How Often Do Poodles Need To Be Groomed?
Poodles are known for having charming personalities and elegant coats. You might be wondering how often do Poodles need to be groomed? Should Poodles get shaved? And what happens if you don’t groom your Poodle?
Well, this guide will provide everything you need to know about grooming your Poodle.
How often should Poodles be groomed?
Ideally, Poodles should be brushed daily and groomed thoroughly at least once a month. They’ve a thick hair texture with a very high growth rate of hair.
Poodles with longer hair will need to visit a professional groomer every 6 to 8 weeks. If you can do proper grooming at home, you should still take your Poodle to a professional groomer twice a year.
Why do Poodles need regular grooming?
Poodles require regular grooming for several reasons:
- By brushing and combing your Poodle’s coat, you maintain a shiny, healthy coat.
- Poodles have a unique coat that’s very prone to mats and tangles. Regular grooming, involving brushing and combing, keeps their coat free from mats and tangles.
- Regular grooming will reduce the amount of dropped hair on your furniture and floor.
- Grooming gives you the chance to check your Poodle for different parasites, allergies, bald spots, bumps, and infections. If you see something unusual, you should talk to your vet.
- Grooming can also be a great bonding experience for you and your Poodle.
- Regular brushing can stimulate blood flow to your Poodle’s skin. It will also keep your Poodle’s hair follicles healthy.
- Grooming helps to improve your Poodle’s overall health and hygiene.
How to groom a Poodle properly
The grooming requirements for your Poodle varies depending on their lifestyle, and whether they have sensitive skin or other problems.
There are a few essential components that your dog’s grooming routine should include. Let’s get down to the grooming needs of Poodles:
- Regular coat brushing: Poodles should be thoroughly brushed daily or at least twice a week. This will remove dead hair and keep their coat smooth and healthy. Their coats will look shinier and cleaner right from brushing. The direction of brushing strokes should be towards the Labradoodle’s hair growth. Be careful not to apply too much pressure while brushing. Choose the brush that is most suitable for the texture of your Poodle’s coat.
- Baths: Poodles don’t need frequent baths. They usually need an occasional bath or if they’re exceptionally dirty. Avoid overly scented or colored formulas. While bathing them, use a pH balanced canine shampoo.
- Drying your Poodle: After you give a bath to your Poodle, you’ll need to help dry them off. Poodles tend to instinctively shake off excess water after getting wet, you still need to dry them.
- Ear cleaning: Examine your Poodle’s ears at least every two weeks. Clean them with a cotton ball and a dog-friendly ear cleaning solution to prevent infections. Your Poodle’s ears should smell nice with no exceptional amount of wax.
- Teeth brushing: Brush your Poodle’s teeth two to three times a week to prevent gum disease, bacteria, and tartar buildup.
- Eye cleaning: Poodle’s eyes should be clear with no redness, swelling, or discharge. Their eye area is very delicate, so you should be very cautious when cleaning their eyes. Use soft cotton balls and hold it gently against the debris. Carefully wipe their eyes once it has softened.
- Nail trimming: Trim your Poodle’s nails once or twice a month if your Poodle doesn’t wear them down naturally. Always make sure not to cut your Poodle’s nails too short. By letting your Poodle run over concrete, his nails will be filed down naturally.
Your regular grooming will help you spot potential health issues early.
Make grooming a positive experience for your Poodle, filled with praises. You should have lots of treats ready for your Poodle during grooming sessions.
Should Poodles be shaved?
When we talk about Poodle grooming, it also includes shaving.
Shaving your Poodle is more than just a fashion trend! Here are some reasons why shaving is necessary for Poodles:
- Preventing mats and tangles: If you leave a Poodle ungroomed, the hair will grow long, tangled, and form mats. Hence, Poodle’s hair will accumulate dirt, debris, and unwanted tiny parasites. Shaving prevents their hair from becoming too long and tangling.
- Controlling hair growth rate: Shaving your Poodle Is necessary to control the dog’s hair growth rate. Leaving your Poodle’s hair unshaved may lead to several skin infections.
- Comfortable in warm weather: Shaving will keep the dog comfortable in warmer weather conditions.
- Easy maintenance: Shaving a Poodle’s hair will make daily maintenance of this dog easier.
- A fashion trend: You may have noticed an increase in fashion cuts for Poodles. Many pet parents shave their Poodles in different styles to keep up with this fashion trend.
Tools used to groom your dog
Grooming tools are necessary to keep up with your Poodle’s grooming needs. Arming yourself with the right grooming equipment will help you keep your Poodle looking great.
When it comes to finding right tools that can be used for grooming your Poodle, here’s a list that can help:
Are Poodles hypoallergenic?
Poodles are widely believed to be a “hypoallergenic dogs.” All dogs shed their coat and will release some of the allergy-causing dander as they shed. While there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic breed, it’s true that Poodles do not shed as much as other dog breeds.
“While no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, it’s possible to find less-allergenic dog breeds that are better suited for allergy-sufferers. Some popular breeds frequently referred to as hypoallergenic include Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Bichon Frise, Maltese, and Schnauzers—all low, no-shedding or hairless dogs. Unlike Labs or Huskies, for example, these dogs do not molt excessively. While these breeds are typically better for allergy sufferers, and can help minimize the amount of vacuuming and clothes brushing you may have to do, there are no guarantees they will result in fewer allergy symptoms in all people. There may be less hair, but you can’t avoid their dander and saliva!”
Final Thoughts
You should make grooming a regular part of your Poodle’s care routine. Use petting moments as opportunities for grooming and developing a bond with your Poodle.
Your regular grooming and careful examination will help you spot potential health problems early. Make grooming a positive experience for your Poodle, filled with praise and rewards.
Shoot us a message and let us know if this article was helpful. If you have any further questions about Poodle grooming, don’t hesitate to ask.
Happy petting!
Additional information about Poodles:
Poodles Like Water, But Can Poodles Swim?
Do Poodles Get Along With Rabbits?
How To Throw Your Poodle A Posh Birthday Party
10 Ways To Make Your Poodle’s Party Awesome
Why Is Kritter Kommunity Your Trusted Pet Partner?
Lisa Illman is the Founder of Kritter Kommunity, LLC. Not only does she have one tuxedo male adult cat currently, she has had him since he was a baby kitten; so she knows well the kitten life cycle, the teenage cat life cycle and the adult cat life cycle (he is currently 11 years old). Prior to her cat Finnegan, Lisa had two FIV positive cats for over a decade. Lisa’s love for animals her entire life (she also had a poodle and parakeet growing up plus was a caretaker for her roommate’s 3 pets including a poodleduring college) and networking with the pet community for over a decade, enable her to find top content for her readers. Lisa currently pet sits for her neighbor’s 1 year old red poodle.
