Fond of Poodles

I do the same as 3dogs, I squeeze as much water out of the legs, belly and ears as I can, but leave the "pack" and topknot soaking wet. I start with the legs, drying only with the HV. When the legs are about 90% dry, I take the nozzle off the HV and finish drying with a brush (sometimes the HV/brush combo can be harsh if you are hitting the brush with too much air). By that time my dryer is producing a small amount of heat. I do the belly area, which is relatively short, with the high velocity nozzle on full power. I do this while the dog is standing. Make sure that the coat is completely bone dry right to the skin. I usually have a towel on the table for that part too, it stops the water from hitting the table and flying back into the coat.

For the pack (neck and shoulders), and topknot. I lay my dogs down on their sides, on a fresh dry towel. I make sure the coat is as damp as the legs were when I started. If not, I have a mister that I use to spray the pack only till damp. I dry the pack starting from the sides where the dry coat is, moving towards the back, and under the ears. Make sure you get that area under the ears, and at the withers, lol. It takes forever to get perfectly dry and if you mess it up, it will look curly, and it can matt easier. I hold the HV back far enough that the hair is spread out in a circle, end to end and the skin is visible, only move once the coat is dry, and only a short distance away. If you use rapid movements, you will miss spots and are likely to tangle the coat. Once that side is dry, flip over and do the other side. I usually go over the pack, head and ears with a human hand dryer set to warm, just to make sure it is completely dry.

It's a big job, and it's not easy to do. I have times when I do it and somehow I mess it up, and end up wetting the dog down a day or two later and starting again, lol!

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Callie - Duke - Raven

Minnie

I am absolutely amazed by the time that you guys have taken to try to help me understand this process - truly I can't thank you all enough!!!

3dogs - I normally don't hold the dryer when brushing. I purchased the CC - hold a hose and try to aim it at the section normally leaving the attachments off.

If I'm understanding this right I think I need to put the cone attachment back on and work is small sections without the brush. I tried to stretch dry her sides and made one heck of a mess. Tomorrow is bath day as we have agility class Thursday. So try, try, try again - wish me luck I'll need it

Minnie

Guess what I have..... a fluffy straight puff ball of a poodle!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!! I put down the brush and it took a very long time (2 hrs for a 4 pound toy) I bow to you with standards OMG!!! I did very small sections in little circles with the HV dryer and she looks amazing!!!

After she was dry I spritzed with the Ice on Ice and used the pin brush and comb and just wow!

Seriously I can't thank you all enough!!!! I can't wait to show her off at class tomorrow - she is just adorable!!!

Fond of Poodles

Woohoo! Way to go!

Pictures?

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Callie - Duke - Raven

Minnie

Really I'm too nervous to post pictures as I'm just trying to learn but she is cute to me!

Fond of poodles - your tip about having a towel on the table helped me a lot especially on her legs thank you so much!

3dogs

That is fantastic, now with time you will cut down on how long it takes you to dry. I dry my OT/Mini in less than 1/2 hr. but that has taken time over the years to dry her so fast. You will without fail cut down on your time the more you work with your technique. Can't wait to see pictures.

Mel

wow I need to practice...I know drying sandy takes over 3hrs.

-Lilith-

Meh. I can dry a standard in 30 minutes.


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mom24doggies

Good for you..but home groomers don't get the kind of practice pro groomers like me and you get. Their times are going to be slower. But lucky for them it doesn't matter as they have only one dog to get finished!

If y'all haven't already, get the poodle grooming book by Sherri Kalstone. It has just about everything in it, including instructions about drying. Also Notes from the Grooming Table by Melissa Verplank has a huge section on bathing and drying. However it is pretty big and covers all breed grooming.

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"Love is the emotion that a woman feels always for a poodle dog and sometimes for a man." ~George Jean Nathan

-Lilith-

Sorry. Wasn't thinking. Lol. As a groomer and talking grooming my brain goes 'oh it's simple'


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