Miniature Poodle Weight & Growth Chart By Age – Explained (2024)

Small dogs vs. large dog breeds can often be a controversial topic.

If you’re like me, you might find that you prefer one type over another, or you may simply just love both.

One of the best things about the Poodle breed is that they come in a range of different sizes and types: the Standard, Miniature, and Toy.

I could go on all day writing about these breeds, but today I’m specifically focusing on the Miniature Poodle, the ideal breed for small dog lovers.

What is the size of a Miniature Poodle?

According to the American Kennel Club, the Miniature Poodle is a breed that can grow between 9-15inches / 23-38cm in height and weigh between 15-17lbs / 7-8kg. In comparison to other Poodle breeds, it’s believed that the Miniature Poodle grows the quickest.

If you plan on owning a Miniature Poodle, you should be aware of its growth patterns as a puppy and an adult. Doing this will help you look after and support their physical and mental developments, allowing them to live a healthy and long-lasting life.

Is a Miniature Poodle a small or medium-sized dog?

When it comes to owning a Miniature Poodle, don’t be deceived by the name. They’re actually classed as a medium sized dogs. While they’re not large like the Standard Poodle, they still hold a lot of qualities the Standard Poodle does and has as just much energy.

What can influence the growth of a Miniature Poodle?

As a dog owner, there are certain factors you can look out for which may influence the growth of a Miniature Poodle which are:

• Spaying or neutering

Sometimes the time period, i.e., the age you decide to spay or neuter a Miniature Poodle, might influence their growth. In particular, if you choose to do this while they’re young, they will grow taller than if they got this operation when they’re an adult.

On the contrary, if you choose to spay or neuter a Miniature Poodle between 12-24 months or later, they could be heavier. This is mainly because the adult hormones they have can cause their chest to broaden, and as a result, they can develop more muscles.

• Health conditions

There are some health conditions like parasites that can stunt a Miniature Poodle’s growth. However, this can be easily rectified if you take them to a vet and get the appropriate medication.

• Diet

A Miniature Poodle will need to be fed a balanced diet full of protein and food that’s suitable for its lifestyle. Try to avoid filler food and speak to a vet to get recommendations of the best type of food for it to eat.

• Exercise

If you’re planning on owning a Miniature Poodle, then don’t be deceived by its size. This breed has a lot of energy and needs to be taken out regularly for daily exercise. If it’s not taken out for long walks, runs, playtime, or anything else for at least 30 minutes a day, their growth could be stunted.

Stages of growth of the Miniature Poodle

Even though there is not much difference between height and weight for the different sexes of Miniature Poodles, there is a vast difference in growth rates. Once they’re born, you will find a Miniature Poodle will shoot up in height quite quickly. After a few months, they start to slow down and fill out, gaining weight and muscle mass.

To help you understand the stages of the Miniature Poodle, please find below a growth chart.

On average, by week 16, i.e., when a Miniature Poodle is 4 months old, they should have grown around 70% in height. However, in regards to their weight, they will only have reached 40% of their adult weight at this period.

They tend to grow more quickly than they do filling out their weight. Note that if you own a Miniature Poodle, it’s also possible for their height and weight to fall outside these measurements. These are only an estimate and not every Poodle falls into these categories.

But, to know that they’re growing at a good rate and a healthy one, you must measure a Miniature Poodle regularly. To do this, you will want to measure its height by the shoulders to get the most accurate measurement. To get an accurate weight measurement, you might want to use a digital scale and place them on it.

When do Miniature Poodles stop growing?

At around 28-48 weeks of age, i.e., 7-12 months, a Miniature Poodle will stop growing tall. By this point, most of them will have reached 99% of their estimated adult height and more than 90% of their overall adult weight. Then at around 72 weeks, i.e., 18 months, will a Miniature Poodle stop growing completely as it will have reached its final adult height.

A breakdown of a Miniature Poodle puppy’s growth

If you’re planning on owning a Miniature Poodle from puppyhood, then you should have an idea of its typical growth stages. In total, there are five growth stages of a Miniature Poodle puppy which are: neonatal stage, socialization period, adolescence, sexual maturity, and adulthood. To help you understand them, let’s break them down:

Neonatal stage (Birth-3 weeks)

The neonatal stage begins as soon as a Miniature Poodle puppy is born. On average, when they’re born, they weigh around 6 ounces. During this stage, Minature Poodle puppies are dependent on their mothers for feeding and playing.

In this period, their ears and eyes begin to open slowly. Most of the time during this period, they’re sleeping and eating, and it takes some time before they start to hear and see properly. The same applies to walking also. If you happen to own a Miniature Poodle during this age group, you should closely observe and help it adapt to its surroundings.

Socialization Period (1-2 months)

During the 4-8 week period, many Miniature Poodles start to become independent from their mother. To help speed up their independence, they should be slowly introduced to other dogs and humans to stop becoming aggressive when they’re older.

At this time, they must be vaccinated first before exploring outside and meeting other people. During this growth phase, their baby teeth start to come in, they start to eat solid foods, and it’s the right time to start house training.

Adolescence (3-7months)

The teenage years of a Minature Poodle puppy are between 3-7months. During this period, they grow at a rapid rate and start to develop motor skills.

Sexual maturity (8-9months)

Once a Miniature Poodle reaches 8-9 months old, it’s thought they reach sexual maturity. By this point, most of their development will have nearly been complete. They should have a full set of adult teeth, and they start to get sexually active. This is often the ideal time to neuter or Spay a Miniature Poodle.

Adulthood (14 months and up)

Once a Miniature Poodle has reached 14 months, and upwards, they’re classed as an adult. Growth does occur at this age, but it tends to be slow. The majority of their physical and mental development will have been complete by this point.

How much should a Miniature Poodle eat a day?

A Miniature Poodle should be fed healthy meals that are free from filler food and grains. On average, if a Miniature Poodle weighs between 15-17lbs / 6-8kg, they should be fed 1 cup of food a day. You should split this cup into 2-3 meals a day to fulfill their hunger requirements. To know the type of food to feed them, you should speak to your vet, who will look at their health issues, allergies, parent’s history, and they will advise the right brand and quantity to feed them.

Growth related health conditions

As the Miniature Poodle is a medium breed, sometimes they can experience some health conditions that affect their growth. They are:

• Legg Perthes disease: An orthopedic disease that causes the femoral head in their hip joint to disintegrate. This disease can cause limping, pain, stiffness, and limited movement. It’s usually treated by surgery.

• Patellar luxation: This is where their knee cap can become dislocated and comes out of their femoral groove when they flex their knee. Patellar luxation can cause a Miniature Poodle a lot of pain and is often managed with pain medication or surgery.

In conclusion

If you’re planning on owning a Miniature Poodle or own one, you must keep track of its height, weight, and age. The best thing to do is to measure them by their shoulder for height and use a digital scale to record weight. Doing this will allow you to see if your Miniature Poodle is within the recommended weight.

Moreover, if you notice any differences, you can always take them to a veterinarian to see if there’s any reason for a delay in growth or any underlying health problems.

Do you have a Miniature Poodle? Let us know how often you weigh and measure their height in the comments below.