Your Poodle’s curls have taken over, the groomer is asking what you’d like, and “the usual Poodle cut” isn’t going to cut it. These are the six styles pet owners love most, how each one is done, and exactly what to ask for, so your Poodle comes home looking the way you pictured.
Easiest everyday look: the Puppy Cut, one even length with a clean face and feet.
Softest, cuddliest look: the Teddy Bear Cut, a round fluffy face with nothing shaved.
Classic Poodle shape: the Lamb Cut, a short body on full, fluffy legs.
Shortest and lowest maintenance: the Kennel Cut, short all over.
Most stylish: the Modern Cut, a sleek body with a big topknot, ears and tail.
Most fun: the Miami Clip, a fluffy body with pom-pom bracelets on the legs.
Grooming schedule: every 4 to 6 weeks for all six.
Two Terms Every Poodle Owner Should Know
Many Poodle styles include a clean face and clean feet. A clean face means the muzzle, cheeks and throat are clipped very short and smooth, showing off the Poodle’s long, elegant muzzle. Clean feet means the hair on the paws is clipped close, so the feet look small and neat and the toes show.
Both are optional on a pet. If you’d rather keep a fuller face or fluffy feet, just say so. Knowing the terms means you can tell your groomer exactly what you want instead of hoping they guess.
How Every Poodle Groom Starts
Whatever style you choose, the groundwork is the same:
1. Brush out: a Poodle’s tight curls hide mats close to the skin, so the coat is line-brushed with a slicker brush section by section, then checked with a metal comb. Mats that can’t be brushed out have to be clipped, which can force a shorter cut than planned.
2. Bath and condition: a dog shampoo and conditioner so the coat combs through easily.
3. Fluff dry: the curls are dried straight with a dryer while being brushed. This makes the coat stand up full and even, which is what lets a groomer scissor the smooth, plush finish Poodles are known for.
4. Nails, ears and hygiene: nails are trimmed, ears are cleaned and the sanitary area is clipped short.
Then the styling begins.
1. The Puppy Cut
The Puppy Cut, also called the puppy clip, is the most popular style for pet Poodles. The coat is one even length all over, usually half an inch to an inch and a half, with a neat round topknot on the head. It’s simple, tidy and easy to keep up, and it suits Poodles of every size, from Toy to Standard. It’s also the usual choice for a Poodle puppy’s first proper groom, which is how it got its name.
How the Puppy Cut Is Done
The groomer clips the body with a guard comb attachment set to your chosen length, following the direction of hair growth, then scissors over the coat to blend it smooth. The legs are scissored into straight columns that match the body. The face and feet are usually clipped clean, the base of the tail is clipped short, and the tip is left as a small round pom-pom. The topknot and ears are scissored round and tidy so they’re only a little fuller than the body.
Ask for: “A puppy cut, [1 inch] all over, clean face and feet, round topknot, tail pom-pom.”
2. The Teddy Bear Cut
The Teddy Bear Cut is the softest, cuddliest Poodle style and one of the most requested. The body is short, similar to a Puppy Cut, but nothing is shaved. The face, muzzle and feet are left covered in hair, and the whole head is scissored into a big, round, fluffy shape, so a Poodle’s long muzzle looks short and soft like a stuffed toy. It’s a favorite for Toy and other small Poodles, because a round, fluffy shape flatters a small frame. The full face does need brushing and a wipe after meals to stay clean.
How the Teddy Bear Cut Is Done
The body is clipped or scissored to about an inch. The face is then shaped by hand with scissors rather than clippers. The groomer combs the hair on the muzzle, cheeks and head outward and scissors it round, checking from the front, sides and top until the head reads as one circle. The ears are blended into that round outline. The feet are scissored round and fluffy instead of being clipped close, and the tail is left fluffy all the way along.
Ask for: “A teddy bear cut, about 1 inch on the body, full round face with no shaving, round fluffy feet.”
3. The Lamb Cut
The Lamb Cut, or lamb clip, keeps the body short and the legs long and full, like a woolly lamb. It’s the style that looks most like a “classic” Poodle while staying practical for a pet, with more shape than a Puppy Cut. The full legs show off best on Miniature and Standard Poodles.
How the Lamb Cut Is Done
The body is clipped short and close, often around half an inch. The legs are left much longer and scissored into full, rounded columns, blending smoothly into the body at the shoulders and hips so there’s no hard line. The face and feet are usually clipped clean, so the full leg hair ends in a neat cuff just above each paw. The topknot is left round and full, and the tail finishes in a pom-pom.
Ask for: “A lamb cut, short body around half an inch, legs left full and blended, clean face and feet, round topknot.”
4. The Kennel Cut
The Kennel Cut, also called the utility clip or a short summer cut, is the shortest and lowest-maintenance Poodle style. The whole coat is clipped close, showing the dog’s slim, athletic outline. It’s ideal for active Poodles that swim, hike or roll in everything, and for coats that mat easily.
How the Kennel Cut Is Done
The groomer clips the body, neck and legs short and even, often about a quarter to half an inch. The face, feet and tail base are clipped clean. A small, short topknot is usually left on the head so your dog still looks like a Poodle, and the ears are trimmed short. Don’t shave all the way to the skin, though. A little coat protects against sunburn. Small Poodles can also feel the cold in a coat this short, so a Toy Poodle in a Kennel Cut may need a sweater on winter walks.
Ask for: “A kennel cut, about a quarter to half an inch all over, clean face and feet, small short topknot, not shaved to the skin.”
5. The Modern Cut
The Modern Cut, sometimes called the Sporting clip, pairs a sleek, short body with a big, glamorous head. The topknot, ears and tail are left full, which makes it one of the most photogenic Poodle styles.
How the Modern Cut Is Done
The body is clipped short and neat, often around half an inch, and the legs are scissored slightly fuller than the body. The face and feet are clipped clean. The topknot is left long and scissored into a tall, perfectly round shape, the ears are left long and full, and the tail is finished with a big round pom-pom. The contrast between the trim body and the big head is what gives this cut its style. Some owners keep a short, neat moustache on the muzzle instead of a fully clean face, which softens the look.
Ask for: “A modern cut, short body around half an inch, clean face and feet, big round topknot, long full ears, full tail pom-pom.”
6. The Miami Clip
The Miami Clip, also known as the Bikini or Summer Clip, is the most playful pet style. The body is left fluffy and scissored into shape, while the legs are clipped short with a round pom-pom bracelet left around each lower leg. It’s a popular choice for warm weather and for owners who love a bit of fun.
How the Miami Clip Is Done
The body is scissored to about an inch to an inch and a half and shaped neatly. The legs are clipped short from the body down, leaving a band of hair around each lower leg that’s scissored into a round, puffy bracelet just above the foot. The face, feet and tail base are clipped clean, the tail is finished with a pom-pom, and the topknot is scissored round.
Ask for: “A Miami clip, fluffy body about an inch, short legs with round bracelets above each foot, clean face and feet, tail pom-pom.”
Common Mistakes
Asking for “a Poodle cut” without a name or length. Name one of these six styles and give a length in inches, so your groomer isn’t left guessing.
Skipping brushing between grooms. Poodle curls trap shed hair and mat close to the skin, often where you can’t see it. Brush down to the skin several times a week.
Choosing a fluffy style without the brushing commitment. The Teddy Bear and Miami styles look amazing but mat fastest. A Kennel or Puppy Cut is kinder if you can’t brush often.
Waiting too long between appointments. Poodle hair doesn’t stop growing, and a coat left 10 or 12 weeks often has to be shaved short.
FAQ
What is the most popular Poodle grooming style?
The Puppy Cut, followed closely by the Teddy Bear Cut. Both are easy to live with and suit Poodles of every size.
What’s the difference between a Puppy Cut and a Teddy Bear Cut on a Poodle?
A Puppy Cut usually has a clean, shaved face and feet. A Teddy Bear Cut leaves the face and feet full and scissors the head into a round, fluffy shape.
What’s the difference between a Lamb Cut and a Puppy Cut?
A Puppy Cut is one even length all over. A Lamb Cut keeps the body short and leaves the legs much longer and fuller.
What’s the lowest-maintenance Poodle cut?
The Kennel Cut. It’s short all over and can often go a little longer between grooms.
How often does a Poodle need grooming?
Every 4 to 6 weeks for all six styles here, with brushing several times a week in between.
The Bottom Line
Choose the style that fits your Poodle’s life: a Puppy or Kennel Cut for easy care, a Teddy Bear Cut for cuddles, a Lamb Cut for the classic shape, or a Modern or Miami Clip for a bit of style. Give your groomer the style name, a length in inches and your choice of face and feet, and your Poodle will come home looking exactly as you pictured. For more grooming styles, head back to Dog Grooming Styles: A Complete Guide.
