If you’re reading this, we assume two things about you; first, you intend to get a Poodle and are doing your best to educate yourself. Second, you just got a Poodle and are now nervous about taking care of it.
Whatever the case is, we are sure that you want to know about the grooming needs of your poodle. So, we are here to help you out!
In this article, we have described how you can groom according to the needs of your Poodle. So read until the end to get the most out of it so your Poodle stays maintained, cute, and healthy.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Grooming of the Poodle Coat
The first thing that we notice about a Poodle is its coat. For new dog parents, the word ‘coat’ is often used to describe the dog’s fur or hair. Therefore, it is important to ward off dust or water. The coat also helps the dogs to stay insulated in different weather conditions.
What is a Poodle Coat?
When it comes to the Poodles, they are born with a Puppy coat. This gives your furry friend a soft, wavy, and textured look, making them look extremely cute. However, when they are 9 months old or more than that, they shed their original hair and develop an adult coat.
Like humans, Poodles are also unique and might have different coats. For example, some Poodles have curly, puppy, corded, or even continental coats. Understanding the version of your Poodle is important as it will help you in the grooming process. For example, dogs with extra fur need extra care.
Grooming Needs of the Poodle Coat
The maintenance of the fur of this breed of dog is very high. So even though Poodles are adorable, people avoid getting them. That is why, Poodles are the 5th most popular breed of dogs in the US and not first.
But the Poodles are very friendly and will be easy to manage if you maintain their coat regularly. To maintain the haircut of your Poodle, you must also give it a trim regularly. Some dog owners provide a trim after 7-8 months, while some do it after 4 months.
However, if you plan on trimming after 7-8 months, you must take extra care. For instance, you’ll have to brush a lot to avoid matting or detangling the hair.
Grooming Tools You Need
Before starting the primary process of grooming your Poodle, you’ll need some tools. To help you out, here’s a list of grooming tools you might need;
- Poodle brush is necessary for dogs with curly or medium to long hair.
- Dog Detangle Spray – Think of it as a leave-in conditioner that smoothens the hair to make brushing easier.
- Steel Comb – It is a great tool to detangle the tiny curls of a Poodle. Usually, the curly hairs have deep tangles, which are not typically visible, so using this comb will help a lot.
- Clippers – Clippers are used to give a basic trim to the Poodles so that their original haircut remains preserved.
- Grooming Table – This is not a must-have item but would ease the process. This way, you’ll groom your dog safely and cleanly.
- Scissors Set – Some owners like to use basic scissors for removing the tips of the hair, but some scissors sets are dedicated to grooming your dogs. If you can, get a hand on these to safely groom your Poodle.
Bathing, Drying, and Brushing the Poodle
The coat of Poodles is curly, which may grab some dirt and dust. So, it is important to bathe them regularly.
Giving a Bath to the Poodle
It is often recommended to bathe your poodles after three weeks. Here’s a step-by-step process to give a bath effectively;
- Untangle the fur of a Poodle just like people comb their hair before taking a shower.
- Then put earplugs in the ear of the dog so that the water won’t go in there.
- If your dog is small, you can shower it on the sink, otherwise, put it in the tub and start soaking its fur.
- Now comes the central part; use dog shampoo. Be cautious with this step, as you don’t want to let the shampoo go in the eyes of the Poodle.
- Start rinsing and eradicate the shampoo.
- Lastly, use a high-quality conditioner on the fur of your Poodle.
- In the end, rinse off the conditioner!
Drying After Shower
Use a towel to absorb the water from the furry skin of your dog. Then wrap the Poodle in another towel. Now you can remove the earplugs or cotton from the ear and start using the dryer.
Brushing the Poodle
After giving a bath, use an air dryer to remove the moisture from the dog’s body. While doing so, you can gently start the brushing process.
In normal circumstances, never brush your Poodle’s hair when it’s dry. Instead, spray the water with a mist bottle or a dog detangler spray. Also, brushing one part of your hair at a time helps ease the process.
Care of Eyes and Ears
The eyes and ears of Poodles need special care to prevent any infections. The ears of Poodles are pretty large and have hair inside them. That is why the drop ears produce much wax. So, cleaning the wax and trimming or removing this hair is important to avoid infections.
Usually, Poodles get stains on the eye, which can cause bacterial infection, and eyes must be cleaned with a sterile cotton pad or cloth.
Dental Care
Just as humans need to brush their teeth, dogs must also be brushed to stay healthy. Since they can’t do it themselves, you’ll have to do it with a proper dog brush or a specific toothbrush. Dental sprays can also be used for ease.
Nail Care
According to AKC, you can cut or grind your Poodle’s nails. For this purpose, you can either use a clipper or a grinder.
Conclusion
Your Poodle can’t care for themselves independently, so you must properly care for them. They need to be cleaned and maintained regularly. For this, you can bathe them and brush them properly. Also, make the trims a part of your routine so that their cut is maintained and they stay cute and pretty.