Brushing your poodle is not difficult, if you do it daily. Brushing is a good time to bond with your pooch. Begin brushing your poodle when she is a puppy, so she becomes used to the feeling. Take your time and enjoy interacting with your best buddy.
Step 1
Place your dog on a grooming table or any table that allows you to reach her easily. To begin the brushing segment, have your dog stand so you can brush her legs.
Step 2
Using a pin brush, brush sections of the legs working around each leg. Move up to the tail and then work on the body. While brushing the body, have your dog lie on her side. Finally, brush out the ears.
Step 3
Brush the coat from the skin to the end of the hair. Work in small sections, misting the working area with a conditioning spray.
Step 4
Work on mats or tangles with either your fingers, metal comb or slicker brush. For minor tangles, use your fingers to separate the hair. For tougher tangles, use the end teeth on the comb and start at the edge of the mat. Take your time. For large mats, use a slicker brush to loosen the mat and then use the metal comb to continue pulling the mat apart.
Step 5
Continue to work the whole body, brushing and loosening any tangles or mats. Once you have untangled the coat, brush the coat with the metal comb.
Step 6
Inspect your pup's coat and skin for rashes, fleas or bare spots. Once you are satisfied with his coat, give your pup a treat and praise her. It's now time for her bath, if you wish.
References
Resources
Tips
- For stubborn mats, brush in different directions to loosen the hair.
- Use a quality shampoo and conditioner to eliminate or decrease matting.
Warnings
- Don't shampoo your pooch before brushing her. It will make the mats more difficult to untangle.
- Don't pull on mats with a brush. Work them slowly, a section at a time.
Writer Bio
Pauline Gill is a retired teacher with more than 25 years of experience teaching English to high school students. She holds a bachelor's degree in language arts and a Master of Education degree. Gill is also an award-winning fiction author.