The main decoration of the poodle is its coat. In order for the poodle to always look perfect, you need to carefully care for it. Keep in mind that this dog's coat has its own characteristics.
Combing
In most dogs, dying hairs fall out during a molt, but in poodles the situation is different: they become entangled in curls and remain there. That is why the dog should be brushed regularly, at least twice a week. It is best to use a large comb with frequent teeth or a massage brush.
Scratching is performed in alternating movements on and against the coat, before the procedure, you should definitely inspect the pet's body for scratches, abrasions, damage, as well as fleas and ticks.
Do not comb dry hair - it is desirable to use a special oil or spray conditioner. Scratching is carried out starting from the tips towards the roots so as not to leave a single untreated area. If there are mats in the wool, then they are disassembled with their hands and only after that they are brushed. To facilitate action, you can use a special anti-Koltun.
Young poodles should be combed daily, as their wool is thinner and less often than in adult pets.
The washing up
Poodles are very fond of all bathing procedures, while it is important to understand that dirty wool does not grow - this is the basic rule of raising dogs with healthy hair. You can wash pets from the age of three months.
Show dogs bathe every 10–14 days, normal dogs once every 1-2 months.
Shampoos of these types are used for washing: for deep cleansing, bleaching, dyed wool, and there are also special means for imparting volume and structuring hairs, and it is allowed to use several detergents at once within one wash.
Shampoos are diluted with water and applied in a liquid form, you should thoroughly lather your pet and make foam appear. If the wool is soiled, you can rinse it twice.
After bathing, a balm must be applied, it is also pre-diluted for convenience. Keep the balm on wool in strict accordance with the instructions of the procedure, then thoroughly washed off with water.
After that, the dog is placed in the bath and squeeze the hairs with his hands - it is not necessary to wipe the wool with a towel, it will be enough to simply wrap the pet so that the fabric absorbs the remaining moisture.
Important: the head should be washed with great care - the ears during the procedure should be closed with a cotton swab, and after washing, gently wipe them with a soft gauze.
It is allowed to dry the dog with a hair dryer - for this, individual strands are pulled out with a brush and directed a stream of warm air at them. Drying start from the head, then go to the back and sides, finish processing the tail and paws.
It is best to carry out the washing of the poodle in the evening, so that after washing the dog remains warm and before the morning walk has time to completely dry. And another important rule - no matter what time you do bathing your pet, after the procedure, the wool must be carefully combed.
A haircut
A poodle is a dog with a unique coat, so it should be cut regularly. Usually, to do this, contact a dog barber, to maintain a neat look, you should adjust the haircut once in 1.5-2 months.
The following are among the most popular haircuts for poodles.
- Modern - this is one of the most common hairstyles. In this case, the hair on the head is designed in the form of a crown, so that your eyes are clearly visible.At the same time, a straight line with a neck is formed on the sides, hair is cut out to the inner corners of the eyes, and also under the eyes, then the lower jaw and neck are cut off. The breast is trimmed from the groin to the elbows, so that a smooth transition is created from the waist to the sternum. On the back, abdomen and rump leave hairs of about 1 cm in length, “pants” are drawn on the legs, the paws themselves are completely protruding near the fingers. Tail spherical shape.
- a lion - in this case, the head is also clipped in the shape of a crown, so that the eyes are visible. A mustache is usually left on the lips, and the hair on the ears is slightly trimmed. The hair on the chest, neck and torso is left to the last rib elongated, and the croup, thighs, lower back and knees are cut very short. Fluffy pompons form on the hock and wrist joints.
- English saddle - this hairstyle differs from the “lion” in that the machine is cut out by semicircles on the sides of the fur, and a narrow strip of wool 3-4 cm long is left near the vertebra.
- Puppy - as the name implies, this haircut is optimal for young dogs. Usually, in the first few months only a poodle's face is clipped, the hair over the entire body is left at the maximum length, slightly leveling with scissors. By 8–10 months, when the coat is completely changed, puppies are cut a little differently - the head is cut off in the same way as before, and the rest of the hair is shortened to 3–4 cm without underlining the waist. The tail is made with a pompon.
Special attention is given care for the hair on the head. In the period between exhibitions, the long sections are usually tightened into small bunches and fixed with an elastic band: either silicone or soft tissue are suitable. Some breeders use papilotki.
The wool near the ears is wrapped in a convenient polyethylene material or in special pieces of paper, they are usually scrolled several times and attached with an elastic band, trying not to tighten the ear itself - this can cause tissue necrosis.
There are quite a few other options for cutting, if the poodle is not an exhibition, the model is limited solely by the breeder’s imagination.
Other tips for grooming a poodle can be found in the video below.
