Recommended Dog Grooming Supplies for your Poodle
Many standard poodle owners choose to hire a professional dog groomer for bathing and clipping. Others choose to handle everything themselves.
Either way, there are some basic dog grooming supplies that all poodle owners should have on hand for day-to-day poodle grooming.
Quicklinks:
Poodle Brushing Tools
Slicker brush – Pin Brush – Steel Comb – Dematting Tools
Slicker Brushes
It smooths tangled hair quickly so a comb will run through the hair easily. It also works great for lifting and fluffing the hair while blow-drying.
This Oscar Frank Universal Slicker Brush is another great choice for routine brushing and blow-drying.
On the higher end, this Big G Large Slicker Brush by Chris Christensen is recommended for standard poodles because it has more and longer scratch-free pins for penetrating deep into longer coats. The ergonomic handle helps to reduce hand fatigue.
Some groomers feel this slicker brush replaces the need for a pin brush and use it almost exclusively for all their brushing needs.
Pin Brushes
This Chris Christensen Pin Brush is one I use often and highly recommend for it’s durability.
This Andis Pin Brush is another excellent choice for routine dog brushing. It works amazingly well while being very gentle on your poodle’s skin. In fact, it’s the most gentle dog brush I have found and is my personal favorite.
I use this one alternately with the Chris Christensen brush above and love them both.
The Bass Hybrid Groomer has pins on the outside and boar bristles in the center.
This brush helps to detangle and shine at the same time by redistributing oils throughout the coat. Recommended for medium to long coats.
I have this brush and use it myself, but do not consider it an essential poodle grooming brush.
Why Dog Brushing Is Important For Standard Poodles
Steel Combs
Follow up dog brushing with a Metal Comb to catch any snarls that the brush may have missed.
I have the Andis Pet 7 1/2″ Steel Grooming Comb and it works great.
I also have the Andis 10 inch comb and prefer this one when clipping. It has longer teeth that work great for fluffing the hair. The larger size speeds up the combing process.
It has a few narrow teeth at the end to remove any loose mats that you find.
I like to have both the small and large size combs handy while I’m grooming.
This Buttercomb by Chris Christensen is the Cadillac of grooming combs.
Expensive, but maybe the last comb you’ll need to buy for your standard poodle.
The wide teeth remove any remaining loose tangles your brush missed and the narrow teeth catch those really fine hairs.
Another thing to consider is the length of the teeth. For long-haired standard poodles, combs with the longer teeth seem to work best.
De-matting tools
De-matting rakes and combs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. And some are adjustable for right or left-handed use. Use the de-matting tool for mats that you cannot easily remove with a dog brush or comb.
I use it often when I groom our white standard poodle (who has very fine hair).
It works great on those high friction areas that mat easily.
PatYourPet Dematting Rake – This is a dematting and undercoat rake. Nine teeth on one side remove stubborn mats and 17 teeth on the other side help thin the hair.
Our black poodle has very thick, fluffy ears and this rake works like a thinning shear to remove excess hair and help it lay down nicely.
Poodle Grooming Tip Be careful when cleaning hair out of the dematting tool. The top sides of the teeth are razor sharp blades to cut through dense mats.Poodle Nail Trimming Tools
Nail Trimmer – Styptic Powder – Nail Grinder
The plier cuts from both sides of the nail at the same time and is consequently less likely to crush the nail.
This Professional Dog Nail Clippers from Epica gets rave reviews on Amazon and is our preferred style of nail trimmer.
Guillotine Trimmer – The guillotine trimmer only cuts from one side (make sure you have a sharp blade).
Some people feel that it’s easier to see and control where they’re cutting with the guillotine trimmer.
If you’re looking for the guillotine style, then this Millers Forge Pet Nail Trimmer is the one we recommend.
Styptic Powder – It’s important to keep styptic powder on hand in case of the unfortunate event that you trim your poodle’s nail to short (cut into the quick) and cause it to bleed.
The brand we recommend is Bio-Groom Sure Clot Styptic Powder.
A nail grinder removes the rough edges that can catch on furniture and carpeting, giving your dog’s nails a more rounded and smooth edge.
Most professional dog groomers will finish off nail trimming with a nail grinder.
The Wahl Professional Animal Ultimate Nail Grinder is the one I use. It is very lightweight and quiet and has a variable speed control.
Poodle Ear Care Products
Cotton Balls – Hemostat – Ear Powder – Ear Cleaning Solution
Hair Removal – The ear powder and hemostat are used to remove hair from your dog’s ear canal. We use Bio-Groom Ear Fresh Ear Powder.
Hemostats come with a curved or straight edge. It’s totally a matter of preference.
Cleaning Ears – Use the cotton balls and ear cleaning solution to clean, dry and deodorize your dog’s ear canal.
Our absolute favorite ear cleaning solution is K9 Ear Solutions by Liquid Health.
Poodle Oral Hygiene Products
Toothbrush – Toothpaste – Dental Spray – Dental Gel
Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste comes in a poultry flavor that our dogs love.
Dog Teeth Cleaning
Whew! Feeling a Bit Overwhelmed?
We understand. Standard poodle grooming can seem like a lot to handle at first, but you’ll be comfortable with these dog grooming supplies in no time! And day-to-day grooming will go so much easier with the right tools.