Oodles of Poodles

Just a fun little post- for Poodle owners, picking out a haircut can be both fun and difficult- unlike most breeds which have only one standard clip or a shave-down, Poodles have LOTS of options to choose from!

Here's a brief photographic look at some Poodle choices!


Show Styles

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This clip is called the Continental Clip, most people think of it as a show clip since it is one of the standard clips used in the show ring.  Other people refer to it as the "poodle look", particularly those who aren't fond of pom-poms!  This clip is rarely seen outside the show ring.

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English Saddle Clip- Another option for show ring contenders, less commonly used.  Also rarely seen outside the show ring.

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Full Puppy Clip- allowed for show dogs under 1 year old.  Slightly fancier than the "puppy clip" pet owners typically ask for, which is really a pet trim.

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Cords- they were fashionable back in the 70's or so.  Technically still allowed in the show ring, but rarely seen anywhere, in or out of the shows.

Pet Grooming

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The Continental (Modified)- A shorter, pet-friendly version.

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The Lion Clip- Sometimes called the "Sweetheart Clip"

Not commonly used, but a little less "fru-fru" than the Continental.

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The Miami or Bikini Clip- Everything shaved except head and poms.  A great summer-time option.

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The Lamb Clip/Kennel Clip (Depends who you ask.)  A very nice pet trim option.

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The German Clip- There are many variations of this, in this one you see the full ears and mustache face.

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A typical pet trim- one body length with the head piece, tail pom, and shaved feet/face look of a Poodle.  The body length can be adjusted easily.  This is the most common look for pet Poodles.

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Another type of pet trim, this time with a full round face, and no shaved feet.  This is a common look for those who like the non-shedding hair of Poodles, but don't really enjoy the "Poodle" look.

(Aly's Work)

The more traditional German Clip includes a clean face and shaved ears.  A nice masculine clip for Poodles.

Other Clips

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The European- popular for grooming competitions as it requires a great deal of hand-scissoring.

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Town & Country- Sometimes seen in pet grooming, but not popular.

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And growing ever more popular in recent years- Creative Grooming, which involves decorating Poodles to look like other animals, or works of art, using color, scissoring, and accessories.

Two lessons to take away from this:

Never tell your groomer to make your dog look "like a Poodle".

Never tell your groomer to make your dog "NOT look like a Poodle".

Poodles are the single most varied breed of groomed dog in the world!