Many people are intimidated by the grooming needs of Poodles. It can be a little scary if you don’t know the schedule or how to ask for the cut you want.
Poodles are a true non-shedding, hypoallergenic breed, however to look and feel their best, the breed does need regular grooming.
How Often Do Poodles Need Grooming?
Depending on the desired look and environment, Poodles will need grooming every 6-12 weeks.
We live in the Adirondack Park. Our pups have trails running through 80+ acres that they can run on and explore, and a lake to take a dip in whenever they please. So, our dogs are muddy and wet very often. We keep their hair clipped very short to keep them more comfortable. That way it is only necessary to brush out their ears, tail and top-knots every other day or so.
However, for a gentle suburban life of looking gorgeous, a poodles coat can be kept longer. Therefore, their hair would need clipping every 6 weeks or so. Near-daily brushing and combing is recommended for maintenance, unless your coat clip of choice is very short.
Our Poodle Grooming Protocol & Preparing Our Pups for Grooming
Here at tamarack Standard Poodles, we have a professional grooming room. We groom our pups in a typical grooming shop setting. They hear and experience all of the loud and scary noises that can be expected in a typical grooming shop. We begin weekly grooming sessions beginning at 3 weeks of age. They are exposed to a stainless steel grooming tub, noisy high velocity dryer, a grooming table that raises, grooming combs and a grooming slicker brush. It is imperative that poodle puppies be exposed early and regularly to the grooming process. Once you pick your puppy up at 8-9 weeks of age, it is important that you continue exposing them to the grooming process. It will make grooming easier as adults, and groomers will charge less if they don’t have to take time to wrestle with a frightened pup that is resisting their groom.
Many families prefer to save money and groom their poodles on their own. With a well trained dog this can be possible. Here are some tips to groom your poodle on your own:
How to Groom a Poodle: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of the most important responsibilities that come with owning a poodle is grooming. Poodles have a unique coat that requires regular grooming to maintain its shape and appearance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to groom your poodle at home.
Step 1: Bathe Your Poodle
Poodles have a unique coat that requires special care, so it’s important to use a shampoo that is specifically designed for poodles. Wet your poodle thoroughly and apply the shampoo, working it into a lather. Rinse your poodle thoroughly. Buying a high velocity grooming dryer is a useful investment. Drying a poodles coat thoroughly before using grooming clippers is very important. A high velocity dryer straightens their curly coat and primes the hair for proper clipping and scissoring.
Step 1: Brush Your Poodle Regularly
The first step in grooming your poodle is to brush its coat regularly. This will help to remove any tangles and mats and prevent them from becoming a problem. You should brush your poodle at least once a week, although it may be necessary to brush more often if your poodle has a longer coat. Use a slicker brush to remove any tangles or mats, and a metal comb to ensure that the coat is smooth and free of tangles.
Step 2: Trim Your Poodle’s Hair
The next step in grooming your poodle is to trim its hair. This will help to maintain the shape of your poodle’s coat and keep it looking neat and tidy. You will need to trim your poodle’s hair every 4-6 weeks, depending on how fast its hair grows. You can either use scissors or clippers to trim your poodle’s hair, but be sure to use a blade that is suitable for your poodle’s coat type.
Step 3: Groom Your Poodle’s Ears
Poodles have long, floppy ears that can be prone to matting and tangles. To keep your poodle’s ears looking neat, you will need to groom them regularly. Start by brushing your poodle’s ears to remove any tangles or mats. You should also check your poodle’s ears regularly for signs of infection, such as redness or discharge.
Step 4: Groom Your Poodle’s Eyes
Poodles have large, expressive eyes that can become irritated by hair growing around them. To keep your poodle’s eyes looking bright and clear, you will need to groom the hair around their eyes. Use a pair of scissors or clippers to carefully trim any hair that is growing around your poodle’s eyes, being careful not to get too close to the eye itself.
Step 5: Groom Your Poodle’s Feet
Poodles have long, curly hair on their feet that can become matted if not trimmed regularly. To keep your poodle’s feet looking neat, you will need to trim the hair on their paws. Use a pair of scissors or clippers to trim the hair on your poodle’s feet, being careful to avoid cutting the pads of their paws.
Step 6: Groom Your Poodle’s Tail
Poodles have long, curly tails that require regular grooming to maintain their shape. To groom your poodle’s tail, start by brushing it to remove any tangles or mats. Use scissors to trim any hair that is growing too long, being careful not to trim too much. You can also shape your poodle’s tail into a specific style, such as a pom-pom, if you prefer. How to Groom a Poodle
