Toy Poodle Colors: Rarest to Most Common

Loving, smart, and adorable – the toy poodle is one of the best family dogs around! They are best known for their striking white fur and dignified grooming styles, but did you know that the toy poodle can be found in ten unique colors and a variety of color combinations?

The toy poodle can be found in ten stunning solid coat colors and a variety of color combinations, so let’s introduce you to each of them below!

The poodle may be the national dog of France, but this popular dog breed actually originated in Germany. The word ‘poodle’ actually derives from the German word pudelin that refers to splashing in water, as these pups were originally bred to be expert duck hunters. Over time the poodle became a fixture in wealthy families, and these families desired a smaller version of the poodle to have in their home. The toy poodle was believed to be created in the 17th century as a result.

The toy poodle we know and love today is intelligent, playful, and kind-natured. They may not be as large as their standard poodle relatives, but they have just as much love and loyalty to offer. They enjoy nothing more than spending time with those they love, which is why the toy poodle is such an incredible family dog. Your toy poodle is sure to hold a special place in your heart, no matter their coat color or combination!

#1 Apricot Toy Poodle

The rarest toy poodle color on the list is apricot. This unique coat color is caused be a recessive gene, leading to the pale red shade of their coat. It is believed that the apricot coat color was the last color to be developed in the standard poodle, with it being created as late as the 1890’s. The apricot coat color is just as rare in the standard poodle as it is in toy poodles!

#2 Red Toy Poodle

Red is another rare coat color in the toy poodle. Red toy poodles tend to have a more vibrant coat color early in life, only for the red to fade as time goes on. A faded red coat can look very similar to an apricot coat over time. These red coats can also vary from shades of mahogany to light copper.

#3 Cream Toy Poodle

Cream is another unique coat color in the poodle world! The cream color does not naturally occur, but it must be purposely bred by breeding two dogs with particular genes. The cream coat color is a result of mixing the red gene with the gene found in silver poodles, but even this will not guarantee a cream pup. This is why the cream coat color is not seen as often in toy poodles!

#4 Sable Toy Poodle

The sable coat color is actually a combination of two coat colors in the toy poodle. Sable toy poodles can have any base color, but the tips of their fur are black. The blackened tips of their fur are most prominent in puppyhood and early adulthood, but they often fade as the dog gets older.

#5 Cafe Au Lait Toy Poodle

This stunning toy poodle coat color is called Cafe au Lait due to its close resemblance of coffee with milk. This coat color is a product of the fading brown gene that some brown poodles carry. The Cafe au Lait is a crowd favorite, but keep in mind that this coat color will often fade into a dark cream as the dog ages.

#6 Silver Beige Toy Poodle

Unlike some of the other toy poodle colors on this list that fade as they get older, the silver-beige poodle gets more prominent as they age. These pups will often appear black or dark brown at birth, but you may small spots of sliver fur spread throughout their coat. The patches of silver fur will become more prominent as the months go by.

#7 Silver Toy Poodle

Silver is one of the most common coat colors seen in the toy poodle. The silver poodle is often born black, but the silver recessive genes cause their coat to fade into a silver color as they age. Most silver toy poodles will be entirely silver by two years of age.

#8 White Toy Poodle

The white coat color is often what comes to mind when people think of poodles. Though this is one of the most common coat colors in the breed, it does not occur without effort. Breeders must be intentional with their breeding process to get a purely white litter, and unfortunately, this comes with a major risk. White toy poodles have a higher risk of being deaf or hard of hearing due to their specific breeding process.

#9 Brown Toy Poodle

Brown is one of the most common coat colors seen in the toy poodle. Brown coats are so common in the poodle due to brown being a dominant color gene, but some poodles will process a fading gene in addition to the brown. Brown poodles with a fading gene may appear silver over time.

#10 Black Toy Poodle

Black is the most common coat color seen in the toy poodle breed. The black color gene is dominant in the poodle, but these pups can still carry a fading gene as well. This means that some black poodles will fade into a dark silver over time.

Which Toy Poodle Coat Colors Are AKC Recognized?

Each of the toy poodle coat colors listed above are considered standard by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The only toy poodle coat colors that are not recognized are multicolored, meaning the poodle possesses two distinct color shades on their coat. Some of the most common multicolored toy poodles are black and white, black and silver, cream and white, brown and white, and white and apricot.

If you are just looking for a lovable family dog, then your toy poodle’s coat color won’t be an issue. No matter the color of your adorable toy poodle, they are sure to be a wonderful addition to your home!

Final Thoughts

The toy poodle can be found in ten beautiful coat colors, as well as a variety of color combinations. Multicolored poodles are not considered standard by the AKC, but this does not impact their ability to be a wonderful companion. Check out the toy poodle coat colors we listed above to see which one you love the most!

Summary of Toy Poodle Colors: Rarest to Most Common