One of the most expensive things about owning poodles is keeping them well groomed, but if you learn to do this yourself, you'll develop a better relationship with your pet, and you'll save a lot of money in the long run. Grooming poodles might seem hard, but it's actually a task that just about anyone can learn to do. To increase your skills you just need patience, and willingness.

Grooming standard poodles completely takes about three hours, once you get good at it, and while you're still learning, you might have to spread the job out over a few days. This is both to give you a break, and for your poodle. If you don't learn to perform this task yourself, you will need to carefully select a professional to do perform this maintenance task periodically. Talking to other poodle owners is a good way to find a good groomer.

We can look at some books and I can suggest some cuts, but you'll have to decide which trim you prefer. Poodle fur works well with many different styles, but your choice will depend on your willingness to devote time to the dog's grooming. Why you keep your poodle will make a difference too, because show poodles have a very limited range of acceptable trims.

Show poodles wear variations on the standard lion cut, which comes in three variations: continental, puppy, and English saddle. However, they're all related to the traditional "poodle" cut that we know so well. Originally, this cut was created to help these dogs swim more effectively while retrieving birds from the water, as a long mane of fur on the chest protected the lungs and heart, and the tufts on the legs offered joint protection.

There are many more choices for poodles that do not compete. If you opt for a shorter trim, you'll find maintenance easier, especially during the winter months when it's easier to dry. Longer trims are showier, but they'll require more maintenance, so check some grooming books, or take a look at a few poodles to figure out what you prefer.

Most people choose to clip the fur at the base of the tail and on the feet and face very short, as this works better for the dog's hygiene, since long hair can trap food. Shorter coats on your dog are easier to wash,dry and brush than a dog with a fluffy, long coat. Remember short clipped feet won't pick up grass seeds, which means the dog will not track in as much dirt. To keep your clippers and scissors in good shape use high quality equipment, and always wash your poodle before grooming. Although it's more expensive to start with, it'll make poodle grooming much easier.