The Poodle’s legs are trimmed the same way for most pet clips, with the exception of the Miami clip. On the back legs, the shape follows the natural conformation of the leg, emphasizing the angulation above the hock joint and the curve of the stifle joint.

The front legs are shaped like cylinders, straight from the top to the bottom on all sides, not tapering to the feet or wedge-shaped. How much hair you leave on full-coated legs depends on several factors: personal preference, the dog’s lifestyle, the pattern you select, the length of hair you leave on the body (the trim must always be in balance) and the texture of the coat.

Texture plays a very important role in finishing. Harsh, dense hair is fairly thick in diameter and holds together better than coats of less substantial texture. Fine, thin hair is slightly smaller in diameter and, when allowed to grow too long, doesn’t hold its shape and quickly becomes limp.

When is trimmed shorter, however, fine hair looks neater, appears to be thicker and holds its shape much better. Under any circumstances, the hair on the legs is always slightly longer than that on the body. On pet trims, the body hair is never longer than the leg hair.

There are two methods of styling the legs:

• Shaping them by hand scissoring
• Skimming through the hair with a snap-on comb fitted over a #40 blade and then trimming any uneven ends with shears

We think it is easier to start by styling the back legs – shaping one, then the other – and then moving on to finish the front legs.

Method 1: Using Scissors When Styling the Legs

If you intend to shape your Poodle’s legs with scissors, your goal is to achieve a smooth, plush finish.  Notice that the bottom line of the leg is even and slightly rounded. Most groomers call this area the cuff. If you are a beginner, it is easier to set the cuff first, and then to shape the rest of the leg.

Setting The Cuffs

1. To make a round cuff, begin by combing the hair around the ankle straight down.
2. Scissor completely around the ankle to trim off any hairs that fall below the clipped line above the foot.
3. Comb the hair outward, and you have created a natural round cuff. Using curved shears here will create a lovely rounded effect.

Styling The Legs

1. Fluff the hair upward and outward before beginning to shape the leg itself. Some groomers like to start at the ankle and work up to the hip; others prefer doing the reverse. With experience, you will choose whichever approach is most comfortable for you. Whichever method you choose, hold your shears flat against the hair you are working on—do not point the blade tips into the coat—and start shaping, taking a little hair off at a time. Always move your shears smoothly in a vertical direction, either upward or downward, never in a horizontal or angled direction—which almost always causes notches in the coat. The fastest and most efficient way to achieve the correct outline is to concentrate on one part of the leg at a time; that is, start at the ankle and scissor a line up to the hip.
2. Adjacent to the part you just finished, begin again at the ankle and scissor another line up to the hip. Continue this process around the leg until it takes shape. Do not move about erratically when scissoring, but maintain an organized, methodical approach to your work.
3. Scissor the hard-to-reach areas on the inside of the back leg using either of two positions: gently lifting the leg you are working on and pulling it backward, or lifting the opposite leg with your free hand. When scissoring near the vulva or testicles, place your free hand over them for protection. There is no excuse for nicking the genitals. The dog will never forget it and will likely be skittish and uncooperative during any future grooming operations.
4. To achieve the desirable velvety smooth finish, don’t pull out straggly hairs with your fingertips. Instead, fluff the hair upward and outward every so often with your comb to ease out any untidy ends, then rescissor the area. Some groomers also like to gently shake the leg during the shaping process to encourage the hair to stand out straight.  Remember, your goal is to end up with an even, plush finish.
5. The back legs should show correct angulation. The shaping should accentuate the natural curve of the stifle at point A. Point B is trimmed in and comes outward again at the hock at point C, and then it slightly angles downward to point D. When viewed from the rear, the legs should look parallel. This shape is typically the way groomers in the United States and Canada style pet Poodle legs.
6. When the leg is completely shaped to the hip, start blending the longer leg hair into the shorter body hair. Use curved shears here, if you have them. Keep combing upward and scissoring the hair until the line from the leg hair blends smoothly into the body coat, creating an overall balanced look. There should a gradual flow of hair in proportion with the overall profile, with no excess coat that puffs out to make the dog look “hippy.” Scissor the other back leg, making it even in size and shape. The hair on the rear beneath the tail should be trimmed tight to make the dog appear as short in back as possible.
7. Turn the dog around to stand facing you. Shape the front legs by first making a neat cuff at the bottom of each leg, exactly as you did on both rear legs. Comb the hair around the ankle straight down, then scissor off any hairs that fall below the clipped line above the foot. Comb the hair outward, and the cuff will be round.
8. Hold your Poodle’s front leg in your hand, extend it towards you, and fluff the leg hair up and out with your comb. The front legs are scissored to appear cylindrical in shape, straight from top to bottom on all sides, not tapering to the foot. As you did on the rear legs, hold your shears flat against the hair you are trimming—do not point the tips of the blade into the coat—and start shaping by taking a little hair off at a time. Always move your shears in a vertical upward or downward direction, never across the coat. Again, you can achieve the correct cylindrical shape by scissoring methodically. Begin at the ankle and trim one section of hair up to the elbow; then, adjacent to where you just finished, repeat the process. Continue in the same manner all around the leg. Remember to fluff the leg hair up and out with your comb to ease out any uneven hairs, then rescissor. You can also take hold of the paw, pull it forward, and gently shake the leg during the shaping process to encourage uneven hairs to stand out straight.
9. To scissor the hair on the hard-to-reach areas under the front leg, lift the leg on which you are working, and pull it gently forward. When you put the leg down, check the elbow: There should be no hollows or tufts of hair sticking out. Scissor the other front leg, making sure it is even in size and shape, and that both legs are in balance with the back legs.
10. Comb the hair between the front legs and chest upward. Shape these areas, gradually blending the hair up to the front of the neck. The hair here should be short and slightly curved, not overly rounded or so long as to add length to the Poodle’s body, or so flat as to resemble a Fox Terrier front.
    Balance and symmetry are essential when finishing the legs. Each back leg should be even in size and shape, as should each front leg. More importantly, the back legs and front legs should also be in balance with each other.

Method 2: Using a Snap-on Comb When Styling the Legs

If you have difficulty scissoring or if speed is a consideration, you can use a snap-on comb attached to a #40 blade to take off the excess hair, and then shape any untidy ends with shears. Choose a snap-on attachment that leaves the leg hair longer than the body coat.

1. Stand the dog on the grooming table. Beginning on the back legs, use the snap-on comb to blend the hair over the hips into a smooth line that flows down the outsides and insides of the legs. When you have finished, comb the hair at the bottom of the leg straight down on all sides, and scissor off any straggly hairs that fall below the clipped line around the ankles. Comb the hair outward, and you will have created a round cuff at the bottom of the leg. Fluff out the leg hair and scissor off any uneven lines, shaping the legs instructed in Method 1.
2. On the front legs, use the snap-on attachment to blend the hair in a smooth line that flows over the shoulders and down each leg. Create the cuff at the bottom, then fluff the hair on the leg and scissor off any uneven lines, shaping the legs in Method 1.

Remember: The areas where the body and leg hair meet must always be carefully blended to prevent a noticeable difference in length.