How to Groom a Toy Poodle Puppy

Toy poodles are adorable and intelligent pets.

Toy poodles are adorable and intelligent dogs. Smaller than 10 inches and weighing less than 9 lbs., the idea of grooming such a delicate animal may seem like a daunting, frightening task. However, because toy poodles are so intelligent and easily trained, with patience and love, your toy poodle will grow accustomed to his grooming routine. Once you have all the proper grooming tools and quiet, distraction-free environment for grooming, you will find that each session becomes easier than the one before.

Things You'll Need

• Clipper
• Blades
• Slicker
• Comb
• Guillotine nail clipper
• Cotton swabs
• Alcohol
• Hemostats

Instructions

1. Place your puppy on a sturdy table and introduce him to the sound of the clippers by turning it on near his head. As your puppy becomes comfortable with the sound, gently and slowly touch the puppy with the clippers, not to cut his hair but to get him accustomed to the way the clipper vibration feels. Repeat this process over the course of a week until your poodle puppy no longer seems scared by the presence of the clippers.

2. Attach the clipper's number 30 blade and select the guide comb to the length you want to leave his hair. For a puppy, you will want to start with a simple cut, rather than starting with a complicated show dog cut. Choose the 1-inch guide comb and gently trim the top of the back of the head and neck, working the clippers in the direction of hair growth. Leave the hair on the top of the puppy's head. Switch to the number 10 blade and trim the abdomen and genital area, following the direction of hair growth.

3. Switch the blade to a number 15 and trim the remaining facial hair around the jaw line and the feet. Using the same blade, trim the ear hair into a "U" shape. Attach the number 3F blade and blend away the remaining stray hairs. Fluff the remaining hair on the top of puppy's head and his tail into a pom-pom and use a slicker brush to comb his ear and leg hair.

4. Trim the puppy's toe nails with a guillotine clipper following all of the manufacturer's safety guidelines. These clippers have a circle in which the nail is placed and cut. Make sure you do not cut the quick, which is dark in color.

5. Remove hair inside of your puppy's ears with a pair of long-handled, round-ended hemostats. Clean the ears with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol to remove infection-causing debris.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a basic "teddy bear" cut ideal for puppies. There are many other styles you can try as your puppy becomes used to grooming.

• Shampoo your puppy after grooming routine. Repeat process every two to three weeks.

• Be especially careful when trimming the nails and cleaning the ears. If you are not comfortable with the grooming process, your puppy will not be either. Take him to a professional groomer if this is the case.

• Do not be in a hurry. Your puppy will be scared and need time to learn that the grooming process will not hurt him.

References

• "Dog Grooming for Dummies"; Margaret H. Bonham; 2006
• Thumbelina's Tiny Toy Poodles: Grooming
• Dog Breed Info: Toy Poodle

Resources

• Groomers.com: Clippers, Blades and Accessories
• Poodle Supply: Grooming Tools