How to Groom a Poodle & Pointer Mix
Grooming your own poodle pointer mix can save you hundreds each year in grooming fees, depending on the size of your dog. In addition, grooming your poodle mix frequently lowers the chances of flea allergies, tear staining and tangles in a shaggy coat. With the help of a poodle-grooming guidebook and some specialty tools, you can groom your own poodle. Not only will you save money, but grooming your pet can be an enjoyable bonding experience for both of you.
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Things You'll Need
- Grooming clippers
- Cotton balls
- Conditioning shampoo
- Blow dryer
- Treats
- Groomers' manual
- Shears
Instructions
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Prepare your poodle psychologically for the grooming process. Grooming shears make an unpleasant noise and vibrate when they are switched on. If your pet doesn't know what to expect from the shears it will be frightened and fight to get away. Position your poodle mix on the floor in front of you. Pet it and turn the clippers on. Repeat these sessions until your dog is familiar with the noise the clippers make. Touch your dog with the clippers in later sessions until it is okay with the vibration.
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Place cotton balls in your dog's ears. Bathe your dog with a conditioning or detangling canine pet shampoo. Removing dirt buildup will make the combing process go smoothly. Each grooming should start with a good combing to remove chit grass and foreign debris.
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Comb your poodle's hair to remove tangles. Tangles will cause your pet undue pain and prevent the clippers from cutting evenly. Blow dry the coat completely. Give your poodle pointer mix treats to reinforce good behavior and praise your pet for sitting still. Positive reinforcement while grooming will train your pet that being groomed is an enjoyable experience.
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Consult your poodle-grooming book of hair styles and choose a fancy or everyday cut. Follow the directions for general grooming and for top-knots and pom-poms. Use the grooming guards for general cuts if you want the finished hair length longer than the standard, guard-less cut of 1/8 inch. Grooming guards have a number printed on them and come in a variety of sizes; smaller numbers mean longer finished hair length.
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Use standard hair shears to trim hair around the face and between the toes. While professional groomers use the grooming clippers for this step, using shears is safer for you and your pet. Go over your work with a finishing clipper -- they are quieter than normal clippers and achieve an even cut.
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Tips & Warnings
Close shaving guards like the 15, 30 and 40 can get hot with repeated use; touch them to your skin before grooming.
Train poodle puppies by playing with their feet and face; your pup will grow accustomed to being touched in those areas and won't resist your efforts while grooming.
Don't stop the grooming process in the event of bad behavior. Doing so will reinforce that behavior.
Extended grooming sessions can cause grooming clippers to overheat; two pairs of clippers may be needed for larger poodle breeds.
References
- American Kennel Club: AKC Meet The Breeds:Poodle
- "Poodle Clipping And Grooming:The International Refference"; Shirlee Kalstone; October 2000
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
