Grooming French Poodles

French poodles, often just called poodles, have been around for over 400 years in Western Europe. The origins of the French poodle are still debated today, with France, Germany and Denmark all claiming this breed originated in their country. The American Kennel Club lists the poodle as coming from Germany, where it was originally used as a water retrieval dog. Today, proper care can give French poodles a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

  1. Brushing

    • French poodles need to be brushed every two or three days. Use a pin brush to effectively untangle any hair and to create a smooth looking coat. Start at the head and work toward the tail. Use a smooth motion that starts at the base of the skin and work toward the end of the hair. Without proper brushing, a poodle's hair will become full of mats and tangles, which may require the entire coat to be shaved off. Brush more often if you notice mats and tangles developing.

    Bathing

    • French poodles need a bath every six to eight weeks, which is more often than many other breeds. Use a moisturizing dog shampoo to keep the skin from becoming irritated. Place them in a bathtub with warm water, thoroughly wetting the entire coat. Place a line of shampoo down the dog's back, working the shampoo into the hair. Thoroughly rinse the dog to get rid of any shampoo residue, which if not rinsed properly can cause skin irritation and tangled hair. Dry the poodle with a blow-dryer on low heat. If you notice a lot of tangles or matting in the hair, bathe your dog more often.

    Nail Care

    • Clip the poodle's nails every two to three weeks. The edge of the nail will need to be trimmed, but avoid cutting too far down on the nail. The dead nail will be light colored, firm and easy to cut through. Once the color becomes darker or the nail feels spongy and not as firm, that means you have cut too deep and are trimming the quick. The quick can bleed and trimming it is painful for the dog.

    Ear Maintenance

    • French poodles are prone to ear infections, making ear maintenance important. This breed of dog needs their ears cleaned every week. Check for any dirt, earwax, hair and mites by carefully examining the ear. Use ear cleaner and cotton swabs to remove any filth. Do not clean deep into the ear canal, just the areas you can see. Pluck out any hair growing in the ear, and if you smell any odor coming from the ear, take the dog to a veterinarian's office because that is a sign of infection.

    Clipping

    • French poodles need their hair clipped every six to eight weeks. The simplest hairstyle for owners is the pet clip or puppy clip where the hair is trimmed evenly all over the body. The English clip and Continental Clip are two hairstyles normally used for dog shows. Many people with poodles prefer professional trimming services because of the difficulty associated with poodle hair trimming.