Have you been considering getting a new puppy?
If so, you might be wondering if the silver toy poodle is the right breed for you.
This breed is a smaller version of the full-sized poodle, and it’s especially popular with people who live in small apartments or someone who’s looking for a smaller companion.
In this article, we’ll explain what to expect from this breed, 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 silver poodle is fading to a different color.
Let’s get started.
Silver Toy Poodle Vital Stats
- Breed Group: Non-sporting
- Variety: Toy
- Origin: Germany, France
- Other Names: Caniche, Barbone, French Poodle, Teddy Poodle, Pudel
- Coat Color: Silver
- Height: Under 10 inches
- Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
- Lifespan: 10 to 18 years
- Coat: Curly, Long
- Rarity: Common
- 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 Silver Toy Poodles?
Silver toy poodles are one of the most appealing toy poodle colors. These toy poodles have a black-colored nose, lips, eyeliners, and paw pads. A fully grown silver toy poodle weighs 6 to 9 pounds, reaches a height of under 10 inches, and lives for an average of 12 to 18 years.
Almost all silver toy poodles are born with a black coat that fades to a silver one by the time the puppy is 2 years old. However, in some rare cases, a silver poodle can be born with a silver coat.
This change in coat coloration is a result of a fading gene that silver poodles carry.
The coat color of a silver toy poodle ranges from near pale platinum to light gray with the coat coloration being either a consistent silver color or with a few shadings.
These tiny poodles have long curly hair that is dense, thick, and has a naturally harsh texture. However, with regular grooming, a toy poodle’s coat can be very soft.
Silver 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.
In the 18th century, poodles became popular among royalty.
During the Second French Empire in the 1850s and 1860s, toy poodles were all the rage.
The experts cannot agree on how breeders were able to produce these small dogs seen in pictures of the period, which appear to be sitting comfortably in the laps of important ladies.
The first toy poodles may have been bred by crossing small poodles with very tiny Cuban breed dogs that were imported to France for the purpose, possibly along with an infusion of Maltese Terrier or the Spaniel Breed.
The Toy Poodle, as we know it today, probably developed from these tiny poodles known during the second empire.
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.
The silver poodles are believed to have been ‘created’ as an effort of English Breeding in the 1900s. During that period, these silver dogs were quite rare and sought after.
Given how in demand this color was, kennels attempted to achieve this silver color using various breeding tactics such as trying to dilute black poodles by breeding them with white poodles.
Although this tactic did produce a few pale silver poodles from time to time, it mostly produced mismarked poodles.
Luckily for us, breeders have discovered more certain breeding tactics to produce healthy silver toy poodles.
Silver Toy Poodle Temperament
If you’re looking for a friendly, energetic dog that’s easy to train, consider the silver 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 silver 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.
Silver 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 silver toy poodle’s intelligence and willingness to please, every poodle parent should begin obedience training as soon as possible.
Are Silver Toy Poodles Rare?
In the early 1900s, silver poodles were very ‘in-demand’ and rare mainly because breeders were still trying to figure out what methods to use to consistently produce silver-colored poodles.
However, in today’s time, silver toy poodles are not rare and are relatively easy to find as compared to some of the other rare toy poodle colors such as red or apricot toy poodles.
Are Silver Toy Poodles Hypoallergenic?
If you’re allergic to dogs, but want to add a furry friend to your family, you’ve probably got silver toy poodles on your mind.
But are silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 Silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 silver toy poodle stays in the weight range and does not get overweight.
How Long Do Silver Toy Poodles Live?
If you’re thinking about getting a silver toy poodle, you might be wondering how long they can live.
A silver 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 Silver Toy Poodles Change Color?
All toy poodle colors, except for toy poodles that come from a strong line of one particular dominant color or gene will fade over time and thus change their coat color.
The coat of a silver-colored toy poodle is very dark (black) at birth, and unless that puppy is placed next to a true black toy poodle puppy, it’s very difficult to know if your puppy is black or silver.
A silver toy’s coat can be of different shades ranging from pale platinum to a light gray. In general, the lighter the silver the more time it takes to fade.
Most silvers change their coat color from black to silver by the time they are two years old but some may take as long as four years to reach their final coat color.
A silver toy poodle will start turning silver as early as 6 weeks of age, but the process may take up to 2 years before it has finished, even longer in some rare cases.
All the silver pups I’ve seen have been obviously silver by 5-6 weeks, but of course, some silvers will take more time than others.
Unfortunately, there’s no real way to predict how early the color will change or what the final color will be.
What’s even more interesting is that like silver toy poodles, blue toy poodles are also born with a black coat!
Are Silver Toy Poodles Healthy?
Silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 silver toy poodle.
Lastly, check your poodle regularly.
Gently run your fingers over your silver 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.
Silver Toy Poodle Health Issues
Silver 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 silver toy poodle is no different.
Here are all the major health issues silver 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 silver 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 silver toy poodle but it does not mean your individual poodle will suffer from one or more of these ailments is not guaranteed.
Silver 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 Silver Toy Poodles Need?
Silver 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!
Silver 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 silver 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 silver 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
Silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 Silver 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 Silver 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 silver toy poodle?
Here’s a common grooming schedule you can follow for your silver toy poodle.
- Brushing: Brush your toy silver 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 silver toy poodle’s hair should go without being clipped.
- Eyes: Check your silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 Silver Toy Poodle Cost?
Adding a silver 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 silver 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 Silver Toy Poodle costs $3000, however, the price ranges from $1950 to $4000 with female silver 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 silver 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 silver 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 Silver Toy Poodles Born Black?
Almost all silver toy poodles are born with a black coat, however, in some rare cases a sliver toy poodle can be born with a silver coat.
Are Silver Toy Poodles Purebred?
The Silver Toy Poodle is a purebred poodle whose silver coat makes it stand out from other dogs. These dogs are recognized by the AKC and are allowed to participate in shows and competitions.
When Do Silver Toy Poodles Turn Silver?
Most silver toy poodles are born with a black coat. This color changes to platinum silver within 4–6 weeks, but sometimes takes up to 2 years.
Conclusion
So, here’s a quick recap of all the points we’ve covered about silver toy poodles so far.
- Almost all silver toy poodles are born with a black coat, however, in some rare cases, a silver poodle can be born with a silver coat.
- Silver 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 silver toy poodle weighs 6 to 9 pounds and reaches a height of under 10 inches.
- Silver toy poodles are one of the longest living dogs with an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years.
- A silver toy poodle costs $3000 on average with female silver toy poodles costing a bit more than male silver toy poodles.
I hope you found this guide to silver toy poodles helpful. If you have any questions about these dogs, please leave them in the comments below!
