Bernedoodle Haircuts for Wavy, Curly, and Easily Matted Coats
Bernedoodle haircuts start with the coat in front of you. Two Bernedoodles can ask for the same cut and walk out looking quite different: one with loose waves that fall soft and flat, another with curls that spring up, and a third that tangles behind the ears almost as soon as you finish brushing.
For Dublin doodle owners and families across the Tri-Valley, here's a guide to the most popular cuts, how wavy and curly coats change the result, and how brushing and matting affect the length you can keep.
Quick answer: a puppy cut or teddy bear cut is the easiest Bernedoodle haircut to maintain, and a lamb cut keeps the legs a little fuller. Curly coats look fluffier but usually need more brushing than wavy ones, and heavy matting can mean going shorter than you planned.
Common Bernedoodle Haircuts
These descriptions come straight from the Boops N' Bubbles grooming team's style guide, and every cut here is part of the Haircut Package:
- Puppy cut: the coat is trimmed to a uniform length throughout the body, usually short to medium, for a soft, fluffy, youthful look.
- Teddy bear cut: the body is trimmed to a medium length while the face is shaped into a round, fluffy form.
- Lamb cut: the body is trimmed short and the legs are left slightly longer, for a soft, fluffy look that suits Poodles and doodles.
- Kennel cut: the coat is clipped very short all over, a practical choice for very active households.
For many Bernedoodles, the teddy bear cut is the favorite because it keeps that soft, cuddly face, while the puppy cut is the easiest to maintain between visits. Style names are a great starting point. Bring a photo and point to the body, face, legs and ears separately, so you and your groomer agree on the actual finish.
How Wavy and Curly Coats Change the Cut
Bernedoodles are a Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle mix, and their coats range from loose waves to tight curls, sometimes on the same dog. That texture changes how a cut looks once it's finished. Some Bernedoodles carry a straighter, flatter coat, which usually tangles less but still needs that weekly brush.
A wavy coat tends to lie flatter, so a teddy bear cut looks soft and relaxed. A curly coat springs up and holds a round, fluffy shape, which makes it a natural fit for a teddy bear or lamb cut, but those curls also hide tangles near the skin.
| Coat type | Cuts that suit it | Brushing to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Loose waves | Puppy cut or a soft teddy bear cut | At least weekly |
| Dense curls | Puppy cut or lamb cut | More often than weekly |
| Mix of waves and curls | Puppy cut with a rounded face | Weekly, with extra checks on curly areas |
| Long beard that stays messy | A tidier face on any cut | A quick daily wipe and comb |
Brushing for Wavy and Curly Coats
PetMD says Bernedoodle owners should expect to brush every week and keep regular grooming appointments to stop the coat getting unruly. Curly coats tangle faster than wavy ones, so they may need brushing more often than that weekly baseline.
Brush in small sections all the way down to the skin, then follow with a metal comb. If the comb glides through, that section is done. Behind the ears, under the collar and in the armpits are the first places to check, along with the legs and feet after walks in grass or leaves.
A slicker brush and a sturdy metal comb are the two tools most doodle coats need. Lift a layer of hair with one hand, brush the layer underneath, then let the next layer fall and repeat. Brush only once the coat is fully dry, since damp curls tangle more easily.
How Mats Affect the Haircut Length
Mats decide how much length a groomer can safely keep. Light tangles can usually be worked out during the visit. Boops N' Bubbles does light dematting and, at the groomer's discretion, some spot shaving. When matting is heavy, working it all out would cause the dog serious stress, so the coat needs to be shaved down for the dog's comfort, and the team asks for your consent first.
So a coat that's matted close to the skin may come home shorter than the photo you brought, and a spot-shaved patch will look shorter than the rest until it grows in. The upside: once it grows back, it's a fresh start for the length you want, as long as brushing keeps pace with the coat. Regular grooming appointments, as PetMD recommends, are the easiest way to keep the length you love.
Choosing a Cut That Fits Your Routine
The best cut is one your household can keep up with. If several people share dog care and nobody has time for long brushing sessions, a shorter puppy cut is the realistic choice. If you enjoy coat work, a teddy bear or lamb cut with more length can work beautifully. Your dog's patience matters too: a style with full legs means a lot of leg handling, which some dogs find harder than others.
Before your appointment, it helps to:
- Notice which areas tangle first as the coat grows.
- Pick a photo with a similar coat texture, not just a similar color.
- Decide which features you want to keep longer and which can go shorter.
- Mention any spots your dog doesn't like having handled.
- Tell the groomer how much brushing you can realistically do each week.
What's Included in the Haircut Package
Every Bernedoodle haircut comes with the full package, and the by-request extras are only added when you ask for them. It's one visit for the whole routine, from bath to finished cut:
- A bath with premium shampoos
- A hand blow-dry and brush
- The haircut
- A nail trim or file
- Ear cleaning (ear plucking by request)
- A paw pad and sanitary trim
- Anal gland expression and a signature scent, both by request
Bernedoodle Haircuts in Dublin and Nearby
Grooming happens one-on-one in a fully equipped van at your door, so there's no drive and your doodle is never crated. Boops N' Bubbles offers mobile dog grooming in Dublin and nearby towns, including Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon and Danville, as well as Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo, Lafayette and Walnut Creek.
Call (925) 553-4537 with your dog's coat type, the spots that tangle most and the cut you have in mind. A quick note about recent tangles or matting helps the groomer plan the visit, and a photo of the look you like makes the conversation easy for everyone.
