I fear you may be looking for a unicorn. Toy poodles that small are at the bottom of the size range and, as you have found, rarely come into rescue. The odds against one needing a home within easy reach of you are very high indeed. Plus reputable breeders tend aim towards the top of the size range when selecting parents as tiny pups tend to have more health issues - "teacup" is very much a marketing term used to sell pups, not an accepted size. A good breeder, who tests the parents carefully for health issues and stands by their puppies, may have the occasional exceptionally small puppy but will not be trying to breed for tiny size - advertising "teacup" puppies is a big red flag in most cases.

You may be lucky, and getting word out as widely as possible to rescues, breeders, groomers, local poodle associations etc and being open perhaps to a poodle mix if she does not set off your allergies, is probably your best bet. But if you are struggling with the price of a puppy or a young dog I think you may also need to take into account grooming and vet bills down the line - these can quickly dwarf the purchase price of a puppy, evenn if you taken out insurance which is strongly recommended. Good luck with your search - do keep us posted.

 

I fear you may be looking for a unicorn. Toy poodles that small are at the bottom of the size range and, as you have found, rarely come into rescue. The odds against one needing a home within easy reach of you are very high indeed. Plus reputable breeders tend aim towards the top of the size range when selecting parents as tiny pups tend to have more health issues - "teacup" is very much a marketing term used to sell pups, not an accepted size. A good breeder, who tests the parents carefully for health issues and stands by their puppies, may have the occasional exceptionally small puppy but will not be trying to breed for tiny size - advertising "teacup" puppies is a big red flag in most cases.

You may be lucky, and getting word out as widely as possible to rescues, breeders, groomers, local poodle associations etc and being open perhaps to a poodle mix if she does not set off your allergies, is probably your best bet. But if you are struggling with the price of a puppy or a young dog I think you may also need to take into account grooming and vet bills down the line - these can quickly dwarf the purchase price of a puppy, evenn if you taken out insurance which is strongly recommended. Good luck with your search - do keep us posted.

I am very good at grooming, I even have a very good clipper and the special table at my moms house. She has a tiny poodle she was baby sitting and ended up having it forever. Thats how I found out they do not bother me and make me itch. I know fur babies need care and I am not a young woman. I am mature and responsible. I want a pet to love, not to neglect.

 

From what I've seen in the shelters around me, the disposable Xmas pup seems to be a bit less of a problem now than in years past. However, what does show up are the rescues from hoarding situations, retired puppy mill breeders, and adult dogs whose owners have gone into nursing home care. I wouldn't write off a five-six year old dog just because of the age. Small dogs tend to live longer than bigger dogs; it's certainly possible your adoptee would be with you for another decade. I'd also look at breeds and crosses in addition to poodles. Yorkies and Maltese tend to be pretty small and allergy friendly as well.

Given your circumstances, however, I would suggest a serious self assessment and discussion with the rescue about grooming, behavioral issues, and health.

Long haired dogs require regular bathing and grooming. Apart from being an animal welfare issue, long haired dogs collect pollen and dust in their coats. Getting those allergens out of the coat will be a necessity for you if your goal is to have a dog that doesn't trigger allergies. If your physical limitations will prevent you from giving your dog a full spa day, you will need to budget for monthly grooming appointments.

Any dog can have transition problems when they move into a new home. A dog which was housebroken in its previous home may not understand the same rules apply in the new home. A dog which previously lived with a quiet elder may struggle to adjust to children, younger men, or your upstairs neighbor's Saturday night clog dancing parties. Retired breeder dogs and hoarding rescues can have additional socialization issues. They may never have been house broken at all. They may never have lived apart from another dog. They may be afraid of humans. They may never have heard the sound of a dishwasher, TV, or vacuum. Consider which behavioral issues would be an absolute deal breaker for you.

As already mentioned, reputable breeders tend to aim for the larger end of the toy poodle breed standard. Therefore, if you do find a tiny toy, it might well have come from a problematic breeding program. Patella problems are a very common problem in many toy breeds, including toy poodles. Eye problems, liver shunt, spinal issues, etc. seem to be a reason some dogs linger in breed specific rescues.

 

From what I've seen in the shelters around me, the disposable Xmas pup seems to be a bit less of a problem now than in years past. However, what does show up are the rescues from hoarding situations, retired puppy mill breeders, and adult dogs whose owners have gone into nursing home care. I wouldn't write off a five-six year old dog just because of the age. Small dogs tend to live longer than bigger dogs; it's certainly possible your adoptee would be with you for another decade. I'd also look at breeds and crosses in addition to poodles. Yorkies and Maltese tend to be pretty small and allergy friendly as well.

Given your circumstances, however, I would suggest a serious self assessment and discussion with the rescue about grooming, behavioral issues, and health.

Long haired dogs require regular bathing and grooming. Apart from being an animal welfare issue, long haired dogs collect pollen and dust in their coats. Getting those allergens out of the coat will be a necessity for you if your goal is to have a dog that doesn't trigger allergies. If your physical limitations will prevent you from giving your dog a full spa day, you will need to budget for monthly grooming appointments.

Any dog can have transition problems when they move into a new home. A dog which was housebroken in its previous home may not understand the same rules apply in the new home. A dog which previously lived with a quiet elder may struggle to adjust to children, younger men, or your upstairs neighbor's Saturday night clog dancing parties. Retired breeder dogs and hoarding rescues can have additional socialization issues. They may never have been house broken at all. They may never have lived apart from another dog. They may be afraid of humans. They may never have heard the sound of a dishwasher, TV, or vacuum. Consider which behavioral issues would be an absolute deal breaker for you.

As already mentioned, reputable breeders tend to aim for the larger end of the toy poodle breed standard. Therefore, if you do find a tiny toy, it might well have come from a problematic breeding program. Patella problems are a very common problem in many toy breeds, including toy poodles. Eye problems, liver shunt, spinal issues, etc. seem to be a reason some dogs linger in breed specific rescues.

I did say adult dog not a puppy. I was even looking at a 11 year old. I am not opposed to 5 or 6 lb I just cant handle a 10lb dog with my spinal injury. Yes yorkies are adorable too. I did check they are allergy free so I am looking at both. I only listed what I know I would prefer, but who knows what sweety pie I will fall in love with. <3 Right? I am not rigid about it, I am open, my heart and their adorable face will decide.

 

I work in rescue. We occasionally get tiny poodles. But.... as mentioned above, they probably aren't what you're looking for. If a well bred poodle is out of your budget, likely the Healthcare for these tiny rescue poodles is out of your budget too. The dental cleanings alone are ridiculously expensive. The eye problems and joint problems are expensive. Lots of times they look, welll... downright ugly as they gain any age at all with runny eyes and thinning hair and dangling tongues due to the missing teeth. I'm not saying they can't be wonderful pets and they're not deserving of love, but they are difficult and expensive to care for. That doesn't even count any of the behavioral and emotional damage they often come with.

Have you considered maybe a yorkie? Yes, they have health problems too of course, but in my experience a 5 lb yorkie is easier to find than a 5 lb poodle. Yorkies also do not really shed, so that could be something to try.

 

Since you're in Illinois, you're near the The Great Lakes Poodle Club chapter. I found that by looking at the PCA website. They appear to be quite active and even have a rescue contact. I think it would be worth reaching out and speaking to them about your situation and what you're looking for.

 

Sorry I wasn't clear. With the toy size comes some anatomical challenges, like mouths that can't comfortably accommodate a full set of teeth. This can affect gum health despite feeding a nourishing, species-appropriate diet.

A puppy from an ethical breeder, who selectively breeds to prevent as many health conditions as possible (such as luxating patellas) will also typically have a clause in their contract ensuring the puppy is returned to them rather than rehomed or surrendered. This further stacks the odds against finding a healthy toy poodle in rescue.

I'm glad you're doing your research and I hope you're able to find your new companion. Have you considered reaching out to reputable breeders and putting yourself on their radar in case they find themselves with an adult in need of a home? This could be a returned dog from a buyer whose circumstances have changed, or perhaps, as you mentioned, a retired dog who was used for breeding.

When I was searching for a puppy, a breeder offered me an adolescent who was too much for the young children in his new family.