How to groom a cavalier King Charles spaniel

How to groom a cavalier King Charles spaniel? (Expert Guide)

Cavalier King Charles spaniel has a medium-length luscious coat. If you want this breed to remain tangle-free, you have to put on some extra effort.

If a Cavalier King Charles spaniel is 13 to 15 pounds, it’s quite easy to bathe him. This dog toy is easy to lift and you can bathe them in kitchen sinks and bathtubs.

Cindy Huggins, the chairperson for the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club said, “ Cavaliers are the natural breed with single coat”.

Guess what’s the hallmark of this breed? There were sweet expressions with big round eyes.

This toy breed looks best with regular brushing and bathing. Add on nail and pad trimming to get injury-free feet.

Proper grooming is essential for their health and appearance. I am going to take you through the steps to groom your toy dog.

Getting started

You can only groom your toy dog easily if he does not mind handling it. Begin by slowly acclimating your cavalier to having his face, body, and tail handled.

Terri Becker, president of the California Professional Pet Groomers Association said “ Days before you bathe your pet, on and off the pet dryer a few times until he is comfortable with the noise”.

If your pup is newly born, wait for a  few weeks to let them settle in before starting the routine. Different preservation breeders start bathing, nail trimming, and brushing a few weeks after birth.

Setting up an early grooming routine helps your cavalier pup enjoy the grooming process as they mature.

 Before starting the grooming process, collect the necessary grooming equipment. These include:

• A brush for detangling
• A comb for removing tangles and matting
• A gentle dog-specific shampoo
• Conditioner is optional but makes the fur soft.
• A soft absorbent towel
• Clippers for trimming the coat
• Round-tip scissors for trimming delicate areas
• Ear cleaner to clean the ears
• Nail clippers to trim nails

Daily brush off

For the Cavalier king with moderate to long coats, the knots should be prevented from forming along the dog’s ears, chest, back of the legs, and underbelly.

Huggin says, Ten minutes daily brush-out is a must. Begin by lightly misting the dog’s coat and then start brushing around the ears and skirt areas.

Brushing removes all the dead hair and the coat lies flat, soft, and silky. Use a boar bristle brush or a pin brush.

Just like other breeds, Cavaliers do shed. So, daily brushing confines hair to the brush rather than all around the house.

Cavalier shedding is not seasonal. They keep on shedding all around the year. A lint brush can keep things manageable.

Spa time

If you are done with brushing, then your toy pup is ready for a spa day. For Cavaliers, who do not go to dog shows a monthly bath is enough for them to keep their fur healthy and fresh.

Choose a mild canine shampoo. As a veterinarian, I would recommend you to stick to the organic products.

Apply the canine shampoo, Rinse with water, and then apply conditioner. Use a pet dryer with a  cooler temperature than human dryers.

Cavalier show dogs are bathed weekly. They are bathed especially a day before appearing in the show.

Before the show, skip the crème and use a finishing spray. Add a dry coat to avoid matting and curling of the coat.

A canine dry coat is lightweight but double-coated. It wicks moisture away from the coat.

Eyes, ears, and skin

Cavalier King Charles spaniels are prone to ear infections due to their floppy ears. Use a veterinarian-recommended ear cleaner, and regularly check their ears. Be cautious and avoid putting anything deep into their ears.

Clean their eyes with a damp soft towel to remove any discharge if present. If tear staining is a concern, consult the vet for appropriate solutions.

The hardest part of grooming the Cavalier is setting aside the time. But your reward is a healthy, clean dog.

Nail trimming

If the nails of your dog are clicking on the floor, then it’s time for trimming. Use nail clippers after every three to four weeks.

If you are not an expert in trimming, contact professionals. A professional can easily trim the nails of your dog. But with practice and patience, you can master this skill too.

Hair grows quickly between their toes and pads. Moreover, hair also grows at the bottom of the breed’s paws. To avoid slipping on slick surfaces, trim the hair weekly with blunt rounded scissors.

Huggin says, do not trim the top of the feet as this is a feature of this Cavalier breed.

Dental details

For toy dogs, daily dental cleaning is required. Some dogs accept canine toothbrushes with tasty toothpaste,  while others do not.

Huggin suggests that dip a small piece of cloth in the hydrogen peroxide and then wrap it around your finger. Now rub your dog’s teeth and gums with this cloth to prevent inflammation.

If you cannot take care of your dog’s teeth daily, take them to professionals every three to four months.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 How often should I bathe my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

  For Knights who do not participate in dog shows, a monthly bath is usually sufficient. Show dogs may require weekly bathing before the performance.

 What is the best way to prevent their fur from burying itself?

 Daily brushing, especially in areas that are prone to matting, such as the ears, chest, and belly, is crucial. Use a suitable brush and lightly mist the coat for a more even brushing.

  How to keep your Cavalier’s ears clean and healthy?

 Check their ears regularly for signs of infection, use an ear cleaner recommended by your vet, and be careful not to push anything deep into their ears. Flat-eared breeds are more susceptible to ear problems, so vigilance is key.

Conclusion

Grooming  Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is essential for their health and appearance. This toy breed needs regular grooming to maintain a luscious coat and avoid common problems such as mats and ear infections.

Start getting your dog used to grooming early, using the right equipment, and following a daily brushing schedule. We recommend a monthly bath with a mild organic shampoo and conditioner.

Nail trimming, foot care, and oral hygiene are important aspects of their grooming routine. Remember that patience and practice will help you master these skills, or you can seek professional help for some tasks.