Dog Hair Cut Styles

According to a poll by the Associated Press and Petside.com, 50 percent of American pet owners consider pets to be just as much a part of the family as the human family members. Therefore, it's not surprising that dog owners give dogs table food, take them on family vacations and get them haircuts. Of course, a traditional "bob" haircut won't do for Fido, but there are many options for dog-specific haircuts.

  1. The Continental

    • The Continental cut is the most popular cut for poodles. The style shows off the dog's hind legs. With this cut, the hind legs and behind are shaved. Pompoms can be kept on the hip bones if preferred. The face, legs, feet and tail are also shaved, but there are "bracelets" of fur above each paw and a pompom poof at the end of the tail. The remaining fur stays as is.

    The Puppy

    • The Puppy cut is used to get dogs used to grooming habits, as well as a standard trim for all dogs. With this cut, the fur is trimmed evenly, but kept at a longer length. Some dogs will be shaved on the face in order to see better. Poodles with a puppy cut are also shaved at the base of the tail, creating a pompom look on the end of the tail.

    The Retriever

    • The Retriever cut is common for long-haired dogs and curly-haired dogs. This cut is basically shaving the fur to about an inch long, with the face and tail even shorter. The name comes from the fact that this cut is meant to make the fur more manageable, like that of a Golden Retriever. The cut also helps to keep long-haired dogs cool in warmer climates.

    The Lion

    • The Lion cut is popular with many dogs, and even cats. Pomeranians are most recognizable with the lion cut because the color of their fur resembles that of a lion. The lion cut is when the back half of the dog is shaved very, very short (like a buzz cut) with the tip of the tail left as a pompom. The front half of the dog is left with longer fur and the legs are often shaved down with a pompom around the feet.

    The Teddy Bear

    • The Teddy Bear cut is similar to the Retriever cut, but longer. The cut is meant to keep the dog cuddly and soft-looking, but also to keep the fur clean and trimmed evenly. This cut for dogs is like "getting a trim" for humans. It's simply for maintenance and clean lines. This cut differs from the Puppy cut in that the fur is kept a little shorter than the Puppy (and longer than the Retriever) and the face and tail are shaved shorter than the rest of the body (also like the Retriever).

    Original and Unique

    • Many dog owners choose to style their dog's fur in a style that isn't traditional, like a mohawk. Dying dogs' fur has also been done. There are many different cuts suitable for different breeds, based on the breed specifics. Some dogs swim often, and some cuts are better for water speed. Ask your vet or dog groomer for cut recommendations for your dog.