Teddy Bear Cut for Poodles And Doodles

Most Poodle and Doodle owners choose the breed at least in part for their non-shedding and hypoallergenic characteristics. Who doesn’t want to enjoy the love and company of a four-legged friend without ever having to worry about vacuuming and finding hair on all clothes?

As every Doodle owner knows though, this non-shedding does not equal no-maintenance! A Poodle’s and Doodle’s hair is always growing, and it needs regular grooming to stay clean, soft and without mats and tangles.

Today we want to look at one of the most popular cuts for Poodles: The adorable Teddy Bear Cut.

What is a Poodle Teddy Bear Cut?

Poodles have been groomed in a variety of ways ever since they became a popular companion and show dog. Poodles originally were hard-working water retrievers and their curly coat was kept short and easy to maintain for hunters. Nobody had time to brush out their Poodle after a long day of duck hunting!

Nowadays they rarely work in their original breed’s purpose anymore. Instead, they are beloved companions and show animals. We have time and resources to make them look as cute or fancy as we like!

The teddy bear cut is a Poodle or Doodle cut in which the hair is kept at about 1-2 inches long at all parts of the dog’s body, including the face. Traditional Poodle cuts have the face shaved closely to the skin. If shaved, the face looks more serious, regal and show-dog like.

In the teddy bear cut however, the hair on the face is left at the same length as on the rest of the body. This softens the face of the dog and makes him look puppy-like – or like a teddy bear. Skilled groomers will be able to shape the coat in a way that it looks very even and smooth and the dog appears to have round features, just like a teddy bear.

How do you give a teddy bear cut?

Brush the Poodle or Doodle well, so that no tangles or mats are left. Use shampoo and conditioner to clean and soften the coat, then blow-dry it.
(This is really important: Do not wash a dog before you have not brushed him, and do not try to trim a dirty dog’s coat. Brush and wash always needs to come first!)
Using high-quality clippers, start with clipping the neck and back.
Clip the dog’s legs, belly, chest and the rest of his body.
In order to really perfect the teddy bear cut, use scissors to neaten up the coat. Be very careful to not cut your dog or make a dent into his coat!
Ears can be difficult to get right in the beginning. Take extra time to carefully work around the ears.
As a last step, give the head the characteristic round shape. This will take some practice and will probably not look perfect right away. The more often you do it, the better you will get!
Using a slicker brush, fluff up the dog’s coat. Apply perfume or deodorant if you’d like, Voila – your teddy bear look is ready.

How often do you need to give your Poodle a teddy bear cut?

If you want your pup to always look freshly groomed, plan to give him a cut every 4 weeks. If you do not mind a bit of a grown-out look, then every 6-8 weeks will also be sufficient.
(You can start trimming your Poodle puppy when they are young – this way they’ll get used to it and easily accept the grooming)

In the beginning you should aim to clip less hair and go slowly. Many owners initially cut off too much hair and are upset that their dog does not look like they envisioned.

Of course, that does not mean that you do not need to brush your pup in between. A Poodle or Doodle with a teddy bear cut should be brushed at least 2-3 times a week. If your dog spends a lot of time outside with you or plays wildly with other dogs, you should brush him every day.

What is the difference between a puppy cut and a teddy bear cut?

Puppy cuts and teddy bear cuts refer to the same style of cut. It means that the hair is the same length at all parts of the body. Even adult dogs will look puppy-like with this style. The softness of their features appears to be that of a young dog.

Owners often get asked how old their puppy is – even if it is an 8 year old dog in a teddy bear cut!

Can other breeds have this hair cut?

Yes! The teddy bear cut is very popular among a variety of small breeds with curly hair, such as the Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, Cocker Spaniel or Maltese or Maltipoo. Below you can see a Bichon with a teddy bear cut:

How much does a teddy bear cut cost at the groomer’s?

If you are not ready to try out your own hand at giving your Poodle a teddy bear cut, don’t worry – groomers are well-versed in giving your dog this look! For a small to medium sized pup, expect to pay around $30-$50. The exact price will depend on your area, your dog’s coat as well as how well-maintained his hair is.

(The more tangled and dirty, the more it will cost.)

For a large dog like a Standard Poodle the price might be as high as $90.

The Bottom Line

The teddy bear cut is a highly popular cut for Poodles and Doodles. Dogs look adorable with their puppy-like features. In addition to being cute, this cut also is low-maintenance compared to e.g. keeping a Poodle in a show coat.

Your local groomers will be happy to give your pup this cut. If you want to try it yourself, don’t worry: It is not so hard and practice makes perfect. Many Poodle owners learn how to groom at home – over the lifetime of your dog this can save you a lot of money and trips to the groomer.