Minnie

I'm frustrated and struggling to do what is probably simple to most - straightening my toy poodle's coat. Bella has a fine coat and she still comes home from the groomer just beautiful. When I dry her it just looks awful. I currently have a CC Kool Dry Dryer and manage to get her back legs not too bad but the rest what a mess :-(

I've read that stand dryers can help straighten - would this help me or am I just not drying her properly? Any help is appreciated!

Oodlejpoodle's mom

Minnie,

I dry my standards with a K-9II about 95% then finish them off with a speedy stand dryer to get them perfectly straight. Davis make a product that many like called fluff out ( Davis Fluff Out 32oz-Groomer's Choice) it helps keep them fluffed and straight. My K-9 has heat so I do not have much to do other than their heads and ears with the stand dryer. I too love a perfectly straight poodle that lasts, just keep drying. The biggest mistake I see is that they are not all the way dry, you may think they are but often they are not. You can even use your own blow dryer on low heat to get it straight. Another tip is to do it in sections (line drying). Best of luck to you!

Kathy

-Lilith-

The hair will 'separate' when it's dry. If you notice it's clumpy when wet. The fluff dryer can help. I don't have one at the salon I work at now and I still can get their hair straight. It's more of holding the dryer in one spot.


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star

A good quality conditioner can help too.

mom24doggies

Either you aren't drying her all the way, OR she is drying too quickly. I struggle with the front of the dog air drying while I work on the back end lol. I've started covering the parts of Raven (he gets stand dried only) I'm not working on with a damp towel. It seems to help quite a bit, as well as keep him calm. Also he lies down while I dry him, so that way he doesn't have all that air swirling around him and drying his coat before I get to it. If a section does dry before you get to it, re-wet it. I keep a spray bottle full of plain water on hand. Also, make sure you are pushing the nozzle of the dryer right up into her coat, almost onto the skin.

Does she still have puppy coat? That would be another factor in your troubles. Puppy coats can be difficult to straighten all the way, and then even when you do get them straight they curl up within hours! I battle that with Raven a lot. Thank goodness his coat change has started I can't wait for adult coat! It's so much easier to maintain.

__________________

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

-Lilith-

With the nozzle. Only hold it right by the skin if its short hair otherwise it will tangle upon itself.


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mom24doggies

Very true I should have clarified. Although I personally can do it with longer hair too, you just have to be careful.

__________________

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

-Lilith-

Exactly. Lol.


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Minnie

Wow thank you all for your help!!!

I took the nozzle off the dryer so that the sound did not scare her - and she's so tiny and the dryer is powerful and it really blows. Unfortunately it does not heat unless it is turned up and used for a long time.

I used to have much less issues when she was in a shorter coat but trying to keep her in a longer style - working towards a Scandi is tougher. And while she will be 2 in March her coat is very fine.

When drying longer coat due you brush while drying or just blow it out with the dryer? I try to brush when drying and it looks terrible - this is towards the middle body / neck area. Also the front legs but I think the problem is they are drying before I can get to them when I work back to front.

I'd like to avoid another piece of equipment if I can but I'll spring for the stand dryer if the HV is not enough.

3dogs

Keep up with the HV. No need to get a stand dryer. If you must for a finish you can use a human hairdryer on warm to just touch up. It sounds like the front end is drying before you get to it so it is a little kinky already by the time you get up there. Keep that area a bit more moist up there. I will HV like a whole leg almost to dry & then I use a brush to really straighten that leg & then I go to the next body part & do the same thing. I use no stand dryer & get a great finish. I also keep the front WET though because getting through lots of long coat the front will be drying up on me. So, just keep that in mind. nice & dry from the skin on out. If the hair by the skin is damp then it will curl that section. It does take getting used too the HV- do you tuck under your arm so you have both arms free when you start to brush?