Dog Haircut Terms to Tell Your Groomer: A Plain Guide

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Few things are more disappointing than coming home to a haircut you did not want. The best defense is clear communication, and a few shared terms help.

Photos and lengths

Terms are slippery. A puppy cut at one salon may be an inch and at another two. Bring photos of the cut you like on a similar breed, and say the length you want in inches or millimetres. See dog clipper guard sizes explained.

Common terms

• Puppy cut. An even length all over, roughly 1 to 2 inches, popular for curly and silky coats. See how to give a dog a puppy cut at home.
• Teddy bear cut. Similar to a puppy cut, with a rounded, fluffy face and legs.
• Lion cut. Short body with longer hair left on the head, tail tip and sometimes legs.
• Summer cut. A shorter overall length, often 1 inch or less. Not suitable for double coats. See should you shave a double-coated dog.
• Breed cut or breed trim. The traditional style for a breed, such as a Poodle clip or Schnauzer cut.
• Kennel cut. Very short all over, for easy care.
• Sanitary trim. Short hair around the rear and genitals. See how to do a sanitary trim.
• Feathering. Long hair on ears, legs, chest and tail.
• Topknot. Hair on the head tied up in a bun or ponytail.

Techniques

• Clipper work. Using clippers with blades or guards for length.
• Scissoring. Using shears to shape and finish. See how to use grooming scissors on a dog.
• Hand stripping. Plucking dead hair from wire coats. See wire-coat grooming.
• Deshedding. A bath and blow-out that removes loose undercoat. See double-coat grooming.
• De-matting. Removing mats. See how to remove mats from dog hair.
• Blending or fading. Smoothing transitions between lengths.

Describe each area

Tell your groomer what you want for:

• Body length
• Legs, such as straight, fluffy or tapered
• Face, such as rounded, bearded or short
• Ears, such as long, trimmed or fluffy
• Tail, such as plume, pom-pom or short
• Feet, such as rounded or natural

Say what you do not want

If you want to avoid a shaved belly, a bald face or very short ears, say so. Mention if you want to keep length for sun protection or warmth.

Ask about suitability

Some styles are not good for certain coats. Ask your groomer what suits your dog's coat, climate and lifestyle. See how to identify your dog's coat type.

Check before and after

Look at your dog before the groom, and at pick-up, mention any concerns politely. A good groomer wants you to be happy.

Keeping a record

Ask your groomer to note the guard size and style used so you can repeat or adjust. Take your own photos.

A sample request

"I would like a teddy bear cut, about one and a half inches all over the body and legs, with a rounded face and ears left a little longer. Please trim the feet round, keep the tail fluffy and do a sanitary trim. I would like to avoid shaving the belly."

A request like this leaves little room for confusion, and a good groomer will confirm the details before starting.

Seasonal adjustments

In summer you may want shorter, but not shaved, to protect the skin. In winter, ask for extra length for warmth. Always tell the groomer your climate and your dog's activities. See summer grooming tips for dogs and winter grooming tips for dogs.

The takeaway

Show photos, give measurements and describe each area. Clear communication gets you the cut you imagined.