How Much Does a Toy Poodle Cost in 2024?
So you are thinking of getting a Toy Poodle? Good for you! Toy Poodles are one of the most popular breeds of dogs that make excellent additions to almost all households.
The good news is that Toy Poodles are not exorbitantly expensive.
Because they are a popular breed, many reputable breeders have chosen to specialize in Toy Poodles, and prices can range from $1,000 to $1,500, while a pup of championship lineage and show quality parents can cost upwards of $3,000 to $5,000.
As a Poodle expert I would be wary of anyone that asks for anything lower than $700 for a Toy Poodle. Cheap, pedigreed puppies scream “puppy mills,” and there are a plethora of puppy millers and backyard breeders out there cleverly masquerading as ethical breeders.
What Factors Affect The Price Of Toy Poodles?
So why the big discrepancy in price? The price of any pedigreed pup depends on a few factors.
Breeder Standards
Before purchasing from a breeder, it is critical to do your research and identify reputable, ethical breeders, and weed out the baddies.
Ethical breeders will charge more for their puppies. They have fewer litters, provide their puppies with all the necessary health checks and vaccinations, and feed them top-quality food.
PuppySpot is a reputable dog marketplace where you can browse and find compatible puppies right from the comfort of your home. They have placed over 200,000 puppies into homes in the US!
In stark contrast, unethical breeders do it for profit, and not for the betterment of the breed or the love of their dogs.
The price of a dog typically has a direct correlation to the care and expenses involved in raising them.
Ask loads of questions, read some of their reviews, and ask for some recommendations from trusted sources like veterinarians and dog trainers to get an idea of where you should be getting your puppy from.
Genetics and Lineage
Puppies and their parents will be tested for health and genetics by ethical, respectable breeders. The breeding pair will have immaculate DNA test results and be cleared of all genetic diseases.
The puppy’s bloodline is another aspect that influences the price. Puppies whose bloodline includes show-quality dogs and conformation champions will, of course, cost significantly more than a pet-quality Toy Poodle.
Documentation
What documentation will your puppy come with? What documentation can be shown about the parent pair?
At the very minimum, your breeder should provide health checks, a health guarantee, OFA papers, DNA tests, and AKC registration of the parent pair.
Your puppy should come with health checks, a vaccination record, and a health guarantee at the very barest minimum.
Geographic Location
Where your breeder is located also plays a part. For example, a breeder living in a state where there are 10 other Toy Poodle breeders is likely to sell their puppies at competitive prices, while the sole breeder of Toy Poodles in a state can charge a pretty penny.
If the breeders in your state are few and far between, you can always think of a road trip and visit a neighboring state in the search for your new best bud.
In addition, raising a litter will be more expensive in regions where land is more scarce. Toy Poodles are significantly cheaper in the Midwest as compared to California and New York, because the cost of living is far lower in the Midwest.
Colors & Gender
Colors and gender also can reflect the price of the pup, as owners want a Toy Poodle of a specific color.
Because there are so few of these special colors, breeders typically charge a premium for them. For example, apricot, red, and sable, tend to be more expensive colors while black, brown, and white are more common.
Red Poodles are particularly expensive.
Also, reputable and ethical breeders will typically charge the same price for female and male puppies since they invest the same amount of time, effort, attention, and money on each of their furry pals regardless of gender.
However, if demand or availability for various genders fluctuates, a breeder may vary the price of each gender. This practice is somewhat controversial and often a hotly-debated topic among breeders.
Alternative Ways Of Reducing The Cost
While buying a Poodle puppy from a respectable breeder seems to be the most common way of procuring a new pup, there are several other ways that you can go about it, each with its own pros and cons.
Adoption vs. Buying
If you haven’t decided on where to get your Toy Poodle from, think about hitting rescue centers and shelters first. Not only will you be able to help a needy dog out, but you’ll also potentially save loads of money!
Adoptions are significantly cheaper, with fees ranging from $200 to $500 upwards. There are various Poodle-specific rescue groups and you never know, you could get your new best friend at a fraction of the cost.
Of course, with adoption, you never know what you’re getting, and what the history and lineage of your dog will be. In addition, you’ll also have less choice in the appearance of your Toy Poodle, the age, and potentially the gender.
However, if those factors aren’t your priority, you can certainly consider adoption.
Another bonus with adopting is that if you were intending to spay or neuter your dog anyway, your adopted dog will already come “fixed” the majority of the time, saving you hundreds of dollars in surgery bills.
The adoption fee typically goes to cover the medical costs associated with a rescue dog like the spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, deworming, and a general health check, so you can be sure your adopted dog is in the pink of health.
Buying An Adult Dog
Some breeders retire their breeding dogs and might be willing to send them off to good homes. Note that this is only applicable to good breeders that typically keep their dogs in a loving, home environment, and not puppy mills that keep their dogs locked up in kennels their whole lives.
Although many good home breeders consider their breeding adults as their own pets and part of their family, you might be able to find a few breeders that might be willing to give up their adult dogs to good homes.
A retired Toy Poodle can be about 6 to 8 years old, barely halfway through its lifespan, and if coming from a good breeder, in the pink of health, well-socialized, and loved all its life.
Prices of breeding dogs are often below $500, as all the breeder wants to do is ensure that their retired dogs go to good homes.
Cost Of A Toy Poodle VS Other Similar Breeds
While the Toy Poodle is indisputably one of the most popular companion dog breeds, there are plenty of other similar breeds in energy levels, trainability, and temperament.
Here are some of the other popular companion dog breeds and their costs.
Different Breeds | Cost |
Cocker Spaniel | $800-$2,000 |
Shih Tzu | $800-$1,600 |
Bichon Frise | $700-$2,500 (median around $1200) |
Maltese | $800-$2,000 |
Cavalier King Charles | $1,000-$2,500 |
Other Costs Of Bringing Your Toy Poodle Home
In addition to the initial purchase or adoption cost of your Toy Poodle, you’ll need some essential supplies to prepare your home for the arrival of your new family member.
Cleaning Supplies
Any Toy, Mini or Standard Poodle dog parent can tell you that a house with a dog is completely different than one without. To minimize the mess that your beloved pooch makes, you’re going to need a few things.
Vacuum cleaner – Although Toy Poodles are low-shedding dogs with hypoallergenic coats, they still shed minimally and you’ll need a vacuum.
Enzymatic cleaner – Dogs will have accidents, and puppies will have a LOT of accidents. You’ll need a powerful cleaner that attacks odors and stains at a cellular level. Enzymatic cleaners are a pet owner’s best friend and will work on organic matter and will clean up pee, poop, blood, and vomit.
Odor remover – Dogs will pee over their own scent, so if you don’t want your pooch to continue having “oopsies” in the same spot, you’ll have to mask the scent.
Pet Supplies
To prepare for the new arrival, you’ll need a few things.
Top-quality dog/puppy food. Yes, it might cost more, but Toy Poodles don’t eat too much and low-quality food tend to have all kinds of nasties like cheap fillers, allergens, and artificial preservatives that could harm your dog’s sensitive stomach and contribute to future health issues.
Treats and toys for training and exercise, or simply just because. As always, good quality, natural treats work way, and interactive dog toys will keep the intelligent and active Toy Poodle occupied for hours.
A collar and leash for the walkies. Try using an adjustable collar if you have a puppy, to avoid having to buy a new one later.
A crate and a bed if you are intending to crate train. If you are getting a puppy, get a crate and bed appropriate for their adult size. If the crate is too large for you to effectively potty train, use a divider to reduce the size and gradually increase it until your dog is fully-grown.
Although Toy Poodles have modest grooming needs, you’ll still need grooming supplies like a brush, nail clippers, ear, and eye cleaners.
Other Costs
Don’t forget to factor in other costs into Poodle breed ownership like:
- Obedience classes
- Pet insurance
- Vaccinations and annual health checks
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article has given you the information you need to help with your hunt for your new Toy Poodle breed buddy.
Thanks for reading and all the best in your search!