Teddy bear cut for dogs: what it is and how to ask for it
A plush body, a round face, and ears blended into the cheeks. What a teddy bear cut is, the short version, and how much brushing it takes.
A teddy bear cut leaves your dog's body at about three quarters of an inch to an inch and a half and scissors the face into a full, round shape, so the head looks like a stuffed bear's. Some groomers call it a bear cut or a teddy cut. The name isn't standardized, so the lengths are what to ask for.
What a teddy bear cut looks like
The face does most of the work. The muzzle hair stays long enough to round off, the eyes are cleared so your dog can see, and the ears are blended into the cheeks or left a little longer. The body, legs and tail are clipped or scissored to one plush length, with the legs left slightly fuller. The feet are rounded off, and the hair between the pads is trimmed out.
Which dogs suit a teddy bear cut?
Dogs whose hair keeps growing: goldendoodles, bernedoodles, cavapoos, Shih Tzus, Maltese, Bichons, Yorkies and poodle mixes. A coat that sheds and stops at a set length, like a lab's or a golden retriever's, can't be shaped into it. Shih Tzus have a few extra options, covered in Shih Tzu haircuts.
Short teddy bear cut
A short teddy bear cut takes the body down to around half an inch and keeps the round face. It's the usual choice for dogs who don't get brushed every few days, and for summer. At that length the body matches a puppy cut and only the face is different. Puppy cut vs teddy bear cut compares the two side by side.
How much upkeep does a teddy bear cut need?
More than a puppy cut. Brush down to the skin several times a week, especially behind the ears, in the armpits, and along the collar line, where mats start. Comb the face every day or two, since food and tear staining collect in the longer muzzle hair. Most dogs in this cut come back every four to six weeks. Hair grows about half an inch a month, so by eight weeks the round shape is gone.
How to ask your groomer for a teddy bear cut
Bring a photo of a dog with a coat like yours and give a body length in inches. Then say how you want the ears (long, short, or blended) and the tail (natural or rounded). If your dog is matted at drop-off, the cut may have to go shorter, because scissoring needs hair that can be combed straight. Your groomer tells you before starting.
At Barky Mountain in Lone Tree, a full groom with a teddy bear cut starts at $85 for a dog up to 20 pounds and $110 for 20 to 50 pounds (all sizes). Doodle owners can read how we handle curly coats on our doodle grooming page, or book a groom.
Common questions
What is a teddy bear cut?
A dog haircut that leaves the body at about three quarters of an inch to an inch and a half and scissors the face full and round, so the head looks like a stuffed bear's.
Is a bear cut the same as a teddy bear cut?
Usually, yes. Groomers use bear cut, teddy cut and teddy bear cut for the same look, so give your groomer a body length in inches and a photo.
How long does a teddy bear cut last?
About four to six weeks. Hair grows roughly half an inch a month, so by eight weeks the round face has grown out and mats are hard to avoid.
