Love your Poodle but looking for a new hair style? Wondering what sort of cuts are common (or even not so common)? Here is a small sample of the wide range of possibilities. Feel free to take bits and pieces of different cuts and get creative in order to best display your dog’s personality.
Make sure to keep in mind your dog’s lifestyle and your willingness to brush them as frequently as daily.
Clean Face and Rounded Feet
This style can be done with any length of hair left on the body but looks best with half an inch or more on the legs. More than half an inch of hair should be brushed at least once a week. More than an inch of hair should be brushed every few days, and more than a couple of inches needs to be brushed daily to prevent matting.
Teddy Bear Head and Rounded Feet
This is the perfect cut for those who don’t want their dog to scream “Poodle!” It looks good with any hair length, but the feet will look best with at least half an inch of hair left on the legs.
Clean Face and Feet with a Short Body and Topknot
This is sometimes referred to as a “summer cut” or a “kennel clip.” This cut is very low-maintenance, with only the topknot, tail, and ears requiring occasional brushing.
Clean Face and Feet with Poms
This is also referred to as the “bikini,” “clown,” or “Miami” cut. Let your dog’s personality shine with pom feet to add a little style without going full “show dog.” Be sure to brush the poms at least twice a week.
Clean Face and Feet with Short Body and Fuller Legs
This is also known as a “lamb cut” or “town and country.” This cut looks great to help balance out the Poodle’s skinny legs, especially on dogs who are a little overweight. The legs, head, tail, and ears need at least weekly brushing to avoid mats.
Practical Short All-Over Cut
If your dog spends a lot of time in the water, or regular brushing isn’t a great option for either you or your dog, a very short cut will eliminate painful mats that can be caused by water on curly hair or lack of brushing.
Asian Fusion
Looking for something more unique? Check out Asian Fusion grooming, which is increasing in popularity. This style typically combines a short body with long legs and a stylized face. It’s a great cut for dogs who wear clothes, though any dog will look cute.
This is only a small sampling of cuts found on Poodles. It’s always okay to do a Google search and bring a picture to your groomer!
