The most popular cavoodle haircut is the teddy bear cut, where the coat is scissored to one even, plush length with a rounded face and full, fluffy legs. Of the 326 style-tagged cavoodle photos on Groomably, 182 are teddy bear cuts — 56%, more than every other style put together. The other cavoodle haircuts worth knowing are the puppy cut, the kennel (or summer) cut, the lamb cut, and a handful of creative touches. Which one suits your dog comes down to which parent the coat takes after, and how much brushing you’re honestly going to do between grooms.
If you’re reading this from the US, a quick note on names. A cavoodle is the same dog you’d call a cavapoo, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel crossed with a poodle. The cuts are identical, just the name changes with which side of the Pacific you’re standing on. Everything below applies to both.
Cavoodle grooming by the numbers
Groomably classified every photo in its Australian salon library. The cavoodle set is the second-largest breed group we hold, so these figures are firm:
- 1,160 cavoodle photos from 744 Australian salons — behind only the poodle (2,130).
- 325 of those photos carry a grooming-style tag, and 181 of them (55.7%) are teddy bear cuts — the highest teddy-bear share of any popular breed except the poodle, and well above the 38.6% all-breed average.
- The remainder: full groom 103, bath-and-dry 75, creative grooming 12, de-shedding 7, puppy cut 6.
- Across the whole library, 182 of the 1,845 teddy bear cut photos are cavoodles — second only to poodles (832).
Source: Groomably’s own photo classification of 18,376 salon photos from 2,099 Australian salons, analysed June 2026. A photo may carry more than one style tag.
Why coat type matters more than the style name
Cavoodles don’t all have the same coat, and this decides more about the haircut than anything you say at the counter. Some take after the Cavalier side with a softer, wavier fleece coat that forgives a missed brush. Others lean toward the poodle parent with a tighter, curlier coat that matts fast and close to the skin.
The trouble spots are the same on every cavoodle: behind the ears, in the armpits, and around the collar — the places where matts start quietly and get discovered on the grooming table. A wavy fleece cavoodle can often carry a longer style, while a curly-coated one needs either a shorter cut or a genuinely regular brushing routine. When a groomer suggests going shorter than you’d hoped, they’re reading the coat, not being difficult. Trust that read.
One note on the numbers. Groomably holds 1,164 cavoodle photos, and among the 326 style-tagged ones, full groom (103 photos) and bath and dry (75) describe the service on the day rather than a haircut shape — so the teddy bear cut’s lead over actual named styles is even bigger than it first looks. To see these coats and cuts in real life, start with the cavoodle breed page or the wider grooming gallery.
1. The teddy bear cut
This is the cavoodle haircut, full stop. One even, medium, plush length over the whole body, a face scissored into a soft round shape, ears blended into the head, and legs left full so the dog looks like something you’d win at a show bag stall. Cavoodles suit it particularly well because their faces are naturally rounder and their eyes larger than most other oodle crosses. A good teddy bear cut leans into that.
What to ask the groomer: “A teddy bear cut, one even length all over, rounded face, full legs.” Bring a photo — “teddy bear” covers a range of lengths and every groomer’s version differs. If you like a specific look from the teddy bear cavoodle gallery, save it and show them.
Maintenance: The highest on this list, honestly. That plush coat needs brushing and combing several times a week, right down to the skin, with extra attention behind the ears, in the armpits and under the collar. Regular grooms are non-negotiable to hold the shape. Our teddy bear cut guide covers keeping it looking the way it did on pickup day.
Suits which coat: Wavy and fleece coats show it off best. Curly, poodle-leaning coats can wear it too, but only with committed brushing — otherwise the fluff turns to felt underneath and the next appointment ends in a shave-off.
Photo: Divine Dog Grooming Salon, Mulgrave VIC — via Groomably
2. The puppy cut
The puppy cut is the teddy bear’s easygoing cousin: a short, even clip all over with a softer, less sculpted face — the fresh, fuzzy, just-been-a-pup look at any age. It keeps the sweet expression without the upkeep, which is why so many owners land here after one too many matted teddy bear cuts.
What to ask the groomer: “A puppy cut, short and even, easy to live with.” If brushing tends to slide down your to-do list, say so. A good groomer will go a touch shorter and buy you breathing room between appointments.
Maintenance: Much friendlier. A proper brush a couple of times a week keeps it in order, and you can stretch the gap between grooms further than the teddy bear allows.
Suits which coat: Every cavoodle coat type — nothing about it fights the coat, which is exactly why it’s the default recommendation for curly coats and busy households.
Photo: Fluff De Paws Pet Grooming Studio, Blackburn South VIC — via Groomably
3. The kennel cut (summer cut)
The kennel cut, often called a summer cut, is shorter again. The body is clipped right down while a little more length stays on the head, ears and tail so the dog still reads as a cavoodle rather than a freshly shorn lamb. It’s the practical option: quick to dry after the beach, easy to check for grass seeds, and almost impossible to matt. Plenty of Australian owners book it heading into the warmer months and go fluffier over winter — there’s no rule saying your cavoodle has to wear the same cut year-round.
What to ask the groomer: “A kennel cut, short on the body, keep some length on the head and ears so she still looks like herself.”
Maintenance: The lowest on this list. A weekly once-over with a brush is usually plenty. Just remember a very short clip means less sun protection, so no midday sunbaking for a pale or apricot cavoodle.
Suits which coat: Ideal for tight curly coats that matt easily, dogs who swim constantly, and any cavoodle recovering from a matting episode.
Before and after. Most “my dog came home so short” stories start with the coat on the left. Photo: Wooftopia Dog Grooming & Daycare, Upper Mount Gravatt QLD — via Groomably
Whichever cut you pick, it starts here. Photo: Smile Pet Salon, Ringwood VIC — via Groomably
4. The lamb cut
The lamb cut clips the body short while leaving the legs noticeably fuller and woollier, giving that fluffy-legged, lamb-like silhouette. On a cavoodle it’s a lovely compromise: a real slice of the cuddly look with most of the brushing cut out of the equation.
What to ask the groomer: “A lamb cut — short body, full fluffy legs.” Bring a photo for this one especially, because the contrast between body and legs is a matter of taste.
Maintenance: Moderate. The clipped body looks after itself, but those full legs need regular brushing, particularly where the legs meet the body — a classic matting junction.
Suits which coat: Wavy and fleece coats build the leg fullness best. A very tightly curled coat can do it too, as long as you keep up with the leg brushing.
5. Creative touches
Full creative grooming — colour, sculpted shapes, the works — is rare on cavoodles. Only 12 of the 326 style-tagged cavoodle photos on Groomably are tagged creative grooming. Most owners want their cavoodle looking like a cavoodle.
What is common is small finishing touches on top of the cuts above: a bow or bandana at pickup, a fuller topknot, or a tidy-only visit between full grooms where the face, feet and sanitary areas are neatened while the body coat grows out. That last one is quietly the most useful — it keeps a teddy bear cut presentable for longer without committing to a whole groom.
What to ask the groomer: “Just a face, feet and tidy-up today,” or ask what finishing touches they offer. Most salons will happily add a bow; ring ahead for anything elaborate.
Maintenance: Whatever the underlying cut demands. A bow changes nothing; a longer topknot needs a daily comb or it knots.
Suits which coat: Any — these are additions, not styles in their own right.
Quick comparison
| Style | Length | Brushing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teddy bear | Medium, even | Several times a week, to the skin | Wavy/fleece coats, committed brushers |
| Puppy cut | Short, even | A couple of times a week | All coat types, busy owners |
| Kennel/summer | Clipped short | Weekly | Curly coats, swimmers, hot months |
| Lamb cut | Short body, full legs | Regular attention on the legs | Wavy/fleece coats |
| Creative touches | Follows the base cut | Same as the base cut | Adding personality between grooms |
How to choose, honestly
Choose for the coat you have and the brushing you’ll actually do, not the photos you’ve saved. The most common reason a cavoodle walks out shorter than the owner wanted isn’t the groomer’s preference — it’s matting that’s gone past combing out. Once a coat is matted to the skin, clipping it off is the only humane option, and that call gets made on the table.
A well-kept puppy cut beats a struggling teddy bear cut every time. If you do want the teddy bear — and the numbers say most cavoodle owners do — go in with your eyes open about the brushing, book grooms on a regular schedule rather than “when he looks scruffy”, and consider a tidy-up visit in between. Our guide on how often you should groom your dog covers timing, and the dog grooming cost guide covers what to expect to pay.
This post covers the styles; day-to-day coat care, bathing and brushing technique live in our companion cavoodle grooming guide. When you’re ready to pick a look, browse real results on the cavoodle breed page, take a couple of photos to your appointment, and be straight with your groomer about your routine. You’ll both be happier with what comes off the table.
