How to Groom a Poodle (7 Tips and Tricks)
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Poodles are known for their incredible grace, poise, and beauty. After all, you don’t become the national dog of France for nothing. But this greatness has to be worked for, and it can be hard work. Most poodle owners have their poodles groomed by professional groomers because they have tips and tricks up their sleeves that most Poodle parents don’t.
But what if you can’t get your Poodle to a groomer? You’ll have to do it yourself, which may be challenging. Fortunately for you, down below, we’ve laid out the steps to grooming your Poodle; with these steps, you’ll be able to keep your Poodle as glorious as they deserve. Don’t forget to stick around for a guide on the tools you need to keep your Poodle looking elegant and beautiful.
The 7 Tips to Groom a Poodle
1. Gather All of Your Supplies Before You Begin
The last thing you want is to have your Poodle all set up on the table and realize you forgot to grab your scissors and have to get them. So, before you begin grooming your Poodle, make sure you have all of your supplies laid out and arranged neatly. Make sure you can reach your tools from where you’re grooming the dog.
2. Get Your Poodle Ready
Before you begin the grooming process, you need to prepare your Poodle. First, bathe your Poodle and make sure they’re all clean. Next, blow-dry your dog until they are completely dry, and finally, use a slicker brush to ensure there aren’t any knots in its coat. Then gently go over your Poodle with a steel comb to check for any knots you may have missed. Then band your Poodle’s ears above its head so they don’t get in the way.
3. Start With Your Poodle’s Feet
Start with removing any hair growing between the pad on your poodles’ feet and shave their feet with your 40-blade setting. Gently hold up your Poodle’s foot comfortably and clip any hair sticking out between the pads. Stop at about the width of a finger above the largest pad.
Once you’ve finished with the pads, move to a 15-blade setting and begin clipping the rest of the foot using the shave line you made as a guide. Be very careful while clipping the toenail area; make sure you don’t nick the webbing between their toes, or they may never trust you to trim them again.
4. Move on to the Dog’s Face
You’re ready to move on to the face after you’ve finished with their paws. Hold your Poodle by the head with your thumb under its chin and your fingers on top of their head and gently lift so they’re staring up at the ceiling. Holding their head this way pulls their skin taut. This ensures you won’t nick their skin while clipping their neck and chin.
With its head held up, begin shaving at the base of the neck upwards to the chin. Once the neck and chin have been completed, you can move onto the face. Start at the inner ear and move towards the outer eye, but do this on both sides very gently. Start back at the inner ear and clip down to where you shaved the throat; do this on both sides.
Next, start at the inner corner of your Poodle’s eye and, making sure to be extremely careful around the eyes, move down to the edge of the nose. Then gently maneuver the clippers around the lips, chin, and nose to finish off their face.
5. Trimming The Body
Start with brushing the poodle’s back to ensure the coat is even when you begin trimming. Next, Start at the back of the neck and clip along the dog’s body towards the tail. Then clip down from the back to the belly.
Next, start at the base of the neck and trim down to about halfway down the dog’s leg, where the knee joint is. Then clip the chest and move from the base of the rib cage to the “armpit” of the dog’s front leg. Be very gentle, and make sure not to nick the delicate skin around the dog’s front leg. Once you’ve finished clipping, brush the dog again to check for any hairs and clip them if necessary.
6. Bevels
Beveled ankles are extremely popular amongst poodles. Giving your pup bevels at home sounds challenging but can be done easily. Start by combing your Poodle’s leg hair straight down. Next, use your 40-blade setting to clip around the ankle where the shaved foot meets the leg’s thick hair. After you’ve trimmed the ankle, use a brush to look for stray hairs and use grooming shears to remove them.
7. Finishing the Job
After you’ve finished trimming your Poodle’s fur, it’s time to un-band their ears and brush them out and trim any hair hanging from the ears. Now that you’ve finished the ears, it’s time for another bath to remove their loose fur.
Once you’ve bathed them, you can fully finish up by trimming their claws. You must be extremely careful when trimming claws; if the nails are white, you stop when you see the blood vessels. Under no circumstances should you cut further.
It’s harder to see the quick on black claws. When you look under the nail, you’ll be able to see the shell casing and detect a grey dot where you should stop trimming. Finally, give your glorious Poodle a treat or two for being so good.
Tools Needed to Groom Your Poodle
Trimming poodles is a job that requires several tools. Below is a list of tools you’ll need to complete the job.
- Blow dryer
- Slicker Brush
- Trimming shears
- Clippers with adjustable blade and guard
- Rubber Mat
- Dog Clippers
- Treats
Conclusion
Poodle grooming is a vital part of owning a poodle. While most owners get a professional to do it, some prefer doing it themselves. If you know what you’re doing, it shouldn’t be a problem, and now you know how to help your fabulous Poodle look and feel amazing.
Make sure to follow these steps carefully. The last thing you want to do is hurt your precious pup. Pamper your Poodle for being so good, and don’t forget the essential treats.
Featured Image Credit: IvanaDjukicFotograf, Shutterstock
