Poodle grooming
Poodle grooming in Gloucester, MA
The AKC recognizes three poodle varieties, standard, miniature and toy, sharing one coat: curly, dense and slow to shed. That coat never stops growing, which is why the poodle is the breed most tied to a pattern haircut. Here is what we cut, what needs a conversation first, and how often to come in.
The coat
A poodle coat is curly, dense and barely sheds, so loose hair stays in and mats at the roots
The AKC breed standard describes the curly poodle coat as naturally harsh in texture and dense throughout. Because so little of it sheds, the hair that does come loose stays caught in the curl. The AKC's grooming advice is blunt: a full-coated poodle that is not brushed and combed completely to the skin will mat near the roots and have to be shaved to start again with new growth. That is why most pet poodles live in a shorter trim, and why the cycle matters as much as the cut.
The coat is the same across the three varieties; the frame is not. According to the AKC, a toy stands no more than 10 inches at the shoulder, a miniature 15 inches or under, and a standard more than 15. A toy carries the same friction points in a much smaller space. On every poodle, mats begin where the coat rubs or stays damp: behind the ears, under a collar, in the armpits, at the base of the tail and in a topknot left long.
- Behind the ears and in a long topknot
- Under the collar and in the armpits
- At the base of the tail and the inside of the thighs
- Anywhere the coat stays damp after a swim
Pattern or pet trim
We cut pet versions of the poodle pattern; show clips and corded coats are a conversation before booking
The AKC notes that at dog shows poodles usually appear in the elaborate Continental clip, while most pet owners prefer the simpler Sporting clip, with the coat shorn to follow the outline of the body. The standard's Puppy clip, for dogs under a year, shaves the face, throat, feet and base of the tail and leaves the rest of the coat long and shaped. Those shaved areas, the face and feet above all, are the signature of a poodle pattern, and a pet trim usually keeps them.
Our full service includes a haircut that respects the breed standard or follows your own preference, so a sporting-style pet trim with a clean face and feet, or a fuller teddy face with tidy feet, both fit inside it. Bring a photo. A Continental or English Saddle clip for a dog being exhibited is a different job, so ask the front desk before you book. The same goes for a corded coat, which the AKC standard allows: cording is a long-term project, and our menu does not list it as a service.
- Pet sporting-style trim: an even body length that follows the outline
- Clean face and feet, or a fuller face if you prefer
- Topknot, ears and tail shaped to your photo
- Show clips and corded coats: ask the front desk first
Four to six weeks
Four to six weeks is the poodle rhythm, and a missed visit is paid for in de-matting time
The AKC says pet owners who do not clip at home usually take their poodle to a professional groomer every four to six weeks for a bath, grooming and a nail trim. Shaved feet and a clean face start to look fuzzy at about four weeks, and the body coat begins to tangle at the friction points soon after. A poodle kept in a longer coat needs the four-week end of that range; a short sporting-style trim can often hold for six.
Past six weeks, the first costs appear. De-matting runs $15 for every 20 minutes of careful mat removal, on top of the full service, and the groomer agrees the estimate with you at check-in. When mats sit tight to the skin, the AKC's own advice applies: taking the coat short and starting over is often the kinder route, and a short clip is still a custom haircut at your size price. Rebooking before you leave the desk trims $5 from the following visit.
By variety and weight
Toys and minis pay $75 for full service; standards usually pay $85 or $110
We price by weight band, so the variety only tells you roughly where your poodle lands. Toys and most miniatures weigh under 25 pounds and pay $75 for full service or $55 for bath only. The AKC lists a standard at 40 to 50 pounds for a female and 60 to 70 for a male, which puts most females at $85 and most males at $110. A very large standard over 90 pounds would pay $120. The final price is confirmed at check-in after the coat assessment.
The add-ons that suit a poodle are small ones. A $10 face trim between full grooms keeps a shaved face clean, a $10 sanitary trim keeps the rear tidy, and teeth brushing, also $10, freshens breath with a gentle brushing. Nail clipping is $16. If your poodle needs slower, more careful handling, the $20 behavior or handling surcharge buys extra time and an extra pair of hands. Unlimited daycare members take 15 percent off grooming.
| Poodle | Usual weight band | Bath only | Full service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | Up to 25 lb | $55 | $75 |
| Miniature | Up to 25 lb | $55 | $75 |
| Standard, most females | 26 to 50 lb | $65 | $85 |
| Standard, most males | 51 to 90 lb | $75 | $110 |
| Standard over 90 lb | Over 90 lb | $85 | $120 |
Between grooms
Between grooms, brush to the skin and look after the shaved feet in winter
If your poodle keeps any length on the body, brush it in layers to the skin two or three times a week and comb through afterward. The AKC's daily-brushing advice is for full coats; a pet trim buys you some slack, not a pass. The topknot and ears tangle first. Our how-to on brushing a doodle between grooms describes the same line-brushing method a poodle coat needs, with the comb test that tells you whether you reached the skin.
Shaved feet are the Cape Ann catch. After a winter walk on salted Gloucester sidewalks, rinse and dry the feet and check between the toes; the AVMA advises wiping a dog's feet, legs and belly after winter walks to remove salt and de-icers. In the off-season, when Good Harbor takes dogs on even-numbered days and Wingaersheek on odd-numbered days, rinse salt water out of the coat the same day so the curl does not tighten as it dries.
- 01
Part the coat at a leg and brush each layer outward from the skin
- 02
Comb the same section; a snag means go back with the brush
- 03
Work the ears, topknot and armpits last, once the dog has settled
- 04
Rinse and dry the shaved feet after every salted or sandy walk
- 05
Rebook every four to six weeks, before the face and feet grow in
At Dogtown
Poodle grooms, and a daycare day to put them on
Full service and bath-only grooms by weight band, plus the playgroup day a poodle can spend around its appointment.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
How often should a poodle be groomed?
Do you shave poodle faces and feet?
Can you groom a corded poodle?
Will you do a Continental clip for a show dog?
Which weight band is my standard poodle in?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Keep the face and feet clean.
Book full service by your poodle's weight online or in the Dogtown app, bring a photo of the trim you want, and rebook at pick-up for $5 off. No evaluation for grooming.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
