Grooming of the Poodle and Standard Poodle for a Show Dog
Grooming of the Poodle and Standard Poodle for a Show Dog
Written by Silvia capelli
September 8, 2023
The Poodle is a beloved companion dog all around the world. It has beautiful, curly, and dense fur that can come in various solid colors or in multiple colors.
Its coat is naturally long, lacks an undercoat, and does not shed, classifying it as a hypoallergenic breed.
This characteristic makes it particularly popular among apartment dogs, because not only is it suitable for people with allergies, but also for those who do not like dealing with dog hair.
However, there is a downside: the fur grows back really quickly, and needs to be cut about every two months.
This means that those who buy a Poodle must budget for grooming (where budget equates to significant!), and also include this in the expenses for the dog.
This breed satisfies all tastes with 4 sizes, each with well-defined breed standards:
Toy Poodle
Miniature Poodle
Medium Poodle
Standard Poodle
Apart from the sizes, the four varieties are identical, have the same fur, and the grooming instructions for the Poodle and Standard Poodle apply to all four.
How to Wash a Poodle
Generally, the Poodle is a good candidate for a trouble-free bath: Poodles were originally used for hunting and retrieving small game and are very fond of water.
They are also quite accommodating by nature and usually stay calm when being washed.
The basic products for washing the dog are as follows:
Brush and comb
Shampoo
Conditioner
Take your dog to a quiet place, without noise and too many people around, and then proceed as follows:
1. Brush your pet's coat thoroughly to remove dead hair stuck among the curls. Pay special attention to sensitive areas where knots form, such as the muzzle and hair under the eyes, paws, tail, and around the genital area.
2. Put cotton balls in the dog's ears to prevent water and products from entering.
3. Thoroughly wet the dog with warm water and pour a generous amount of shampoo on its back.
4. Massage the body to spread the shampoo, then move on to the head, paws, and tail. Clean carefully between the toes, the genital area, and the neck. Treat the muzzle area gently to avoid irritating your pet's eyes. If the dog is very dirty, repeat a second time.
5. Rinse thoroughly to remove all shampoo, then apply conditioner, rinse again, and remove any conditioner residue.
6. Pat dry with a warm, dry towel and dry the dog with a blow dryer or hairdryer.
7. If using a hairdryer instead of a professional blow dryer as most people do, make sure the temperature is gentle. Do not set it to the highest setting as part of the dog's skin remains exposed when wet and could get burned.
8. Offer a small snack and lots of compliments to reassure the dog.
How often should a Poodle be washed?
Poodles should only be washed when necessary, but we know that the outdoors can get them quite dirty, and since almost all of them sleep with us on the bed, frequent washing becomes a necessity.
However, remember that excessive washing could damage the natural oils that protect the skin and coat of your Poodle, causing discomfort to the animal.
And as a final note, it's essential to use only high-quality dog products and not those we use for ourselves, which could harm your friend's fur and skin.
And a Poodle puppy should not be washed when it's newly born or very young unless it's really an emergency; wait until at least three months of age.
How to Trim a Poodle
Gone are the days of structured lion or English cuts; today, a simpler and more streamlined grooming style is preferred for the Poodle.
Poodles are groomed with the body hair moderately short, relying more on the head and ears to make the style unique.
Modern grooming styles have a more uniform shape throughout the body, without the multiple lengths that were preferred in the past.
That type of cut is mainly reserved for animals participating in competitions and shows, not for household Poodles, which benefit from a more basic trim.
By trimming, of course, we mean a short cut and not a shave to the skin, which should never be done.
The skin must always be covered and protected from both heat and cold, and an incorrect shave could cause injuries and consequently infections or damage to your little dog's health.
These are the instructions for a uniform cut all over the body, of course, the length of the ears or any pompons are at the discretion of the groomer!
For the trim, you will need the following tools:
Scissors with rounded tips
Brush and comb
Clippers
Make sure the area where you will work is warm and quiet and then proceed as follows:
1. Wash and dry the Poodle thoroughly (follow the instructions for the bath at every step).
2. If the coat is too long to proceed with the clippers, start cutting the longer hair with scissors, beginning with the back and rear legs. Then move to the neck, chest, front legs, and belly, and leave the tail for last.
3. Once the manual thinning is done, if necessary, proceed with the clippers (never against the grain). Proceed gently and without applying pressure.
4. Trim the hairs on the muzzle using only scissors (rounded tip if you are not an experienced groomer). Be very careful around the eye area.
5. Depending on the chosen cut, you can shorten the ears or leave them long, and the same with the mane or the hair on the head.
6. Continue with the tufts between the toes and finally shorten the tail hairs.
7. Reward the Poodle with a tasty snack and lots of compliments.
We have 11 trendy cuts for Poodles that you will love.
*Note: Many groomers do not use clippers and work exclusively or almost exclusively with scissors.
The result is generally better and allows for leaving the hair longer and structuring it better.
However, cutting with scissors is very difficult, so if you are not sure, leave it to experienced and professional groomers.
To learn more about grooming Poodles, read here.
How to Cut a Poodle's Nails
This is probably the most difficult task, not so much the nail cutting itself, but trying to keep the animal calm.
Dogs seem to hate getting their nails cut, especially if done with a file, which is the most practical and least dangerous solution.
It's very important to proceed with extreme gentleness to keep the animal as calm as possible.
For nail cutting, you will need these tools:
Nail clippers or an electric file
Styptic powder (optional but practical in case of accidents, better to have it available!)
Take the dog to a quiet place and bring everything you need with you.
Identify the cutting area (you can use a magnifying glass if you're not sure) and if it helps, make a small mark with a marker on the nail, at the limit point for cutting.
Sit on the floor with the Poodle (or find a comfortable position for both you and the dog) and lift its paw.
Start cutting the nails of the front paws. Lift the dog's paw, hold it firmly, and cut each nail always from top to bottom, with a perpendicular cut (about 45°). Don't get too close to the quick, keep a safe distance (about 2 mm).
Don't forget to also cut the dewclaw, the nail found on the inside of the leg: it tends to break very easily and the dog can get hurt.
As always, give the Poodle some snacks and lots of cuddles, next time it will resist less.
In case of injury, if the nail bleeds slightly, disinfect if necessary and use styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
With the Standard Poodle, the operation might be within everyone's reach, but with the Toy and Miniature varieties, the story changes.
If your dog, or puppy, has really tiny paws, avoid DIY and make an appointment with a professional.
Although simpler to perform, this operation is delicate and must be carried out with care.
For ear cleaning, you will need some simple tools:
Cotton pads and cut-up pieces of gauze, or wet wipes
Ear cleaning solution
Long tweezers (like those for eyebrows)
To perform a deep cleaning, proceed step by step:
1. Place the Poodle on an elevated surface, such as a table. Make it comfortable and ensure there are no distractions while you clean.
2. Lift the ear and pour in some cleaning solution. Move the head so that the liquid penetrates deep into the ear canal. Help by placing your thumb on the cartilage at the base of the ear and move your finger from bottom to top.
3. With a gentle massage, help the liquid flow and penetrate to dissolve the earwax.
4. Don't use the classic ear swab, wrap a piece of gauze (or a wipe) around your index finger and gently enter the dog's ear.
5. Gently rub the walls to remove every trace of liquid and earwax. Repeat with the solution and continue until the gauze comes out clean.
6. This method works well for Poodles, but the real difficulty is the tiny ears of Toy Poodles. For them, roll a piece of gauze on itself to form a kind of stick and use it to clean the ear cavity.
7. Dab the ear with a cotton ball to limit the escape of cleaning product when the dog shakes its head.
8. Reward them with the usual snack and lots of compliments.
Very simple: while grooming is important for aesthetic reasons, it's even more important for the well-being of the animal.
Light, fresh, and clean fur allows the Poodle's skin to breathe, and don't forget that neglecting cuts and brushing will only create more knots, making the next grooming session a truly traumatic experience for your friend.
My advice remains to trim no longer than every two months, so just a light scissor trim will suffice, and your dog will always be neat and healthy.
How much do you know about small dogs, and what else do you not know yet? Find out with us at khani.co.uk
Disclaimer
The information on our site is of a general nature and in no way replaces the opinion of a veterinarian or industry experts. For any doubts, always turn to your trusted groomer or veterinarian.
