While your poodle should be professionally clipped every six to eight weeks, daily and weekly maintenance also is essential. This keeps your dog looking and feeling its best, and avoids or minimizes matting in its thick, double coat.
The poodle's head takes special care and effort, both to keep the chosen clip style in top shape between groomer visits and to keep the dog free of tangles and dirt.
Things You'll Need
- Dog clippers
- Finishing clippers
- Metal comb
- Rounded-end straight grooming scissors
- Rounded-end curved grooming scissors
- Pin brush
- Shampoo
- Dryer
- Ear and eye wipes
Instructions
Comb through all the hair on the dog's topknot and ears with a metal comb, gently detangling any snarls or mats. Then brush the hair through, using the pin brush. Check the length of the hair on the topknot and ears, to ascertain whether it needs to be clipped.
Bathe the dog thoroughly, being careful to completely rinse out all the shampoo. The style of clip you prefer determines whether the dog's hair will remains curly or be straightened.
Straighten the hair on the dog's head, if desired, by using the dryer at a safe distance from the dog's skin, as you brush through it.
Blow dry the topknot without brushing it, or allow the dog's hair to dry naturally, if you prefer it remains curly.
Make sure the hair is completely dry before using the clipper on any part of the dog's body.
Trim the topknot with the curved scissors, clipping the length to ensure a full, rounded shape. Usually, poodles that are not shown usually have curly topknots, while show dogs' topknots are straightened.
Trim the hair above your dog's eyes last, to ensure it does not impede its vision.
Hold the topknot in place with an elastic band. Add ribbons, if desired.
Using the clippers, carefully trim the short part of the dog's ear leather, if your preferred style requires partly bared ears.
Comb through the rest of the ear hair, and carefully trim the bottom length to ensure roundness. Be very careful to avoid touching the ear leather itself.
Lengthen the look of the poodle's face, by clipping all its facial hair with the dog clipper or finishing clipper.
Shorten the look of a poodle's face by leaving a "mustache" of hair just above the lips. Comb this area thoroughly, and check it daily to keep it clean and free of food particles.
Remove mucus around the eyes with a cotton ball dipped in warm water.