Poodles are expensive primarily due to the grooming costs, so learning to do this yourself will save money and offer time to bond with your pet. Although grooming poodles may seem complex, anyone can learn and master the skill. You just need patience and the willingness to practise your skills. Poodle grooming is an important part of owning a poodle.

Grooming standard poodles completely takes about three hours, once you get good at it, and 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, but remember to pick this person out carefully. Talking to other poodle owners is a good way to find a good groomer.

We can look at some books and I can suggest some cuts, but you'll have to decide which trim you prefer. Poodles have coats that lend themselves to plenty of different looks, however, your choice will in part be dictated on how much time and effort you're willing to put into keeping your dog's coat in shape. Why you keep your poodle will make a difference too, because show poodles have a very limited range of acceptable trims.

Show poodles wear variations on the standard lion cut, which comes in three variations: continental, puppy, and English saddle. All of these are related to the standard "poodle" tradditional style people are familiar with. This cut originally was designed to help dogs swim better when fetching birds in the water -- the long fur on the chest protected the heart and lungs, while the extra fur on the legs protected the joints.

There are many more choices for poodles that do not compete. You can choose a shorter trim, which is easier to maintain, and especially easier to dry in the winter. Longer trims are showier, but they'll require more maintenance, so check some grooming books, or take a look at a few poodles to figure out what you prefer.



Find out how grooming poodles properly can really be a fun thing for you to do with your dog.Most people like to keep the base of the tail, legs and face trimmed close, since long hair can trap food particles and this keeps the dog cleaner. Short clipped feet don't pick up grass seeds, and mean that your dog won't track in as much dirt, and remember that shorter coats are easier to wash and dry, and they don't need as much brushing as a fluffy, long coat. Always wash your poodle before grooming to keep your clippers and scissors in good shape, and use high quality equipment, too. Although it's more expensive to start with, it'll make poodle grooming much easier.