Standard Poodle Cuts

According to Standard Poodles USA, the poodle's coat is one of the most versatile, and can be shaped into a variety of styles. The style an owner chooses for his poodle largely depends on how much time he has to devote to grooming, and whether he plans to show the dog. Plenty of styles are available for those who just wishing to groom their beloved pet poodle. However, if you do wish to show your poodle, then you must clip your dog with an official show style.

  1. Puppy Show Clip

    • As the name implies, the puppy show clip is intended for poodles less than a year old. The face, throat, feet and base of the tail are shaved. The entire shaven foot is visible and a pompon is left on the end of the tail. The remaining coat is to be left long, although can be shaped to compliment the dog's form.

    Continental Show Clip and Modified Continental Show Clip

    • A continental show clip complete with hip pompons.

      The face, throat, feet and base of the tail are shaved. The hindquarters are shaved, with pompons left on the hips. The legs are shaved, with poms starting just above the wrist and hock joints and ending just above the feet. There is also a pompon on the end of the tail. The rest of the body is left in full coat but can be shaped to insure overall balance. A modified continental show clip is the same as a continental show clip, aside from the fact there are no hip rosettes with this style.

    English Saddle Show Clip

    • The face, throat, feet, forelegs and base of the tail are shaved, leaving puffs on the forelegs (starting just above the wrist joint and ending above the feet), and a pompon on the end of the tail. The hindquarters are covered with a short blanket of hair except for a curved shaved area on each flank and two pompons on each hindleg. Shaped round and spaced evenly, the hindleg's bottom pom starts just above the hock and ends above the foot. The other starts at the knee area and ends approximately 1-1/2 inch (depending upon size of poodle) above the bottom pom. The rest of the body is left in full coat but can be shaped in order to insure overall balance.

    Kennel Pet Clip

    • The face, feet and base of tail are shaved closely. Body hair is kept short all over and scissored into shape. The top knot and tail are left longer than the body hair. The overall length of the body hair is up to the owner, and can be altered depending on factors such as the weather.

    Bikini Pet Clip

    • The poodle's face, feet and base of tail are shaved closely. Body hair is left fluffy, though not too long, and is scissored into shape. The legs are shaped into a pom at the base, starting just above the wrist and the hock joints, and ending just above the feet. The length of the dog's hair is up to the owner, however, most opt for a short clip.

    Sporting Pet Clip

    • The face, feet, throat and base of the tail are shaved close, leaving a scissored cap on the top of the head. There is also a pompon at the end of the tail. The rest of the body is clipped to follow the outline of the dog, leaving a short blanket of hair approximately 1 inch long. Note, the hair on the legs may be left slightly longer than that on the body.

    Lamb Pet Clip

    • Face, feet and the base of the tail are all shaved closely. Legs are left fluffy, as well as the poodle's top knot and tail pompon. Body can be scissored to be shorter than the legs although length of hair ultimately depends upon owner preference.

    Dutch Pet Clip

    • The poodle's face, throat, belly band, feet and base of tail are shaved closely. The belly band may be shaved thin or wide. Narrow lines between the withers along the spine, and between the hips along the spine are also shaved. The top of the head, the legs and the tail are left fluffy.