Blue toy poodles are a beautiful choice for anyone looking for a small poodle with a unique coat.
These dogs have an innate desire to please their owners and will work hard to make sure that they’re happy.
In this blog post, we’ll explain what you can expect from blue toy poodles, including their personality traits, grooming needs and diet considerations.
We’ll also discuss their unique coat coloration, how quickly it fades, and what to expect when your blue toy poodle starts to fades to a different color.
Let’s get started.
Blue Toy Poodle Quick Overview
- Breed Group: Non-sporting
- Variety: Toy
- Origin: Germany, France
- Other Names: Caniche, Barbone, French Poodle, Teddy Poodle, Pudel
- Coat Color: Blue
- Height: Under 10 inches
- Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
- Lifespan: 10 to 18 years
- Coat: Curly, Long
- Rarity: Not Rare
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
- 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 Are Blue Toy Poodles?
The blue toy poodle is one of the most common yet the most mislabeled color variations in toy poodles. These toy poodles have black-colored noses, lips, eyeliners, and paw pads. Blue toy poodles typically weigh 6 to 9 pounds when fully grown, reach a height of under 10 inches and live for an average of 12-18 years.
According to the American Kennel Club, a blue toy poodle has a black nose, eye rims, lips, black or self-colored nails, and dark eyes.
Almost all blue toy poodles are born with black coats. However, in some rare cases, a blue poodle can be born with a blue coat.
As puppies, a black and a blue toy poodle look very similar. A blue poodle puppy has a very dark coat, but will certainly turn blue once he’s grown.
The only difference between a black and a blue poodle is that when you shave a black toy poodle’s face the shaved face is black and in the case of a blue toy poodle the shaved face is gray.
In addition, a black toy poodle will have hair that is black from the root of the hair to the tip. However, a blue toy poodle’s hair will be some shade of grey.
Now, this may sound confusing because aren’t silver toy poodles grey-ish?
Let me explain.
Both blue and silver toy poodles are born with black coats.
As they mature, their coat color changes from black to a different color – this process is known as ‘clearing’ and it usually takes place by the time the puppy reaches the two-year mark.
If we look at it from a genetic standpoint, in simple terms, both silver and blue toy poodles carry the recessive gene, blue poodles carry one copy of the gene whereas silver poodles carry two.
This recessive gene causes a black poodle to fade to a gun-metal gray in the case of a blue poodle and platinum silver in the case of a silver poodle.
What creates a difference in coat colors is the fact that blue poodles fade less than silver toy poodles given their genetic structure.
Another difference between a silver and a blue toy poodle is that silver poodles ‘clear’ 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’.
Blue Toy Poodle History
The poodle originated in Germany, where it was called the “Pudelhund,” a combination of two words: ‘Pudel’, meaning to splash around, and ‘hund’— which means dog.
French breeders are credited for creating the three sizes of poodles: standard, miniature, and toy.
The Toy Poodle was bred down from the Standard Poodle.
Poodles are believed to have originated in Germany but it was the French who standardized these dogs where they were used to retrieve game from water, retrieve arrows that missed the targets, sniff out truffles underground, etc.
Trained to perform in circuses and street shoes, toy poodles were once the performers of choice. But these practices have since been banned given how cruel the methods for circus training could be.
In modern times, these tiny dogs are generally kept as companions.
Historically, blue poodles haven’t been as popular as some of the other poodle colors given how challenging it can be to identify a blue toy poodle from a black toy poodle.
This has resulted in many breeders registering blue poodles as black poodles.
The good news is that in the last few years, a lot more breeders understand what a blue poodle is and know better than to mislabel a blue poodle as a black poodle, a sable poodle, or even a ‘bad black’.
Blue Toy Poodle Temperament
If you’re looking for a friendly, energetic dog that’s easy to train, consider the blue toy poodle.
This is a small dog with a big personality—they are one of the most intelligent dogs in existence and they love to learn new tricks.
Toy poodles are suitable for agility, obedience, and even advanced games like hide-and-seek.
They are also great with kids and are devoted family pets.
Too devoted, at times.
They love being the center of attention, so much that they can get resentful if you don’t include them in family activities.
If you leave a toy poodle alone for too long or don’t give the dog enough attention, it may develop stress behaviors associated with separation anxiety—including snappy barks and passive-aggressive acts like chewing up furniture.
Owners of blue toy poodles must resist the temptation to baby their tiny dogs.
The cute size and silky hair of these little guys is a magnet for people who want to coddle them, but that’s not how they were bred to be.
Blue toy poodles who are carried on their owners’ shoulders or in handbags will develop a habit of wanting to be carried all the time.
To make the most of their blue toy poodle’s intelligence and willingness to please, every poodle parent should begin obedience training as soon as possible.
Are Blue Toy Poodles Rare?
Blue toy poodles are not rare at all given the fact that their coat coloration comes from a dominant gene. Breeders often label these blue puppies as ‘one of the rarest toy poodle colors’ to make more money but, in, truth, toy poodles colors such as red and apricot are much rarer than blue toy poodles.
Many breeders to this day register blue toy poodles as black poodles or sable poodles, which results in less number of blue poodle registrations. This in turn leads people to believe that poodles are rare.
An experienced breeder can differentiate between a black and a blue poodle as early as 4 months.
Are Blue Toy Poodles Hypoallergenic?
If you’re allergic to dogs, but want to add a furry friend to your family, you’ve probably got blue toy poodles on your mind.
But are blue toy poodles really hypoallergenic?
No, they are not.
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 blue toy 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.
Unlike breeds that have fur instead of hair, such as Huskies and German Shepherds who are known for shedding a lot – toy poodles don’t shed nearly as much.
Notice I said don’t shed nearly as much 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 blue toy 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 Big Do Blue Toy Poodles Get?
You can tell a toy poodle from its larger relative, the miniature poodle, by size.
Toy poodles are less than 10 inches tall and weigh between 6 to 9 pounds.
Toy poodles are the perfect size for apartment living because they don’t require a lot of space.
Here’s a growth chart to help you gauge the size and get an idea of how quickly a blue toy poodle grows.
| Toy Poodle Age | Height |
|---|---|
| at birth | few inches |
| 1 month | 4 to 5 inches |
| 2 to 2.5 months | 7-9 |
| 6 months | under 10 inches |
| 12 months | under 10 inches |
It’s important to remember that according to AKC’s standard for toy poodles, there are no restrictions on the weight of these dogs.
Here’s a table to help you get an idea about how much a blue toy poodle weighs as they grow up.
| Toy Poodle Age | Male Toy Poodle Weight Range | Female Toy Poodle Weight Range |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 2 to 4.5 pounds | 1.8 to 4 pounds |
| 4 months | 2.5 to 6 pounds | 2.3 to 4.8 pounds |
| 6 months | 3.5 to 8 pounds | 3.3 to 7.4 pounds |
| 8 months | 4 to 9.4 pounds | 3.8 to 8.6 pounds |
| 12 months | 4.5 to 10.6 pounds | 4.4 to 10 pounds |
| 24 months | 5.4 to 11.5 pounds | 4.8 to 9.6 pounds |
You can use this information to make sure your blue toy poodle stays in the weight range and does not get overweight.
How Long Do Blue Toy Poodles Live?
If you’re thinking about getting a blue toy poodle, you might be wondering how long they can live.
A blue toy poodle lives about twelve to eighteen years on average.
That’s quite a long time for a dog.
Toy poodles are among the three different varieties of poodles, and they tend to have longer lifespans than their other two counterparts—the standard poodle and the miniature poodle.
According to a study done on 74 different dog breeds in North America, “large dogs die young mainly because they age quickly”.
However, there are some factors that play into how long your toy poodle will live.
For example, you’ll want to make sure they get regular exercise and are given plenty of opportunities to run around and play outside.
You should also ensure that they’re eating well-balanced meals full of nutrients like vitamins A and C, as well as omega-3 fatty acids.
And remember that even though these dogs are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, they still need plenty of love from you!
If you follow these guidelines along with providing your dog with stable living conditions, then there’s no reason why your pet won’t enjoy a long life filled with happiness and fun!
Do Blue Toy Poodles Change Color?
Almost all blue toy poodles are born with a black coat, this black coat changes to a ‘dusty’ black as early as 4 months whereas in some cases this process may take up to 2 years. The reason for the change in color is because of a recessive gene that blue poodles have.
Are Blue Toy Poodles Healthy?
Blue toy poodles are generally healthy dogs, but they’re not immune to all health problems.
Toy poodles have an average lifespan of twelve to eighteen years, which is one of the longest out of all dog breeds.
When you own a toy poodle, there are certain things that you can do to ensure your pet stays healthy and lives a long life.
The first step is to schedule regular checkups with your vet. 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 blue toy 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.
The second step is to consider buying health insurance for your blue toy poodle so that if they do get sick or injured, it won’t be too much of a financial burden on you or your family.
Some pet insurance plans also cover routine vet visits, so you don’t have to worry as much about costs while sticking to your toy poodle’s check-up schedule.
The third step is to stay updated on your toy poodle’s vaccinations.
Vaccinations for blue toy 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.
Only a few years ago there used to be a lot more core vaccines than there are today.
However, a lot of those vaccines caused severe reactions and were removed.
As of now, there are only a handful of core vaccines such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus.
Non-core vaccines also protect your dog from diseases but your poodle may not need all of them.
The non-core vaccines your blue toy poodle needs usually depend on the area you live in and what sorts of diseases are likely to threaten your dog based on the breed.
It’s important to talk with your veterinarian about which vaccines are right for your blue toy poodle.
Lastly, check your poodle regularly.
Gently run your fingers over your blue toy 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.
It may seem like a lot at first, but once you create a schedule and stick to it, the rest will be easier.
In addition, knowing that your poodle is in good health brings a great sense of satisfaction.
Blue Toy Poodle Health Issues
Blue Toy poodles are adorable, but even the best-looking ones aren’t perfect – health-wise, that is.
Every dog breed has their own set of health concerns and the blue toy poodle is no different.
Here are all the major health issues blue toy poodles are prone to:
- Hypothyroidism
- Legg-Calve-Perthes
- Hydrocephalus
- Patellar Luxation
- Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
- Bloating (GDV)
- Epilepsy
- Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
Apart from these health conditions, a blue toy poodle can also develop other health issues such as ear infections, skin irritation, allergies, and gastrointestinal issues.
These are all the major and common health conditions that can affect a blue toy poodle but it does not mean your individual poodle will suffer from one or more of these ailments is not guaranteed.
Blue toy poodles are generally considered healthy and are one of the longest-living dogs.
Because your dog’s breed is the most likely factor influencing his health, it’s a good idea to know what diseases are common in the breeds you own.
How Much Exercise Do Blue Toy Poodles Need?
Blue toy poodles are just one of those dogs that are more of a companion than a working dog.
That’s not to say they don’t need exercise, though!
Blue toy poodles are very energetic and do their best with at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.
They love to play fetch and run around in the backyard with their human companions, but they also make great indoor pets if you don’t have space for long walks or runs outside.
If you have a fenced yard where your blue toy poodles can play, that’s even better. If your poodle is getting short on exercise, letting them run around in your backyard can give them the workout they need.
A well-balanced exercise regimen considers both physical activity and mental stimulation—if you do lots of fun training with your dog, they probably won’t need as many long walks to wear themselves out.
If most play takes place indoors, however, give them more time outside to explore new places and smell interesting things.
Toy poodles love to exercise, but they are also fragile and may get hurt if you push them too hard. So make sure that when exercising your poodle you don’t overdo it.
If you take your toy poodle to a park where there are a lot of dogs, it is important to be careful.
Many toy poodle owners that I see at my local park never let their toy poodles off-leash when they are outdoors.
The reason being bigger dogs, which are pretty much all the dogs at the park when you have a toy poodle, may end up hurting your dog even if they don’t mean to.
When you take your blue toy poodle out for walks in icy cold winters or hot summers, make sure they are wearing boots that will protect their feet from hot sidewalks in summer or icy cold ones in winter.
Here’s one that I recommend: Dog Shoes for Small Dogs
Blue Toy Poodle Nutritional Requirements
Toy poodles are an energetic breed, and as such, they need a lot of exercise.
To provide these cute dogs with the energy they need, a blue toy poodle needs a balanced diet that includes high-quality protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
In addition to these essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals—such as B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid), vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and iron—are needed to make the food balanced.
When buying food for your blue toy poodle, always make it a point to read the food label so that you’ll know what’s in there.
The first five ingredients listed on a dog food label are the most important and are typically listed according to the quantity present, from most to least.
Meat protein should be among those first five ingredients, preferably as the first ingredient.
Feeding your blue toy poodle a protein-rich diet can help keep their body functioning properly, promote healthy hair and nails, and boost muscle development, and tissue repair.
Next on the label is food filler which typically is corn, wheat, soy, or rice.
Each filler has its own pros and cons, here are some quick facts.
- Corn is widely used in dog food because it is inexpensive.
- Wheat and soy are also commonly used but are known to cause allergies among some dogs.
- Due to its health benefits and lack of allergens, rice is becoming one of the most commonly used fillers in dog foods.
To choose a good dog food for your toy poodle, consider a few things:
- How active is your dog?
- Is he overweight?
- Does he have any allergies?
As a general rule, the more active a blue toy poodle is, the more protein he needs to keep his body functioning properly.
As for the amount of fat present, lower fat levels are recommended for overweight poodles.
Grooming a Blue Toy Poodle
When it comes to the long, curly, and beautiful coat of the toy poodle, there’s good news and bad news.
The good news is that these dogs are hypoallergenic which means they do not shed nearly as much as other dogs.
The bad news is that a toy poodle’s hair keeps on growing and requires regular grooming to tame those curly locks.
However, if you make grooming your toy poodle a regular part of your schedule, it is possible to keep them well-groomed without a lot of effort.
DIY Grooming vs Professional Grooming
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to handle this on your own or not. Here are some pros and cons of grooming your toy poodle at home.
Pros
You won’t have to pay upwards of $90 every 4 weeks or so to get your toy poodle groomed.
Reduces anxiety for the toy poodle.
It’s an opportunity to bond with your pup.
Cons
You will have to buy equipment such as clippers, different clipping heads, grooming scissors, and a non-slip table for grooming among other things.
Grooming a toy poodle requires less time than grooming a standard or a miniature poodle but it would still take you about 3 hours to bathe, dry, and trim your toy poodle in the beginning.
Requires serious commitment to learning how to properly groom your toy poodle.
After you have decided whether you want to DIY or seek help from a professional groomer, it’s time to get familiar with the whole grooming schedule.
If you are considering grooming your own poodle, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Grooming a toy poodle is time-consuming and requires patience.
- Investing in some good quality grooming equipment is key to a good grooming session.
- It’s okay to make mistakes in the beginning.
- Even if you clip a poodle’s hair too short or if it didn’t turn out exactly how you had hoped it would – it’s important to understand that a poodle’s hair will grow back and it’s not permanent.
How Often to Groom a Blue Toy Poodle?
When it comes to toy poodle grooming, there’s no one-solution-fits-all answer!
The frequency of your toy poodle’s grooming will depend on a number of factors—including the type of cut they have and the color they are.
If you’ve got a show clip, you’re going to want to groom them every 4 weeks or so.
If you’ve got a pet clip, you can probably get away with grooming them every 6 or 8 weeks.
Darker-colored poodles need less frequent attention than lighter ones—because they don’t get as dirty!
Light-colored poodles will need more frequent baths and brushes, but even then that depends on how much time they spend outside running around on the beach or in the park.
So how often should you groom your blue toy poodle?
Here’s a common grooming schedule you can follow for your blue toy poodle.
- Brushing: Brush your toy blue poodle’s coat three to four times a week to keep tangle free. If your toy poodle’s trim is very short, brushing them every two to three days should do the trick.
- Bathing: If your poodle is staying clean and doesn’t have any poop incidents, then you can probably get away with bathing them once every 7 to 10 days. But if they do get dirty or have a poop incident, then you’ll want to bathe them more often.
- Clipping: If you clip your poodle’s hair at home, clipping their hair once every 4 weeks or so should be enough. 8 weeks is the maximum amount of time that a blue toy poodle’s hair should go without being clipped.
- Eyes: Check your blue toy poodle’s eye every week to make sure there are no visible issues. You may also need to wipe the area underneath their eye to keep it free of tear stains.
- Ears: Check your blue toy poodle’s ears once a week. Remove excess hair and check for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or discharge. Earflaps keep air out of the ear canal, making yeast infections more likely than in other breeds.
- Teeth: Brush your blue toy poodle’s teeth daily for a sparkling smile. Twice or three times weekly will also do the trick. Once a week brushing is alright too.
- Nails: Each toy poodle’s nails grow at different rates, but it is a good idea to trim them once a week.
How Much Does a Blue Toy Poodle Cost?
Adding a blue toy poodle can be more of an emotional decision than one that is strictly based on logic.
However, it’s important to consider the financials before committing to a blue toy poodle.
These costs will not only include the initial price of purchasing the toy poodle but also day-to-day expenses.
Day-to-day costs include food, toys, beds, crates, leads, monthly grooming costs, and other costs such as health insurance and routine vet visits.
You might also have to pay for training classes or professional help if your dog has behavioral issues.
On average a Blue Toy Poodle costs $2550, however, the price ranges from $1950 to $3000 with female blue toy poodles costing a bit more than males on average.
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 blue toy puppy.
A good breeder will take the time to understand what you’re looking for and matches you with the right puppy based on your preferences of size, gender of the toy poodle, color, and even personality.
The rest of the amount you will have to pay when you pick up the puppy.
Because of their popularity, toy poodles are often bred in less-than-ideal conditions by people who want to make a quick profit.
This brings me to 5 things you need to keep in mind while shopping for a blue toy poodle:
- Make sure the dog is registered with a reputable registry body such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), or the United Kennel Club (UKC).
- Make sure the breeder provides a health certificate to prove that your puppy is safe from common toy poodle health issues.
- Make sure the puppy’s tail is not docked too short.
- Most breeders will be happy to welcome you to their facility, take advantage of that and make sure you visit the breeder and see for yourself how they keep the puppies as well as their breeding dog.
- Toy poodles and miniature poodles are two separate lines based on their size. Responsible breeders do not mix the two sizes to avoid wild size variations in the litter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Blue Toy Poodles Real?
Yes, blue toy poodles are real and are one of the many toy poodle colors. Blue toy poodles are purebred toy poodles that are accepted in the AKC, UKC, and the CKC.
Are Blue Toy Poodles Desirable?
Blue toy poodles are desirable and it is evident by the fact that they can be registered as well as shown in AKC, UKC, or the CKC- three of the biggest kennel clubs.
When Do Blue Poodles Turn Blue?
Almost all blue toy poodles are born with black coats. This black coat fades to a ‘gun mental gray’ as early as 4 months but can sometimes take up to 2 years.
Can Blue Toy Poodles Have Blue Eyes?
According to AKC and UKC‘s Poodle Breed Standard, a blue toy poodle has very dark eyes. However, if a blue toy poodle does have blue eyes, they are disqualified and are not allowed to show in competition rings.
Conclusion
Here’s a quick summary of the main points we’ve covered about blue toy poodles so far.
- Almost all blue toy poodles are born with a blog, however, in some very rare cases, a blue toy poodle can be born with a blue coat.
- Blue toy poodles have a black-colored nose, lips, eyeliners, and paw pads.
- These poodles have black or self colored nails and have very dark eyes.
- A fully grown blue toy poodle weighs 6 to 9 pounds and reaches a height of under 10 inches.
- Blue toy poodles are one of the longest living dogs with an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years.
- On average, a blue toy poodle costs $2550 with female blue toy poodles costing a bit more than male blue toy poodles.
I hope this guide has been helpful in learning more about blue toy poodles. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
