If you own a poodle, you will find that one of the expenses that will start eating away at your pocket book is grooming them! Many people are finding that grooming poodles themselves can both help them save their money and help them get to know their pet a little bit better as well. While the art of poodle grooming might seem a little esoteric, the truth is, anyone who has a bit of patience and a willingness to help their pet look the best that it can can do a fairly accomplished job.

Grooming standard poodles completely takes about three hours, once you get good at it. While you’re still learning, you might have to spread the job out over a few days. This is both to give you a break, and for your poodle. If you’re not willing to learn poodle grooming on your own, or are worried about the time it takes, you’ll have to choose a professional to do it. Remember to pick this person out carefully. Talking to other poodle owners is a good way to find a good groomer.

When considering grooming poodles, you’ll find that you should think about what kind of trim that you prefer. Your poodle’s coat can be shaped into a number of different looks, all of them attractive, but remember that the longer and more shaped that your dog’s coat needs to be, the more maintenance that it will need. Similarly, if your dog is a show dog, you’ll also find that you need to have some sort of variation on the lion cut, which does require a fair amount of upkeep.

All show poodles must have a variation on the traditional lion cut. There are three variations on this kind of poodle grooming – continental, English saddle, and puppy. However, they’re all related to the traditional “poodle” cut that we know so well. Originally, this cut was created to help these dogs swim more effectively while retrieving birds from the water. A long mane of fur on the chest protected the lungs and heart, and the tufts on the legs offered joint protection.

If you are not going to compete your poodle in the ring, you’ll find that you can choose a shorter trim, which is excellent for easy maintenance and drying, especially in the colder months. You can get a longer furred look, too, but remember that it will take more time to keep up. You’ll find that there are many pictures and books that can help you out.

When you are considering grooming poodles, you’ll find that clipping the fur on the feet, face and the bottom of the tail very short for hygienic reasons, because it will allow for less food to get trapped there. You’ll find that when you clip the that things don’t get trapped between their toes, and you’ll also find that the shorter the coat is, the easier it is to cut and dry. Remember to wash your poodle before you groom it to keep your tools in good shape, and the better the equipment you get the better off you’ll be.

For more on poodle grooming together with information on toy poodle nutrition, see Toy Poodle Information.

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