Grooming - Trim the dog's muzzle, or face

Trim the dog's muzzle, or face. This starts with the lower eyelids, moving on down past the front of the nose and right before the poodle's throat. For best results, keep only a small beard around the dog's face. The lower portion of a poodle's muzzle has to be trimmed in a straight line.

Poodle - Dog Lover

Grooming - Clip your poodle

Clip your poodle. The process starts with the dog's head. A No. 10 head can be used on the clippers or, alternatively, a pair of sheered scissors. The dog's top portion should not extend over the eyes. On the sides, hair can be full over the ears.

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Grooming - Bathe your poodle in room-temperature water

Bathe your poodle in room-temperature water in either a bathtub or large plastic tub. To prevent slipping, a rubber mat can be used. Use dog shampoo, which can be purchased at pet stores. Once the poodle has been thoroughly cleaned, dry him off with a towel and hair dryer. Simultaneously brush the poodle's coat and comb the hair.

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Feeding tip - Do not allow your poodle to eat table scraps

Do not allow your poodle to eat table scraps. Many types of human food are bad for dogs.

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Feeding tip - Clean your poodle’s dish after every meal

Clean your poodle’s dish after every meal. Feeding your poodle will be much easier in a clean, sanitary dish.

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Feeding tip - Check your poodle’s food dish to see if there is any food left

Check your poodle’s food dish to see if there is any food left. If there is anything leftover, you can feed a little less next time. If he ate it all quickly, you might need to feed a little more.

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Feeding tip - Add food to your dog’s bowl and allow her time to eat

Add food to your dog’s bowl and allow her time to eat. Leave her alone and give her a chance to eat as much as she likes.

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Feeding tip - Secure feeding area

Place you dog’s food and water bowls in a quiet, secure feeding area. Your poodle will eat best if his bowl is in an undisturbed place.

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Feeding tip - Decide how much food your poodle will need

Decide how much food your poodle will need. Standard poodles will eat approximately 2 cups of dog food per day while toy poodles might only eat 1/2 cup of food. Take care not to overfeed your poodle.

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Feeding tip - Determine what type of food you will be feeding your poodle

Determine what type of food you will be feeding your poodle. Many people choose to feed poodles just a dry kibble, while some people prefer canned food. Canned food is easier for dogs to chew and digest, but can lead to extremely dirty teeth.

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Puppy care - Poodle puppies may chew on household items

Even when provided with plenty of toys, poodle puppies may chew on household items. Puppy-proof your house to avoid having your belongings destroyed or having your poodle puppy chew on something dangerous.

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Puppy care - Use a dog diaper during playtime

Use a dog diaper during playtime until your poodle puppy is house-trained, to avoid accidents.

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Puppy care - Start house-training as soon as your poodle is old enough to easily walk

Start house-training your poodle puppy as soon as he is old enough to easily walk. Since poodles are so intelligent, they are typically housebroken within a few months. Remember, your puppy cannot control his bladder or bowels for long periods of time.

To figure out the maximum length of time your poodle puppy can hold his bladder, take his age in months and add 1. If your puppy is 3 months old, his maximum length of time is 4 hours.

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Puppy care - Low blood sugar is common in small breeds

Drizzle 1/2 tbsp. of honey in your poodle puppy's mouth if you are concerned that she has low blood sugar. Low blood sugar is common in small breeds, since they have a fast metabolism. If your puppy refuses to eat, she may develop low blood sugar. A veterinarian should be contacted if the puppy refuses to eat for more than 12 hours.

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Puppy care - Provide your poodle puppy with plenty of play toys

Provide your poodle puppy with plenty of play toys, especially if you are not around. Poodles are a very intelligent and curious breed. If they are left alone with nothing to do, they may become bored and depressed.

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Puppy care - Clean your poodle puppy's ears weekly

Clean your poodle puppy's ears weekly using a moist cotton ball wrapped around your finger. Any redness or swelling may indicate an ear infection, so notify your vet immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance of your puppy's ear.

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Puppy care - Feed your poodle puppy a nutritious diet

Feed your poodle puppy a nutritious diet. Do not feed him table scraps or change his diet suddenly, since this can upset your puppy's stomach and cause him to gain too much weight.

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Owner guide - Get Poodle from responsible breeder

Only get your poodle from a poodle rescue, shelter or responsible breeder. If buying from a breeder, make sure to visit in person and see the dog’s parents. This is crucial since poodles are often bred in puppy mills or by irresponsible “backyard” breeders and could end up with a variety of health problems.

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Owner guide - Study your Poodle's health problem

Poodles may have genetic tendencies toward runny eyes, cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), ear infections, digestive disorders, heart problems, allergies, skin disorders, slipped stifle, diabetes and epilepsy.

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Owner guide - Miniature and Toy poodles may snap if teased by young children

Miniature and Toy poodles may snap if teased by young children, therefore do better in households with older children and adults. Standard and Miniature poodles tend to be more friendly and outgoing than Toy Poodles.

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