How to Groom a Cavapoo Puppy (5 Steps to Groom a Cavapoo)
Grooming any type of dog is essential to do on a regular schedule. However, dogs like a Cavapoo have to be tended to regularly due to their fur and coat type.
Adding a puppy to the family takes a lot of adjustment. There are new things to learn about them and their temperament and taking the time to train them appropriately.
Additionally, an essential element that you cannot push aside is learning to groom a Cavapoo puppy. To complete this task, you must devote time and attention to ensure it is done correctly.
What Does Cavapoo Grooming Entail?
As the pet owner, it is your decision whether you groom at home or with a professional. Taking your pet to an outside source gives you access to a trained groomer with all the tools and knowledge to groom a Cavapoo puppy.
If you choose to DIY groom your puppy coat at home, there are several steps that you must undertake to complete the task successfully. You must start the grooming process as soon as they enter your home and regularly. Doing so allows your Cavapoo to see grooming as standard early in life, and they can adjust to it as they grow.
To groom correctly at home, you need to fulfill these tasks:
- Brushing (Cavapoo appropriate grooming comb and slicker brush)
- Washing (shampoo and detangling)
- Ear Check (common bacteria stink)
- Nails
- Eyes (poodle eye and eye boogers)
Completing these five tasks will cover all the different hygiene bases needed to care for your Cavapoo puppy. Outlined below are the five steps to tackle for your Cavapoo puppy’s care.
Brushing a Cavapoo
Outside of a detailed groom, you should brush your Cavapoo several times a week. During the grooming process itself, it is essential to brush your dog both before and after washing them. Doing so allows you to de-matt the fur before washing and helps to remove dander after cleaning their hair and coat.
The most suitable time to partake in this is when your pet is calm and resting. Doing so at this time is less startling and intrusive. Attempting to conquer this task during any other time can be problematic and stressful for both you and your pet.
If you find that brushing the fur is challenging, it can be a sign that you are not brushing them often enough. You can take the opportunity to introduce more frequent brushing sessions into their care routine as a result.
Additionally, if you find tangles while brushing, you can purchase dog-specific detanglers online that will leave their fur sleek and shiny. It is common when you groom Cavapoo puppies to come across knots and tangles due to the tight curls in their fur.
It is also essential to pay close attention to the type of brush you use for your Cavapoo. The best kind for this specific breed is the two-sided brush with both pins and bristles. These materials allow you to most effectively brush the dander and matting out of your dog’s fur.
Washing Your Cavapoo
When it comes time in the grooming process to bathe your Cavapoo, make sure that you choose a dog-specific shampoo with appropriate vitamins. Having the right product will help eliminate unwanted items in your dog’s fur, which can cause irritation. Do not use shampoos and soaps intended for humans, as they can have a detrimental effect on your pet’s skin.
After initially brushing your dog and rinsing them, apply the shampoo to their fur and knead it into their hair in a circle pattern. Cavapoos can have very curly hair, although this depends on genetics, and it is crucial to distribute the soap equally throughout their coat.
Equally important is rinsing the shampoo from their body. Because of the nature of their fur, soap can easily get trapped within the curls. Even just having residue left over can cause irritation and itch for your dog. Therefore, taking extra time to eliminate all soap and shampoo remnants is crucial.
Once your Cavapoo is thoroughly washed and rinsed, you can brush them through once more and go on to the next step.
Cavapoo Ear Check
It is common for infections to happen in a dog’s ear and a pet owner to not even know. On top of that, dogs have hair in their ears that can easily trap ticks and other items. Therefore, it is essential to check your Cavapoos ears frequently while grooming to ensure that they are in good shape and without insects or infection.
At times your dog will need their ear hair trimmed as well. Although you can do this at home, it may be better to entrust a professional groomer with this task, as well as any other fur trimming. Professional groomers are trained in calming dogs and safely cutting tricky areas.
Fragile areas like the ear and face have a risk of injury much higher to the dog and owner when at home.
Cavapoo Nails
Clipping your dog’s nails is vital to their health and wellbeing but often overlooked. Seen as cosmetic, many pet owners don’t know the importance that is associated with their care.
However, If too much time passes in between clippings, injury can occur. These injuries to your pet can include:
- Ingrown nails
- Reduced traction
- Broken nails
- Paw pad damage
- Infection
If you are cutting a Cavapoo’s nails at home, it is essential to remember to clip them at a 45-degree angle and to avoid cutting the quick, which is a nerve lining under the nail. If you cut too close, you can cause your pet’s paw to bleed.
Using an electric nail polisher is a clever way to get past the dangers of the nerve. Fast and easy dog nail clipping. The trouble? They do produce some noise and can frighten a jumpy Cavapoo.
In the event that you do not feel comfortable doing this, many veterinary offices offer this service, and groomers will typically provide it as a walk-in service for customers.
Cavapoo Eyes Gunk
There are a few breeds of dogs that have tears form around their eyes. Cavapoos are one of them. It comes from the Poodle parent and it is also known as “Poodle eye” or “eye boogers“.
These tears can go on to stain their fur and coat if left alone. To avoid this, taking a cloth and wiping around your Cavapoos eyes on a daily basis will keep that area looking clean and stain-free.
Additionally, some Cavapoos may require a hair trim around their eyes if it becomes too long and causes it to be difficult for them to see. Although you can do this at home, it is often a reasonable choice to take your pet to a professional groomer when trimming fur in fragile areas like the face.
How Often Should I Groom My Cavapoo?
Most professional groomers recommend a thorough grooming every 4-6 weeks for your Cavapoo, with at-home brushing happening 2-3 times a week.
If you choose to do the bulk of your dog’s grooming at home, including bathing them and going through the entire routine, you can undergo this once a month. This timing will depend on the cleanliness level of your animal.
For those dogs that run around outside a lot, swim, snow, or hike – bathing will need to be more frequent. If your Cavapoo is more sedentary, grooming doesn’t need to be as often.
Even if you do the bulk of your dog’s hygiene care at home, it is still wise to visit a professional for a grooming appointment every few months.
Not only will this allow them to trim your dog’s fur and cut their ear hair, but they will be able to notice any components of care that have been skipped or need to be incorporated. This opportunity will help you address unknown issues before they become a bigger problem for your pet.
What Happens If I Don’t Groom My Cavapoo Frequently?
Due to the mixed breed type of fur and coat that a Cavapoo has, it can quickly become matted and tangled. The hair of a Cavapoo can resemble that of velcro on a bad day. Therefore, it quickly and frequently traps dirt and dander, among other items.
If a long time takes place between grooming, the fur will be challenging to clean appropriately and can cause damage to your dog’s skin and health. It may even be necessary to shave all or parts of their fur due to the extreme tangles and matting formed over time.
In the end, a lapse in grooming can be very detrimental to your pet in that the effort it will take to get their fur back to an acceptable state will be long and arduous.
Although groomers train for such situations, the process can be traumatizing and painful for your Cavapoo. Regular groomings and brushing can avoid these situations.
Conclusion
Any time there is an addition to a family, be it a child, family member, or pet, it is a big adjustment. Taking the time to learn their personality and housebreaking and training them can add a lot to your everyday schedule.
One of the most critical components of owning a dog, especially a Cavapoo, is grooming. It is vital to your dog’s health and wellbeing to incorporate this care early on and continue it regularly.
This care can be done at home by an enthusiastic Cavapoo owner, by a professional, or through a combination of the two. In the end, the most crucial part is that it is performed routinely and appropriately.
