Grooming and coat
What is a kennel cut?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A kennel cut clips the entire coat to a very short, even length, often around 1 to 1.5 cm (0.5 in), using a single clipper guard over the whole body. It is the lowest maintenance option for curly or continuously growing coats and is often used to reset a badly matted coat rather than for everyday styling.
When groomers recommend it
A coat matted close to the skin over several weeks is often faster and safer to clip down evenly with a kennel cut than to comb out section by section, since the guard length avoids scissors work near tangled, potentially sore skin and clears years of buildup in one appointment.
The trade off in maintenance
This length needs the least brushing of any style, sometimes just once a week, since there is too little coat left to mat significantly. The trade off is a noticeably different appearance from the dog's usual look, and some owners find the coat feels rougher to the touch while it grows back out.
Growing back out afterward
If the goal is to return to a fuller coat, consistent brushing from the very first week after a kennel cut, rather than waiting until the coat has visible length again, prevents the same matting pattern from simply repeating once the hair grows long enough to tangle again.
Key takeaways
- A kennel cut clips the whole coat to a short, even length, often around 1 to 1.5 cm.
- It is commonly used to reset a badly matted coat rather than as a routine style choice.
- Brushing from the first week after a kennel cut prevents the coat from matting again as it regrows.