4. How big will my new puppy grow and how much will it weigh?

That depends on what size of dog you purchase. Toys come in a variety of sizes. AKC designates all poodles up to 10 " as toy poodles. Given that, tiny toys usually weigh 4 - 5 pounds, larger ones 6 - 8 pounds and the tallest toys anywhere from 7 - 10 pounds. These weights are influenced by the "bone structure" of the dog. Some dogs are "heavier boned" than others and surprise you when you pick them up! Based on early and regular weighing final size can be estimated quite accurately. I usually find questions about size amusing, because size is often the first concern of a potential buyer. Breeders don't have crystal balls. We make “good guesses” based on the size of the parents and our experience. BUT all of us have been fooled and sizes can go one way or the other. That is not to say that a toy will suddenly become a huge miniature, but rather that there can be a sizable variation.

To me, the most important questions should concern health, proportion, substance and disposition. These are the factors that will ensure a sound relationship between you and your new puppy and a long and healthy life for your pet. I routinely sell to people who have had nightmarish experiences with the “too” tiny poodle for which they have paid a huge price – but the purchase price is often outdone by the vet costs and many times by the early death of the pet. Truthfully, as your own research will show you, poodles were not meant to be the size of a Chihuahua . If you have to find and own one that size you need to be prepared to treat it through its entire life as a fragile ornament - because that is what it is.