12/18/2024
G R O O M I N G
Let’s talk about the subject that makes the world go round for this incredible breed! Poodles need grooming every 4-8 weeks in order to maintain healthy, mat-free hair. This can be a blessing or a curse depending on your outlook. I personally love this about the breed because you can do so many fun looks, it’s always new and exciting! You can have a short hair dog for a month, you can have a teddy bear face another or you can go all out and have a full continental on the exact same dog. It’s just so amazing to me. I think a common thought about dogs with a lot of hair is “wow that must be so much work” and I’m here to tell you, it does not have to be. It is your choice! If you want an easy low maintenance cut then get them cut in a 4 blade and you’ll only be coming every 8 weeks comfortably with little to no brushing in between grooms. If you want a gorgeous luxurious look then go for it, brush daily and go to the groomer every 4 weeks. It’s totally your choice and preference, there is no wrong choice if you’re giving the adequate care for the cut you choose. Since grooming is a must for the breed, early desensitization is vital for a them to thrive in the setting of a grooming salon. This is why we start our puppies at just 3 weeks old with face shaving and gradually add in more as the weeks go on. You may be wondering what you can do at home to continue this progress. If you’re getting a puppy you’ve probably read “play with their paws”, while this is something that you should do, you can either make or break them with this exercise. If your puppy is in a hyper state of mind and you are messing with their paws, they will probably try to pull away or play bite at your hands because in their mind you’re trying to play. So in order to make this exercise beneficial my suggestion is to practice at a time when your puppy is in a calm state of mind. After playtime when they are ready to nap is an excellent time to start incorporating the paw desensitization with a light massage. Rather than going straight for the paws you can start in a place you know they enjoy and are comfortable with then just work to the paws. Keep it short and sweet!
