Dog Grooming Hints

Poodle grooming can be a daunting task, but a necessary part of owning this particular breed. Well-groomed poodles have healthier skin and coats and grooming also helps prevent health problems.

A poodle’s hair never stops growing, so a full clipping is necessary every six to eight weeks. If you can afford it, it may be best to pay someone else to groom your poodle. The steps involved can be labor intensive and it is sometimes best left to a professional.

Choose your groomer carefully and take advice from other poodle owners in your area. You might want to consider scooping out different breeders in the area. Visit their shops without your dog and pay attention to how the facility is managed. Look for a clean shop and a groomer with a gentle hand and manner.

If money is an issue, you can use a professional groomer every second time. You can maintain your poodles grooming yourself in between visits and save money.

To maintain your poodle’s cut between visits, you will need some quality dog grooming tools. Your groomer can often purchase professional tools for you at a discount, or you can find quality tools at a good pet store or at a dog show.

You will need a high quality pair of clippers and scissors. Keep your clippers in top working condition by cleaning the blades and oiling them regularly. Dull blades can scrape the skin of your poodle and cause clipper burn. Look for a pair of clippers that have a many blades, this way you can rotate the blades during the grooming session if need be.

You will also need quality brushes and combs to maintain your poodle’s cut between grooming sessions. Your dog should be well brushed at least twice a week, if not daily.

Even though poodles don’t shed as much as other dogs, they do lose hair. That hair remains in the dog’s coat until you brush it out. Brushing will also keep your poodle’s coat shiny by distributing the skin’s natural oils.

Ask your groomer for brush recommendations, as the right brush will depend on what type of cut your poodle has. Bi-weekly brushing sessions can be a great way to bond with your dog. Gentle but vigorous brushing will make your dog feel good and increase circulation in the skin.

You can bathe your poodle as often as once a week. Using a raised tub with a non-slip mat will make the experience more pleasurable for you both. To start, use warm water to soak your dog’s coat to the skin.

Since poodles are water dogs they naturally shed water so it might take some effort to get the coat completely wet. You can use a mild dog shampoo to bathe your poodle.

Make sure to rinse the shampoo out of the dog’s coat thoroughly. Any leftover residue can be irritating to the dog’s skin. After your poodle’s bath you can let the dog air dry for a curly look, or brush out the hair while blow-drying to give the coat a smooth and fluffy look.

If your dog’s nails are making a typical tip-tap noise on your hard wood floor as he walks this may mean he needs a good nail trimming. If you are brushing your dog’s fur and the comb gets entangled in hair mats very likely the dog needs a good hair clipping. If your dog encountered a skunk and you cannot tolerate his horrible smell very likely he will need a good special bath.

If you feel overwhelmed over these procedures your dog may desperately need, take a deep breath and exhale because thankfully there are professional dog groomers out there to give you a helping hand. Whether your dog needs a good flea bath, a nail trim or your Poodle needs a nice “French Poodle style grooming” a groomer will always be there for you.

Choosing a good dog groomer however should invest more time than just taking a peek at your local yellow pages and picking the groomer just half mile away from your home. A dog groomer will be working directly on your dog in a very close and physical matter. And because basically anybody could claim to be a groomer, you want to deal with a dog groomer that has experience in handling dogs carefully and adheres to high hygienic standards.

A good starting point in finding the ideal groomer is asking around friends other dog owners or calling veterinarian practices around. To be even pickier try to contact the National Dog Groomers Association of America and then do a search on the Better Business Bureau website and look for any complaints. It may astounding how many complaints you can find about dog groomers mistreating pets or caring less about hygiene.

Once you find a groomer that you may think is worthy of a visit, drive by and take a peek at the grooming facility. You should look for a well lit area that smells fresh and clean. Doggie smells should be kept at a minimum and pets being groomed should look relaxed since the staff handles them with particular care. Staff should appear in a good mood and no frustration should be showing as they work on the pets. The general atmosphere should look relaxed and not rushed. Rushing is what most likely will cause injuries and mistreatment’s. As you evaluate the facility think to yourself: “Would I feel comfortable bringing my dog in this facility and to be groomed by this staff”? Trust you instincts, if something does not seem right, go to your second choice facility.

Ask the groomer if he/she is licensed or if he/she has some sort of certification from a grooming practice. Many times