How To Properly Care for Your Toy Poodle

Toy poodles are a precious breed; those who care for them think of them less as a pet and more as a member of the family – children of the household even. They are known for their beauty, gorgeous hair and delicate features, but once you have one of these beauties in your home, how do you properly take care of them?

Below we have detailed some tips in helping you properly care for your beautiful poodle and keep him healthy and happy for as long as possible:

Be Gentle – Poodles can be delicate dogs, especially the teacup and tiny toy breeds. So be sure to be gentle with them, especially if there are kids in the house. These adorable dogs are so cute, they may be mistaken for real toys for very small children. If there are other larger pets in the house, be diligent that they don’t engage in rough play with your small poodle. Poodles co-habitat very well with children and animals, but will simply need a bit more monitoring.

Grooming – It is important to have your poodle professionally groomed to keep the health and beauty of his coat in optimal condition. Though poodles don’t shed, their hair can grow rather quickly and it needs to be cut and groomed regularly. This frequent professional maintenance prevents matting and skin irritations that many poodle breeds can be prone to attract.

Poodles Enjoy Your Company – If you are a pet owner that has a hectic schedule, having a poodle for a pet may not be the right thing for you. Poodles often prefer human company over the company of other dogs, so don’t go out and purchase a poodle thinking that your other pet’s company will suffice.

Food and Nutrition – For teacups, tiny toy and miniature poodles in general, it is most recommended to give them 24-hour access to their food. Though poodles are small, they tend to be very energetic and will burn their food off fairly quickly. If you are unable or don’t care to leave food out around the clock, you will need to schedule 3-4 feeding times for your poodle per day, especially when they are young. They have tiny stomachs and are unable to take in as much nutrients as they will need in one or two meals.

All in all, if you choose to share your life with this very special breed of dog, be prepared to give him or her the time, love, care and attention they require. This is not a huge price to pay for the joy these dogs bring to every household they enter!

How to Groom your Toy Poodle with a Teddy Bear Cut

One of the main reasons that the teddy bear style is becoming more and more popular with toy poodle owners is the fact that it actually makes your pet look like a puppy for his entire life. Let’s face it, there’s nothing cuter than a brand new puppy, and even though we love our grown up canines to pieces, there’s always that little voice in the back of our heads saying, “Aww, I remember the day I first brought you home – you were so cute!”

If the idea of styling your toy poodle’s fur in a way that ensure that they keep that adorable puppy face for years to come appeals to you, there’s just a few things that you need to clue your groomer in on the next time you go in for a doggy spa day:

Make sure your groomer is skilled in hand fluff drying – This is a key component in the teddy bear cut process. By getting all of the curl out of the fur, you can ensure that your pet gets an even cut. If your groomer doesn’t use the proper technique, you could wind up taking your pup home and then notice that their fur didn’t dry with clean-cut lines.

Hand-scissoring are a must – The fur on both your dog’s head and legs need to be cut symmetrically with scissors in order to truly get that adorable teddy bear look. Where the classic cut on a poodle would call for a close cut around the nose, with the teddy bear cut, you want to make sure that the area under the jaw and around the sides of the face are all equal to the length of the fur on the top of the head.  From there, your groomer will need to cut the fur on the rest of your pooch’s body in a way that shows a blended, even shape throughout.

Bring a picture – Just like you may do when going to your own hair stylist, bringing a picture of the style you’re looking for is never a bad idea. This will ensure that your dog’s groomer knows exactly what you’re looking for, so that there won’t be any confusion and mistakes along the way.

From there, you’ll want to make sure that you’re brushing your dog’s fur periodically to ensure that it doesn’t get matted and tangled as it grows out. We would highly suggest that you take your pet in to be groomed at least every 8 to 10 weeks in order to maintain that adorable teddy bear look that you love. If you have any additional questions about how to keep your teddy bear poodle in prime condition, call Scarlet’s Fancy today! We’d be more than happy to talk with you!

How to Keep Your Toy Poodles Groomed and Fluffy with a Classic Cut

One of the joys of having toy poodles is the fact they are so cute and seemingly luxurious; it makes toy poodle parents proud to stroll down the avenue with these gorgeous pets. To anyone who chooses to be the parent of a toy poodle with a classic cut, we advise you to expect to provide some special care and pampering.

Toy poodles are known for their beautiful hair, soft, fluffy and brilliant in color. Keeping that hair properly cleaned and groomed is highly important to the look and style of this particular breed of dog. Below, you’ll find some very specific tips and techniques from our friends at eHow.com on how to keep your toy poodle looking like the star of the runway with a classic cut.

●     If there are any kinks or knots in

your toy poodle’s hair, make sure to work them out with your fingers first, before washing. If you wet the hair first, it only becomes more tangled and more difficult to groom when it dries.

●     Toy poodles need bathing on a regular basis; they do not shed, so the hair just keeps growing. So when it becomes soiled in any way, it’s time for a bath right away.

●     Keeping a toy poodle’s hair cut and trimmed regularly is vital to good grooming. The hair is much less likely to become tangled if it is kept trimmed to its proper length.

●     Use only high-quality nourishing shampoos on your toy poodle; shampoos that are good for the hair and skin. Moisturizing shampoos are great to keep their skin from becoming dry and irritated.

●     Daily brushing is a vital part of keeping the hair fluffy; some prefer their poodles a bit shaggy and that too can look great, but for that light and fluffy look, brushing every day is required.

●     Scissors should be used to trim the mane and shape the hair around the ears for a professional looking trim.

Considering the amount of joy and beauty this precious breed of dogs brings into our lives, washing them and keeping them looking clean, fluffy and fabulous should feel like far more of a privilege than a chore! Stay tuned for our next post, as we’ll be talking about how to keep your toy poodles groomed with a teddy bear cut!

Picking the Best Name for your Toy Poodle

Just as a new parent will spend hours pouring over a baby name book for their child, a dog owner will take the naming of their new puppy just as seriously. Think about it; your pooch will most likely be by your side as often as possible and it won’t be long before you two become the very best of friends. It’s understandable that you’d want to give them a wonderful name to go by! But how do you choose?

First, it’s important to realize that there’s no pressure to decide right away. Don’t feel like you need to have a name ready and waiting to go as soon as you pick your new companion up for the first time. In fact, Shiba Shake, a terrific website dedicated to providing tips for caring and training dogs, would actually suggest that you hold off until you get to know him a little bit more. By doing this, you get a chance to see what kind of personality he has. The site also suggests observing your pup and seeing what he likes to do and where his energy levels lie. You may find that the name just comes to you!

Other ideas? Maybe you have a favorite character from a movie, TV show or book you’ve recently read. Some of the best and most popular dog names in recent years have come from owners who have used this method. In fact, the #1 most popular female dog name right now is Bella. Think that might have anything to do with the popularity of the Twilight Series?

Interested in learning which other names managed to top the list?

Most popular female dog names:                       Most popular male dog names:

1. Bella                                                                     1. Max

2. Daisy                                                                    2. Buddy

3. Molly                                                                    3. Jake

4. Lucy                                                                     4. Charlie

5. Maggie                                                                 5. Bailey

So now that you’ve got some ideas on where to start, we hope you’ll find the process to be a little bit easier! No matter which name you choose, be sure to give your pup the love and attention he deserves! And of course, let us know which name you’ve decided on once you get your beautiful toy poodle home; we’d love to hear from you!

What’s So Special About the Poodle Breed?

 When you’ve finally decided that you want to begin the search for a toy-sized companion, you’ll most likely realize fairly quickly that you have quite a few breed options to choose from. So what is it about the toy teddy bear poodles that will draw you in? Well for me, it’s pretty easy to think of a number of reasons right off the top of my head!

1.       To start with, poodles are extremely smart canines. In fact, the poodle is the second smartest breed, right behind the border collie. If you’re looking for a breed that is going to be fairly easy to train, a poodle would be the ideal choice for you.

 

2.       As you’ll find with all of our toy poodles, this breed is also extremely friendly and loyal. You will often find your pup lingering by your side, loving every second of human companionship – which is perfect, since I’m sure you’ll never want to let go of yours!

3.       We’ve mentioned this once before in our blog, but it’s worth noting just one more time; toy poodles are hypo-allergenic. If you manage to come across one that does shed, you’ll most likely find that it is very minimal. So if you tend to suffer from a dog allergy, it would be a great idea to look into your options with a poodle and save yourself the headaches and sneezing in the long run.

4.       The final reason that I believe that you need a toy teddy bear poodle? THEY’RE ADORABLE! With their small size, cute faces and fun haircuts, how can you possibly say no?

With all of these reasons and more, now is the perfect time to narrow down your search and get serious about bringing home a beautiful toy teddy bear poodle today! Give us a call for more information!

(Posted by:  Linda DeBlauw of Scarlet's Fancy Poodles)

Poodle Puppy Litters Arriving Soon

Due next week, Scarlet’s Fancy will be welcoming a new litter of red and apricot Toy and Miniature poodle puppies! If you have been thinking about a new addition to the family, a poodle puppy is a great option. Although they are often thought of as just a pretty face, poodles are smart, active and very obedient dogs.

The toy and miniature poodle puppies are that much cuter than a standard poodle, at least if you ask me. The red and apricot miniature poodles grow to be from 12 to 15 inches in height, whereas the toy poodles are generally around 10 inches tall. What makes them even cuter, is the teddy bear cut they get before coming home to you! (Check out our website to see some examples of the teddy bear poodle grooming style.)

Known for their energy, toy and miniature poodles are great for families with young children. A toy or miniature poodle puppy will not only add some life to your home, but it will get your children outside, playing and enjoying the outdoors, since poodles do need daily exercise. This, as we all know, is becoming more difficult with all the electronic toys on the market these days.

In addition to the litters due next week, we are also welcoming two new sires to our breeding stock. All four parents of our new sires are AKC Champions.

For more information about adding a red or apricot poodle puppy to the family, contact us today at 805-748-2095 or email me at scarletsfancypoodles@gmail.com.

Post by Linda DeBlauw of Scarlet's Fancy