Poodles are expensive primarily due to the grooming costs, so learning to do this yourself will save money and offer time to bond with your pet. Although grooming poodles may seem complex, anyone can learn and master the skill. 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. Sometimes you and your poodle need a break. If you're not willing to learn poodle grooming on your own, or are worried about the time it takes, you'll have to choose a professional to do it, but remember to pick this person out carefully. Talking to other poodle owners is a good way to find a good groomer.

Pick whichever style of trim suits your tastes. Poodle fur works well with many different styles, but your choice will depend on your willingness to devote time to the dog's grooming. Show poodles have a limited range of acceptable cuts and trims, so why you own your poodle will make a difference in the cut you choose.

Show poodles wear variations on the standard lion cut, which comes in three variations: continental, puppy, and English saddle. All of these are related to the standard "poodle" tradditional style people are familiar with. 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.

For non-competing poodles, there's a lot more to choose from. You can choose a shorter trim, which is easier to maintain, and especially easier to dry in the winter. Although longer styles are more glamorous, they require higher maintenance, so look at books or poodles you see elsewhere to identify what you like.

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. Make sure to wash your poodle first to keeps scissors and clippers in good shape, and opt for quality equipment. Although it's more expensive to start with, it'll make poodle grooming much easier.

Poodle grooming is an important part of owning a poodle. Find out how grooming poodles properly can really be a fun thing for you to do with your dog.