Grooming Mini Schnoodle Puppies

Years ago, mixed breed dogs were called muts. In the 2000s, mixed breeds became designer breeds, such as the schnoodle. Mini schnoodles, are a cross between a miniature schnauzer and miniature poodle, weighing around 6 pounds. These popular family dogs require specific grooming care. Knowing the grooming needed helps you decide what you can do and what a professional should do.

  1. Bathing

    • Barring a run-in with a mud puddle, schnoodles require a bath once every two to three weeks. Wash your puppy in warm water using your favorite moisturizing dog shampoo. If your puppy has fleas, opt for a flea shampoo. Use a cream rinse conditioner to help keep its fur from tangling. Be sure to thoroughly rinse all shampoo and conditioner from your puppy̵7;s coat. Dry it using a hair dryer on low heat.

    Brushing

    • In addition to periodic bathing, schnoodles require brushing at least five days a week. Using a slicker brush, brush its coat to keep it tangle-free. Using a leave-in conditioner between baths helps eliminate the tangles. Brushing also helps distribute the natural oils in your puppy̵7;s skin that keep it moisturized.

    Trimming

    • A typical cut for a schnoodle keeps the fur on the face and legs longer, and the fur on the back, sides and chest shorter. Use pet clippers with a #4F blade to trim the body. Use a blade for your puppy̵7;s feet and ears. Clipping or plucking hair in your puppy̵7;s ears can lead to irritation, so hair removal is best left to a professional groomer. Your puppy may be afraid of the buzzing noise clippers make during grooming. To make the experience a pleasant one, talk to your puppy throughout the grooming session using a calm, gentle tone.

    Nails

    • Nails on any dog should be kept short enough that they do not click on the ground when the animal walks. To clip your puppy̵7;s nails, use guillotine nail clippers. Place the stationary ring of the clipper 2 millimeters from the quick with the cutting blade away from your puppy̵7;s body. The quick is a blood vessel that runs through your puppy̵7;s nail. Since darker colored nails make it difficult to locate the quick, clip darker nails a little at a time to avoid accidental injury. Should you cut the quick, use a septic pencil to stop the bleeding.