Here's why:
* Phylum is a major taxonomic rank in the classification of living organisms.
* Chordates are animals that possess a notochord at some point in their development.
* Notochord is a flexible rod that supports the body.
* Toy poodles, being mammals, have a backbone (vertebral column) that is derived from the notochord.
So, while we often talk about a poodle's breed, its scientific classification places it within the phylum Chordata.