Poodles are elegant, intelligent, and beautiful dogs. The Poodle is known for its distinctive coat, which comes in different colors, patterns, and haircuts. Their fur is soft and often grows long.
If you have a Poodle that needs a haircut at home, there are many cuts you can give them. While most Poodle haircuts might appear daunting, you only need clippers and a regular brushing routine.
Here are 27 of the best Poodle haircuts.
Before you read this list of Poodle haircut styles, check out: The Best Poodle Insurance! (2023) and 6 Fun Games to Play With Your Poodle! (2023).
1. Summer Cut
When done correctly, the summer cut makes your Poodle appear like they’re wearing a fuzzy wetsuit.
The summer cut aims to ensure that Poodles enjoy the summer heat without having any tangles in their curly hair or overheating.
The groomer will trim the dog’s entire body hair to around one inch, except the head and ears. To achieve that distinctive summertime appearance, you must keep the hair around the paws shorter. Additionally, the groomer trims the tail’s hair but leaves a tip intact.
2. Lion Haircut
The lion haircut is ideal for little Poodles, and it’s set aside by the sleek appearance of the hairless legs and fluffy pom-poms that sit atop each paw.
The groomer may also cut an additional pom-pom above the back leg near the tail. It would be best if you trimmed the tail’s tip round to keep the rest of the dog’s hair longer.
Most dog owners won’t be able to give their pets such an elaborate haircut on their own, so you should look for a professional groomer to do the job.
3. Kennel Cut
The kennel haircut gives a close shave to your pet’s feet, face, and tail base. The dog’s body hair is left short and clipped to achieve a perfect look. Cut the hair on the dog’s head and back shorter than the rest of the body.
Like other summer Toy Poodle haircuts, the style requires little maintenance. How short or long the body hair is depends on the type of razor and your Poodle’s age. A seven-bladed saw is ideal for this haircut.
4. Urban Poodle Cut
The urban Poodle cut is popular with dog grooming competitions. The groomer considers the breed’s distinctive body form when shortening a Poodle’s coat.
The aim is to pull out a sleek, fashionable style that complements the Poodle’s physique. The groomer then brushes the hair on the tail, head, and legs to give them a fluffier appearance.
5. Plush Toy Cut
The plush toy cut looks fantastic when worn by a Toy Poodle.
It’s one of the simplest haircuts for Poodles because it requires cutting all the hair on the puppy’s body the same length, typically one and a half inches. After that, a quick brush will make it look fluffier.
6. Puppy Clip
The puppy clip is a new and straightforward cut ideal for small puppies. The style entails keeping the puppy’s hair in all areas to a uniform length.
If you have access to high-quality clippers and a pair of shears, you should be able to handle this one on your own. Although some groomers insist on a pom on the tail, you can experiment with different lengths and tailor it to your dog’s style.
7. Teddy Bear Cut
The teddy bear cut is similar to the puppy cut, but you should keep your puppy’s facial fur longer than the rest of the body. Remember, the aim is to give the puppy’s face a fluffy teddy bear appearance.
Additionally, because other Poodles may not be able to pull off the charming appearance, this haircut is best for smaller Poodles. The teddy bear cut is also an excellent choice for beginner groomers.
8. Bikini Clip
This cut is an all-around style and also practical. The style entails trimming the hair on the dog’s tail, face, and feet while keeping it at a fair length.
You can also give your pet a pom at the tail end and close to the feet. While Poodle owners might well be able to achieve this look at home with a pair of scissors, it’s okay to rely on a professional groomer.
It would help if you made it a habit to give the Poodle a good brushing once every two weeks to prevent tangles and maintain its fluffy appearance. For Poodles with skin issues, the trim is a great pick. The shorter hair allows the owner accessibility to the skin for medication application.
9. Modern Clip
The modern cut is among the best Poodle haircut styles for dog owners who want a stylish look but aren’t ready to commit to a lion cut. The idea of the modern cut is to highlight your pet’s natural traits, so there is no need for intricate shaving or cutting.
It involves trimming the hair on your dog’s face and body, giving them a clean look while still allowing their curls to show through. In contrast to other basic trims, the modern cut permits the dog to maintain its hair’s volume, giving it a majestic and refined appearance.
You should go to a professional groomer to get the best possible result from this cut. The modern cut is one of the most eye-catching Poodle haircuts, yet it is also one of the lowest-maintenance options.
10. Pony Cut
The pony cut is a less popular style for Poodles but easy to understand. The style involves keeping the hair on the dog’s neck, tail, and feet much longer than the rest of its body to achieve a pony’s mane.
11. Town and Country Cut
The town and country cut is elegant and fashionable. The goal is to leave your dog’s hair as natural as possible to draw attention to the head and legs. Your dog’s legs will appear cylindrical, but ensure to use sharp scissors to do it perfectly.
12. Fifth Avenue Cut
Although it is not a traditional Poodle haircut, the Fifth Avenue cut is stylish. It is comparable to a town and country cut, except the dog’s front knees are shaven, and the front feet should look like a poof.
The poof at the end of the dog’s tail isn’t quite as apparent, and the hair on its back is shorter. The groomer will also trim your dog’s waist, but the outcome will be sleeker.
13. Corded Cut
If you don’t have much grooming experience, you should avoid attempting the corded cut because it is one of the most difficult.
To achieve the corded style, you must first let your dog’s hair grow long and then dreadlock it. Your Poodle will have a distinct appearance because corded cuts are uncommon nowadays.
14. Cupcake Cut
The cupcake cut is similarly uncommon but far less challenging to attain. The dog’s face is the most critical part of this haircut since the groomer should style the ears to give them a cupcake appearance.
Whereas this style is more straightforward than a corded cut, it still shouldn’t be done by a person with minimal grooming skills since trimming around the dog’s face is tricky.
15. Winter Cut
You should think about the winter cut for your Poodle if you reside in a region that experiences lengthy, harsh winters. You need your pet to have long, even hair all over its body to stay warm in cold months.
Since this isn’t a show-dog haircut, pulling this off isn’t necessarily challenging. If this is your first time trimming and grooming your Poodle, the winter cut is a fantastic option.
16. Royal Dutch Cut
This style is distinctive in that it entails trimming your dog’s face, neck, and waist to create a band and then styling the remaining hair into a popping poof.
The groomer styles the hair to resemble the typical baggy pants. The haircut is ideal for Poodles of any size as it strikes a nice balance between shorter and longer lengths.
17. Jacket and Pants Cut
The jacket and pants haircut is one of the unique styles for mid-sized Poodles. It entails shaving your Poodle’s belly and neck while leaving hair on its legs and tail to resemble a jacket and a pair of jeans.
Although this style will appeal to most Poodle lovers, it’s less common because of how much hair you must trim to pull off the unique appearance.
18. Bob Cut
The bob cut focuses on your Poodle’s hair and ears. To achieve this look, you trim the dog’s head to give them a bob haircut appearance. For better results, you should let the hair on your dog’s head and ears grow to a uniform length since it will permit you to shape the hair into a classic bob look.
19. Bolero Cut
This style is an adaptation of the Fifth Avenue cut. However, you will trim your dog’s front and back legs.
A common blunder with this style is leaving too much hair on the Poodle’s body or having a particularly thick patch of hair on the belly unshaven. Both of these things have the potential to make it appear like you gave your dog a town and country haircut.
20. The Sporting Clip
The sporting clip involves keeping the dog’s hair shorter on the feet, face, tail base, and throat.
The groomer trims the dog’s head to look like a cap. They will cut the remainder of the puppy’s body and the legs according to its physique. The groomer also must keep the legs’ hair longer than other parts.
21. Modified Continental Cut
The modified continental cut is one of the most common summer Toy Poodle haircuts. It is a shorter cut with a slight fringe around the face and ears.
You cut the rest of the fur into even layers except around the face. The length will vary depending on your Poodle’s size.
22. Short Cut
Short-haired puppies aren’t common, but it’s still a viable option from an aesthetic standpoint because it prevents the buildup of knots, matting, tangles, and grime in the coat.
The short cut is one of the most common summer Toy Poodle shortcuts in warmer climates. It’s an excellent alternative for owners who can’t take their pets to the groomer as often as they’d like.
The groomer shortens the puppy’s hair in all areas to a uniform length. Pulling off this style on a Toy Poodle and a Standard Poodle is possible. However, this could make the dog chilly and shouldn’t be an option during the winter.
23. English Saddle Cut
With this haircut, the groomer gives a short trim to the hair on the dog’s head. The ears are left longer than the rest of the body and trimmed into an arch shape. The chest area is left thick, so it doesn’t appear too thin compared to the rest of the body. The hair around the belly area is also left longer.
The main advantage of this cut is that it allows your puppy’s natural beauty to shine through without requiring you to spend too much time grooming it. So, this cut might be the perfect pick for your Poodle if you’re looking for a low-maintenance style.
24. Princess Cut
The princess cut is a popular haircut for Poodles because it gives them much more freedom of movement while still making them look good.
The basic idea is to clip away any excess fur around the neck, ears, belly, and tail until roughly half an inch from the skin. You can also cut away extra fur from around the eyes and trim any remaining hair on top of the head until it’s even with the length at its base, usually 1/4 inch.
25. The Royal Tail
This style draws attention to your dog’s face and legs. It also highlights their tail with a lovely pom-pom.
The Poodle’s paws are styled with pom-poms, whereas the remainder of the body is kept short. The groomer then brushes the hair on the dog’s head and tail to achieve a fluffy appearance.
26. German Cut
The German cut is one of the trendiest male Poodle haircuts and features longer strands. The haircut is also a perfect fit for puppies suffering from ear infections.
The style involves shaving the dog’s ears while keeping the hair on the tail, back, and belly short. While it might look like a simple cut, it’s beneficial for Poodles with sensitive or dry skin around their ears since it removes excess hair.
27. Tassel Cut
The tassel cut involves shaving the entire ear region except for the tips. Depending on your preferences, you may keep your Poodle’s body hair short, medium, or longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most common questions Poodle owners ask about the various haircuts.
The teddy bear cut is the best style for Poodles. The style requires you to shorten the hair on the puppy’s body and leave a longer one on the head and tail.
Be specific about how much fur you want on your puppy and why. Don’t just say “trim” or “short” because that could mean different things to your groomer.
If you want your dog’s hair to be shorter than it is, make that clear. Leave it to the professional if you don’t mind how short it gets. Inquire if the groomers have tips for keeping your dog clean at home between baths and what dog shampoos they recommend.
A traditional Poodle cut is a haircut often associated with the breed. For instance, the lion cut is the most common style among the Poodles. It involves shaving everywhere but leaving the puppy’s face, ears, shoulders, paws, and tail uncut.
The style works well for all types of coats except for long coats or heavily feathered coats, which would require frequent grooming.
It would be best to give your Poodle a haircut every four to eight weeks, depending on how long you want your dog’s hair to grow.
Your puppy hair will become entangled in the coat if you don’t trim your Poodle. Your dog’s skin and coat will become unclean and prone to illnesses if you don’t cut and groom it regularly.
You can prevent health and skin problems by brushing your dog’s hair daily and taking them for frequent grooming visits.
Conclusion for “Best Poodle Haircuts”
Poodles are among the most popular dog breeds worldwide because they are intelligent and friendly. They also come in different sizes and colors, making them an excellent choice for those looking for a companion that will fit into any lifestyle or home.
They’re particularly famous for their grooming needs because of their long coats, but you can keep your pet looking good by brushing them regularly and trimming their fur.
The Poodle’s unique grooming needs might be too complex for novice groomers. However, with our guide on the best Poodle haircuts, it shouldn’t be much of a hassle.
For more guides similar to this list showing Poodle haircuts, check out:
- 8 Best Poodle Mixes! (2023)
- Poodle Tails: To Dock or Leave Naturally? (2023)
- Pros and Cons of a Poodle with Long Hair! (2023)
Learn more by watching “TOP 5 Poodle Hairstyles ( The Barkber Shop )” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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