My poodles hair looks dry!! : (

Question
What shampoo n conditioner r good for poodles?my dog's hair is black,so I would like to know if theres something I can do about it,any help?
thanks,
Perla

Answer
Poodle coats are so finicky!! Brushing first (then combing with a metal comb to make sure there are no knots) is the best thing you can do to help distribute the natural oils in your dog's skin so it helps to shine the coat, but here are some other ideas.

Find a fish oil (omega 3 and 5/fatty acid) liquid vitamin and add to a treat or to food daily to help develop shine "from within" (results may take several months to notice, as it will start to show in the new growth).

Once you've got the insides taken care of, the best bet for a poodle is a protein based shampoo and a light/spray in conditioner (heavy conditioning will soften the coat and make it more poofy, not crisp and shiny like a poodle coat should be), the light spray in conditioners will be enough to help add back the moisture stripped away when shampooing but still not weigh the coat down.

The last possibility is genetic and that some poodles always have a softer and less crisp/shiny coat. Just like a family can have one sister with gorgeous hair and one with thin hair, puppies are prone to genetic make-up and are just different. Knowing you've done the best to take care of your poodle's coat, the best thing is again, to brush and just enjoy your dog!