With a Cavapoo as part of your family, regular grooming will become a part of your normal routine. The Cavapoo requires much less coat work than other hybrids such as the Aussiedoodle or the Labradoodle. Still, regular brushing and grooming is necessary to keep your dog’s coat mat and tangle-free.

Though Cavapoos can be born with a low-shedding coat, this is not always the case. To keep your Cavapoo’s coat in proper condition, you will need to invest the time and effort in keeping it looking in tip-top shape. Failure to keep up with brushing your Cavapoo can result in your dog’s coat needing to be completely shaved to remove any matting.

This process is very uncomfortable for your dog at best. If you feel that this type of coat maintenance is beyond what you have the time for, the Cavapoo may not be the best breed for you.

Cavapoo Grooming Basics

The best thing you can do to get your Cavapoo puppy primed for regular grooming is to start desensitizing your dog to the necessary tools early. Many breeders help with this process by getting puppies up on the table as early as five weeks of age. This is the ideal time to introduce a dog to things like slicker brushes and combs which will play a role in their regular grooming routine.

Teaching your Cavapoo that grooming is a regular part of life and can be a positive experience is a great way to get your dog ready for its visits to a professional grooming shop.

When it comes to nail care, many breeders and groomers like to make use of a rotary tool known as a Dremel. This handheld sanding tool helps to keep the nails short and has the added bonus of making light work of the job and preventing painful nicks of the quick which can cause the puppy to bleed.

If begun in the breeder’s home, your Cavapoo puppy should come to you already accustomed to the Dremel and ready for you to simply pick up where your breeder left off. If this is the case with your breeder, ask them to give you a quick demonstration so you can observe the process. One quick trip to the hardware store to purchase a Dremel of your own, and you are ready to go!

Some families and professional groomers prefer guillotine-style nail clippers. Dogs tend to be more resistant to this approach as it is much easier to cut the nails too short, causing pain and bleeding. However, with practice and skill, you can become quite adept at using nail clippers to keep your dog’s nails neat and tidy.

As mentioned above, regular brushing is not optional if you are the owner of a Cavapoo. Failure to brush your dog several times a week will result in painful mats and knots in your dog’s coat which are nearly impossible to work out with a comb. Even missing a day or two can lead to a coat that is beyond repair, meaning shaving will be necessary.

But beyond regular brushing, the Cavapoo’s coat is low maintenance for you as the dog’s owner. Your dog will need to see a groomer several times a year to keep its coat in good condition. But beyond that, the Cavapoo really is an easy breed to keep looking good.

Your groomer offers a number of services for your Cavapoo including:

• Regular ear cleaning

Ear cleaning is a specialized skill. Great care must be taken to do it properly, or you can cause injury and intense pain to your dog. If you plan to clean your Cavapoo’s ears yourself, it is best to ask your veterinarian to give you a lesson at your next visit. Your veterinarian will also sell the appropriate ear cleaning fluid you should use to keep your dog’s ears sparkling clean. Under no circumstances should you ever insert any object, including Q-tips, into your dog’s ear.

• Tooth brushing or scaling

Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is a vital part of ensuring your dog remains healthy. Many veterinarians provide their clients with a sample toothbrush and toothpaste to use on their dog. Unfortunately, most dogs do resist having their teeth brushed, but it is an important part of keeping your dog’s teeth healthy.

Your Cavapoo can become accustomed to having its teeth brushed if you approach doing it a little bit at a time. To do this, approach your dog with the toothbrush and gingerly brush a few teeth, paying particular attention to the gum line. When your dog allows you to brush those few teeth, praise your dog and give her a treat. That’s enough for today.

You can try a little more tomorrow. Over time, your pup will come to associate tooth brushing with its normal routine and will look forward to the treat it receives at the end.

For dogs with a more stubborn plaque problem, consider buying a dental scaler from a pet store. This will allow you to remove plaque away from the gums. This simple act will help prevent any bacteria or debris which could harbor there and begin the spread of periodontal disease.

• Nail care and maintenance

Keeping your dog’s nails short is an important part of maintaining proper foot health. You will find more information above regarding the proper care of your dog’s nails.

What Shampoo to Use for a Cavapoo

Your groomer can provide excellent recommendations regarding the best products to use to keep your Cavapoo’s coat healthy and clean. For the most part, you will not need to bathe your Cavapoo at home, so using a dog shampoo will be a far rarer occurrence than with a higher maintenance breed.

Be certain to only purchase and use a shampoo that was intended for use on dogs. Many shampoos intended for human hair contain items which are not safe for use on pets. Human hair and dog hair are significantly different and require different shampoo formulations to safely bring out the best in each hair type.

When you are on the hunt for a shampoo for your Cavapoo, take the necessary time to read the label on each bottle. It is important to know what is in the product you plan to buy. If you come across a shampoo which does not list the ingredients, it is best to move on to another type of shampoo. Some shampoos contain chemicals which will improve coat quality but have the potential to make your dog ill.

No product is worth that. It is recommended that you avoid shampoos containing these extremely toxic chemicals: include formaldehyde, sulfates, isopropyl alcohol, artificial colorings, and parabens.

With these facts in mind, it is best to avoid any products sold at department stores or pet suppliers. Your groomer is your best resource for high quality, safe shampoos for your pet.

Cleaning a Dirty Cavapoo

Cleaning a dirty Cavapoo is really no different than cleaning any other breed. A dirty Cavapoo needs a bath! Armed with your pet-safe shampoo, you can hose down your favorite pooch, lather, rinse, and repeat as necessary. It is always a good idea to use a pet-friendly leave-in conditioner on your Cavapoo’s coat and to blow dry the dog to protect the integrity of the coat. Be sure to use a brush to rake through the hair as you blow dry. This will prevent knots from forming.

Cavapoo Shedding

Yes, Cavapoos do shed. However, they typically shed less than most breeds. How much your Cavapoo will shed depends on which side of its pedigree it favors most. If your Cavapoo more closely resembles its Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent in coat type and texture, you will see far more hair shed into the environment than if your dog bears more of the genes from the Poodle.

Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic?

There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. All dogs shed. In reality, people who react to the presence of animal hair are not , in fact, allergic to the hair. Their allergic reaction is to dander. Dander is simply the pet version of dandruff. Dead skin cells and saliva become trapped in the hair of the dog. When a dog sheds, this dander is then emitted into the environment inducing an allergic response in the allergy sufferer.

Unfortunately, all animals have dander including dogs and cats. Dogs who shed less frequently may induce less of an allergic response from their owners. It is believed that since dander is trapped against the skin of dogs with low-shedding properties that the absence of dander in the home and in the air helps alleviate the suffering of those with a dander allergy.