Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Grooming

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels require a medium amount of grooming. Their small size makes them pretty easy to handle so most everything can be done at home unless you choose to have them kept neat by a professional groomer. The average owner finds their Cavalier needs grooming every 4-6 weeks. This page will go over the basics of how to groom your pet including:

• Bathing
• Brushing
• Ear Care
• Dental Care
• Nail Clipping

Grooming a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may look like a difficult task but most of these responsibilities can be done at home if you have the time. This breed has a medium length, silky (and often wavy) coat that needs frequent attention. They will need to be brushed several times per week to remove shed hair and prevent tangles. Baths are recommended every 4-6 weeks. It's worth mentioning that grooming your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's feet is also important because they have a tendency to look dirty if they have white paws; plus this is technically the only trimming allowed when grooming a Cavalier for show. Trimming and styling will depend on whether your pet will be shown or simply kept as a pet. Each section will also cover the grooming tools needed for this breed.

Keep reading below for helpful tips on how to groom a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's coat.

The coat in medium length, overall, and feathered on the ears and legs-- which means it's going to be longer there so pay special attention to these areas. We recommend brushing every other day plus a weekly combing to check for tangles (which can turn into dreaded mats). This will also keep your pet's skin healthy and allow you to check for bumps, wounds, pests, etc. The best brush for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is usually a slicker brush because it does a decent job of getting out tangles, although many owners choose to invest in more of these tools:

• Slicker brush
• Pin brush
• Comb
• Furminator
• Detangling spray

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known for developing tangles on its silky coat, especially on the longer featherings on the ears and legs. The best way to prevent tangles and mats from forming is to brush your CKCS regularly--but if your Cavalier does get a hair snarl, here are two ways of dealing with them:

• Use your fingers. While it may be more difficult, this is the preferred method, as it's less damaging to the coat. Simply untangle the hairs with your thumbs and forefingers, going strand by strand if necessary. For extra-stubborn snarls, use scissors to cut them in half (or even fourths) to start the process.
• Use a de-shedding tool. Some owners use a tool like a Furminator for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat tangles or mats. The tool's fine, sharp teeth cut out dead hairs, and can cut the tangle out entirely if necessary. The problem: when using a Furminator, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels' coats will look uneven, because the tool cuts out healthy hairs along with the dead or tangled ones. Overall, using the finger method is best.

Most owners agree that your Cav will likely need a bath every 4-6 weeks. The best shampoo for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a gentle canine shampoo since any type of human shampoo can irritate the skin. Here are a few helpful tips for bath time:

• Brush and comb the medium-length coat thoroughly to make sure there are no tangles in the waves. Washing tangled fur can quickly turn them into mats, which are very hard to remove without cutting out.
• Run 2-3 inches of warm water into the tub or sink before introducing your pet to the bathing area. Rushing water may make them nervous.
• You can put cotton into their large ears to keep out the water.
• Always rinse multiple times to make sure there is no soap residue to irritate the skin.
• Dry the coat with a cool blow dryer to prevent tangles after the bath. Then, brush the coat again when dry.
• Remember to give your pet a reward to make bath time more pleasant.

Contrary to what you might think when seeing the silky, way coat there are not many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel grooming styles. Most owners, especially if the dog is being shown, do not touch the coat. With regular brushing it stays in great shape so Cavs do not need haircuts or clipping.

Sometimes trimming is necessary. For those wondering how to trim a Cavalier King Charles there is an important fact to note. Show dogs aren't allowed any trimming other than the feet. Using a pair or canine scissors to cut the hair between the toes is usually allowed. Non show dogs also often have the feathering on their ears and legs scissored. There is no specified length on this.

Some owner want their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel hair cut short, especially in the summer. Puppy cuts are popular for many breeds and offer a less attractive (but lower maintenance) style for the coat. This involves using a pair of clippers to cut the coat down to one uniform length. Be warned, a shaved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will not have the same regal look and vibrant coat color as one whose coat is left natural. The grooming styles pictures on this page should give you a good idea of the difference between a puppy cut and non shaved Cavalier.

Teeth- It's very important to avoid teeth problems for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Bacterial overgrowth in the mouth not only causes gum disease but also problems with many other organs including the heart! Put a drop of doggy toothpaste onto either a canine toothbrush or finger brush and rub along the teeth and gums daily. If you cannot commit to daily brushing, once per week is better than nothing.

Nails- Nails should be trimmed as needed-- it's good to check them every month. If you can hear the nails on the ground when your pet walks it's definitely time to cut them. You will need either a pair of canine nail clippers or a spinning file. Take a small amount off the tip until you reach a reasonable length; if you cut too far you may nick the living part of the nail which results in bleeding.