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How to Groom a Poodle or Poodle Cross

© Chris Chamberlin

Grooming a poodle cross is vastly different from grooming a purebred poodle. It is the type of coat that will determine what kind of clip you can groom your dog into.

Grooming a Multi-Poo

Multi-poos tend to have a fine, straight coat, although some sport curl on the ears or legs. This type of coat is very difficult to finish into a typical poodle look with the pom-poms and high top-knot. If you are good with handling scissors, keep this type of dog's coat in a puppy clip, about 1 inch long all over. The feet are rounded off and the hair is trimmed away from the pads. Cute little bows can hold the hair out of the eyes and there is never a chance of clipper burned toes or face.

This length is easy to manage but requires trimming every 4-6 weeks to maintain. If the scissors are not your forte, then a clipper blade no closer than a 4F (oster/andis) will do the job in a shorter, practical version requiring less trimming.

Cocka-Poo Grooming

Cocka-poos coats can vary. Some are straight and heavy with the curls coming in a fine undercoat (this type mats up very easily.) Some will sport the look of a cocker but have the poodle coat with the tight curls (rare). Most are somewhere in between - wavy body hair, curly ears and legs in a cocker spaniel body.

If your dog has straight hair, stick to a spaniel clip. This clip cleans off the face neck and back, blending the rest to flow out to whatever length is the most manageable. If he has the pointier poodle nose you may opt to leave a beard and mustache, but the ears should be trimmed like a spaniel's to keep them dry and free from infections so common to cockers.

If your cocka-poo indeed resembles a poodle more than the cocker, you can achieve a number of clips on him, including shaving the toes and face. Most that look more poodle-like look best in the "Benji" look: full face and puppy-clipped body and legs, no Poodle toes.

Terri-Poos and other Poo Crosses

Terri-poo or any other poo-x (peeka-poo, etc.) should be groomed to the breed they best resemble. Do not expect to get a schnauzer look on your terri-poo with any success. Most of the time the soft curly coat (poodle) prevents the coarse wiry coat (terrier) from getting the desired results. While most look much nicer trimmed like the Terrier or Pekinese rather than the poodle, neither will be free of the soft curls that will cause havoc on these types of coats. Trimming is required every 6-8 weeks.