Did You Know Black Poodles Come in Three Sizes?
Rocky Kanaka
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One of the most common colors of Poodle, but still one of the most sought after, the all-black Poodles are gorgeous dogs with a reputation of solid gold. One of the world’s most popular breeds, Poodles are incredibly intelligent, sociable, and athletic, making them ideal pets and sporting dogs alike.
Whether you’re looking for an agile running companion or a sweet family dog to love on your kiddos, the black Poodle might be the perfect dog for you. Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about the breed.
Get To Know Some Black Poodles from Instagram
Basically the supermodels of dogs, it’s no wonder there are so many gorgeous black Poodles whose humans like to show them off on Instagram! Before we start talking Poodle details, let’s take a few moments to appreciate some adorable pups.
1. Tógó & Muggur the Black Standard Poodles
Tógó and Muggur are 9 and 5-year-old black standard Poodles from Iceland who love doing just about everything together! When they’re not goofing around together, Tógó has a difficult and important job to do as a diabetic alert dog.
2. Louis the Black Miniature Poodle
Living in Stavanger, Norway with his Chihuahua brother Niko (left), Louis (right) is a spunky little black miniature Poodle! A lover of hiking and outdoor adventures, Louis will happily head outside no matter the weather or temperature. Like most black mini Poodles, Louis has all the intelligence of the standard variety in a tiny package!
3. Lizzie the Black Miniature Poodle
This little fashionista is Lizzie, an adorable black mini Poodle living in the Netherlands. Always dressed to the nines, Lizzie wears every outfit like it was tailor-made for her!
4. Nugget Bean the Black Toy Poodle
Nugget Bean is a cheerful little toy Poodle from Franklin, TN who loves everyone (dog or human) he meets! Pint-sized and a total lover, how could you not fall for this adorable face? Black toy Poodles like Nugget Bean are the smallest official size of Poodle!
Black Poodle Basic Info
Originally bred to retrieve ducks for hunters in Germany more than 400 years ago, the black Poodle’s reputation today is a little more aristocratic. Known for its stunning fluffy coat and incredible intelligence that has landed it a spot as one of the world’s smartest dog breeds, the Poodle is easily one of the most recognizable dogs. Chances are good that almost everyone has known a Poodle or a Poodle mix, and you’ll find this breed in homes all over the world.
Black Poodle Temperament
The fifth most popular dog breed in the US, the Poodle has a charming, social, eager-to-please personality. It doesn’t matter whether your Poodle is black, silver, white, or any other color, this breed is known for being an excellent family dog, just so long as you have the energy to keep up with them.
Extremely smart, black Poodles need a lot of mental stimulation and do well in homes where they can participate in lots of physical activity, get plenty of playtime, and socialization. Relatively easy to train thanks to their high intelligence and drive to please their humans, Poodles can also be willful and stubborn, especially in a home without rules.
Standard Poodles are known for their ease and good manners with children. Despite their large size, they are typically gentle and aware of their movements. Miniature and toy Poodles are not as adept with children, and are slightly less calm than their standard counterparts. Smaller dogs tend to be more uneasy around children, purely due to their unpredictability. This doesn’t mean that toy and miniature Poodles can’t be wonderful with children, but instead that their owners should teach their kiddos to be mindful of little dogs.
All three Poodle size variations are strong, agile, and athletic, and often do well in obedience, agility, and canine sports.
Black Poodle Size
Poodles come in three commonly recognized sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. Poodles in all three sizes should have approximately the same proportions and features. This said, the size difference between the three isn’t insignificant, and owning a standard Poodle will not be the same experience as owning a miniature Poodle.
| Standard Poodle | Miniature Poodle | Toy Poodle | |
| Height (at shoulder) | 15+ inches | 10—15 inches | <10 inches |
| Weight | 40—70 lbs | 10—15 lbs | 4—6 lbs |
In recent decades, some breeders have advertised a fourth size option: teacup. Teacup Poodles are really just toy Poodles, but only the very smallest of the toy Poodles. Not a formally recognized size variety, the unofficial guidelines of which toy Poodles can be branded as a teacup require the dog to be under 9 inches tall and less than 6 pounds.
If you purchase a black teacup Poodle, be aware that you have actually purchased a black toy Poodle whose parents were selected for their small stature.
Black Poodle Health
A well-established breed, it’s not difficult to find ethical breeders who perform routine testing and follow breed standards to produce healthy, happy Poodle puppies. Because of this, Poodles live long lives, sometimes reaching the ages of 18 or more. Black Poodles do not have any unique or distinct health concerns, and color in general has little impact on the health of this breed.
Of course, no dog can be entirely free of health concerns, and there are a few conditions seen occasionally in all three size varieties of Poodle.
- Hip dysplasia
- Eye and vision problems
- Idiopathic epilepsy
- Inflammatory skin conditions
- Von Willebrand Disease (a bleeding/clotting disorder)
- Immune-mediated disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, cancer)
Standard Poodles are more susceptible to gastrointestinal conditions like bloat and gastric dilatation volvulus than the smaller varieties. Both of these conditions require immediate medical attention, and could potentially be fatal.
Miniature and toy Poodles are more at risk for bone and joint issues than the standard variety including luxating patellas and Legg-Calve-Perthes. Smaller dogs like miniature and toy Poodles are also more susceptible to dental issues.
Where To Find a Black Poodle Breeder
Because Poodles are a well-established and popular breed, it’s pretty easy to find a reputable breeder. A good place to start is on the American Kennel Club Marketplace where you can browse breeders around the country. Remember to always do your research no matter where you find a breeder.
If you are interested in adopting a black Poodle, consider checking for adoptable dogs at breed-specific rescues like IDOG Rescue and NorCal Poodle Rescue. A visit to your local animal shelter or humane society might also be a good way to find a black Poodle or Poodle mix.
Black Poodle FAQ
We’re not finished just yet! We’ve gathered the internet’s most asked questions about the black Poodle and are answering them all right now.
Are silver Poodles born black?
Silver Poodles—like Elvis (right) seen below with his black standard Poodle sister Schatzi (left)—aren’t born with their silver-gray fur. Silver Poodle puppies are born almost jet black, and won’t start showing signs of their silver fur until around 6 weeks or more. Most silver Poodles “clear” or become completely silver by age two.
Source: @PoodlesOnAFarm
Can 2 white Poodles have black puppies?
No. The gene for black fur is dominant, so Poodles carrying this gene will almost always be black. White fur requires the dog to carry two copies of a recessive gene, and therefore a white dog could not also carry a black fur gene to give to their offspring. The only way for a white Poodle to have a black puppy would be for them to mate with a black Poodle.
Can a red Poodle have black puppies?
A red Poodle can have black puppies if they were bred to a black Poodle.
In some rare cases, red fur recessive genes may emerge over dominant black fur genes, which could produce a red Poodle carrying black fur genes.
Do black Poodles fade?
Black Poodles don’t exactly fade, but they can turn gray as they age. Graying is a natural part of the aging process for all dogs, but black dogs might appear to lighten or “fade” slightly in their senior years.
Are black Poodles hypoallergenic?
No, black Poodles are not hypoallergenic, but they are low-allergen and low-shedding. This means that they drop very little fur as compared to other dogs, and as a result, drop less dander.
Remember that dander isn’t the only way for a dog to trigger allergies. Many people are allergic to dog urine or dog saliva, and a low-shedding dog will make no difference. Be aware that people with extreme dog allergies may still be allergic to Poodles, despite their reputation as an allergy-friendly breed.
In truth, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog in the first place. No dog can truly be hypoallergenic, just low-shedding.
Do black Poodles shed?
Yes, black Poodles—and all Poodles—shed, but not very much. An extremely low shedding dog, Poodle fur continues to grow unless cut, leaving very little around your home.
While you’ll spend less time picking dog hair off your clothes if you own a Poodle, you’ll spend more time (and money) at the groomer. Poodles need to be groomed every 6-8 weeks and should be given regular brushings in between full grooms to prevent matting.
What’s the best shampoo for a Poodle?
There are so many dog shampoos on the market that it’s nearly impossible to choose just one! If your Poodle has itchy skin, try something soothing and hydrating like Douxo S3 Calm. If your Poodle has easily tangled hair that needs a refresh, try something like Arm & Hammer 2-in-1 Detangling Shampoo and Conditioner.
What’s the best food for a Poodle?
Poodles—like all dogs—thrive on a balanced but high-protein diet. Some of our favorite options include raw food from We Feed Raw, air-dried dog food from Sundays For Dogs, and delicious fresh-frozen foods like The Farmer’s Dog.
What is a black and white Poodle called?
Whether you buy a toy, miniature, or standard Poodle, black and white is one of the rarer but still possible color combinations! Parti Poodles are Poodles with spots of different colors or partial coloring. Black and white is just one of the Parti Poodle combos, but definitely the most popular.
What’s the difference between a toy Poodle and a teacup Poodle?
Teacup Poodles are toy Poodles branded differently. Toy Poodles are the smallest size variety of the breed recognized by the AKC or any other organization, and are generally accepted to be 10 inches or less at the shoulder around 4—6 pounds. Teacup Poodles are advertised as being less than 9 inches tall, and no more than 2—6 pounds.
In truth, teacup Poodles are simply the very smallest examples of toy Poodles and are not a separate category altogether. It’s also important to note that selective breeding for extreme tininess has not proven beneficial to the health of teacup dogs. If you want a small Poodle, the toy Poodle makes a perfectly petite companion.
The three foods that are super healthy and that almost every dog loves, even the pickiest dogs, are:
1. The Farmer’s Dog.
This is a fresh-frozen food that’s delivered to your home in just the right amounts for your dog. There are a number of fresh frozen dog foods available on the market and I tested them all. The Farmer’s Dog came up the winner with my picky dogs. You can see the fresh frozen food test here.
Save 60% on your first order
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2. Sundays Food For Dogs
This is an air-dried food. It has the convenience of kibble (just pour it in the bow) but is much much healthier. It’s like little pieces of jerky, so dogs go crazy for it. There are a number of air-dried foods on the market. My dogs tested 3 of them. You can see the results of the air-dried food test here.
Get 35% off your first order + free shipping w/ code ROCKY35
3. We Feed Raw.
This raw food for dogs comes delivered to your home is perfectly sized portions for your pup. They primarily source their ingredients from trusted U.S. farmers, with two exceptions: venison and lamb. These ingredients are sourced from New Zealand, where some of the highest-quality and most ethically raised venison and lamb can be found. Pasture-raised and grass-fed and finished, we highly recommend trying these formulas if you’re interested in the best-quality ingredients. Save 25% on your first order.
Supplements:
I highly recommend using a supplement on your dog’s food, not matter what you feed them, to ensure the meal is balanced and they are getting all the right supplements to help them stay healthy. The supplement I use is called The One from Front of the Pack. It has 12 ingredients that have been clinically-proven to keep your dog’s joints, skin, heart, digestion, and even their breath in tip-top shape. It’s also a powder, so easy to sprinkle on your dog’s food. For a limited time, when you buy one month you get a second month free.
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