Your golden retriever is so cute! And a bit of a chaos machine.
Mud on the couch. Wet dog smell after each walk. Hair everywhere. Including in my coffee. Then you look at him and he’s just sitting there, panting… not phased at all.
That is, of course, assuming you did not make the mistake of going out and getting a bad haircut. My neighbor’s dog looked like a little sheep that lost a fight with hedge clippers for two months.
But when it comes to a teddy bear dog haircut then it is a totally different story.
It is the cut that makes strangers stop you on the sidewalk to ask what kind of cat you have. It is the cut that looks like it would be the perfect Pinterest picture, cuddled up next to your fluffy throw pillows. It is the kind of cut that looks so cuddly and round that you want to sit on it and fall asleep.
12 ideas to help you find the style that suits your dog best, and finally get that look you’ve been saving to your board.
#1: The Classic Teddy Bear Cut — Fluffy, Round, and Absolutely Irresistible
You know that moment when your golden retriever shakes their whole body after a bath and they’re a wet mess? Now imagine the opposite of that.
This little white poodle is a full-blown stuffed animal! And the teddy bear cut is exactly why.
The cut leaves the dog’s body short and “uniform,” with the length not going much more than 1-1.5 inches, and the head round and full, like a soft pom-pom on top of a fluffy cloud. The fur around the muzzle blends into the face, instead of being clipped blunt, creating that smooshy, round-faced effect.
To achieve this look your groomer will work with curved shears on the head and a #4 or #5 clipper blade on the body to ensure there are no harsh lines anywhere.
The best part: This cut works on Poodles, Doodles, Bichons and even Goldendoodles that are part part golden girl.
Cut the face off every 4-6 weeks to keep the shape nice and round. Let it go longer and the teddy bear becomes a little feral.
If your dog wears a harness like this one, ask your groomer to keep the area around the neck and shoulders slightly shorter. It will help avoid matting under the harness.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @bathe_._
#2: The Classic Teddy Bear Cut (Round Face, Fluffy Body)
Look at this little guy. It’s hard not to fall a little in love with his round, poufy head, dark button eyes and golden cream coat, isn’t it? This is exactly what the teddy bear cut looks like when it’s done right.
This cut works by keeping the fur short – around 1-2 inches long all over the body. Then the fur is blended into a rounded, dome-shaped head. The groomer uses curved shears (not straight shears) to sculpt the face into a round ball. It’s important that the teddy bear cut does not have any harsh lines around the head.
But the most delightful part is that the fur around the ears stays full and floppy, and not shaggy, and the legs kept fluffy but neat – sort of like little cylinders. That’s the detail that most people miss.
Quick note: ask your groomer to leave extra volume at the crown of the head. That’s what gives it that stuffed animal look and makes it ridiculously cute.
This cut grows out just beautifully too, 6-8 weeks between grooms keeps it looking fresh, without looking overgrown. If your golden-doodle or poodle mix runs through your living room and you want them looking Pinterest-perfect while doing it, this is the cut to request.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @_its_stitch_bitch
#3: The Bichon Frise Teddy Bear Cut (Round Head, Clean Lines, Cloud-Like Body)
This is the type of dress that when your golden retriever walks past a small white fluffy dog, she just freezes. Still. As if she’s seen a ghost. That’s exactly the energy this dress gives off.
In this case, the Bichon Frise is rockin a classic teddy bear cut, but it looks like someone sculpted a stuffed animal! His head was sculpted into a perfect round dome, the ears were kept blended and smooth against the sides of his head and there’s no floppy ears hanging down. His body was shaped into a cute, symmetrical cut and left short, and the hair is a pure bright white that was scissor finished to remove any straggly hair.
If you want to try this at home, or just want to briefly inform your groomer, you will need curved grooming shears, a slicker brush, and whitening dog shampoo to avoid a yellow dog!
The head is rounded because the fur is scissored evenly from all sides, not just the top. And the body is also tight – only about 1-2 inches of length is allowed – so it is more like a fluffy cloud than a mop.
Ask your groomer to blend the chin fur up towards the face (rather than just trimming it flat). This will give the face a more round, stuffed-animal-like look rather than a boxy chin.
Keep the eye area trimmed short so tear staining doesn’t ruin that white coat between visits.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @poochimage
#4: The Fluffy Round Face Cut — When Your Dog Looks Like a Literal Stuffed Animal
Would you say this haircut is more or less likely to give you a “me stare” that makes you just want to melt? I would say more.
Here you can see the full teddy bear round face cut. I think this picture is the perfect example of what it should look like. The groomer kept the muzzle of the bear full and rounded but trimmed the area around the eyes just enough so we could see those dark and soulful eyes, and left the ears long and fluffy so they blend into the face. It does not have harsh lines, but one big soft fluff sphere.
The coat colour is a warm apricot-golden blend. The length of the coat is kept at a medium length of around 1.5 to 2 inches. It means the fur won’t mat after rolling over the living room rug.
And of course, that collar. We went with a brass-hardware fabric collar in a neutral tan to blend with the fur.
Keep this in mind: I asked my groomer to use curved shears specifically around the muzzle and cheeks, so they don’t get flat edges. Straight shears are used to give a sharper edge.
Well, I brush the face fur forward and then trim them. Then they have the full dome instead of flat pancake face.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @nugget_thecockapoo
#5: The Fluffy Throne Moment — Teddy Bear Cut on a Pedestal
Look at his cloud-like fur and that tongue out! But also that confident look! He knows he looks good!
This little red toy poodle is rocking a classic teddy bear cut and this whole shoot looks like it should be in a magazine! I love the ribbed wall panels in soft white-gray with a gold velvet armchair and those navy blue velvet ottomans with brass base trim. This is the perfect editorial living room for your golden to melt into.
The poodle sits on a white cylindrical upholstered pedestal. You can snag these at HomeGoods, or DIY one with a foam drum wrapped in ivory boucle fabric. The sideboard behind him has a whitewashed wood finish with rattan panel inserts, and is topped with dried flowers and a monstera plant in a matte black ceramic pot.
One thing to remember: if you cut your golden retriever like this, the fur around the ears and paws grows faster, so you should schedule a touch up every 6-8 weeks to keep the nice round, stuffed-animal shape.
Keep the face trim tight around the eyes, but leave 1.5 to 2 inches of volume on the cheeks for a teddy bear look instead of looking like a regular trim.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @mr.monkeythepoodle
#6: The Fluffy Round Cut — Classic Teddy Bear Perfection
My goldie is the one who always lay beside the sliding door, all damp from the backyard, but she still look adorable. This cut gives me such energy every day.
And this week we are showcasing none other than Pelle, a Cavapoo! We love this Teddy Bear cut! The groomer kept the body hair at about 1.5 to 2 inches curly and full and rounded the face into a little ball. Pelle’s lovely auburn coat somewhere between copper and caramel stays soft with a little length.
Ask your groomer for a round scissor finish on the face with no harsh lines around the muzzle. The ears can be blended into the cheeks. There are no defined edges to the ear flaps. The body is not shaved to the skin.
To help keep your dog’s cut looking its best, it is recommended that you brush him at least three times a week with a slicker brush before bathing. The mats that can be so quickly created behind the ears and under the armpits will kill the cut.
Bathing every 3 weeks keeps his coat bouncy in between grooming appointments which should be every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the round shape.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @pelle.cavapoo
#7: The Classic Teddy Bear Cut With a Blue Bow Tie Moment
I just wanted to stop and stare at this cut that the groomer gave my dog..
He’s got the classic teddy bear cut with all the hair trimmed to about 1-2 inches all over. He’s got that rounded head that makes every small dog look like a cute little stuffed animal you’d buy at a boutique toy shop. His coat is a gorgeous warm golden apricot color and it’s brushed out just enough to be fluffy and not crazy. The navy blue striped bow tie with a rhinestone center is so freaking cute!
The key to getting this look is to have your groomer use curved shears for the rounding of the head, (what makes this look a teddy bear cut, as opposed to a puppy cut). The face should be scissor-finished, not clipper-finished.
I clip the bow tie on to a grooming collar, not a walking collar. The groomer usually has one or you can grab one at a pet boutique or Etsy for about $8-$15. Your dog will look so pretty in his new suit that you can put him against any wood slat wall or any neutral backdrop for a Pinterest worthy picture.
Ask your groomer to leave the ears slightly longer than the body. The extra fluff on the ears gives the dog its round, soft look from any angle.
Book a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep this shape from getting shaggy.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @pawtasticgrooming_tustin
#8: The Apricot Teddy Bear Cut — Round, Fluffy, and Made for Holiday Photos
You know that feeling of delight when you sit your golden retriever in front of the camera for two seconds and he’s sitting perfectly still? Well this little poodle gives you that same feeling. Sitting right under the Christmas tree, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.
That apricot coat trimmed into a teddy bear cut is the whole moment. I love the rounded shape of her head and how even and ¾-inch her little body is! She even has a little bit of fluff on her ears.
To get this look, I recommend asking your groomer to do a “poodle teddy bear cut” with a “rounded scissor finish on the head” and a “uniform body trim between ½ to 1 inch.” I got the teal satin bow tie at Etsy or any pet boutique for less than $8.
The bow is placed on the collar line of your shirt, and not on your ear, for a polished look, rather than costume-y.
Keep the fur around the paws rounded (do not shave) to keep your bear looking full from head to toe, and ask your groomer to blend the ear fringe into the cheek fur so that your bear’s face has a very round and soft looking puff.
I have mine trimmed every 6-8 weeks to keep it tight. Any longer and it starts to lose it shape.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @pamperedpoochis_
#9: The Fluffy Round Cut That Looks Like a Literal Teddy Bear Came to Life
Your dog trots past the mirror and you give yourself a double-take. “That’s a dog?” you ask yourself, because honestly, that dog has more stuffed animal energy.
And this is a teddy bear round cut. And one of the groomer’s examples is Ziggy here. It’s basically full and rounded on the top of the head, the ears are long and feathered, and the body is cut short, just one and a half to two inches all over. She has a very iconic puff ball look.
You can recreate this at home between trips to the salon with the help of curved grooming scissors, as opposed to straight-edge scissors (rounded edges are better for the head so you have more control, and there’s less of a chance of accidentally poking yourself). The curved edge will also help you avoid creating a sharp, choppy edge.
Real talk: and your face is everything… so ask you’s groomer to leave at least 2 inches of fur on the cheeks and forehead, then blend it into the ears so it creates a round head look just like Ziggy.
And if your goldens fur is on the wavier side, this cut works better because the natural wave will help keep the round shape of the cut a little longer between trims.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @onelove.ziggy
#10: The Teddy Bear Cut That Makes Your Dog Look Like a Stuffed Animal (In the Best Way)
I know that feeling of how your heart stops when your someone picks up your golden and says “wait… is this real?” That’s the exact same feeling I got when I listened to this cut.
This is my precious Rio, a red toy poodle with the classic teddy bear cut. And I have to admit, Rio looks more cuddly than the actual stuffed bear next to him!
The cut keeps the fur round and full on the head, giving the dog its famous, and very squishable, ‘dome’. The rest of the body is trimmed to just about 1-1.5 inches, and the face is shaped into a soft circle, with the muzzle left a little fuller so it looks a little squishier.
I like his brown Dogness harness. It looks good with his coat, so it seems to be intentional.
If you’re getting your dog groomed ask for a scissor-finish teddy bear cut, not one that is clippered. Scissors give the coat a softer look and blended edge. If your golden’s coat gets matted in between appointments, brush through it with a light brush with coconut oil for dogs.
Try to trim around the eyes every 2-3 weeks to keep your dog’s round face shape clean.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @riothetoypoo
#11: The Classic Teddy Bear Cut With A Plaid Bandana Finish
I about melted when this little one came home from the groomer and I saw him all shaved!!
I don’t know about you, but my first thought when I saw this little guy was “what a teddy bear!” He has that rounded, cloud-white head, fluff-tastic ears that frame his face, and that short-but-full body trim that makes every dog look like a stuffed animal you’d find at a boutique toy shop.
The haircut itself uses a scissor-finishing around the face to create the soft, round shape. The body is clipped short with a #4 or #5 blade, and the head stays longer to keep that plush dome. And the blue plaid bandana…chef’s kiss. The styling moment that ties the look together on a purple anti-slip grooming mat.
Also, the length around the ears is important, ask your groomer to leave at least one inch of length around the ears (this length gives the face its round bear-like look, instead of a sharp show dog look).
One thing that I noticed that a lot of people don’t do is keep the little patch of fur between the eyes short. I leave it a little longer than I would the rest of the face so that the eyes have a little pop to them. They kinda look like two little buttons.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thegroomingplug
#12: The Apricot Cloud Cut — Why the Teddy Bear Look Works So Well on Doodles
This is the haircut that stops strangers in the street. My dog literally sat down on the pavement yesterday and someone stopped to stare.
This is a classic teddy bear cut on a Cavapoo and it may be one of the best I’ve seen! The groomer kept the body trim at a length of roughly 1-1.5 inches, keeping it nice and round and compact, while the face got the signature full, rounded shape, but again without any harsh lines or choppy edges, just a soft, golden-apricot cloud of a dog.
love that the green and pink striped leash goes with her warm caramel coat! i want this! And i really like the mint collar with a circular AirTag holder. very cute!
Tell your groomer to leave extra length around the ears and chin to create that “stuffed animal” effect. Trim the paws so they look like little puffy round paws from above.
The rounded face shape rounds out the eyes, making the face look softer and more open (and that’s the look every Cavapoo owner is after).
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @toni_theprincess
The One Thing Your Groomer Won’t Tell You About Teddy Bear Cuts
Here’s the secret that took me way too long to figure out: the success of the teddy bear cut depends on a pre-bath blow-dry.
A lot of people (and quite a few groomers) will bath the dog first. However, to avoid matting, the dog’s coat should be blown out before the bath. Why? Because once the coat is wet, those knots tighten up and the groomer will cut around the knots instead of through them, thus leaving the dog with an uneven, lumpy coat that does not look like the fluffy Pinterest pictures you pinned.
I learned this the hard way when my friend’s golden came home looking more like a “sad lion” than a teddy bear. The groomer was in a hurry.
It is important that the ears are left just slightly longer than the face so that the puppy has the round, toy-like head that everyone loves.
That’s the key part, and the rest will fall into place.
Your Dog Deserves a Clean Home Too
Stop waiting for the “perfect time” to give these wipes a try! Have a pack by the door and watch how much calmer your routine is. No more panic when you hear those wet paws coming down the hallway.
One small change makes a huge difference. I just keep a pack in the car and one by the front door.
And if you already spoil your little golden with good stuff, these homemade pumpkin dog treats are a fun next step – clean paws and clean ingredients too!
What’s your biggest Golden mess right now? Tell me about it in the comments! I wanna know. 😉🐾
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
