Cavalier Breeder Serving Florida, Georgia and Beyond
Grooming Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
You Can Do It!
You do not need a professional groomer to maintain your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Cavaliers have lovely coats with a reputation as "wash and wear' dogs, and thus are low maintenance when it comes to bathing and grooming. They look and feel best with little or no trimming of the coat. In the show ring, Cavaliers can actually be disqualified if the judge finds they have been trimmed in any way whatsoever, with the exception of removing the hair on the bottom of each foot pad and between the toes. We never trim the "slippers" because the long hair on the feet is considered part of the breed's unique and special features.
Of course, if you do not plan to show your Cavalier you may trim anything you wish, but the natural Cavalier coat actually acts to regulate the dog's temperature, cooling them in summer and warming them in winter. I recommend that you do not shave your dog. A modified puppy cut may be acceptable if the coat is exceptionally thick and out of control, but please do not trim those long, beautiful ears! Using a snood during mealtime and using specially shaped "spaniel bows" for food and water will help keep those gorgeous ears clean and free from debris.
You should bathe your Cavalier every few weeks in a sink or tub. Brushing and combing before the bath will make things easier. Be sure to hold the ears closed so you don’t get water in them, as this can cause ear issues, but do not put cotton in the ears. Shampoo thoroughly and rinse well, then rub a rich conditioner into the coat and leave in a couple of minutes before rinsing out. Towel dry, then finish with your hair dryer.
Here are my personal recommendations for the "must have" tools that will make fun and easy.
