Top 7 Grooming Styles to Give Your Dog a New Look

Arguably the most popular request in modern grooming salons, the Teddy Bear Cut leaves the hair approximately 1 to 2 inches long evenly across the entire body. The groomer meticulously scissors the face and paws into soft, rounded shapes, giving the dog a cuddly, stuffed-animal appearance. It is exceptional for Doodles, Pomeranians, and Shih Tzus, offering a great balance between a fluffy aesthetic and manageable brushing.

Often confused with the Teddy Bear, the true Puppy Cut is slightly more utilitarian. It involves clipping the hair to one uniform, short length all over the body—usually around half an inch. Despite the name, it is perfectly suited for adult dogs. It completely eliminates the risk of matting, keeps the dog cool, and drastically reduces the time you need to spend brushing them between salon visits.

A classic crossover from the Poodle world, the Lamb Cut features a shorter, velvety clip on the main body (the torso and back) while leaving the hair on the legs longer, fluffy, and perfectly blended. This creates a stylish, athletic silhouette while providing extra warmth and padding around the leg joints. It is highly functional for active dogs that still want a touch of elegance.

The Kennel Cut is the ultimate low-maintenance, high-action style for curly or single-coated dogs. The groomer takes the clippers down very close to the skin across the entire body, leaving just enough hair (usually a quarter-inch) to protect the skin from UV rays and sunburn. It is ideal for dogs that swim frequently, hike in heavy brush, or live in intensely hot climates.

If you have a drop-coated breed like a Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, or Shih Tzu, the hair on their head can quickly grow into their eyes, causing corneal irritation and tearing. The Topknot style keeps the body hair at a manageable length while letting the crown hair grow long enough to be gathered into a stylish hairband or bow. It keeps their vision clear while maintaining their signature breed look.

This is the holy grail for double-coated breeds (like Golden Retrievers or Australian Shepherds). The groomer does not touch the clippers to the dog's back. Instead, they use thinning shears to trim the "feathers" (the long wispy hair on the back of the legs, belly, and tail), tidy up the feet (the "Grinch toes"), and perform a sanitary trim around the rear. It perfects the dog's natural silhouette without compromising their biological coat structure.

A dramatic, head-turning style where the back half of the dog's body, legs, and tail are shaved close to the skin, leaving a large "mane" of fluffy hair around the head, chest, and a small pom-pom at the tip of the tail. While most commonly associated with Löwchens and Poodles, it is occasionally used on heavily matted Pomeranians or Persian cats. (Note: Only request this if your dog has an appropriate, non-double coat).