Grooming Tips and Tools
Pictured above are the 3 tools that I use most often when brushing my Poodles and Doodles. On the left a slicker brush. I use this first to brush over the entire coat. Be careful not to brush too hard because you can do damage to the skin. 2nd I use a metal toothed comb (pictured in the middle). Be sure to comb down to the skin to keep the coat from forming mats. Pictured on the right is a dematting comb. This can be used to break up any mats found while combing through the coat. Be careful as this tool has actual blades that can cut you (been there, done that…LOL)….the thumb guard is a must have. A thorough weekly brushing is usually sufficient to keep the coat mat free.
Tips
1). There are some slicker brushes that are softer than others which will be less likely to cause damage to your dog’s skin.
2). From personal experience, I do not recommend using a metal comb that has rotating bristles.
3). Always brush/comb your dog and be sure he/she is free of mats BEFORE giving him/her a bath….this will save you a lot of grief later because mats will only get tighter to the skin when wet.
A bi weekly bath is recommended to keep your dog's coat clean and healthy. I recommend using conditioner as well.
4). Be sure to clean your dog’s ears on a regular basis to avoid ear infections! You should pluck any hair from within the ear canal as far as you can reach with your fingers. I do not recommend using tweezers or hemostats to remove hair from the ear canal because you may hurt the dog. There is an ear powder you can purchase at any pet supply store that makes it a lot easier to grip and pull out. Blue Power Ear Treatment is the best ear cleaner I have used and it is very cost effective. See recipe above. Be sure to put ear cleaner in your dog’s ears whenever they are in contact with water….swimming, after baths, etc. because water can get trapped in the ear and cause an infection. The most common ear infections are caused by yeast and can be taken care of with the Blue Power Ear Treatment. If your dogs ears are infected and it does not get better after using this ear cleaner, please consult with your Vet as it could be a bacterial infection that needs medical attention!!
5). It is easiest to clip a dog’s nails after a bath because the water softens them some……and don’t forget to trim the dew claws!
6). Poodles coats need to be cut about every 6-8 weeks. Doodle coats do not grow as fast as Poodle coats and usually only need to be cut a couple of times a year depending on how short you want their coat to be. But, you may need to trim around their eyes in between so they can see as well as a sanitary trim as necessary.
**The most common reason for a poodle/doodle to need to be shaved down the the skin is because people will "brush" over the top of their coat and think they are not matted. It is important to use a metal "comb" to get down to the skin if you want to keep your dog in a longer coat.** If you want less maintenance, then getting your dog shaved is fine, it is only hair and it will grow back!