How to Groom a Toy Poodle: 10 Vet-Reviewed Tips & Tricks

When you adopt or buy a Toy Poodle, you know that grooming will be a must! If it is a task you want to tackle at home, you will need the right supplies, knowledge, and attitude to get the job done efficiently.

If you want to know step-by-step how to get the job done, we have it all broken down for you. Let’s dig into the process so you can make your curly little cutie the freshest looking pup on the block!

The 10 Tips & Tricks to Groom a Toy Poodle

1. Understand Their Grooming Needs

When you are grooming your Toy Poodle, it is important to understand the specific grooming needs required. Poodles have a very special coat type that keeps on growing until it is cut.  Therefore the coat needs frequent brushing, trimming, and general maintenance.

You will need to be prepared to give your Poodle frequent trims. Even if you don’t plan on doing a show cut, you should learn how to use a pair of clippers for general touch ups or basic cuts.

Poodles are one of the dog breeds that are prone to tear stains underneath their eyes, especially if their coat isn’t kept trim around their eyes. If your Poodle is white, the tear stains will show up more obviously.  While it is just an attribute of the breed, you can help prevent it by cleaning and drying around your dog’s eyes regularly.

2. Decide What Tasks to Tackle at Home

If you want to groom your Poodle at home, it is important to understand what tasks you want to tackle at home and which ones you want to leave to a professional.

• Baths: Bathing should be relatively simple. These dogs are generally pretty calm and collected, so you should have next to no trouble in the tub. However, each dog responds differently to bath time, and it’s always best to acclimate them early on. In general, it’s best to bath your Toy Poodle every 4–6 weeks, but this really depends on how mucky they get in between.
• Brushing: Your Poodle will have curly, ever-growing hair. It’s very important that you keep it tangle-free. You may need to give them a good brushing once a day or every other day, and you may need several types of brushes to do the job.
• Toothbrushing: Toothbrushing is a grooming task that is overlooked. Many people simply forget that dogs need dental maintenance too! You should brush your dog’s teeth at minimum, once a week, but once a day is best.  Poodles of all sizes do tend to suffer with poor teeth, so keeping up with dental cleaning is very important.
• Hair Trims/Cuts: Cutting a Poodle’s hair is necessary for the breed so the coat doesn’t get tangled and matted, even with regular brushing. Some Poodle owners can trim their dog’s coat at home, but it’s best to take them to a groomer the first few times. At the very least, you can ask the groomer for tips on how to keep their coat trimmed at home. But you may wish to have a groomer give them a full cut and style once every couple of months, or if you’re going to show your dog, since dog shows and breed standards require the coat to be cut a certain way.

3. Gather Up the Right Supplies

You need all the necessary supplies before you start! It might be a little pricey to get all of the grooming materials, but you shouldn’t have to replace them frequently.

Brushes

You need your trusty brush on hand to take care of much of the coat maintenance needs. As we’ve already mentioned, Poodles require lots of coat maintenance, so routine brushing will prevent any mats and tangles from forming in the fur.

Shampoo/Conditioner

Shampoo and conditioner are both a must! It will keep your Poodle’s hair soft, supple, and easily maintained.

To prevent the risk of allergies or reactions, it’s important to buy products specifically made for dogs.  You can decide what works best for you, but fragranced shampoo may cause more irritation than its worth.  Stick to dog shampoos for sensitive skin if possible.

If your dog has any hotspots or skin irritation, it’s best to speak to a vet about the best products to use.

If you are looking for the perfect, pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner combo, we highly recommend the products by Hepper. With a soothing oatmeal shampoo, free of soaps and other harsh chemicals, and a cucumber and aloe-scented conditioner, your pet's skin and coat will be smooth, hydrated, and irritation-free.

At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!

Nail Clippers

You will want to make sure you check your pup’s nails every single time you have a grooming session. If your Poodle has ever jumped on you or climbed on your lap with sharp claws, you know just how painful that can be, so you should regularly inspect your dog’s nails to decide if they need a trim or not.  Nail clipping is something you can easily do at home with the right tools, but you may want to get a groomer or vet to show you how to do it properly before you try to do it yourself.

Ear Cleaner

Cleaning your dog’s ears weekly is a good idea, especially with Poodles.  Poodles often have very hairy ear canals which can make them prone to getting infections. Ask your vet to recommend a good ear cleaner.

After cleaning your dog’s ears, it’s important to dry the pinnae (the floppy part of the ear).  Since Poodles have lovely floppy ears, moisture can become trapped within the ear canal, which can increase the likelihood of a bacterial or fungal infection.

Toothbrushes

You can purchase toothbrushes from online pet shops, Chewy, or Amazon. There are different designs from finger brushes to fancy battery powered options.

Ultimately, the kind of toothbrush you will get depends on what you think is easiest to use on your dog. It might take a little trial and error at first, but eventually, they should let you perform the action.  Ideally, you should start brushing your dog’s teeth as a puppy so that they learn to accept it.  However, if you have adopted an adult dog or would like to start brushing your dog’s teeth, even an adult dog can learn to enjoy tooth brushing.  Take things slowly and build up the time that you brush your pups teeth for.  You also want to make sure that you buy toothpaste specifically for dogs; never use human toothpaste.

Grooming Sling/Hammock

If you're going to be doing any kind of trimming, it's best to get a grooming sling or hammock or at least have a helping partner. This way, you can ensure that your dog stays completely still to avoid messing up the fur or scratching or cutting your pup. You can get anything from basic designs to groomer quality setups.

Trimmers

You will need a set of trimmers or clippers if you plan on doing any kind of haircut at home. Scissors are not suitable for any type of haircut, and you risk cutting your dog’s skin if you do use them.   You will need to make sure you have a corded or cordless pair of trimmers on hand.

It is important to read reviews to make sure that the trimmers are worth your money, and they are not known to pull or tangle the hair.

4. Know How to Use Different Types of Brushes

Daily brushing and general upkeep are going to be very important with a Toy Poodle. You can have a variety of different grooming tools on hand for different purposes.

• Slicker Brushes: Slicker brushes are very good at combing through a dense coat, getting rid of mats and tangles with ease. They are very easy to clean and usually have a self-cleaning feature. They are readily available both in store and online, so they are quite easy to find.
• Bristle Brushes: Bristle brushes can be made of animal hair or synthetic materials. These are generally used to evenly distribute oils throughout the fur but are less efficient with getting rid of any tangles. Brushes made with animal hair bristles cost significantly more than synthetic materials.
• De-shedding Tool: De-shedding tools are used to remove some of the thick undercoat without damaging the top coat. Ultimately, Poodles don't necessarily need a de-shedding tool as they shed very little.  However, if you have a Poodle cross, they might shed more frequently and require a little extra coat care.

5. Watch YouTube Videos

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to grooming your Toy Poodle at home. Some people will start with the paws, some will start with the body, and others will start with the face. YouTube is a great resource to learn how to trim your Toy Poodle’s fur at home and use different types of tools, especially if you live somewhere rural where there isn’t a dog groomer nearby. You can watch tons of tutorials before you try your hand at it yourself.

6. Have Treats on Hand

Treats can serve as a great distraction if you're trying to coax your dog into doing something they don't want to do. So always be sure to have their favorite treat on hand to appease them and keep their attention.

7. Make Sure Your Poodle Is Comfortable

Comfort is key! So, you will need to soothe your pooch in whatever way works best for them. Some will be quite content with you talking softly to them. Others might need a calming supplement—it just depends!

8. Elect a Helper

If you are having an issue grooming your Toy Poodle on your own, you can always get a friend or family member to help you out. One of you can console the dog or keep them still while the other one performs the action.

9. Give Positive Reinforcement

Always give your dog lots of praise while they are being groomed. If you keep the whole atmosphere positive and uplifting, it will help your dog feel more comfortable and accepting of the procedure.

Many dogs will get used to grooming just a few short times after you start, as long as you make it a positive experience.  Take it slowly and if your dog is uncomfortable or stressed by the process, give them a break and come back to it later.  If you make it the most enjoyable experience possible, some dogs might even look forward to the pampering sessions.

10. Take Your Pup to a Professional Groomer

Although you can do basic things such as brushing, bathing, and cleaning your Poodle at home, some people just aren’t comfortable doing a full groom at home. Taking your Poodle to a professional groomer can work out for a variety of reasons! Not only does it cut out all of the hard work for you, but it will also be done and dusted much more quickly, making it a shorter process for your pooch.  Plus, your pup can have a bunch of sharp, interesting haircuts that you might not be able to perform yourself. Groomers vary in cost and in skill. If you go to a chain pet shop, you might not be quite as satisfied with the overall cut, but the price tends to be a little bit more affordable.

If you go to a private groomer, rates can vary based on their experience and the area you live. Ultimately, you can decide when to take your dog to the groomer and what tasks you prefer doing from the comfort of your own home.

Conclusion

Now you have a little bit more understanding on what supplies you need to get started and how you will begin the process. When it comes to special haircuts or certain grooming techniques that require skill, you can always count on a professional groomer.

But if your dog is in between needing a haircut, you can always perform bathing, brushing, and other general tasks like nail clipping and toothbrushing from the comfort of your own home.

Featured Image Credit: Reshetnikov_art, Shutterstock