How Big Do Miniature Poodles Get (Size Guide)

Poodles are fiercely loyal and loving dogs. Since most people no longer welcome Poodles into their homes for their water retrieving ways like they used to in Europe, getting a Poodle compatible with the size of their apartment or house is crucial.

So, it might get you wondering—how big do Miniature Poodles get, and is there a way to guarantee the size of puppy Poodles?

how big do miniature poodles get

Miniature Poodles are in the small dog category, although they fall in the middle size range for the Poodle breed. I’ll help you understand Miniature Poodle sizes, what can impact their growth, and how to pick the right Poodle size for your situation.

The Average Size of Miniature Poodles

Miniature Poodles range from 10 to 15 inches tall. They also weigh between 10 to 15 pounds.

As a general rule, female Miniature Poodles fall at the smaller end of that scale compared to males.

In contrast, Toy Poodles are under ten inches tall and weigh between 6 – 9 pounds. If your Poodle grows over 15 inches tall, it’ll fall into the Standard Poodle category.

From having a small home to waiting to qualify for specific shows, people have many reasons for wanting their Poodle to belong in the Miniature category.

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Therefore, if ensuring your Poodle remains between the 10- to 15-inch height range is important to you, and you want a puppy, it’s crucial to work with a reputable breeder. That way, they can show you the puppy’s lineage and the height of its parents and grandparents.

Miniature Poodle Growth by Age

If you’re concerned that your Mini Poodle puppy is above or below average in height for their age, the weight information below will help you determine whether they’re following the average trend.

  • 8 weeks: 2 – 3 pounds
  • 24 weeks: 6 – 9 pounds
  • 40 weeks: 8 – 12 pounds
  • 56 weeks: 9 – 14 pounds
  • 64 – 72 weeks: 10 – 15 pounds

That means that by the time your Miniature Poodle puppy reaches just under one year and five months old, you can be sure that they’ll no longer grow taller.

You can expect your Mini Poodle to have fast growth for the first few months of its life. It’s easy to think that your breeder swapped your puppy for a Standard Poodle during that time. However, once they reach 3 – 4 months old, their growth rate slows drastically.

Another aspect to keep in mind as you watch your Miniature Poodle grow is that they often grow taller than what their weight can keep up with at first.

So, as long as you’re following the food quantity recommendations from your veterinarian, you don’t have to worry that you’re starving your pet—it’s natural for them to go through growth spurts while taking time to fill in with added weight.

How To Measure a Miniature Poodle

If you’re measuring your Mini Poodle from the top of its head to its paws, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

That’s because the measurements I’m sharing here are from your dog’s shoulders to the area where their paws meet the ground. Measuring this way is the case for all Poodle sizes, so keep this in mind when choosing the type of Poodle you want to bring home.

a sleeping full grown mini poodle

Sizing Up Miniature Poodle Cross Breeds

Now that you know the answer to “How big do Miniature Poodles get?” you might be wondering how big this breed will get if you cross them with another breed. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as clear-cut.

Miniature Poodle crosses will grow to a size that’s dependent on both their parents. So, while you can expect the Mini Poodle parent to keep this dog between 10 to 15 inches, many other breeds can increase or decrease their size.

Examples of dogs that breeders commonly cross with Miniature Poodles include:

  • Bulldog
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chihuahua
  • Golden Retriever
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Maltese

Of course, within any of these breeds, size can vary. Therefore, working with a breeder is the best way to understand the average height of your Poodle puppy’s lineage so that you can have the most accurate idea of how tall they’ll grow.

a happy fully grown mini poodle

Circumstances That Impact Growth

According to researchers, dogs have the greatest diversity in size of any mammal. That’s undoubtedly in part because of human intervention. In the case of the Poodle, humans reduced the size of the Standard Poodle via selective breeding specifically to make these dogs easier to have in their homes.

Aside from genetics, though, several other scenarios impact how big a Miniature Poodle will get, including:

  • The age of the mother
  • Age they’re spayed or neutered
  • Nutritional intake
  • Presence of parasites
  • Amount of exercise

The older the mother, the greater the chance she’ll have a smaller-sized litter. Nutrition is also a major factor in a dog’s growth, as a lack of protein, vitamins, and minerals early on can stunt a puppy’s growth potential. Similarly, the long-term presence of intestinal parasites can also stunt it.

Although lots of exercises will help keep your Miniature Poodle puppy at a healthy weight, it can also prevent them from growing smaller than their intended size. So, you should aim to give your Mini Poodle at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.

According to scientists, the earlier you spay or neuter your Miniature Poodle, the taller they’ll get. That’s because doing so increases how much time the bones have to grow. Nevertheless, this may not always be a good thing—too much growth can impact joint alignment.

So, I encourage you to consult with your vet about the best time to spay or neuter your Miniature Poodle.

Finally, among the many circumstances that can impact how tall your Miniature Poodle gets, color isn’t among them. That’s because color and growth are different genes. So, you’re free to choose whatever color Miniature Poodle you’d like without worrying that it’ll grow too big or small.

mini poodle growth
Showing the growth stages of a Mini Poodle.

Small Dog Problems

Often, when people want to know, “How big do Miniature Poodles get?” they’re worried about their puppy Poodle growing too big. That’s a valid concern if you live in a small space.

However, there’s more to space when considering whether to bring home a Miniature Poodle. Miniature Poodles have a small structure with thin bones meaning that they can easily get hurt.

Therefore, Miniature Poodles often aren’t a good fit for families with young children who might accidentally roughhouse them. Should you bring a Miniature Poodle around young children, you should always supervise them.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to keep Miniature Poodles with other dogs, especially if you visit a dog park. Innocent large dogs can accidentally trample this breed during play, creating potentially life-threatening injuries.

Similarly, you should always keep your Miniature Poodle in a fenced-in area if you leave them outside. That way, you don’t have to worry about a loose dog in the neighborhood bothering your Poodle.

That said, it’s wise to keep an eye on your Miniature Poodle even when they’re in a safe, fenced-in area. That’s because these dogs are small enough for a hungry raptor to capture or a coyote to get its jaws around.

Are Miniature and Toy Poodles the Same?

Miniature and Toy Poodles are the same breeds, but they’re not in the same Poodle category. Miniature Poodles fall in the middle of the range between Toy Poodles and Standard Poodles.

Therefore, Toy Poodles are the smallest version of Poodle. Such a small size can come with even greater risks, as we discussed above, along with certain increased health risks from having such a small frame.

Determining the Best Poodle Size for Your Situation

Choosing whether to bring a Miniature Poodle or a different sized Poodle into your family is a big decision. So, when you’re contemplating whether a Miniature Poodle is a good fit for you, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What size are the other dogs in your home, if you have any? If you have smaller dogs, a Miniature or Toy Poodle is better than a Standard Poodle.
  • What activities do you want to do with your dog? Miniature Poodles can handle walks around the neighborhood better than intense hikes.
  • How ample is your living space? The smaller the area, the more appropriate a Miniature or Toy Poodle will be.
  • How much time are you willing to dedicate to brushing your Poodle? A Standard Poodle will take longer to brush than a Miniature or Toy Poodle.

Get Ready To Spend Quality Time With Your Miniature Poodle

Regardless of where your Mini Poodle falls on the size scale, all Poodles require lots of attention and love. But it’s a two-way street—they’ll return the affection to you.

If you don’t have a lot of space or time to exercise your dog, a Miniature Poodle is an excellent fit. And if you want to ensure your Mini Poodle stays within a designated size, I recommend welcoming an adult dog into your family.

Doing so is a wonderful way to support your local animal shelter, as people often drop off Miniature Poodles when they wanted a toy-sized Poodle.

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