The Poodle has many attributes that make it one of the most popular breeds of dogs owned. One of these attributes is the Poodle's glorious coat. The colors can range from black to white with shades in between and grow up to eight inches in length. The technique used for cutting or clipping a Poodle's hair is basically the same as any other long-haired breed, it is the different styles that the Poodle can model that make the breed ever so popular at the local groomers.
Before undertaking the clipping procedure, insure that the Poodle has been properly bathed and groomed. The procedure for cutting follows three basic requirements:
-Clipping the face, feet and tail (this is also called a basic clip)
-Clipping a pattern
-Shaping and blending the coat
THE BASIC CLIP
The basic clip only requires the clipping of the face, feet and the tail, leaving a pompom on the end of the tail. This is the simplest and common clip for the Poodle when the wanting to leave the body coat intact.
*Face-For Poodle's with light-colored coats or sensitive skin, a number 10 blade should be used on the clippers, a number 15 blade can be used for all others. Use the middle of the ear and the corner of the eyes as guideline for clipping the coat on the face. Use parallel strokes and clip downwards to the corner of the mouth. When one side of the face is complete, clip the coat on the nose from the stop down to the nose. Duplicate the process on the opposite side of the face. When doing around the mouth, hold the lips taut to avoid cutting the lips. The ending area for the face is at the Adam's apple.
*The feet or paw area can be the most difficult to clip. Use the pastern (ankle) as the guide for clipping, using a number 15 blade. Clip the hair from the top, all sides and the bottom of the paws. Be cautious when getting in between the toes. Use a side-to-side motion so as not to dig into the web. The hair in the pads can be clipped using a scooping motion.
*The tail should be clipped fully leaving a pompom on the end. Caution should again be taken when clipping near the anal area.
THE KENNEL CLIP
The most popular of Poodle clips is the Kennel clip. This appearance begins with the Basic clip (described above) and proceeds into creating the pattern.
*Using a number 5 blade, start clipping at the base of the neck, moving down to the base of the tail. Proceed in a parallel motion down one side, overlapping the strokes. Complete this process on one side, not going down any further than the elbows on the front legs and the thigh area on the back legs. Repeat the steps on the opposite side.
*Using a number 5 blade, clip the chest area to the point of the upper front of the legs. Clip the rear up to the point of the upper thigh. Do not clip the forelegs or the hind legs. This area will be trimmed with scissors to insure a uniform appearance. The neck is clipped down starting at the base of the skull and clipped to the base of the neck.
*When these steps are completed, the coat should be even and have an overall uniform neck. Use the clippers and scissors to trim any uneven areas. The coat should be approximately one-half inch in length. The legs are then blended in with the rest of the coat. Hold the clippers at a 45 degree angle and round off the edges. Do not dig into the coat. This process will blend the appearance and should appear uniform from the body coat into the leg coat. This process can take some practice and until the technique is mastered. There should still be a full coat on the tip of the tail (pompom), the top of the head and the ears.
THE BIKINI CLIP
The Bikini clip is one of the simpler clips to create on the Poodle. This clip consists of stripping the coat completely except for the top of the head, the tip of the tail (pompom) and the ankles. This ankle area is called a "bracelet". The bracelet area is achieved by brushing the coat of the ankle area straight down. Using scissors, trim the hairs on the ends to make them even. Then comb the hairs up and trim the top to make even. Last gather all of this hair into the middle creating a ball of hair. Use the scissors to create a uniform ball all the way around the ankle. Repeat the process on all four legs.
Of course when all else fails, there is the full body strip. If the coat is heavily matted, a number 10 blade will be required to remove the coat. For extreme matting, a number 15 may be needed. If a coat is neglected, chances are the Poodle may have wounds or sores under the coat. Take caution on heavy matted coats and look for any areas that may cause pain during the clipping. When doing a full body clip, work slowly and with the grain of the coat. If at all possible, save the hair on the head and the tail so the Poodle doesn't appear fully naked.
Once you have mastered this Poodle clips, you are on your way to learning some of the more challenging techniques. The Sporting (or Lamb) clip and the Dutch clip only require a few extra steps than the Kennel clip and the Town and Country clip has become very popular among pet owners. By learning how to master the cutting and clipping of your Poodle's coat, you will save time and money and you will create a bond between you and your pet.