Miniature and Toy Poodles are the Ideal Choice for Apartment Living

For those who consider themselves to be “dog people”, apartment hunting can be pretty terrible. You want that companionship so badly, but landlord after landlord tells you that they have a no dog policy. What are you supposed to do? Keep looking. While they are few and far between, there are plenty of quality apartment complexes that allow renters to have a small to medium-sized dog, and we know the perfect pup to fit the bill.

According to VetStreet.com, miniature and toy poodles are among 13 dog breeds that are most ideal for apartment living. Being so small, these two particular types of poodles do very well in smaller spaces, not needing much room to get the exercise that they need. Additionally, as an extremely intelligent breed in general, poodles are easy to train, so you don’t have to worry too much about your pet making a mess or having accidents indoors as much as you might with another breed.

Another great advantage to living in a smaller space with a miniature or toy poodle is the fact that you won’t be overtaken by a coating of dog hair on every surface. In a smaller space, a build-up of dog hair can become much more noticeable as compared to what you might experience in a larger home. Fortunately for apartment dwellers, the poodle breed does not shred. However, you should still make regular trips to the groomers for a trim to maintain the good health of your pet’s fur, making the act of dealing with your poodle’s coat both maintenance- and stress-free.

For more information about bringing a miniature or toy-sized poodle home to your apartment, please feel free to contact Scarlet’s Fancy today. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about this particular breed.

Keeping your Toy Poodle Comfortable in the Hot Summer Weather

With the hot summer weather lingering close as we get farther and farther into June, it’s very important that you make sure your toy poodle is safe and comfortable when out in the blistering sun. From reading a few of our earlier blog posts, I’m sure that most of you could figure out that here at Scarlet’s Fancy, we’re big fans of the teddy bear cut. While you may believe that now is the time to take your pup to the groomers and shave some of that gorgeous fur off, keep in mind that you’re only going to leave them more exposed to the sunlight.

Go ahead and make an appointment for a little trim, but that thick, fluffy fur that goes along with a teddy bear cut is actually going to keep your little one much cooler and a lot more comfortable over all. Remember, dogs don’t sweat like we do in this heat! (Lucky ones!)

Want to learn a few more helpful tips on how to keep your pooch safe and happy this summer? Check out this great infographic below! Remember, if you have any additional questions about how to keep your toy poodle comfy, contact Scarlet’s Fancy today! We’d be more than happy to help you out!

Hot Weather Tips For Your Pet infographic

 

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!