Culture
What a Toy Poodle is called in Chinese
If you have shopped for a Toy Poodle in Singapore, you have probably seen it called a teddy, or 泰迪, while an English search returns Poodle. Here is where each name comes from, how to say them, and why they all mean the same dog.
Nelson and Kim, Curious Tails · AVS licence AS24J00046 · 14 Jul 2026
What is a Toy Poodle called in Chinese?
The breed's formal Chinese name is 贵宾犬 (guì bīn quǎn), which means distinguished guest dog. In everyday Singapore, though, most people call a Toy Poodle 泰迪 (tài dí), or teddy, after its rounded teddy bear haircut. It is the same purebred dog, just named after its most popular cut.
Two names, one dog
贵宾犬 and 泰迪 point to the same animal. 贵宾犬 is the formal breed name, treating the Poodle as the elegant show dog it descends from. 泰迪, teddy, is the affectionate nickname almost everyone actually uses for a Toy Poodle.
So a teddy is not a separate breed, a cross or a smaller size. It is a Toy Poodle wearing the haircut that makes it look like a soft plush toy. If a seller in Singapore offers you a 泰迪, they mean a purebred Toy Poodle.
The names explained
- 贵宾犬 (guì bīn quǎn): the formal breed name
- 泰迪 (tài dí): the everyday nickname
- Named after the teddy bear cut
- Same purebred dog, not a cross or a size
- Most local Toy Poodles are kept as teddies
How to say 贵宾犬 and 泰迪
贵宾犬 is pronounced guì bīn quǎn, roughly gway-bin chwen. 泰迪 is tài dí, said like tie-dee. Both are easy to try out loud, and groomers here recognise either name instantly.
The first two characters, 贵宾 (guì bīn), mean honoured guest or VIP, which is where the elegant reading of the breed name comes from. 犬 (quǎn) simply means dog. Put together, 贵宾犬 reads as distinguished guest dog, as the Wiktionary entry for 貴賓犬 confirms.
How to say it
- 贵宾犬 = guì bīn quǎn (gway-bin chwen)
- 泰迪 = tài dí (tie-dee)
- 贵宾 = honoured guest, VIP
- 犬 = dog
- 泰迪 is just teddy written in Chinese
Why the teddy name stuck
The teddy name stuck because of one haircut. The teddy bear cut leaves the coat a soft, even, rounded length that frames the face like a toy, and it suits the Toy Poodle's small size beautifully.
It is also practical in Singapore's heat, so groomers and owners gravitated to it and the nickname followed. At our Balestier shop, plenty of buyers ask for the teddy by name before they even ask about the breed.
If you want that look, ask your groomer for a teddy or teddy bear cut. See the other popular styles in our guide to Poodle cut styles.
The three size names in Chinese
The Poodle comes in three sizes, and each has its own Chinese name. A Toy is 玩具贵宾犬 (wánjù guìbīn quǎn), a Miniature is 迷你贵宾, and a Standard is 标准贵宾. We place Toy Poodles.
泰迪 is not one of these sizes. It is a look that any size can wear, so a 泰迪 is usually just a Toy Poodle in the teddy cut. For the measurements across all three sizes, see our full size guide.
You may also see the word teacup attached to the smallest puppies. That is a marketing label, not a real size. The smallest genuine size is the Toy, and chasing anything smaller can cost the puppy its health.
The size terms
- 玩具贵宾犬: Toy (we place these)
- 迷你贵宾: Miniature
- 标准贵宾: Standard
- 泰迪 is a look, not a size
- Teacup is a label, not a real size
The 贵妇犬 spelling you might see
If you spot 贵妇犬 (guì fù quǎn) on a listing, it points to the same dog. It is a common variant that literally reads noble lady dog, and it is often used interchangeably with 贵宾犬.
The standard written form is 贵宾犬. Either way, the animal underneath is a purebred Poodle, so the spelling difference is nothing to worry about when you are comparing listings.
Why Singapore buyers search this
Singapore buyers search this because the two names collide in daily life. A relative recommends a 泰迪, a seller lists a teddy, and an English search returns Poodle, which leaves people unsure whether they are looking at one dog or three.
The honest answer is one dog. In bilingual Singapore, 泰迪 has simply become shorthand for the Toy Poodle and its favourite haircut. Once you know 贵宾犬 is the breed and 泰迪 is the look, the listings all line up.
What we usually tell worried buyers is this: the 泰迪 your auntie told you to get and the Toy Poodle you found online are the same purebred puppy. Message us on WhatsApp and we will happily talk it through.
Getting the teddy look on your Toy Poodle
To get the teddy look, ask your groomer for a teddy or teddy bear cut. The coat is kept short and even, about an inch or two all over, with the face rounded to match the body.
It is a maintenance style, not a one-off. A Poodle's single coat keeps growing and mats without care, so brush between salon visits and keep to a regular grooming routine.
Every Toy Poodle we place is health-checked and microchipped, teddy cut or not, so the dog you meet is a genuine purebred Poodle under the fluff.
About the authors
Written by Nelson and Kim
Nelson and Kim run Curious Tails, the AVS licensed pet shop (licence AS24J00046) behind Poodle.sg, at 2 Balestier Road #01-701, Singapore 320002. They have placed 100+ Toy Poodles with Singapore families and give every buyer their WhatsApp line for free care advice, for life. Everything on this page comes from that day-to-day experience, not from a content mill.
Frequently asked questions
Is a teddy dog a Poodle?
Yes. A teddy, or 泰迪, is a Toy Poodle kept in the rounded teddy bear cut. It is not a separate breed or a cross.
What does 贵宾犬 mean?
It is the Poodle's formal Chinese name, meaning distinguished or honoured guest dog, a nod to the breed's elegant heritage.
How do you pronounce 贵宾犬 and 泰迪?
贵宾犬 is guì bīn quǎn, roughly gway-bin chwen. 泰迪 is tài dí, said like tie-dee. 泰迪 is simply the Chinese way of writing teddy.
Is a teddy bear Poodle different from a Toy Poodle?
No. Teddy bear refers to the haircut, not the dog. A teddy bear Poodle is simply a Toy Poodle with that cut.
Why do people call Toy Poodles teddies in Singapore?
Because the teddy bear cut is the most popular style here, so the nickname 泰迪 became shorthand for the dog itself in bilingual Singapore.
What is a Toy Poodle called in Chinese?
A Toy Poodle is 玩具贵宾犬 (wánjù guìbīn quǎn). Miniature is 迷你贵宾 and Standard is 标准贵宾. Most owners just say 泰迪 for the teddy-cut look.
Is 泰迪 a smaller or designer breed?
No. 泰迪 is not a size or a mix. It is a haircut nickname worn by ordinary Poodles, usually Toy Poodles, and the dog underneath is a purebred Poodle.
Meet your Poodle
Come say hello at Balestier
2 Balestier Road #01-701, Singapore 320002 · Weekdays 12pm–6pm · Weekends 10am–6pm. Or message us first: tell us about your home and routine, and we'll tell you honestly if a Poodle fits.
See the cut styles
The teddy bear cut and the other looks owners ask for, explained.
See Poodle cut styles