Poogle Grooming

The Poogle--a hybrid mix of a Poodle and a Beagle--usually has a medium-length, wavy to curly, low-shedding coat that requires a fairly good bit of care. In Poodle mixes, the genes for the Poodle coat are usually dominant, so a Poodle hybrid's coat is most often Poodle-like; the Poogle is no exception. A few Poogles have short, double-layered coats like the Beagle, but Poodle-like is most common for these hybrids.

Your Poogle will usually need brushing about three times per week with either a pin or slicker brush. To brush: first wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle. Then starting at the shoulders, go through the coat section by section with the brush, moving in the direction of hair growth. If you encounter a tangle, first try working it out with your fingers, then if needed continue working through it with the end teeth of a greyhound comb.

(Poogles with short Beagle-like coats will only need weekly brushing with a bristle brush. These coats do shed more, though, and may shed heavily in the spring and fall shedding seasons; daily brushing is best during these shedding periods.)

Poogle bathing is necessary every 6-8 weeks--unless, of course, the dog gets especially dirty or stinky and an "emergency bath" is called for. When bathing a Poogle, be sure to use canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans has a different pH and can irritate the dog's skin. Also take the time to rinse the shampoo completely from the coat; leftover soap residue will cause further skin irritation.

And Poogles with "Poodle-esque" coats can sport a variety of hairstyles. (See the Styling & Haircuts section below for descriptions of great Poogle grooming styles.)

In addition to its coat, a Poogle will need regular maintenance in other areas. Brush the dog's teeth 2-3 times per week with a regular toothbrush; clean the dog's ears monthly using canine ear cleaning solution; and if your Poogle's nails click on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim--which you can do with standard nail clippers.

Though owners can learn to perform all aspects of Poogle grooming themselves, it's a good idea to take the dog to a professional groomer at least once--especially to learn more about haircuts. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Poogle at home.

Unless your Poogle has a short Beagle-like coat (in which case no real haircuts are possible), several Poogle haircut styles can look great on these dogs. Depending on the style, most Poogle cuts will need a touch-up trim every couple of months or so.

A few popular Poogle hairstyles:

• Puppy Cut: A low-maintenance style. The entire coat is clipped short (to about two inches). Some people like the hair on the Poogle's face, head, and legs left a bit longer. Can be done at home with some practice.
• Show Cut: This style leaves most of the coat's length, but requires some precision. The coat is scissor-trimmed by only a half-inch or so (and often thinned out with thinning shears); the hair on the face, head, and ears is rounded and even. Will need a groomer's expertise.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Similar to a Puppy Cut, but the hair on the legs, face, and head are left a bit longer and carefully rounded to make the dog resemble an adorable stuffed animal. Probably best done by a groomer.
• Town and Country Cut: A very stylish look. The hair on the body is clipped short; the leg hair is left longer and sculpted into cylindrical patterns. The hair on the face, head, and tail is rounded and teased out. Definitely needs a groomer's touch.