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What kind of clippers do i need to shave my standard poodle2007-11-25 2:52:53

i have a standard poodle and it costs about $70 every time i take him to the groomer.. i was keeping him with a show clip but now that its summer he is always in the water and a shorter cut would be so low maintenance. i would love to find the tools to do it myself. i just want the basic "puppy clip." (a really short body, with his only his head/ears and pom-pom tail left longer.) any groomers or owners of standards who do the grooming yourselves?

Answers:

I have an A-5 and an Andis. Both are expensive. The Andis I got on QVC. Both are rotary,not magnetic clippers. The most inportant thing is to keep your blades sharpened, cool and well-oiled. To be a good groomer, basically you have to practice. I taught myself. The dogs looked odd at first, but now I'm pretty good. I groom my relatives and friends dogs. you can do this. It's a great skill to learn. Find someone to sharpen your blades locally if you can. I've had to learn this because we get in dogs that are a horrid mess. Shaving off matted dogs is nasty. For the price, I'd go with a good groomer. Your capital outlay for good equipment is very high. $70 once in a while is probably cheaper.

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The best clippers are the Oster A-5, but they are kind of expensive (about $150). You would also have to buy a blade to use on the clippers. I would recommend using a 4 or 5 size blade (the higher the number, the shorter the cut). Just take your time, and shave with the direction of the hair. Be sure to use plenty of clipper oil before, during, and after using the clippers.

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I recommend an Andis 2 speed clipper, with at least 2, #10 blades and then 2 of what ever length you want to keep him clipped at. You also need a can of Cool Lube, some brushes and a steel comb. Plan to spend about $200 for the basics because having only one of each blade means you have to either stop when the blade gets hot or use a lot of cool lube to keep from burning the dog's skin. The Andis is a great clipper but don't try an be cheap and get the $50 clipper kit cause it won't last on a dog that size. And while your at it you might want to invest in a small power blower to get that poodle clean and dry after a day in the pool. Plan to throw in about another $50 at least.