Standard Poodles & Knots

Standard poodles are good-natured and highly intelligent dogs that make excellent pets. They are especially prized by people with pet allergies who desire a larger dog. Poodles are one of the few big breeds to grow hair instead of fur, and thus they produce far less dander and shedding. However, this fuzzy coat is also prone to matting and knots, which can not only make the dog look unattractive, but can make basic grooming tasks like haircuts nearly impossible. Regular brushing and combing are essential tasks for any standard poodle owner.

  1. Poodle Hair

    • Standard poodles are prized for seemingly not shedding, but though their hair drops far less frequently than breeds with fur coats, it does shed. This shed hair is held in place by the coat and can quickly become a mess of knots and tangles if it's not brushed out on a regular basis. Show poodles are often shaved in the leg and back regions where matting is most common. However, it's impossible to shave a poodle if its hair is too full of knots.

    Grooming Preparation

    • Poodles should be regularly groomed when dry -- not after a bath -- to have the easiest time with the brush and comb. A soft brush with slick tines will be less likely to irritate the standard poodle's skin. It's also a good idea to have a steel comb with long teeth. Some pet stores will carry a specific "poodle comb" that works well with the breed's coat.

    Method

    • First, brush the poodle all over. It helps to concentrate on one area at a time, starting with the rear and legs, which knot the most easily. Some poodles will prefer to lie down while being brushed. This is fine, but don't neglect to flip the dog over. Brushing will loosen the hair but is not entirely sufficient. After the brush, use your comb to pass through the poodle's hair and remove any shed clumps. Be sure to pass the comb through at the base of the coat next to the skin.

    Important Grooming Times

    • Many poodle owners who do not have their dogs trimmed in show cuts opt for the "lamb" cut, which is a short all-over trim that prevents knotting. It's important to increase brushing and combing when this cut starts to grow long enough to give the poodle a "fuzzy" appearance. Poodles also experience a thickening of their coats between nine and 16 months of age, so it's important to groom frequently during that time.