Toy poodles are a popular choice for many families and for good reason.
They’re intelligent and have a friendly temperament, making them great pets.
While everyone knows all the popular toy poodle colors like red toy poodles and apricot toy poodles. Not everyone knows what a parti toy poodle is.
Parti toy poodles are truly one of the most unique-looking toy poodles around that makes head turn like no other dog.
But what makes parti toy poodles so unique?
Parti toy poodles have a coat that has a white base with random and uneven patches of any of the solid toy poodle colors such as black, silver, blue, brown, cream, red, or apricot.
In this article, I will tell you what a parti toy poodle looks like, how to take care of them, how much they cost, and much more.
Parti Toy Poodles Vital Stats
- Breed Group: Non-sporting
- Variety: Toy
- Origin: Germany, France
- Other Names: Caniche, Barbone, French Poodle, Teddy Poodle, Pudel
- Coat Color: Parti (At least 50% white and the rest can be any solid poodle color)
- Average Price: $3250
- Price Range: $1650 to $5800 (Depending on the color)
- Height: Under 10 inches
- Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
- Lifespan: 12 to 18 years
- Coat: Curly, Long
- Rarity: Depends on the parti color
- 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 Parti Toy Poodles?
Parti toy poodles are one of the many toy poodle colorations.
What makes parti toy poodles stand out from the rest is their interesting coat coloration.
A parti toy poodle has a coat that is at least 50% white and the rest of the coat consists of uneven patches of other solid poodle colors such as black, red, cream, etc.
These patches are random, uneven, and impossible to predict where they may appear on a parti poodle’s coat.
Because these patches can be of any solid poodle color, there are many different parti poodle colors.
A parti toy poodle has a very active, intelligent, and elegant look to them. These toy poodles carry themselves with pride and confidence.
A parti toy poodle weighs 4 to 6 pounds and is 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulder.
These toy poodles have very dark eyes that are oval and set far apart to give these dogs an alert look.
A well-groomed and properly clipped parti toy poodle is a sight to behold.
Even with all the looks and the personality to match, a toy parti poodle is not allowed in American Kennel Club (AKC) run competitions.
According to AKC’s poodle standards:
Parti-colored dogs shall be disqualified. The coat of a parti-colored dog is not an even solid color at the skin but is of two or more colors.
from AKC’s Official Standard of the Poodle
Parti Toy Poodle History
You’d be amazed at how little people know about the origin of parti poodles.
Parti poodles were one of the original poodle colors along with white poodles and black poodles.
Partis have actually been documented throughout history and within many countries around the world.
The “parti poodle” is the original poodle. When describing, drawing, or painting a picture of a poodle in any century from the 1400s to the 1800s, it was most often depicted as parti-colored.
The lesser-known fact about the poodle breed is that they were originally multicolored and over time they were bred to remove the multicolor out of them.
Based on the mentions and depictions of parti poodles in books and paintings across centuries, it’s clear that partis were clearly a part of the historic record.
By the mid to late 1900s, the fascination with solid color poodles grew among the French and the British, and multicolored poodles (parti, sable, phantom, etc.) were excluded when the Poodle Club of America was established in 1931.
It is speculated that the decision to exclude multicolor poodles was made due to political reasons at that time but it is not clear why the Poodle Club of America will not update its guideline to include partis.
The ban on parti-colored poodles started a horrifying trend amongst breeders to kill any and all parti-colored poodles that may pop up in a litter.
There were mainly two ways people back in the 1900s tried to eliminate the parti poodles:
- By Killing Them – Following the ban, breeders adopted an ignorant mindset and started killing partis as some sort of trend.
- By Not Registering Them – Upon a parti’s birth, breeders would purposely not register the puppies that were parti-colored and would only register solid-colored poodle puppies.
Both of these practices have significantly harmed the pedigree of partis at large.
If it wasn’t for some notable kennels like the Vulcan Kennel or the Nunsoe Kennels, who kept breeding parti poodles even when everyone was out to kill them, the partis we see today may just have been a thing of the past.
These practices are still in play due to the ignorance of some breeders and only awareness can now stop such practices.
Another popular theory that may explain why multicolor poodles are excluded is that the person who originally wrote the standard for poodles back in the 1900s had a strong bias toward solid color poodles based on the rising popularity of solid-colored poodles.
Whatever, the reason may be for banning parti-colored poodles, it’s about time that these bans be lifted and parti poodles be allowed to compete with other solid poodle colors.
Parti Toy Poodle Temperament
If you’re looking for a friendly, energetic dog that’s easy to train, consider the parti 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 parti 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.
Parti 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 parti toy poodle’s intelligence and willingness to please, every poodle parent should begin obedience training as soon as possible.
Are Parti Toy Poodles Rare?
Parti toy poodles are not rare, however, they are not the most common either.
What makes it difficult to judge how rare a parti poodle is is the fact that parti toy poodles come in a lot of colors and not just one.
And like solid poodle colors, some colors such as red, apricot, or blue are rare while others like white and black are more common.
Similarly, black parti toy poodles aka black and white toy poodles are very common as compared to some of the rarer colors such as the red toy poodle also known as the red and white toy poodle.
So, to answer the question, are parti toy poodles rare?
How rare or common a parti toy poodle is, depends on how rare the secondary color is. Some parti toy poodle colors like black are common while others such as red and apricot are rare.
Are Parti Toy Poodles Hypoallergenic?
If you’re allergic to dogs, but want to add a furry friend to your family, you’ve probably got parti toy poodles on your mind.
But are parti toy poodles truly 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 parti 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 parti 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 Parti 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 when fully grown.
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 parti 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 parti 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 parti toy poodle stays in the weight range and does not get overweight.
How Long Do Parti Toy Poodles Live?
If you’re thinking about getting a parti toy poodle, you might be wondering how long they can live.
A parti 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.
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 Parti Toy Poodles Change Color?
Yes, parti toy poodles change color.
But how dramatic that change will depend on the secondary color of the part poodle.
Breeders often use the terms primary color and secondary color to differentiate between the white base (primary color) – the one that has to be at least 50% and the solid poodle colors (secondary color).
Secondary colors such as apricot and red fade more significantly than other toy parti colors.
In general, a toy parti poodle fades in color around the two-year mark.
In the case of black and white toy parti poodles, this change can be seen as early as 4 to 6 weeks in the case of silver parti poodles, or 4 months in the case of blue toy parti poodles.
Toy parti poodles such as red and white parti toy poodle or apricot and white toy parti poodle are known to fade in the sun. Owners must keep this in mind and make sure their poodle does not get overexposed to the sun.
Are Parti Toy Poodles Healthy?
Parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 parti toy poodle.
Lastly, check your poodle regularly.
Gently run your fingers over your parti 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.
Parti Toy Poodles Health Issues
Parti 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 parti toy poodle is no different.
Here are all the major health issues parti 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 parti 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 parti toy poodle but it does not mean your individual poodle will suffer from one or more of these ailments is not guaranteed.
Parti 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 Parti Toy Poodles Need?
Parti 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!
Parti 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 parti 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 parti 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
Parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 Parti Toy Poodle
Grooming a toy parti poodle may seem like a scary task, but I’m here to tell you – it doesn’t have to be!
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.
So how often should you groom your parti toy poodle?
Here’s a common grooming schedule you can follow for your parti toy poodle.
- Brushing: Brush your toy parti 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 parti toy poodle’s hair should go without being clipped.
- Eyes: Check your parti 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 parti 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 parti 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 Parti Toy Poodle Cost?
Adding a parti 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 parti 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.
Parti toy poodles cost $3250 on average, however, prices range from as low as $1650 to over $5800 depending on parti coloration, gender, and perceived quality of each poodle.
The price of toy poodles ranges a lot more than other toy poodle colors given the fact that parti poodles come in many different colors and not just one.
Here are the average prices of some of the most common toy parti poodles:
| Parti Coloration | Average Price | Price Range |
| Apricot and White Toy Parti Poodle | $2660 | $1650 – $3200 |
| Black and White Toy Parti Poodle | $2460 | $2000 – $2750 |
| Brown and White Toy Parti Poodle | $4400 | $4360 – $4440 |
| Red and White Toy Parti Poodle | $4280 | $1720– $5800 |
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 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 parti 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 Toy Parti Poodles Healthy?
Toy parti poodles are generally considered healthy dogs. However, they are vulnerable to the same diseases as any other toy poodle such as hypothyroidism, bloating, legg-calve-perthes, hydrocephalus, patellar luxation, sebaceous adenitis (SA), epilepsy, optic nerve hypoplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and von willebrand’s disease.
Are Toy Parti Poodles More Expensive?
Toy parti poodles can be more expensive than other toy poodle colors but it depends on the color of the toy parti poodle and how rare the color is. Toy parti colors such as black and white toy parti poodle cost a lot less because they are common as compared to the red and white toy parti poodle which costs a lot more because rare.
Are Toy Parti Poodles Purebred?
Toy parti poodles are purebred and are officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. The parti coloration was amongst the original poodle colors such as black and white. This coloration has a lot more history than some of the most recent poodle colors such as red and apricot.
Can Toy Parti Poodles Be Shown?
Even though the American Kennel Club officially recognizes the parti coloration, they consider it a defect and do not allow parti poodles to compete in AKC run shows. However, another significant kennel club, the United Kennel Club (UKC) allows parti poodles to be shown.
Conclusion
Let’s briefly discuss what we have learned about toy parti poodles so far:
- A toy parti poodle is one of the many different toy poodle color variations.
- The coat of a parti poodle has a white base that consists of at least 50% of the coat, this is also known as the primary color. The rest of the coat is covered in random and uneven patches that can be of any solid toy poodle color.
- They have very dark, oval eyes that give them an alert and active look.
- Fully grown, these toy poodles weigh 4 to 6 pounds and reach a height of under 10 inches.
- Parti poodles are recognized by the AKC which means owners can register their toy parti poodles. However, they are disqualified from competitions because parti colorations are considered a defect.
- Parti poodles, like any other poodle color, fade at a certain point in their life. However, some colors such as red and apricot fade much more dramatically than toy parti poodle colors such as black.
- On average a toy parti poodle costs $3250, however the price ranges from as low as $1650 to over $5800.
- The price of a parti toy poodle depends heavily on how rare the secondary color is.
I hope I was able to answer all your questions and give you all the information about toy parti poodles.
If you have any other questions, comments, or suggestions – please let me know in the comments below.
