How Old is the Oldest Toy Poodle Ever?

Written by Kristen Holder
Updated: February 16, 2023
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Poodles came into being at some time during the 1400s and they were bred for more than one skill. They were originally designed to hunt, swim, retrieve, and herd. Poodles were then bred into smaller companion dogs which are known to live a long time. How old is the oldest toy poodle ever?

What is a Toy Poodle?

Brown toy poodle puppy lying on blanket

Toys are the smallest of the 3 types

and weigh between 5 and 10 pounds.

©Aarontphotography/Shutterstock.com

A toy poodle is one of 3 poodle types that make up the poodle breed. Toys are the smallest of the 3 types and weigh between 5 and 10 pounds. Their shoulders are no more than 10 inches from the ground.

Smaller poodles are sometimes known as French poodles because they were popular in the courts of Kings Louis XIV-XVI in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They were also popular as touring attractions in circuses until the nineteenth century because poodles are easy to train.

Poodles made it to the United States by 1846. In Italy in 2018, around 15 percent of registered poodles were toys.

Toy poodles are considered small companion dogs that may be too delicate for children under 10. Standard poodles and mini poodles are better choices for families with kids.

Toy poodles are good alert dogs that want to signal when a disturbance happens or a stranger approaches. With proper training, this propensity is useful without being too disturbing. Because they balance alertness with mellow energy well, they make great dogs for urban environments.

Poodles have very high-maintenance coats that require constant attention. They’ll need to be brushed at least once every other day and they’ll require grooming no less than once every 2 months. In return, poodles hardly shed and people with dog allergies sometimes don’t react to poodle dander.

How Old Do Toy Poodles Get?

The life expectancy of a toy poodle is 14 to 18 years. Of all the poodle sub-breeds, toy poodles live the longest. When it comes to dogs, smaller dogs live longer.

No one is exactly sure why little dogs have a longer life expectancy than larger dogs. Larger animals outlive smaller animals in most of the animal kingdom.

It’s important to remember that fixed male dogs live 18 percent longer than unaltered dogs. Spayed females enjoy a 23 percent increase in lifespan over unspayed dogs. Part of the reason is that the risk of cancer associated with the reproductive system is almost eliminated.

Toy poodles on a retro background

The

life expectancy of a toy poodle

is 14 to 18 years. Of all the poodle sub-breeds, toy poodles live the longest. When it comes to dogs, smaller dogs live longer.

©studio hoto/Shutterstock.com

How Old is the Oldest Toy Poodle Ever?

The oldest toy poodle ever was 24 to 26 years old. His birthday isn’t verifiable as he was adopted from a Charleston, South Carolina shelter named the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Uncle Chichi lived in New York City with his owners Janet Puhalovic and Frank Pavich.

A year-long battle with cancer led to Uncle Chichi’s death. Uncle Chichi’s owners wanted to put him in the Guinness Book of World Records, but they didn’t have the required official birth documentation needed.

His favorite food was HALO Spot’s Stew which his owners revealed over a decade ago on a morning TV show. After the show’s airing, the manufacturer sent Uncle Chichi’s original shelter 10,000 free meals.

When is a Toy Poodle Too Old to Breed?

Male toy poodles are too old to breed at 10 years old. Female toy poodles are too old to breed once they’ve reached 6 years of age and they also shouldn’t be bred if they’ve previously produced 2 litters. As soon as it’s determined that a dog isn’t going to breed anymore, they need to be fixed.

While some female toy poodles experience a slowing of their estrus cycle as their age progresses, this isn’t a reliable standard. Dogs are capable of having puppies until they die as they never go through menopause.

Females should be larger than males in the pairing. This is to help ensure that all developed puppies are small enough for the mother to safely birth without a c-section. For example, a female weighing 8 pounds will pair best with a male under 6 pounds.

Keep in mind that breeding poodles with other breeds technically creates mutts. The traits of the puppies of mixed breed dogs are hard to control and personality traits are harder to guarantee. While it’s popular to own a cockapoo or a maltipoo, they’re seen by some as examples of irresponsible breeding.

Make sure that breeding a dog is something that you’re prepared to do ethically. Conscientious breeding involves selecting the right mate, making sure you’re fully prepared to care for a litter, and having the means to take the puppies to the vet.

Do Old Toy Poodles Get Cataracts?

Yes, older toy poodles get cataracts. It is the leading cause of blindness in older dogs. Poodles are one of the breeds identified as more susceptible to genetic cataracts which can afflict an animal at any age.

Cataracts are more common in older poodles because the protein degradation that causes cataracts is more advanced in old age. Cataracts are caused by the breaking down of aged proteins in the eye lens and these defunct proteins start clumping together until a cloudy area is formed.

Aging gives these proteins more time to fall apart and stick together. Also, as more time passes, the bigger the cloudy buildup area can be.

White toy poodle playing in the garden

A Toy Poodle playing on the grass outside. This type of toy dog breed is a great choice for kids and adults alike.

©Rin Seiko/Shutterstock.com

What is the Oldest Evidence of a Toy Dog Breed?

The oldest evidence of toy dogs comes from 2,000-year-old Roman remains from Cordoba, Spain. Scientists have determined that this dog didn’t die in the same place it was born. Rather, it originated from somewhere thousands of miles away suggesting a toy dog trade existed at the time.

While the specific dog breed can’t be identified, the dog was fully grown when it died. It was only 9 inches tall and it had small limbs. The fossilized dog was pregnant and it was killed on purpose before burial.

Pliny the Elder also mentioned lapdogs in the book Naturalis Historia. He suggests putting them against a woman’s body when she’s having cramps.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © Lim Tiaw Leong/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Kristen Holder is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics related to history, travel, pets, and obscure scientific issues. Kristen has been writing professionally for 3 years, and she holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Riverside, which she obtained in 2009. After living in California, Washington, and Arizona, she is now a permanent resident of Iowa. Kristen loves to dote on her 3 cats, and she spends her free time coming up with adventures that allow her to explore her new home.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How old was the oldest toy poodle?

The oldest toy poodle ever was 24 to 26 years old. His birthday isn’t verifiable as he was adopted from a Charleston, South Carolina shelter named the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Uncle Chichi lived in New York City.

What illness are toy poodles more susceptible to?

Yes, older toy poodles get cataracts. It is the leading cause of blindness in older dogs. Poodles are one of the breeds identified as more susceptible to genetic cataracts which can afflict an animal at any age.

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