Grooming Poodles Can Be Fun
One of the most expensive things about owning poodles is keeping them well groomed, but if you learn to do this yourself, you'll develop a better relationship with your pet, and you'll save a lot of money in the long run. Grooming poodles might seem hard, but it's actually a task that just about anyone can learn to do. To increase your skills you just need patience, and willingness.
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. Sometimes you and your poodle need a break. If you don't learn to perform this task yourself, you will need to carefully select a professional to do perform this maintenance task periodically. Talking to other poodle owners is a good way to find a good groomer.
Pick whichever style of trim suits your tastes. 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.
All show poodles must have a variation on the traditional lion cut, of which 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, as a long mane of fur on the chest protected the lungs and heart, and the tufts on the legs offered joint protection.
For non-competing poodles, there's a lot more to choose from. If you opt for a shorter trim, you'll find maintenance easier, especially during the winter months when it's easier to dry. 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.
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. Shorter coats on your dog are easier to wash,dry and brush than a dog with a fluffy, long coat. Remember short clipped feet won't pick up grass seeds, which means the dog will not track in as much dirt. Make sure to wash your poodle first to keeps scissors and clippers in good shape, and opt for quality equipment. Although it's more expensive to start with, it'll make poodle grooming much easier.
Poodle grooming (http://www.dog-health-care-information.com/standard-poodle.shtml) is an important part of owning a poodle. Find out how grooming poodles (http://www.dog-health-care-information.com/standard-poodle.shtml) properly can really be a fun thing for you to do with your dog.