Well, as some of you know, last July I got two toy Poodles. One, my show dog, Matisse is 10" tall, the max for the toy standard and very athletic. When we complete his grand championship, we're planning to do agility. He's extremely busy, drivey, enthusiastic and very fun loving. He'll do anything. He's scary smart and can understand what I mean even if I don't. lol. Their ability to "get it" is just over the top. Learning something new takes just a few reps. What I've found though, is that compared to my Lab, Doberman, German Shepherds and even the Chihuahuas is that they do have a little independent streak...a little bit less willing to please than those dogs were. However, part if it might be that I have two the same age...even though I do things with them separately and they're quite focused on me when I'm interacting with them. But yeah....little bit minds of their own sometimes. I think they get bored easily and need some creative motivation at times. But very trainable nevertheless.
Maurice is more laid back...a real cuddle bug. Matisse will cuddle if I'm standing up. But if I sit down on the couch with him, it lasts about 15 seconds tops and he sees something he must go do. lol. Very busy. But that energetic, interested in everything...driviness and extreme speed and nimbleness will be an asset in agility.
Toy Poodles have the fewest health issues that they're prone to. But if you want a little bigger dog, I think a mini would be terrific. I wanted small after having Chihuahuas...love tiny so I chose the toy Poodles. Maurice is really small...3lbs, 14 oz last time I checked and about 9" tall. They both come from a spectacular breeder, very, very well known and Maurice just came out small. But he's healthy so far and has plenty of get up and go...just not as crazy as Matisse.
These are before he went into a Continental clip...still puppy clip. So he's a fru fru at the shows. The rest of the time, he's my wild child who plays outside in the yard, gets burs in his hair, mud on his feet and eats poo just like Jose` if he gets a chance. So, he's still a dog...just gets dressed up for shows. lol.
Maurice...he almost always stops in a stack. He wasn't trained to stack. He just free stacks naturally every time. lol You can see how demure he is next to Jose` who's about 10 lbs and I'm not sure how tall. It's easy to pick Maurice up with one hand. He's like a feather. But I must be careful of him...put him in his ex pen if I have a party because not only the black makes him hard to see on the Oriental rug I have in my family room, but he's just so small. So, there are considerations when having such a tiny dog. I wouldn't recommend the toys for families with little kids. A mini is a really nice middle ground.
Oh, one thing I really love after having a dog reactive breed is that they aren't typically. They tend to like everyone. My Poodles are very outgoing and friendly. They can be a tad reserved with strangers I've heard. Mine aren't but they are still young. So far though, the ones I know are very well socialized and just very nice dogs and easy to take places.
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