice I said shed far less instead of poodles don’t shed at all – this is exactly the part that breeders fail to mention.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies.
In fact, allergies are one of the top six chronic illnesses causing conditions in America.
Breeders see these numbers as an opportunity to make money so they twist the facts to make wild claims such as poodles not shedding at all, or poodles being 100% hypoallergenic dogs that won’t trigger any allergies.
But that’s not how it should be and this needs to change.
While parti poodles are considered to be hypoallergenic dogs, there are no previous allergy studies that could confirm this claim.
So, if you or someone you live with suffers from an allergy, I highly recommend talking to a qualified medical professional to get their opinions before welcoming your new furry friend to your family.
How to Keep a Black Poodle Healthy?
Black poodles, like any other solid poodle color, are generally considered healthy dogs which is evident by their long lifespans.
Like any other poodle color, black poodles are vulnerable to diseases such as Hypothyroidism, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Hydrocephalus, Patellar Luxation, Sebaceous Adenitis (SA), Bloating (GDV), Epilepsy, Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Von Willebrand’s Disease.
Here are 7 steps you can take to make sure your black-colored poodle stays healthy, disease free, and lives a long life:
- Schedule regular vet visits
- This will give your vet the best chance to make sure your poodle is healthy and catch any health issues early on before it develops into something that’s more difficult to treat.
- The typical recommendation for taking your poodle to a vet used to be once a year but has now been increased to twice a year.
- Visiting your vet also gives you the chance to ask them questions about your poodle’s health.
- Consider purchasing health insurance for your black poodle
- Treatments for some diseases can be very expensive. So, if your poodle got sick or injured, it won’t be too much of a financial burden.
- Some pet insurance plans also cover routine vet visits, so you don’t have to worry as much about costs while sticking to your poodle’s check-up schedule.
- Stay up to date with your black poodle’s vaccinations
- Vaccinations for poodles can be classified into two categories: Core Vaccines and Non-core Vaccines.
- Core vaccines protect your poodle from deadly diseases and are always given to a dog. Ex: Vaccines for rabies, distemper, and parvovirus.
- Non-core vaccines also protect your dog from diseases but your poodle may not need all of them.
- It’s important to talk with your veterinarian about which vaccines are right for your poodle.
- Regularly check up on your black poodle
- Run your fingers over your poodle’s body, legs, and underside to check for any bumps or lumps that shouldn’t be there.
- Check her paw pads to make sure nothing is stuck.
- Check the inside of your poodle’s ears for any redness, swelling, or discharge.
- Check your poodle’s eyes and look out for excessive tearing, squinting, twitching, yellow or greenish discharge, excessive tearing, redness, rapid blinking, or any noticeable wounds on or around their eyes.
- Regular exercise
- At least 40 minutes every day
- The intensity of exercise depends on your poodle’s lifestyle (sedentary or active)
- Some poodles can be fine with walks whereas others may need more than that
- To stay healthy, poodles need physical as well as mental simulation
- Feed your black poodle a balanced diet
- Poodles need a balanced diet that includes high-quality protein, carbohydrates, and fats
- Vitamins and minerals—such as B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid), vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and iron—are also needed to make the food balanced.
- Groom your black poodle regularly
- You can follow this grooming schedule or create your own.
How Much Do Black Poodles Cost?
Black Standard poodles cost $1780 on average, however, prices range from as low as $1400 to over $2200 depending on the services offered, the reputation of the breeder, the gender of the poodle, and the perceived quality of each poodle.
Black Miniature Poodles cost $2360 on average, however, prices range from as low as $1780 to over $3200 depending on the services offered, the reputation of the breeder, the gender of the poodle, and the perceived quality of each poodle.
Black Toy Poodles cost $2540 on average, however, prices range from as low as $1900 to over $3400 depending on the services offered, the reputation of the breeder, the gender of the poodle, and the perceived quality of each poodle.
Generally, you have to pay a deposit fee that comes to around $1000 to $1500. Think of the deposit fee as a type of ‘reservation fee’ that you have to pay when you first get matched with the parti puppy.
The rest of the amount you will have to pay when you pick up the puppy.
The price of a black poodle depends on certain factors such as:
- Size of the black poodle (toy, miniature, or standard)
- The state in which the puppy is being sold
- Health checkups offered
- The bloodline or the pedigree of the black poodle
- Whether the poodle is microchipped or not
- Gender of the black poodle (females cost a bit more than male poodles)
Do Black Poodles Fade?
Among all the different poodle colors, the black color reigns supreme.
The black coloration in poodles is the most dominant.
You can pretty much count on any poodle color to fade except for black poodles.
The black color in the poodle breed dominates every color.
A true black poodle does not fade.
Some poodles have a black colored coat but also carry a fading gene which is also known as the graying gene.
This fading gene causes the black coat to fade to a darker gray color over the course of several years.
Black, Blue, or Silver Poodle?
A blue poodle, a silver poodle, and a black poodle are all born with the same coat coloration.
This makes it very difficult to identify what color poodle you have – especially if you get your poodle as a puppy.
In fact, the only way to tell that you’re looking at a silver or blue toy poodle and not a black toy poodle is either by waiting a few weeks for the coat color to clear a bit, or a DNA test.
The difference between a silver and a blue toy poodle is that silver poodles ‘clear’ from their initial black coat color to their final color much faster than blue poodles.
You can see silver-colored hair on a silver toy poodle as early as 4 to 6 weeks. Whereas a blue poodle takes a lot longer to ‘clear’, which can take up to several months.
When fully grown, a silver toy poodle will have a shiny silver that’s lighter and brighter, whereas a blue toy poodle will have a coat that’s more of a ‘gun-metal gray’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Black Poodle Have White Puppies?
Black poodles are sometimes bred with white poodles to make the white poodle coat ‘icy white’ and keep the points jet-black. Since the black coloration is the most dominant and the white color is a recessive color – it is possible for a white poodle to have black puppies.
Why Is My Black Poodle Fading?
If your black poodle is fading then your poodle may be a blue poodle or a silver poodle. Both silver and blue poodles have a black colored coat at birth which later changes to different color roughly around the two-year mark.
Can a Black Poodle Turn Brown?
No, it is not possible for a black poodle to turn brown. Blue poodles have a black coat when they are young and it is also common to see a brownish hue on a blue poodle’s coat. It is possible that a black poodle that you think is turning brown is actually a blue poodle going through his ‘clearing’ phase.
Why Is My Black Poodle Turning Gray?
A true black poodle does not turn gray. However, some poodles carrying a fading or a graying gene start out having a black colored coat and progressively fade to a dark gray color over the course of several years.
Do Black Poodle Puppies Change Colour?
A true black poodle does not change his coat color. However, blue poodles and silver poodles are born with a black coat similar to a black poodle which fades to a different color over the course of several months.
How Much Is a Black Standard Poodle?
On average a black standard poodle costs $1780, however, the price can range from as low as $1400 to over $2200 depending on factors such as the services offered, the reputation of the breeder, the gender of the poodle, and the perceived quality of each poodle.
