CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL GROOMING
ROYAL FLUSH CAVALIERS ® - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeder Established in 1990
Email: [email protected] * Phone: 401.213.6333
ROYAL FLUSH CAVALIERS ® - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeder Established in 1990
Email: [email protected] * Phone: 401.213.6333
CAVALIER GROOMING & COAT CARE FOR PUPPIES AND ADULTS
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known for its beautiful, silky coat and distinctive feathering on the ears, chest, legs, feet, and tail. While the breed does not require complicated grooming, regular coat, ear, nail, foot, and general hygiene care helps keep a Cavalier comfortable, healthy, and looking its best. With more than 35 years of experience living with, raising, and caring for Cavaliers, we have learned that grooming does not have to be difficult. The right routine depends partly on your dog's coat, lifestyle, activity level, and whether you prefer to maintain the traditional longer Cavalier coat or a shorter, more manageable pet trim. Below, we share the grooming practices and practical tips we use and recommend for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, along with guidance on brushing, bathing, drying, ear care, feet, nails, trimming, and professional grooming.
CAVALIER GROOMING SUPPLIES WE USE & RECOMMEND
Having the right grooming tools can make caring for your Cavalier's coat, ears, nails, and feet much easier. We've gathered many of the grooming products and everyday care items we use and recommend in our online store and Amazon Storefront. You'll find brushes, combs, shampoos, conditioners, grooming tools, and other products that can help you maintain your Cavalier at home between professional grooming appointments.
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GROOMING YOUR CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL
Regular grooming helps keep a Cavalier's coat and skin healthy while preventing mats and tangles, particularly in the longer feathering around the ears, chest, legs, feet, and tail. A consistent routine also gives you an opportunity to check the skin, ears, eyes, nails, paws, and coat for anything that may need attention.
How much grooming your Cavalier needs will depend on coat length, lifestyle, activity level, and the style you choose to maintain. Cavaliers kept in their natural coat generally require more frequent brushing and detangling, while a shorter pet or puppy cut can make everyday maintenance considerably easier.
A complete grooming routine may include brushing and combing, bathing and drying, ear and eye care, nail and paw maintenance, trimming when appropriate, and periodic professional grooming. The sections below explain each of these areas in more detail.
BRUSHING
Regular brushing and combing are among the most important parts of maintaining a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's coat. How often your Cavalier needs to be brushed will depend on coat length, activity level, and lifestyle, but longer natural coats generally require more frequent attention than shorter pet trims.
Pay particular attention to areas where tangles and mats tend to develop, including behind and beneath the ears, under the legs, along the chest and feathering, around the hindquarters, and on the feet. A quality slicker or pin brush can help maintain the coat, while a metal comb is useful for finding smaller tangles that a brush may pass over.
Work gently through the coat in sections, making sure to reach beneath the longer outer hair rather than brushing only the surface. Mats should be carefully worked apart rather than pulled, particularly around sensitive areas such as the ears.
Always check the coat for tangles before bathing. Water can tighten existing mats and make them considerably more difficult to remove afterward.
BATHING
Regular bathing helps keep a Cavalier's coat and skin clean and comfortable, but there is no single bathing schedule that is right for every dog. How often your Cavalier needs a bath will depend on coat length, activity level, lifestyle, skin and coat condition, and how quickly the dog becomes dirty. Cavaliers that swim, spend considerable time outdoors, or are kept in a longer coat may need a different routine from dogs with shorter pet trims.
Use lukewarm water and a good-quality shampoo formulated for dogs. Work the shampoo gently through the coat and down to the skin, taking care around the eyes, ears, and face. A second shampoo may be helpful when the coat is particularly dirty or oily, but it is not necessary for every bath.
Rinse thoroughly, since shampoo or conditioner left in the coat can contribute to skin irritation. A dog-safe conditioner may also be used when appropriate to help keep the longer coat and feathering soft and manageable.
For the face and area around the eyes, use a soft damp cloth or an appropriate dog-safe product rather than allowing shampoo to enter the eyes. Persistent tear staining, skin irritation, itching, odor, or other changes should be discussed with your veterinarian rather than treated as simply a grooming issue.
DRYING
After bathing, gently blot and squeeze excess water from your Cavalier's coat with a towel rather than rubbing vigorously, which can create tangles and mats.
A dog dryer or handheld hair dryer may be used on a low or cool setting, keeping the airflow moving and at a comfortable distance from the skin. Brush or comb through the coat as you dry, paying particular attention to the ears, chest, legs, feet, and other feathered areas.
Make sure the coat and skin are thoroughly dry, especially around and beneath the ears and in areas where moisture can remain trapped. This is particularly important for Cavaliers with heavier or longer coats.
EAR CARE
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's long, drop ears can limit airflow around the ear canal and may trap moisture, making regular observation and ear care particularly important.
Check your Cavalier's ears routinely for redness, irritation, unusual discharge, excessive wax, or an unpleasant odor. Clean the ears when needed using a veterinarian-recommended or dog-safe ear-cleaning solution, following the product directions and your veterinarian's guidance. Avoid inserting cotton swabs or other objects into the ear canal.
Keeping the ears dry after bathing or swimming is also important. For Cavaliers with particularly heavy ear furnishings, careful management of excess hair around the inner ear flap may help keep the area cleaner and improve airflow without altering the characteristic appearance of the ears.
Persistent scratching, head shaking, redness, odor, discharge, pain, or other signs of an ear problem should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
FEET & NAILS
Cavaliers naturally develop distinctive feathering on their feet. Whether you prefer to maintain the traditional natural appearance or keep the feet more neatly trimmed for everyday life, the paws should be checked regularly for mats, debris, irritation, and anything caught between the toes or pads.
Hair growing between the paw pads can be carefully trimmed to improve traction and help keep the feet clean. The longer hair around the feet may also be tidied for pet Cavaliers according to personal preference, while owners maintaining a dog for the show ring should follow the applicable breed standard and show-grooming requirements.
Nails should be trimmed regularly so they do not become excessively long or interfere with normal movement. If you are not comfortable trimming nails yourself, a veterinarian or professional groomer can do it for you. Cutting into the quick can cause pain and bleeding, so proper technique and appropriate nail-trimming tools are important.
CLIPPING & PET TRIMS
The traditional Cavalier coat is generally maintained in its natural form for the show ring, but most family Cavaliers are companion dogs rather than show dogs. For these dogs, coat length and grooming style are largely a matter of owner preference, lifestyle, and the amount of maintenance that works best for the family.
Some owners prefer the full, naturally feathered Cavalier coat, while others choose a shorter pet or puppy trim to make brushing, bathing, outdoor activity, and everyday maintenance easier. A professional groomer familiar with Cavaliers can help maintain a practical trim while preserving the breed's characteristic appearance.
Clipping can change the appearance and texture of the coat in some dogs, and a shorter coat will require periodic maintenance as it grows. There is no need for every pet Cavalier to have the same haircut—the goal is a clean, comfortable, well-maintained dog and a grooming routine that works for both the Cavalier and the family.
MAKING GROOMING A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
Grooming is much easier when Cavaliers learn from an early age that being brushed, handled, bathed, and having their ears, feet, and nails examined is a normal part of life. Short, calm grooming sessions can help puppies become comfortable with these routines before their adult coats develop.
Use gentle handling, praise, and positive reinforcement to make grooming a pleasant experience. Many Cavaliers are happiest receiving attention from their people, so grooming can become valuable one-on-one time rather than something the dog learns to avoid.
Regularly handling the ears, paws, mouth, coat, and body also helps your Cavalier become more comfortable with routine veterinary examinations and professional grooming. Just as importantly, these sessions give you an opportunity to notice new lumps, skin changes, irritation, tenderness, parasites, or other changes that may deserve closer attention.
Regular grooming helps keep a Cavalier's coat and skin healthy while preventing mats and tangles, particularly in the longer feathering around the ears, chest, legs, feet, and tail. A consistent routine also gives you an opportunity to check the skin, ears, eyes, nails, paws, and coat for anything that may need attention.
How much grooming your Cavalier needs will depend on coat length, lifestyle, activity level, and the style you choose to maintain. Cavaliers kept in their natural coat generally require more frequent brushing and detangling, while a shorter pet or puppy cut can make everyday maintenance considerably easier.
A complete grooming routine may include brushing and combing, bathing and drying, ear and eye care, nail and paw maintenance, trimming when appropriate, and periodic professional grooming. The sections below explain each of these areas in more detail.
BRUSHING
Regular brushing and combing are among the most important parts of maintaining a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's coat. How often your Cavalier needs to be brushed will depend on coat length, activity level, and lifestyle, but longer natural coats generally require more frequent attention than shorter pet trims.
Pay particular attention to areas where tangles and mats tend to develop, including behind and beneath the ears, under the legs, along the chest and feathering, around the hindquarters, and on the feet. A quality slicker or pin brush can help maintain the coat, while a metal comb is useful for finding smaller tangles that a brush may pass over.
Work gently through the coat in sections, making sure to reach beneath the longer outer hair rather than brushing only the surface. Mats should be carefully worked apart rather than pulled, particularly around sensitive areas such as the ears.
Always check the coat for tangles before bathing. Water can tighten existing mats and make them considerably more difficult to remove afterward.
BATHING
Regular bathing helps keep a Cavalier's coat and skin clean and comfortable, but there is no single bathing schedule that is right for every dog. How often your Cavalier needs a bath will depend on coat length, activity level, lifestyle, skin and coat condition, and how quickly the dog becomes dirty. Cavaliers that swim, spend considerable time outdoors, or are kept in a longer coat may need a different routine from dogs with shorter pet trims.
Use lukewarm water and a good-quality shampoo formulated for dogs. Work the shampoo gently through the coat and down to the skin, taking care around the eyes, ears, and face. A second shampoo may be helpful when the coat is particularly dirty or oily, but it is not necessary for every bath.
Rinse thoroughly, since shampoo or conditioner left in the coat can contribute to skin irritation. A dog-safe conditioner may also be used when appropriate to help keep the longer coat and feathering soft and manageable.
For the face and area around the eyes, use a soft damp cloth or an appropriate dog-safe product rather than allowing shampoo to enter the eyes. Persistent tear staining, skin irritation, itching, odor, or other changes should be discussed with your veterinarian rather than treated as simply a grooming issue.
DRYING
After bathing, gently blot and squeeze excess water from your Cavalier's coat with a towel rather than rubbing vigorously, which can create tangles and mats.
A dog dryer or handheld hair dryer may be used on a low or cool setting, keeping the airflow moving and at a comfortable distance from the skin. Brush or comb through the coat as you dry, paying particular attention to the ears, chest, legs, feet, and other feathered areas.
Make sure the coat and skin are thoroughly dry, especially around and beneath the ears and in areas where moisture can remain trapped. This is particularly important for Cavaliers with heavier or longer coats.
EAR CARE
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's long, drop ears can limit airflow around the ear canal and may trap moisture, making regular observation and ear care particularly important.
Check your Cavalier's ears routinely for redness, irritation, unusual discharge, excessive wax, or an unpleasant odor. Clean the ears when needed using a veterinarian-recommended or dog-safe ear-cleaning solution, following the product directions and your veterinarian's guidance. Avoid inserting cotton swabs or other objects into the ear canal.
Keeping the ears dry after bathing or swimming is also important. For Cavaliers with particularly heavy ear furnishings, careful management of excess hair around the inner ear flap may help keep the area cleaner and improve airflow without altering the characteristic appearance of the ears.
Persistent scratching, head shaking, redness, odor, discharge, pain, or other signs of an ear problem should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
FEET & NAILS
Cavaliers naturally develop distinctive feathering on their feet. Whether you prefer to maintain the traditional natural appearance or keep the feet more neatly trimmed for everyday life, the paws should be checked regularly for mats, debris, irritation, and anything caught between the toes or pads.
Hair growing between the paw pads can be carefully trimmed to improve traction and help keep the feet clean. The longer hair around the feet may also be tidied for pet Cavaliers according to personal preference, while owners maintaining a dog for the show ring should follow the applicable breed standard and show-grooming requirements.
Nails should be trimmed regularly so they do not become excessively long or interfere with normal movement. If you are not comfortable trimming nails yourself, a veterinarian or professional groomer can do it for you. Cutting into the quick can cause pain and bleeding, so proper technique and appropriate nail-trimming tools are important.
CLIPPING & PET TRIMS
The traditional Cavalier coat is generally maintained in its natural form for the show ring, but most family Cavaliers are companion dogs rather than show dogs. For these dogs, coat length and grooming style are largely a matter of owner preference, lifestyle, and the amount of maintenance that works best for the family.
Some owners prefer the full, naturally feathered Cavalier coat, while others choose a shorter pet or puppy trim to make brushing, bathing, outdoor activity, and everyday maintenance easier. A professional groomer familiar with Cavaliers can help maintain a practical trim while preserving the breed's characteristic appearance.
Clipping can change the appearance and texture of the coat in some dogs, and a shorter coat will require periodic maintenance as it grows. There is no need for every pet Cavalier to have the same haircut—the goal is a clean, comfortable, well-maintained dog and a grooming routine that works for both the Cavalier and the family.
MAKING GROOMING A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
Grooming is much easier when Cavaliers learn from an early age that being brushed, handled, bathed, and having their ears, feet, and nails examined is a normal part of life. Short, calm grooming sessions can help puppies become comfortable with these routines before their adult coats develop.
Use gentle handling, praise, and positive reinforcement to make grooming a pleasant experience. Many Cavaliers are happiest receiving attention from their people, so grooming can become valuable one-on-one time rather than something the dog learns to avoid.
Regularly handling the ears, paws, mouth, coat, and body also helps your Cavalier become more comfortable with routine veterinary examinations and professional grooming. Just as importantly, these sessions give you an opportunity to notice new lumps, skin changes, irritation, tenderness, parasites, or other changes that may deserve closer attention.
HOW WE GROOM OUR OWN CAVALIERS
For our own adult Cavaliers, we generally prefer a shorter puppy-style pet trim. We keep the body coat shorter and more manageable while retaining some of the characteristic Cavalier feathering and length around the ears and tail.
This is a practical choice for our dogs and our lifestyle. Our Cavaliers enjoy running, playing, swimming, and everyday family life, and a shorter coat helps reduce tangling and matting while making bathing, drying, brushing, and general coat maintenance easier.
The traditional full Cavalier coat is beautiful, and families who enjoy maintaining it can certainly choose to do so. Others may find that a shorter pet trim better suits their dog and lifestyle. Neither choice changes the need for regular coat, ear, paw, nail, and general hygiene care.
Cavaliers do shed, and the amount can vary by individual dog, coat, season, and grooming routine. Regular brushing and routine grooming can help remove loose hair before it ends up around the home.
For families who use a professional groomer, the appropriate schedule will depend on the coat style being maintained and how quickly the individual dog's coat grows. We recommend finding a groomer who is comfortable working with Cavaliers and clearly explaining the length and style you want before grooming begins.
For our own adult Cavaliers, we generally prefer a shorter puppy-style pet trim. We keep the body coat shorter and more manageable while retaining some of the characteristic Cavalier feathering and length around the ears and tail.
This is a practical choice for our dogs and our lifestyle. Our Cavaliers enjoy running, playing, swimming, and everyday family life, and a shorter coat helps reduce tangling and matting while making bathing, drying, brushing, and general coat maintenance easier.
The traditional full Cavalier coat is beautiful, and families who enjoy maintaining it can certainly choose to do so. Others may find that a shorter pet trim better suits their dog and lifestyle. Neither choice changes the need for regular coat, ear, paw, nail, and general hygiene care.
Cavaliers do shed, and the amount can vary by individual dog, coat, season, and grooming routine. Regular brushing and routine grooming can help remove loose hair before it ends up around the home.
For families who use a professional groomer, the appropriate schedule will depend on the coat style being maintained and how quickly the individual dog's coat grows. We recommend finding a groomer who is comfortable working with Cavaliers and clearly explaining the length and style you want before grooming begins.