How to Groom a Poodle Puppy
Poodles are often known for their hair, which is why so much attention is paid to the cut. Show poodles often have intricate, complicated haircuts that can take hours to perform and require a still, cooperating poodle. There aren't many poodle puppies that are able to sit still for that long, which is one of the reasons why poodle puppies are often only trimmed. Trimming your poodle puppy involves using scissors to cut the hair on the face and feet and leaving the body hair alone. Some groomers choose to give poodle puppies puppy cuts, in which the hair is cut short all over the body. Whichever style you choose, grooming your poodle puppy is fairly easy and does not require much of you or your puppy's time.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Slicker brush
- Puppy shampoo
- Blow or force dryer
- Nail clippers
- Ear cleanser
- Cotton balls
- Scissors
- Clippers
-
-
1
Brush your poodle puppy with a slicker brush to remove any knots or mats. Water from your puppy's bath only will make tangles and mats worse; therefore, it is best to remove them before bathing the pup.
-
2
Place your puppy in a tub and wet it down with warm water. Use puppy shampoo to wash the hair and rinse the soap out well. Use a towel to get as much moisture as you can out of your puppy's coat.
-
3
Dry the puppy's hair with either a blow or force dryer. Using a dryer will keep tangles out of the hair and will give added fluff to the hair. Use a brush to break up any knots.
-
4
Place your poodle puppy on a table. Cut its nails with nail clippers and clean its ears with dog ear cleanser and cotton balls.
-
5
Use scissors to trim the hair that hangs off of its feet. Turn the feet upside down and trim the hairs that are sticking out between the pads.
-
6
Use clippers fitted with a 10-blade to scoop the hair out under the poodle puppy's eyes and to trim the hair in the groin area. If the puppy will not tolerate the clippers on its face, use rounded scissors to remove as much as you can. Use the scissors to trim the hair that hangs off of your puppy's face, as well.
-
7
Brush the hair on top of your poodle's head until it stands up. Use your scissors to shape the top-knot into a half circle. Trim the hair that hangs under your puppy's ears as short as you would like. Typically, the hair is cut flush with the ears.
-
8
Shave the poodle puppy's body hair using a number-four blade, if desired. Start at the neck and move the clippers down the puppy's back. If you are trying to grow your puppy's hair, avoid cutting the body hair.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Bathe your poodle puppy once a month. Bathing more often will likely dry out the coat.
Help your puppy to become familiar with the grooming process as soon as you obtain it. Brush it once a day and give it treats while doing so as a distraction and reward. Hold clippers against the dog's body to get it familiar to the sensation and look in its ears, hold its feet and open its mouth often to get it comfortable with that type of manipulation.
Related Searches
References
- Photo Credit An afraid poodle on dark background image by Will from Fotolia.com
