Author: Peter Laskay

Owning a Poodle carries many miracles. This breed is highly intelligent, obedient, and easy to potty train. They are great for first-time dog owners or those who have other pets in the home because of their low-shedding coats.

However, although they don’t shed, they still require grooming. Their coat can become matted and tangled if left without regular brushing and trimming. This is where the teddy bear cut comes in – it’s a haircut that keeps their coat short and easy to manage.

In this post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the teddy bear cut for poodles, including how to make the cut, how often to do it, and what the differences are between the teddy bear cut and the puppy cut.

Why do Poodles need trimming?

I’m almost sure that everyone recognizes the Poodles’ curly hair. Unlike many dogs, they have only one coat; this is called a single coat. It is composed of harsh, dense, and curly hair. This layer protects the dog from dirt, insects, and UV rays. It also keeps the Poodle warm in cold weather and cools in hot weather.

In terms of colors, Poodles come in many shades, such as white, black, brown, apricot, cream, silver beige, and more.

Poodles do not have an undercoat, so their coat does not shed. However, this does not mean that they do not require grooming. Their coat can tangle and mat if it is not brushed regularly and trimmed correctly.

Teddy Bear Cut is not only popular but easy to master for first-time groomers.

What Is The Teddy Bear Cut?

Poodles were originally bred as working dogs, so they needed a coat that protected them from the elements while they were swimming. But these coats were short so owners could maintain them easily.

After a while, this breed became one of the most popular show dogs. People began to experiment with different cuts and styles.

The teddy bear cut is a popular haircut for many breeds of dogs, but it is most commonly seen on Poodles. As the name suggests, this cut gives the dog’s coat a teddy bear-like appearance.

There are a lot of poodle-cut styles.

In the traditional poodle cut (also referred to as the continental cut), the hair is clipped short on the base of the tail, face, throat, feet, and some parts of the rear body.

This style is really hard to maintain, and I don’t recommend it to beginners.

However, in the teddy bear cut, the hair on the dog’s face is left long and is often trimmed into a teddy bear-like shape.

The rest of the coat is also trimmed short but not as short as in the traditional poodle cut. This style is much easier to maintain, and it is also adorable.

There are other Poodle styles such as the puppy cut, and the lamb cut.

How To Make The Teddy Bear Cut?

As I wrote before, all dog parents can learn this style. If you follow the below steps, you will cut your Poodle’s hair like a pro.

Get all the necessary accessories and tools.

Before starting to trim your Poodle’s hair, you need to get all the necessary accessories and tools.

You will need:

• Dog shampoo: Before the trimming, it’s worth bathing your dog. This way, the coat will be clean, and easier to handle. It is important to use a dog shampoo because it is designed specifically for dogs. Human shampoo can be too harsh for their skin. You can also use a conditioner or detangler.
• A grooming table: A grooming table is not necessary but it will make your life much easier. If you don’t have one, you can use a regular table or even the floor. Just make sure that your dog is comfortable and cannot move around too much.
• A good pair of dog grooming scissors: For the delicate parts (eyes) I recommend using a pair of scissors. Please be careful, because you can hurt your pup with these tools.
• A slicker brush and a bristle brush: They do an amazing job in terms of removing tangles and mats.
• A comb: It may help you to part the hair and get a straight line while trimming.
• Hair clippers: You need the best possible clipper for your Poodle with a durable and sharp blade set. You should also use guide combs to achieve the correct cut length.
• A towel: Primarily you use it for drying your Poodle’s coat after the bath.
• A blow-drier: If you don’t have one, you can skip this step. But if you do have one, it will make your job easier because a blow-drier can help to remove the water from the coat quickly. Be sure to use it in a cool setting, because you don’t want to burn your pup’s skin.

Step 1: Brush and Bathe your Poodle’s coat

As I wrote before, it is important to brush and bathe your Poodle’s coat before trimming. With brushing, you will get rid of some of the dirt and debris, plus, the coat will be clean and tangle-free.

When bathing your pup, use the proper dog shampoo and conditioner to achieve better results.

Step 2: Dry your Poodle’s coat

After bathing your Poodle, you need to dry its coat. You can use a towel or a blow-drier (on a cool setting) to remove the water from the coat quickly.

Step 3: Clipping

• Now it’s time to start clipping the coat. I recommend using hair clippers with a number 4 or 5 guide comb.
• Start from the back of the neck and move down to the base of the tail. Clip the hair on both sides evenly.
• When you reach the base of the tail, move to the hind legs. Be very careful while clipping the hair around the genitals because you can hurt your pup.
• After finishing with the hind legs, move to the front legs and clip the hair on both sides evenly. Don’t forget to cut the hair on the chest too.
• You can use scissors to make the perfect shape everywhere. Just be careful not to hurt your pup.
• For the ears, you can also use scissors or the clipper on a lower speed level. You should aim for the same length as on the body.
• Lastly, you can move to the head, which is the hardest part.  Start from the back of the head and move towards the eyes. Be very careful while trimming the hair around the eyes because you can hurt your pup.
• When you reach the eyes, move to the muzzle. For the muzzle, I recommend using scissors because it is easier to make a straight line with them.
• You can use the clipper on a lower speed level to trim the hair around the mouth. Just be careful not to hurt your pup.
• When you finish with the head, you can check if everything is even and trimmed nicely. If not, you can always go back and fix it. You should aim for the characteristic rounded shape.
• Nothing will be perfect for the first time, but with some practice, you will get there.

How often should you give this Teddy Bear Cut to your Poodle?

Ideally, you should give this cut to your Poodle every 4-6 weeks. Of course, it depends on how fast the hair grows and how much you want to maintain your dog’s look.

If you are not planning to show your pup, then you can do this cut less often.

But you have to take brushing seriously and do it 2-3 times a week. If your Poodle goes outside regularly, then you should check its coat every day for dirt, debris, and tangles.

How Much Does this Teddy Bear Cut Cost?

The teddy bear cut costs around $50 on average. Of course, the price can differ depending on the salon, the area you live in, and how experienced the groomer is.

If you want to save some money, then you can learn how to do this cut by yourself. It takes time and practice, but it is worth it.

Final Words

The teddy bear cut is a popular style for Poodles. It gives them a cute and fluffy look that everyone loves.

If you want to give this cut to your Poodle, be sure to brush and bathe its coat first. Then, you can start clipping the hair.

Remember to be very careful while trimming the hair around the eyes and mouth. And don’t forget to give your Poodle this cut every 4-6 weeks.