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Poodle Clipping & Grooming

The clipping and grooming of poodles has come a long way from its early utilitarian days as a means to improve a poodle's ability to swim through water, help it avoid snagging on undergrowth, and keep its joints warm and protected from the cold.

In recent years it has been raised to a near art form.  There are four primary show-quality clips for poodles:

1.  The Puppy Show Clip: As its name implies, the puppy clip is intended for poodles less than a year old and allows the coat to be left long while calling for the face, throat, feet and base of the tail to be shaved. The entire shaven foot is visible. There is a pompon on the end of the tail. In order to give a neat appearance and a smooth unbroken line, shaping of the coat is permissible.

2.  English Saddle Clip: The face, throat, feet, forelegs and base of the tail are shaved, leaving puffs on the forelegs and a pompon on the end of the tail. The hindquarters are covered with a short blanket of hair except for a curved shaved area on each flank and two shaved bands on each hindleg. The entire shaven foot and a portion of the shaven leg above the puff are visible. The rest of the body is left in full coat but may be shaped in order to insure overall balance.

3. Continental Clip:  The face, throat, feet, and base of the tail are shaved. The hindquarters are shaved with pompons (optional) on the hips. The legs are shaved, leaving bracelets on the hindlegs and puffs on the forelegs. There is a pompon on the end of the tail. The entire shaven foot and a portion of the shaven foreleg above the puff are visible. The rest of the body is left in full coat but may be shaped in order to insure overall balance.

4. Sporting Clip:  The face, feet, throat, and base of the tail are shaved, leaving a scissored cap on the top of the head and a pompon on the end of the tail. The rest of the body, and legs are clipped or scissored to follow the outline of the dog leaving a short blanket of coat no longer than one inch in length. The hair on the legs may be slightly longer than that on the body.

In addition, there are several popular pet-quality clips including the Kennel, Dutch, Bikini, and Puppy Pet Clips.

The Kennel Clip:

The Dutch Clip:

The Bikini Clip:

The Puppy Pet Clip:

If you're considering clipping and grooming your poodle yourself, you'll need three things: a good set of electric clippers, a good pair of scissors, and a clear, concise book or video to teach you how to do it.

When we first started clipping our dogs, we used scissors and hand shears -- take a word of advice and spring for the electric clippers, it will save you hours of time and years of frustration, not to mention, wear & tear on your poodle!

We like the Oster A5 and the Andis AGC clippers as well as the wonderful Poodle Clipping and Grooming books by Shirlee Kalstone.

Learning to clip and groom your poodle yourself will pay huge dividends in savings, confidence and knowledge for you.
 

Poodle sketches provided courtesy of See Saw Poodles.  See copyright information below.