There are three varieties of Poodles. The Toy, Miniature
and
Standard. All other terms such as "Tiny Toy", "Teacup"
or "Royal
Standard" are
not recognized by either the American
Kennel Club (AKC) or by the
Poodle Club of America. These
terms are usually marketing gimmicks along
the same vein as
"Designer Dogs" used to inflate the value of a mixed
breed
dog.
TOY POODLE: The toy is the smallest variety and should be
no
larger than
10" high at the shoulder. These little dogs weigh
from 4 to 7 pounds
as adults. This size is well-suited for
apartments, traveling companions, and are usually
reserved for adult families only due to their fragile nature.
MINIATURE POODLE: The 'mini' is the medium sized variety
of the
poodle, ranging from between 10" and 15" high at the
shoulder. This
variety is a sturdy compromise between the
Toy and the Standard, suitable both to apartment
life as well
as the hardy lifestyle of a family with children. This is also
the
favored size for obedience and agility competitions.
STANDARD POODLE: The Standard is the largest of the three
varieties with
no restriction on size except for being over 15" tall.
Typically
Standards will be about
21" to 27" high at the shoulder.
Although the Standard
usually requires
more room for exercise
than the other two varieties, this variety is still a
house dog
that just wants to spend their days lounging around with their people.