Think you might want to groom your poodle yourself? Grooming is a great way to develop a bond with your puppy, and also is not as hard as you might think! All you need are a few supplies to get you started. You can have everything you need for under $200 - less than the price of 3 professional grooming sessions. And the best part? These supplies will last you for your poodle's entire life! 

To get started you will need: 

Clippers: 

I recommend these two types of clippers

1) Oster A5 Animal Clippers (click to view) 

2) Andis Professional Animal Clippers (click to view) 

Clipper Blades: 

Both of the above clippers come with a #10 blade. This blade cuts the hair very short but is great if you do what I do and let the hair grow then shave it all off. If your poodles hair is matted or dirty, you will need to shave them short in order to get through the hair. 

You can also order a #4 blade that will work with either of these clippers here. The #4 blade is a little longer but will only work if your dog is clean and brushed. I usually don't bother with that and just cut them short. They look a little goofy for a few days and then look great when it grows out a bit! 

Scissors: 

Any animal grooming scissors with a blunt tip to avoid poking. I like these. You will need the scissors to trim ear hair as well as between the toes (until you get really good with the clippers!)

Ear Powder: 

Ear powder allows you to grip ear hair for easy removal. Poodles get a lot of ear hair and it does need to be trimmed or removed regularly. I like this ear powder. 

Ear wash: 

Ear wash is important to keep your pups ears from getting infected. I wash out my dogs' ears every month or two. Ask your vet for an ear wash - I've never found anything I like over the counter. 

Toenail clippers: 

I like these toenail clippers for dogs. Some dogs do not need their nails clipped because they get worn down on walks and runs, but they're nice to have around for if a nail get snagged on something or their nails grow too long in the winter. 

Now you have everything you need to get started grooming your poodle! When you come pick your puppy up, I'm happy to give you a grooming demonstration!