Appearance
Standard Poodles are elegant, squarely-built, proud dogs who may be medium to large in size. The coat is thick, curly and wiry in texture and may be worn in a variety of clips. The muzzle is long, the skull is rounded and there is a slight stop. The wide-set ears hang close to the head. The eyes are oval in shape and are dark in color, except for brown, cafe-au-lait and some apricot colored Poodles, who have dark amber eyes. The topline is level, though there is a slight depression behind the withers. The tail is customarily docked to half its original length. All solid colors are permissible including, black, blue gray, silver, white, brown, cafe-au-lait and apricot. Standard Poodles should have a springy gait and carry themselves with pride at all times.
Size and WeightStandard Poodles should stand 15 inches or taller at the highest point of the shoulder. Those who are shorter are not qualified to compete in the show ring as a Standard. Typically, the breed weighs between 45 and 70 pounds. There is no specific weight requirement, but the dog's weight should always be in good proportion.
Coat and ColorStandard Poodles wear a dense coat of curly, wiry-textured hair. They do not shed, which makes the breed an excellent choice for people who suffer from allergies. They may come in colors of black, blue, white, gray, silver, cafe-au-lait, brown, apricot or cream. Black, blue, white, silver or gray dogs will have black noses and eye rims, while cafe-au-lait, brown or apricot dogs have liver noses and eye rims.
Grooming needsStandard show Poodles are allowed a few distinct grooming styles, including puppy, English saddle and Continental, but household Poodles can be clipped, trimmed or shaved in just about any style imaginable. Regardless of the style, a Poodle needs to be brushed regularly. While they do not shed, the hair grows constantly, so loose hair and tangles need to be prevented and removed so that mats do not form. Bathing and trimming is required every three weeks. Many owners prefer to use the services of a professional groomer, while others learn to use the clippers themselves, in order to save money.
Check the ears on a regular basis for signs of wax buildup, irritation or infection. Clean the ears with a cotton ball and a veterinarian-approved cleanser; never use a cotton swab in a dog's ear canal. Teeth should be brushed on a weekly basis to prevent tartar buildup, promote gum health and keep bad breath at bay. Trim nails monthly if the dog does not wear the toenails down naturally outdoors.
Standard Poodles are elegant, squarely-built, proud dogs who may be medium to large in size. The coat is thick, curly and wiry in texture and may be worn in a variety of clips. The muzzle is long, the skull is rounded and there is a slight stop. The wide-set ears hang close to the head. The eyes are oval in shape and are dark in color, except for brown, cafe-au-lait and some apricot colored Poodles, who have dark amber eyes. The topline is level, though there is a slight depression behind the withers. The tail is customarily docked to half its original length. All solid colors are permissible including, black, blue gray, silver, white, brown, cafe-au-lait and apricot. Standard Poodles should have a springy gait and carry themselves with pride at all times.
Size and WeightStandard Poodles should stand 15 inches or taller at the highest point of the shoulder. Those who are shorter are not qualified to compete in the show ring as a Standard. Typically, the breed weighs between 45 and 70 pounds. There is no specific weight requirement, but the dog's weight should always be in good proportion.
Coat and ColorStandard Poodles wear a dense coat of curly, wiry-textured hair. They do not shed, which makes the breed an excellent choice for people who suffer from allergies. They may come in colors of black, blue, white, gray, silver, cafe-au-lait, brown, apricot or cream. Black, blue, white, silver or gray dogs will have black noses and eye rims, while cafe-au-lait, brown or apricot dogs have liver noses and eye rims.
Grooming needsStandard show Poodles are allowed a few distinct grooming styles, including puppy, English saddle and Continental, but household Poodles can be clipped, trimmed or shaved in just about any style imaginable. Regardless of the style, a Poodle needs to be brushed regularly. While they do not shed, the hair grows constantly, so loose hair and tangles need to be prevented and removed so that mats do not form. Bathing and trimming is required every three weeks. Many owners prefer to use the services of a professional groomer, while others learn to use the clippers themselves, in order to save money.
Check the ears on a regular basis for signs of wax buildup, irritation or infection. Clean the ears with a cotton ball and a veterinarian-approved cleanser; never use a cotton swab in a dog's ear canal. Teeth should be brushed on a weekly basis to prevent tartar buildup, promote gum health and keep bad breath at bay. Trim nails monthly if the dog does not wear the toenails down naturally outdoors.
Clips
Generally, the owners clip their dogs as they want; however, if they want their dogs in conformation shows, a show clip is a requirement. Many breed registries allow only certain clips for poodles shown in conformation. In American Kennel Club (AKC) shows, adults must be shown in the "Continental" or "English saddle" clips. Dogs under 12 months old may be shown with a "puppy clip". The AKC allows the "Sporting" clip in Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes, as well.[citation needed]
Some sources believe the show clips evolved from working clips, which originally provided warmth to major joints when the dogs were immersed in cold water. The rest of the body is shaved for less drag in the water. Others express skepticism at this theory, instead citing the French circus as the origin of the entertaining and unique clips.[citation needed]
The second puppy clip is also called the Scandinavian clip or puppy clip. It was invented by Swedish and Norwegian show groomers in the 1970s. It is the most common one in all sizes for shows in Europe, and is allowed for adult poodles to be shown in the FCI countries. The face, throat, belly, feet and the base of the tail are shaved five to seven days before the show to get a nice, smooth appearance of the shaved areas. The hair on the head is left to form a "topknot", fixed in place using latex bands, because in most European countries, hair spray is banned. The rest of the dog is shaped with scissors.
In the continental clip, the face, throat, feet and part of the tail are shaved. The upper half of the front legs is shaved, leaving "fluffy pompons" around the ankles. The hindquarters are shaved except for pompons on the lower leg (from the hock to the base of the foot) and optional round areas (sometimes called "rosettes") over the hips. The continental clip is the most popular show clip today.[citation needed]
The English saddle clip is similar to the continental, except for the hindquarters, which are not shaved except for a small, curved area on each flank (just behind the body), the feet, and bands just below the stifle (knee) and above the hock, leaving four (4) pompons. This clip is now rarely seen in standard poodles.[citation needed]
Pet clips can be as simple or as elaborate as owners wish. The hair under the tail should always be kept short to keep feces from matting in the dog's curls. Most owners also keep the feet and face clipped short to prevent dirt from matting between toes, tear stains on lighter-coated poodles and food from matting around the dog's muzzle. Beyond these sanitary requirements, desired clips depend on owners' preferences. Some owners maintain a longer clip in winter than summer.
Generally, the owners clip their dogs as they want; however, if they want their dogs in conformation shows, a show clip is a requirement. Many breed registries allow only certain clips for poodles shown in conformation. In American Kennel Club (AKC) shows, adults must be shown in the "Continental" or "English saddle" clips. Dogs under 12 months old may be shown with a "puppy clip". The AKC allows the "Sporting" clip in Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes, as well.[citation needed]
Some sources believe the show clips evolved from working clips, which originally provided warmth to major joints when the dogs were immersed in cold water. The rest of the body is shaved for less drag in the water. Others express skepticism at this theory, instead citing the French circus as the origin of the entertaining and unique clips.[citation needed]
The second puppy clip is also called the Scandinavian clip or puppy clip. It was invented by Swedish and Norwegian show groomers in the 1970s. It is the most common one in all sizes for shows in Europe, and is allowed for adult poodles to be shown in the FCI countries. The face, throat, belly, feet and the base of the tail are shaved five to seven days before the show to get a nice, smooth appearance of the shaved areas. The hair on the head is left to form a "topknot", fixed in place using latex bands, because in most European countries, hair spray is banned. The rest of the dog is shaped with scissors.
In the continental clip, the face, throat, feet and part of the tail are shaved. The upper half of the front legs is shaved, leaving "fluffy pompons" around the ankles. The hindquarters are shaved except for pompons on the lower leg (from the hock to the base of the foot) and optional round areas (sometimes called "rosettes") over the hips. The continental clip is the most popular show clip today.[citation needed]
The English saddle clip is similar to the continental, except for the hindquarters, which are not shaved except for a small, curved area on each flank (just behind the body), the feet, and bands just below the stifle (knee) and above the hock, leaving four (4) pompons. This clip is now rarely seen in standard poodles.[citation needed]
Pet clips can be as simple or as elaborate as owners wish. The hair under the tail should always be kept short to keep feces from matting in the dog's curls. Most owners also keep the feet and face clipped short to prevent dirt from matting between toes, tear stains on lighter-coated poodles and food from matting around the dog's muzzle. Beyond these sanitary requirements, desired clips depend on owners' preferences. Some owners maintain a longer clip in winter than summer.
Colours
The Poodle has a wide variety of colouring, including white, black, brown, parti, silver, gray, silver beige, apricot, red, cream, sable, and patterns such as phantom and brindle. The AKC recognises Poodles in either solid-colored or parti-colored coats.[41] Recognition of particolor (spotted) Poodles varies by registry. Phantom, brindle, and sable are considered out of standard by all major registries. Recognised FCI colourations are black, white, brown, gray, apricot, and red.
For solid-coloured poodles, the coat is an even and solid color at the skin. In blues, grays, silvers, browns, cafe-au-laits, apricots and creams, the coat may show varying shades of the same color. This is frequently present in the somewhat darker feathering of the ears and in the tipping of the ruff. While clear colors are preferred by registries, such natural variation in the shading of the coat is not to be considered a fault. Brown and cafe-au-lait poodles have liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white poodles have black noses, eye rims and lips, black or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes. In the apricots, while the foregoing coloring is preferred, liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, and amber eyes are permitted, but are not desirable. Incomplete color of nose, lips and eye rims, or a "mismatched" color are considered faults by registries.
Parti-coloured poodles are recognized in poodle history as the original colouring of the poodle.[42] A parti poodle has solid-coloured patches over a white coat. The coat will usually be white and colored in equal amounts, though it can vary with a larger percent of white. Registries prefer that parti poodles have the same points as its correlating solid-colored descendants. Brown and white parti poodles have liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, dark or self-colored toenails and amber eyes. This is also permitted, but not preferred, in apricot and white parti poodles. Black/white, Blue/white, and silver/white poodles have black noses, eye rims and lips, black or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes. When the dog has markings that resemble those of a tuxedo, it is called a "tuxedo" poodle. The upper coat is solid: head, back, tail; and the lower coat is white: neck, chest, abdomen, and legs, making up usually 40% or more of the coat.
Phantom poodles have the colouring of a Doberman Pinscher, with a lighter color appearing on their "eyebrows", muzzle and throat, legs and feet and below their tail. Like Dobermans, phantom poodles have either a black or brown main coat with a tan (usually apricot or red) lighter colorings around the eyebrows, muzzle, throat, legs, feet, and below their tail.
The Poodle has a wide variety of colouring, including white, black, brown, parti, silver, gray, silver beige, apricot, red, cream, sable, and patterns such as phantom and brindle. The AKC recognises Poodles in either solid-colored or parti-colored coats.[41] Recognition of particolor (spotted) Poodles varies by registry. Phantom, brindle, and sable are considered out of standard by all major registries. Recognised FCI colourations are black, white, brown, gray, apricot, and red.
For solid-coloured poodles, the coat is an even and solid color at the skin. In blues, grays, silvers, browns, cafe-au-laits, apricots and creams, the coat may show varying shades of the same color. This is frequently present in the somewhat darker feathering of the ears and in the tipping of the ruff. While clear colors are preferred by registries, such natural variation in the shading of the coat is not to be considered a fault. Brown and cafe-au-lait poodles have liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white poodles have black noses, eye rims and lips, black or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes. In the apricots, while the foregoing coloring is preferred, liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, and amber eyes are permitted, but are not desirable. Incomplete color of nose, lips and eye rims, or a "mismatched" color are considered faults by registries.
Parti-coloured poodles are recognized in poodle history as the original colouring of the poodle.[42] A parti poodle has solid-coloured patches over a white coat. The coat will usually be white and colored in equal amounts, though it can vary with a larger percent of white. Registries prefer that parti poodles have the same points as its correlating solid-colored descendants. Brown and white parti poodles have liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, dark or self-colored toenails and amber eyes. This is also permitted, but not preferred, in apricot and white parti poodles. Black/white, Blue/white, and silver/white poodles have black noses, eye rims and lips, black or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes. When the dog has markings that resemble those of a tuxedo, it is called a "tuxedo" poodle. The upper coat is solid: head, back, tail; and the lower coat is white: neck, chest, abdomen, and legs, making up usually 40% or more of the coat.
Phantom poodles have the colouring of a Doberman Pinscher, with a lighter color appearing on their "eyebrows", muzzle and throat, legs and feet and below their tail. Like Dobermans, phantom poodles have either a black or brown main coat with a tan (usually apricot or red) lighter colorings around the eyebrows, muzzle, throat, legs, feet, and below their tail.
How to Groom Your Poodle
Grooming your poodle at home can save you money and increase the bond between you and your pet. When you take your poodle to a groomer, no matter how reputable, you really do not know how your pet is treated. Groomers may be kind and love your pet, but they have deadlines and quotas, and just don't have the time to attend to your poodle with the kindness you would desire. Grooming your pet at home ensures that he is groomed well and with the attitude that you would want for him.
Step 1
Prepare a space to groom your dog and get all of your supplies together, such as a kitchen counter top. For dogs that need some assistance to hold still, install a small screw hook under your cupboard so that you can attach a slide collar. The counter makes for easy cleanup as it helps to keep the clippings all in one place. A table will also work.
Step 2
Clip your poodle's face. Secure your dog if necessary. Most poodles who have had some experience with grooming will be accustomed to this procedure. Hold your poodle's head in one hand with your fingers on the top of his head and thumb under his chin, holding back the opposite ear. Place the clipper, with blade flat, against his opposite cheek and clip back toward the ear. Clean this area, holding his nose up to clean under his neck. Do the same procedure on the opposite side. Clip around his eyes, leaving any facial hair desired. Clip slowly and steadily, trying not to go over an area more than once or twice as this can cause clipper burn.
Step 3
Clip your poodle's feet. Be sure that your poodle is able to sit or stand without sliding by placing a rubber mat, a taped-down newspaper or a towel under him. Pick up one foot, nails facing you, and run the clippers over the surface. Separate the toes with your fingers from underneath and clip the hair between them. Bend the poodle's leg so you can see the bottom of the foot. Separate the toe pads, and clip the hair from between them. Repeat on the other feet.
Step 4
Hold your poodle's front feet in one hand and lift him to stand on his hind legs. Trim the hair from his belly button back. Trim the hair from the insides of his hind legs, to about a third of the way down. Hold the poodle's tail by the end and trim from the base of his tail to about and inch and a half from the end. Trim the hair under his tail and from his bottom.
Step 5
Bathe your poodle. Depending on the size of your poodle, either the bathtub or the kitchen sink may work best. Towel dry. Place your dog on the grooming surface, then dry him with a hairdryer. As you use the hairdryer, use the pin brush to brush the hair against the growth pattern, fluffing his hair. Be sure to not dry in one place for too long as the dryer can burn your poodle's skin. It is best to keep the dryer moving as when drying a human's hair.
Step 6
Trim your poodle's coat to one length if you have clippers with length attachments. If not, trim him with scissors. Use good, sharp scissors, and keep them flat against the poodle's coat to make a smooth surface. Trim legs by holding the paw and trimming in straight cuts up the leg. The top knot is trimmed by brushing it all forward and trimming it into a round circle when looking from the top, then brush it all back and do the same, then to each side. When all four directions are done, your poodle will have a nicely shaped top knot. Trim the tail into a ball.
Step 7
Trim your poodle's nails, taking care not to cut into the quick. If your poodle's nails are white, you can see this portion where the blood vessels stop. If they are dark colored, use care here. If you do nick him, a stiptic pencil or a product called "Quick Stop" can be applied.
Grooming your poodle at home can save you money and increase the bond between you and your pet. When you take your poodle to a groomer, no matter how reputable, you really do not know how your pet is treated. Groomers may be kind and love your pet, but they have deadlines and quotas, and just don't have the time to attend to your poodle with the kindness you would desire. Grooming your pet at home ensures that he is groomed well and with the attitude that you would want for him.
Step 1
Prepare a space to groom your dog and get all of your supplies together, such as a kitchen counter top. For dogs that need some assistance to hold still, install a small screw hook under your cupboard so that you can attach a slide collar. The counter makes for easy cleanup as it helps to keep the clippings all in one place. A table will also work.
Step 2
Clip your poodle's face. Secure your dog if necessary. Most poodles who have had some experience with grooming will be accustomed to this procedure. Hold your poodle's head in one hand with your fingers on the top of his head and thumb under his chin, holding back the opposite ear. Place the clipper, with blade flat, against his opposite cheek and clip back toward the ear. Clean this area, holding his nose up to clean under his neck. Do the same procedure on the opposite side. Clip around his eyes, leaving any facial hair desired. Clip slowly and steadily, trying not to go over an area more than once or twice as this can cause clipper burn.
Step 3
Clip your poodle's feet. Be sure that your poodle is able to sit or stand without sliding by placing a rubber mat, a taped-down newspaper or a towel under him. Pick up one foot, nails facing you, and run the clippers over the surface. Separate the toes with your fingers from underneath and clip the hair between them. Bend the poodle's leg so you can see the bottom of the foot. Separate the toe pads, and clip the hair from between them. Repeat on the other feet.
Step 4
Hold your poodle's front feet in one hand and lift him to stand on his hind legs. Trim the hair from his belly button back. Trim the hair from the insides of his hind legs, to about a third of the way down. Hold the poodle's tail by the end and trim from the base of his tail to about and inch and a half from the end. Trim the hair under his tail and from his bottom.
Step 5
Bathe your poodle. Depending on the size of your poodle, either the bathtub or the kitchen sink may work best. Towel dry. Place your dog on the grooming surface, then dry him with a hairdryer. As you use the hairdryer, use the pin brush to brush the hair against the growth pattern, fluffing his hair. Be sure to not dry in one place for too long as the dryer can burn your poodle's skin. It is best to keep the dryer moving as when drying a human's hair.
Step 6
Trim your poodle's coat to one length if you have clippers with length attachments. If not, trim him with scissors. Use good, sharp scissors, and keep them flat against the poodle's coat to make a smooth surface. Trim legs by holding the paw and trimming in straight cuts up the leg. The top knot is trimmed by brushing it all forward and trimming it into a round circle when looking from the top, then brush it all back and do the same, then to each side. When all four directions are done, your poodle will have a nicely shaped top knot. Trim the tail into a ball.
Step 7
Trim your poodle's nails, taking care not to cut into the quick. If your poodle's nails are white, you can see this portion where the blood vessels stop. If they are dark colored, use care here. If you do nick him, a stiptic pencil or a product called "Quick Stop" can be applied.
Poodle Grooming ToolsOverviewThe Poodle does require a moderate amount of grooming and its appearance can quickly become unkempt if a routine is not followed.
One of the most important steps in making sure that your Poodle is well-groomed is to:
- Make sure that you have all of the necessary items
- Each item is of high quality
- That you have an organized grooming kit; it is much easier to keep up with tasks when you do not need to go searching for the right appliance or tool.
Curved slicker brush. This is the type of brush that should be used for the areas of short hair. This has fine wire bristles and the reason you will want a quality one, is on very cheap ones the wires will kink and bend out of shape as you brush.
It should be made of quality materials and be correctly sized for your Poodle.
Rubber tipped pin brush with a cushioned pad for any areas on the Poodle' coat that are medium to long in length. This sort of grooming tool is the preferred choice for the curly hairs of the coat that will appear in any areas of growth. As with the slicker brush, you will want to choose a quality tool that does not warp out of shaped when used.
Two sided steel comb, with fine teeth on 1 side and medium teeth on the other so that you can use the one most appropriate for each body area. This should be used for Toy Poodles and Miniatures to comb the face and to check the coat for tangles. Remember that tangles are often not seen, they are either felt or they are found via a proper grooming tool comb.
Serrated de-matting comb. While the face combs can double as a tangle finding comb, this grooming tool has serrated blades that not only find the knots but can be effective at removing some of them (if found when they are small). This is recommended for Poodles that tend to develop matts quite a bit and should not be used on the face.
Clippers. This is an essential grooming tool no matter which type of clip your Poodle has. We highly recommend the Oster or Wahl pet clippers. This is a high quality clipper that stands up well with heavy grooming. As with most clippers, the most important aspect is the various blades that you attached to the end of the pet clippers. These will determine the length of the Poodle's coat as you glide over it. For example, the # 15 is used for a very short clip and the # 5 is used for all over puppy clips that leave a soft layer of hair all over the body.
Basic scissors will also be needed. These are pet scissors with blunt, rounded ends. These are used for Poodles of all ages to safely tidy up the coat and to clip around the eyes. These are also used to trim excess hairs from underneath the paw pads (those that grow up from between the pads) since this can cause pinching and loss of traction.
Scissors set - for the serious groomer who opts to take care of the entire clipped coat from home. Unlike the above rounded tip tool, these are sharp. It is much easier to scissor around a Poodle when you have different lengths. In addition, if you obtain a set of pet scissors such as these, you will find that you will not need to buy new ones as your Poodle grows. A quality set can last a long time.
Grooming table - Not every owner needs one of these. If you are only doing simple grooming, your kitchen table or even the living room floor will work just fine as long as your Poodle stays still. However is essential when you wish to clip your Poodle at home and you wish for your dog to have an intricate clip or if you have had your Poodle shaped at the groomers and you wish to keep it in shape as long as possible from home. When started young, a Poodle will learn to become comfortable on the table, the harness keeping them safe...and be trained to stay still so that you do not make a grooming mistake.
*** If you cannot find good, quality grooming tools, you can find all recommended tools under 'Grooming' in the Poodle Specialty Shoppe.Other Needed ItemsOther items that you should have in your grooming arsenal include:
Nail clipper or grinder- We suggest a grinder as this works quickly to file nails down. While they can be a tad noisy, most Poodle adapt quickly and since it really cuts down on the time that it takes to tend to the nails, it is a better choice then clipping.
Eye wipes - Quality canine eye wipes are an essential grooming item to keep tear stains at bay. The face should be wiped down after every meal. If a Poodle dips his head far into the water dish to drink and facial hairs become wet, the face should also be wiped well.
Paw wax - Dry cracked paws can be quite a problem for this breed. A good quality paw wax can protect the paws from injury due to walking on hot, cold and rough surfaces. This can also help to repair paws that have been previously damaged.
Nose balm - Since the Poodle breed in general is prone to dry skin issues, this extends to the nose leather as well. Applying an effective canine nose balm or butter in the summer will protect against the sun and in the winter it will help to prevent chapping. A thick butter can also heal cracking.
Choosing A Professional Groomer
Should you decide that trimming your own poodle isn't for you, you will need to find a gentle groomer for your poodle who doesn't speak harshly, likes your dog and seems to enjoy the animals she grooms. It is also important that your groomer listens to what you have to say about your dog's haircut. When it comes to finding a groomer, word of mouth is invaluable. Be on the look out for well-groomed poodles. When you see one, ask the owner who their groomer is. Also ask your friends, family, veterinarian and breeder. Visit the groomers you are considering, assess the general environment, cleanliness and noise-level of the shop. Pay attention to how the groomer interacts with the dogs.
Care In Between Trimming
Even if you take your poodle to a professional groomer there are some things you will have take care of at home.
You must brush and comb it out regularly (at least twice a week). As you do this, get into the habit of performing a mini 'health check' of your dog. Make sure you are aware of the appearance of your poodle when in good health. This will help you to spot any changes during regular health checks carried out at home.
Pay attention to:
Eyes
Look for bright eyes surrounded by white whites with little, if any, discharge.
Ears
Check inside your poodle's ears for any signs of redness or swelling. Watch for brown waxy debris or bad odour, which could be signs of an ear infection. The hair inside the ears of a poodle should be removed by careful plucking. If you have your poodle trimmed by a professional groomer this should be attended to by them.
Mouth
Your poodle's teeth should be pearly white and clean of tartar. Make a habit of brushing your poodle's teeth with a canine toothpaste and brush as part of your twice weekly grooming routine. Regular gentle brushing reduces build up of tartar and promotes healthy teeth and gums.
Be sure to know what your poodles normal gum colour is - pale gums could be a sign of a problem.
Body
Run your hands over the body of your poodle and feel for any unusual lumps or areas of the body that are tender to touch. Keep a mental note of weight gain or loss which can be felt according to how hard you need to press to feel the ribs. Consult your veterinarian if you find anything out of the ordinary.
Should you decide that trimming your own poodle isn't for you, you will need to find a gentle groomer for your poodle who doesn't speak harshly, likes your dog and seems to enjoy the animals she grooms. It is also important that your groomer listens to what you have to say about your dog's haircut. When it comes to finding a groomer, word of mouth is invaluable. Be on the look out for well-groomed poodles. When you see one, ask the owner who their groomer is. Also ask your friends, family, veterinarian and breeder. Visit the groomers you are considering, assess the general environment, cleanliness and noise-level of the shop. Pay attention to how the groomer interacts with the dogs.
Care In Between Trimming
Even if you take your poodle to a professional groomer there are some things you will have take care of at home.
You must brush and comb it out regularly (at least twice a week). As you do this, get into the habit of performing a mini 'health check' of your dog. Make sure you are aware of the appearance of your poodle when in good health. This will help you to spot any changes during regular health checks carried out at home.
Pay attention to:
Eyes
Look for bright eyes surrounded by white whites with little, if any, discharge.
Ears
Check inside your poodle's ears for any signs of redness or swelling. Watch for brown waxy debris or bad odour, which could be signs of an ear infection. The hair inside the ears of a poodle should be removed by careful plucking. If you have your poodle trimmed by a professional groomer this should be attended to by them.
Mouth
Your poodle's teeth should be pearly white and clean of tartar. Make a habit of brushing your poodle's teeth with a canine toothpaste and brush as part of your twice weekly grooming routine. Regular gentle brushing reduces build up of tartar and promotes healthy teeth and gums.
Be sure to know what your poodles normal gum colour is - pale gums could be a sign of a problem.
Body
Run your hands over the body of your poodle and feel for any unusual lumps or areas of the body that are tender to touch. Keep a mental note of weight gain or loss which can be felt according to how hard you need to press to feel the ribs. Consult your veterinarian if you find anything out of the ordinary.