There are a list of things that you will need if you want to do your own grooming.
* First and foremost you will want a good book on grooming with illustrations.
* Next you will need your equipment.
Now these items may be a little expensive to purchase initially, but they will pay for themselves very quickly.
Now the following list are the grooming items that I like the best and have used for years in my grooming . There are a variety of different brands out there that you can try. Be sure and shop around for the best prices available.( I can recommend some resources if needed )
List of Equipment Needed:
* Good set of clippers, I use Andis , but Oster clippers are also very good and a little less expensive. NOTE: Clippers bought at Walmart are NOT good enough for grooming dogs no matter what the package claims or shows. You get what you pay for.
*Blades you will need: These blades are detachable and no matter the brand will usually fit your clippers. you will need a 3, 4, 5,7, blade for body clipping, and a 10, 15 blade for face, feet and under belly. The smaller the number on the blade the longer it leaves the hair.
*Good pair of shears -You will want a straight pair and a curved pair. Curves are best for top knots and pom-poms.
For standard poodles you will want scissors that are 9-10 inches in length. These can be any brand you want and any price you want to spend, usually the better brands are more money and will hold their sharpness a lot longer.
*You will need a comb: for getting out those mats clear to the skin.
*You will need a slicker brush: for grooming and regular coat brushing:
*Nail clippers, I recommend the Plier type and NOT the guillotine type as they are much easier to handle:
*Some styptic powder, great to have on hand for when you accidentally clip a nail too short.
*Ear powder and pair of hemostats: for plucking the hair inside of your dogs ears to prevent infections.
* A ( cool air ) blow Dryer: I do recommend having a forced air dryer for standard poodles as it will dry them much faster:
*A grooming table with an arm..
* A good dog shampoo: suited for your individual poodles needs. I prefer a natural based shampoo for all my poodles.
Grooming Tips For Beginners:
Be patient, your Poodle will get used to it and begin to like it soon, be firm but gentle, do not give up. Practice makes perfect, talk in a soft high pitched happy voice constantly while grooming and praising your dog. Never leave your dog unattended on the grooming table even if it is just to grab something quick. They could jump off the table and get seriously injured, do not be afraid to use that grooming arm on your table. Believe me it makes life a lot easier.
Play with your dogs feet and face while playing, as a puppy. This will make grooming a lot easier for you if your dog is use to having its feet and face played with. If you are tired quit grooming even if you are not finished. Being tired makes you make mistakes. If your dog dose not like what you are doing, do not stop. This is rewarding your dog for bad behavior. Work through the problem. If your dog learns you will give in to him he will run all over you.
If you are having a hard time shaving your dogs feet, then pick up your dog and tuck him under your arm. You have a lot more control this way. Your dog may struggle at first but once he knows that he can not get away he will settle down. If you are having a hard time shaving your dogs face, try running the clippers over his face with them OFF. This way he gets used to the sensation. Once you have had good luck with this try turning them on and running them over his face without shaving. Soon it will become second nature. If you are having a hard time with brushing and combing, take the brush and comb with you while you sit together and watch TV. Brush gently and slowly. Soon your dog will love being brushed. Go slow with the dryer. They really will get use to it. Change blades often as they can heat up quickly.
Be careful with the close blades like the 15 and 40 blades. They heat up fast and can burn your dog. Not recommended for lighter colored poodles unless you really know what you are doing. Have the quick stop ready when you are doing the nails just in case of clipping the nail too short. NOTE: on young dogs and puppies this bleeding will stop quickly, but on older dogs or dogs with bleeding disorders be careful. Start with just taking the tips off and work your way up. A & D ointment that is use for diaper rash works great on clipper burn. Watch out for the webbing between the toes as you can nick it easy.Watch out for the skin between the body and where the leg joins the body. It is very easy to catch with your bigger blades and cut. This is also true of the skin at the arm pit.
Before bathing place cotton balls in your dogs ears to keep the water out. You need to remember to pluck the hair from your dogs ears. I apply ear powder to get a good grip and hemostats. Do not be afraid to get in there and get that hair out. I will not lie to you, it does hurt your dog just a bit (It is a lot like you plucking your eyebrows, the faster you do it the less it hurts). But you need to think of what will hurt less in the long run. A painful yeast or other ear infection or a little bit of plucking. Then clean your dogs ears with a gentle ear cleaning solution of some kind. Get down in with some cotton balls and get that dirt out.
If you have any further questions on how to take care of your new baby ,Please contact me .. and I will do my best to assist you .
Nail Care
When a pet’s nails become too long they interfere with their mobility. Untrimmed nails can also split resulting in a great deal of pain, bleeding, and a trip to the veterinarian’s office. In severe cases nails can curl under and grow back into a pet’s paw causing a very serious and painful infection.
What is the quick and what do I need to know about it?
The quick is the living part of a pet’s nail and has blood vessels running throughout. Cutting into the quick during nail trimming is painful for your pet and will result in bleeding. Using the QuickFinder®, will set your mind at ease because our lighting system will ensure that you will know where the quick is!
Another important fact to note is that the quick grows with the nail. As pet’s nails grow longer the quick will also lengthen. So if your pet’s nails are overgrown you will not be able to clip the nails to the desired length without cutting into the quick. You will need to trim the tips of your dog’s nails often, and over time the quick will shorten.
Splitting, breaking, and ingrown nail problems are very common on the dewclaws. We've seen them grow around into a complete doughnut. Worse, we've seen them grow right into the dog's leg, causing pain and abscesses.
What are dewclaws?
The dewclaws are the nails located on the inside of the leg just above the paw. If your pet has them remember to include them in your pet nail trimming routine. These nails don’t touch the ground, so they don’t wear down as fast as the others as your dog walks on rough surfaces. Trimming your pet’s nails regularly will easily prevent these problems.
When should I trim my pet’s nails?
One indication that your pet’s nails need a trim is when they begin to curve. And if you hear a clicking or tapping sound as your pet walks across a bare floor it’s definitely time for a nail trimming. But it is best not to wait that long - once or twice a month is usually a good rule of thumb for nail trimming.
Take out the Stress
To make this regular grooming habit less stressful, familiarize yourself with your pet’s feet. Hold them and touch them regularly so that your pet is comfortable with you touching their feet and nails. Most pets are sensitive in that region. Grabbing and holding tightly to the foot is objectionable and painful - much like someone grabbing your hand like a handshake and then squeezing your knuckles together. It is best to grasp the leg firmly at the first joint instead of just the foot.
Gently rub the feet, spread the toes, look at the nails but don't clip the nails at first. Then familiarize your pet with the clippers. Let him see them, smell them, rub his body with them and touch his feet with them. If you are careful with your clippers or if you use the QuickFinder® safety clippers he will never experience pain.
These procedures are evermore important if your pet has had the quick cut before and is already frightened by the job. Have patience. Work slowly and frequently without pain.
Trimming your pet’s nails is one of the regular home grooming tasks that helps to keep your pet healthy and active. As with most grooming tasks, rewarding your pet for positive behavior is an important part in your pet’s acceptance of the activity. It’s always best when your pet can associate the attention you lavish on him or her with a positive, happy memory. Learning the tricks to proper nail trimming, training your pet with positive feedback, and showing patience and love will make the time you spend together a reward in itself.
Practice will make it much easier.