Poodle Grooming Ideas

Poodles are a breed of dog that commonly get groomed and according to Standard Poodles USA, a poodle's coat is one of the most versatile dog coats that can be shaped into a variety of different styles. It can also be colored and altered in different ways to make your poodle unique.

  1. Modified Continental Clip

    • Cutting a poodle's hair into different styles is a common grooming idea for poodle owners. The Modified Continental Clip is one of the most common. Create this groomed look by shaving parts of the hair very closely. Start with the face, then shave the front legs -- between the poms and elbow -- and then down the hindquarter. Leave fur on the hip area, the feet and the base of the tail. The tail is also shaved up to the tip, but the tip of the tail is left to create a ball shape with scissors. The fur left on the feet can also be sculptured with scissors into a ball shape. To upkeep this style, you must be willing to clip the hair every 2 to 3 weeks.

    Bikini Clip

    • The Bikini Clip is another common grooming idea for poodle owners. Create this look by shaving the face, the feet and the base of the tail very closely. Clip the body hair so it is tidy, but it can mostly be left long and fluffy. Clip the legs slightly shorter but leave a pom at the bottom of the leg, on top of the shaved feet. The pom at the bottom of the leg can then be shaped into a ball. This style also needs to be updated every 2 to 3 weeks.

    Kennel Clip

    • The Kennel Clip is an easy grooming idea that requires less upkeep than the others. Start by shaving the face, feet and the base of tail closely. The rest of the body hair is kept short and cut into an even shape. The tip of the tail is shaped into a round ball, similar to the modified clip.

    Grooming Color Coats

    • Another grooming idea is to dye the poodle's coat. Commonly called "creative grooming," this is common at competitions or just for fun. You can do this using simple nontoxic products that are not harmful to the poodle. Owners can choose a block color or take their poodle to a groomer to pick a multitude of styles and colors. Avoid using human dyes; stick to non-harmful colorants like chalks or food colorings.