Does your dog need a new look? Check out the names and descriptions of the top seven most popular dog grooming styles.

Is your dog ready for a trim, but you’re not sure what style you want? Or does your pooch need a fresh makeover and you want its cut to reflect its personality? No matter what your dog grooming goals are, the Good Dog Hotel & Spa in Indianapolis has you covered.

Our professional groomers offer a full array of services, and they always provide them with a loving and gentle touch. Their knowledge of grooming styles and techniques is exceptional, and so we asked them to describe some of the most commonly requested grooming styles. We also asked them to address a common question about haircuts and summer heat. Check out what they had to say.

SHORTER DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN BETTER

During the summer, owners often ask if they should give their dogs a special “summer cut.” The general belief is that when it’s hot outside, a closely trimmed – or even shaved – fur will help keep them cool. “A dog’s fur helps regulate its body temperature,” says Misty Young, Good Dog Hotel & Spa Groomer. “So, a shorter haircut doesn’t necessarily make hot weather more tolerable for the dog.”

In fact, if a dog is outside for multiple hours throughout the day, a shorter haircut can mean a higher risk for sunburn. “Your pet’s coat is designed to keep it cool during the summer and warm in the winter,” says Misty. “Shaving your pet can interfere with its built-in temperature regulation.”

Remember that dogs (and cats) feel the heat differently than humans. Sweating is the way our bodies naturally cool down and regulate temperature. For dogs, it’s panting. The best way to keep them cool and calm on blistery days it to provide a steady supply of fresh water and shade. For more details, check out our recent blog about summer safety tips for dogs.

MOST POPULAR HAIRCUTS FOR DOGS

Our groomers do everything from breed-specific cuts and special requests to styles that are one length all over. Here are some of the most popular dog grooming styles.

Neaten. This is the style most often requested. We trim the feet, sanitary areas, and featherings such as the back of the legs, belly lines or the neck and chest. This is most common for double-coated breeds like golden retrievers, Australian shepherds, and great Pyrenees.

The Lamb Cut. To achieve this style, the hair on the body and neck is clipped short, leaving the hair longer on the head and legs. This is not a breed-specific haircut, but it’s often seen on poodles.

The Lion Cut. Just like it sounds, this is when the hair cut resembles a lion’s mane. Body hair is cut short, while the hair on the neck and head is left much longer in comparison.

The Puppy Cut. This is really another name for what we call a Neaten without the feathering, where the hair is cut to a uniform length all over the body. Usually, 1-2 inches of fur is left behind. Because it’s short all over, there isn’t the need for much grooming once you get home.

The Schnauzer Cut. Contrary to its name, this cut isn’t just for Schnauzers. Appropriate for large and small dogs alike, it leaves longer hair on the dog’s legs while trimming the back and sides very short. Its distinguishing characteristic is the light fringe of hair left on the lower side of the dog’s body, and a little ‘mustache’ cut around the dog’s face.

The Teddy Bear Cut. This is basically the opposite of the Lion Cut, where we trim the hair on the head shorter, but leave the hair on the rest of the body longer – it can be clipped to any length, as per the pet parent’s preference. The end-result resembles a Teddy Bear.

The Practical Top-Knot. This style is usually seen in long-haired dogs such as Lhasa Apso, Maltese or Shih Tzu. In the Top-Knot, some of the hair on the head is gathered and secured with a band or clip, making a sort of a ponytail. Hair on the rest of the body can be clipped to any length.

WHAT DOG HAIRCUTS ARE YOUR FAVORITE?

While these are the most common types of haircuts for dogs, we also have some pretty creative pet-owners who like to specify custom details or unique styles. Which styles have worked for your pet, and do you know of any special cuts that we haven’t mentioned here? We’d love to have your feedback – please leave your comments below.