Dog Haircuts - Types and Examples

During certain times of the year, like summer, many people consider trimming their dog's coat to help keep them cool. However, this doesn't help every dog — in fact, for most of them it can actually be quite harmful.

A dog's coat is very important and requires specific care. That's why, at Soy un Perro, we want to explain which breeds it's a good idea to trim (never shave) and the different types of dog haircuts that exist.

When should a dog's coat be trimmed?

A dog's coat doesn't just protect them from the cold in winter — it also acts as protection against the sun's rays in summer, preventing burns. That's why when we trim certain breeds' coats to keep them cool, we're actually doing the exact opposite.

Given this issue, it's extremely important to make sure we can trim our dog's coat without any negative consequences. We shouldn't treat our furry friend as if they were human, because they're not. What works well for you can be a problem for them.

That said, although they're a minority, there are some dog breeds that need, or for which it's advisable, to trim their coat, mainly for comfort and hygiene. To know if your dog is one of them, you need to know what type of coat they have, or consult your vet.

You should also remember that, although it's possible to trim your dog's coat at home, you need to be very careful, since it requires basic knowledge so you don't risk your friend's health or damage their skin. The best option is always to go to a professional groomer.

Which breeds can have their coat trimmed?

First of all, you should never shave a dog completely bald. You should always leave at least a few centimeters of coat to protect them from the sun. Also, if you shave them, you'll disrupt the dog's natural balance, since their body is designed to self-regulate its temperature using its coat.

Heavy-coated breeds, like the Chow Chow, Spitz breeds, some Golden Retrievers, and so on, shouldn't be trimmed, as strange as that may sound. Otherwise, besides leaving them unprotected, you'll weaken their coat and it'll stop growing back properly.

The same goes for short, wire-coated dogs, such as German Shepherds, Huskies, Belgian Shepherds, and Alaskan Malamutes, for example. These dogs should never have their coat trimmed, as they'd be left unprotected against cold and UV rays.

Then there are some coat types and breeds that do allow for trimming, such as the Bichon, Schnauzer, Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Fox Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Airedale Terrier, Dachshund, and so on. What sets these breeds apart from the others is that their coat keeps growing year-round.

Since this last group's coat growth is constant, two or three trims a year will do them a lot of good. In fact, these trims don't have to line up only with the hot months, even though that's the most common time to do it.

The most common haircut styles by breed

Below we show the most common styles by breed. That way, you can make your canine friend even more handsome, as long as you've carefully considered their traits and asked your vet whether their coat can be trimmed.

Continental haircut

The Continental

This is the most popular style for Poodles. It features cute pom-poms at the ankles on all four legs. The upper body and abdomen are left bare.

Westie cut

Westie cut

In this case, the coat is left very short, sometimes even shaved. However, the beard and eyebrows are only lightly trimmed. This look is typical of the West Highland White Terrier breed.

Puppy Cut

Puppy Cut

Yorkshire Terriers usually look adorable with this style. It involves trimming the coat down to just a few centimeters, similar to how they look as puppies.

Pekingese Cut

Pekingese Cut

Although, as the name suggests, this style is typical of the Pekingese breed, many other small breeds also sport this look.

To achieve it, the coat is left to grow until it resembles the long, drooping ears of a Pekingese. Then the legs are lightly shaved, and that's it!

Lion Cut

The Lion Cut

In this case, the breed that takes center stage with this cut is the Pomeranian, since the color of their coat already resembles a lion's mane. The hindquarters are left almost shaved, with a little fur left, similar to the Continental cut but without the pom-poms.

The most distinctive feature of this style is that the hair on the head and chest is left long, mimicking a lion's mane. That said, Pomeranians aren't dogs that need their coat trimmed, so it's not really advisable. Their natural coat already looks like a lion's mane!

Cupcake Cut

Cupcake Cut

Although this look isn't very well known, it's worth including here for how cute it is. It's a specific cut for dogs with lots of fur, a rounded head, and small size, like poodles. The result gives a fluffy look to the head and ears.

Country Cut

Typical of North America, this style is marked by a striking contrast between the legs, with quite a bit of coat left in a gradient trim, and the rest of the body, which is left short.