Types of Doodle Haircuts Part 2 – Head, Leg, & Tail Variations (With Pics) & Common Grooming Terminology

Among the hundreds of dog breeds, there are some very specific types of grooming styles that some dogs are “supposed to” adhere to. Luckily, since Doodles are not recognized as a breed by strict breed clubs like the AKC, they can get away with pretty much any grooming style (and look great while doing it).

Despite this, it seems as though it’s a right of passage to Doodle parenthood to experience the shock of picking up a pup from the groomer’s, who…didn’t exactly look like we were expecting. (For me, it’s happened multiple times, which is one reason why I choose to groom Chloe myself now.)

If you’ve had the last straw, never step into that salon unarmed again! In this article, we aim to empower you to convey exactly what you want done on your Doodle with two things: specific grooming terminology and #inspo pictures galore! These two things will help you to avoid any misunderstandings and surprises upon pick-up. Let’s get into it!

Common Doodle Haircuts and Body Styles

For explanations and pictures galore of common Doodle haircuts and body styles, be sure to check out Part 1 of this series.

Head and Face Grooming Styles and Variations

Be sure to watch this video to follow along:

Clean Face

This is when the face, muzzle, and cheeks are all shaved very close to the skin. This is typically done on Poodles. Here is an example:

Leave Lashes

This is when the eye lashes are left long. Here’s an example:

Teddy Bear Face/Head

This is a rounded face and head styled to resemble a teddy bear. These look great with all of the Doodle haircuts, but especially the puppy cut. Here are some examples:

Topknot (TK)

A topknot refers to the top of a dog’s head. It should be round and seamlessly blended into the neck and body. A topknot for Doodles is usually a fluffy head. Here is an example of a topknot with a clean face:

Ear Styles and Variations

There is a variety of ear styles and variations that you can get on your Doodle. Some of the ear styles don’t have a standard name so be sure to bring a picture in to show your groomer what you’d like done.

Clipped Ears

This is when the ears are clipped shorter, either with a blade or clipper comb. Clipped ears allow you to be able to see the shape of the ear.

Full Ears

This is when the ears are left long and not shaved or clipped. However, full ears can still be trimmed down, layered, and can be cut blunt (straight across at the bottom), or rounded. You can also request to keep full ears but have them trimmed around the outline of the ear to expose the ear shape.

Here are some examples of full ears:

Leg and Feet Grooming Styles and Variations

Beveled Feet

This is when the hair on the foot is left long enough to match the length of the hair on the legs, such that the entirety of the leg and foot look like one column. With beveled feet, there is no real distinction between the foot and the leg, and the feet are rounded (fluffy and neat without exposing the nails) at the bottom. Additionally, beveled feet are usually associated with one of the specific Doodle haircuts, the lamb cut. Here’s an example:

Clean Feet

This is when the feet are completely shaved, exposing the nails and the entire foot up to the ankle area. Clean feet are usually done on Poodles. Here’s an example:

Pom Poms

This is a stylistic cut of a dog’s hair that look like rounded balls. Pom poms are typically placed at the bottom of the legs, just above clean feet. Pom poms can really only be done on curly, thick, or fluffy-coated dogs like Poodles and Doodles. The image below shows an example of both clean feet and pom poms.

Round Feet

This is when the hair on the feet are scissored neatly to look round and fluffy. With round feet the nails are not exposed. Here’s an image showing round feet on the dog’s left foot.

Tight Feet

Tight feet are a middle ground between clean feet and round feet. Tight feet keep the feet free from matting, but are not shaved close to the skin. Tight feet expose the nails.

Tail Grooming Styles and Variations

Physically speaking, there are a few types of tails in the dog world. As some dog breeds are expected to look a certain way, the way the tail is groomed is definitely part of the package.

But as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, Doodles can look great with pretty much any tail grooming style.

Flag Tail

A flag tail consists of around 1-2 inches of very short or shaven hair at the base of the tail. After this little gap, the tail hair closest to the body is longest and then gradually tapers off toward the tip of the tail. Doodles look great with flag tails as they really accentuate their long, luscious locks. Here are some examples:

Pom Tail

Similar to pom poms on the feet, a pom tail is when the tail has a shaved base and a ball on the end. Here’s an example of a pom tail:

Plume Tail

Plume tails can boast thick, curly Doodle hair by allowing it to billow out neatly yet beautifully. Here is an example:

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If the cut you have in mind for your pup is very specific, be sure to bring in photos for the groomer. This is the best way to avoid any miscommunications.

Don’t forget to check out Part 1 of this series for more pictures and overall of grooming styles for the body.

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