Grooming Your New Cavalier Puppy

Once you get your new puppy home and settled, about two weeks, begin brushing your Cavalier King Charles at least daily. I like to start by brushing them on my lap every night while watching TV together. Start SLOW and VERY GENTLE! Show them the brush and comb, and then brush/comb down their back, then to ears, and so forth. I recommend a small slicker brush when they are puppies and once their fur starts getting long, switch to a medium sized brush, as it will cover more area. Daily brushing helps the dogs coat, as it helps to release the natural oils in their coat. Cavaliers do not need baths often, only about every 5-6 weeks as washing them too often can dry out their skin.

It is especially important that you keep their eyes clean. Some Cavaliers will have drainage. There are products like Angel Eyes that you can purchase but I find a soft washcloth with warm water works great. You want to use a corner of the washcloth and wipe away the tears and then use another area for the other eye. Please dry their eyes after cleaning. If they get tears and build up it can cause eye infections and sores.

It is important to keep ears clean as well. You will need to get an ear rinse and clean the ear weekly or more if needed. They sell ear wipes that can be used. I use the rinse and pour a little on a cosmetic pad and clean the ear out and down away. You then take the pad and twirl it in the canal to keep the area clean. Remember to dry the ear when you are done.

Cavaliers' teeth must be cleaned. It is a good habit to start brushing their teeth on a daily. Pet stores sell toothbrush sets with finger brush, a regular brush and toothpaste. They also sell wipes for the teeth. It is not fun for them, but it is important to keep their teeth in good condition.

Please make sure that you brush your Cavalier prior to washing them to remove knots and/or tangles as the bath could make them worse. Purchase a good puppy shampoo (NuVet Puppy shampoo), I also use a conditioner on all my Cavaliers. Be sure the water used in the bath is warm, not hot, or cold. Once you have completed the bath, towel dry lightly, as you do not want to cause any tangles. Use a hair dryer on low heat setting gently brush to smooth out his/her coat. Please do your research as there are now some shampoos that can be dangerous. You will want a gentle puppy shampoo with mild scents, to avoid any reactions. I also suggest puppy wipes for those in between messy times. Do not wash your dog weekly as it can dry their skin and cause itching and other issues. I only bathe mine about every 6 weeks. There will be times when they get into mud, etc. and you will need to clean them in between, but just remember push back the next bath time. There are sprays available, but once again be careful as we do not want any reactions. I find the wipes really help.

As your Cavalier grows and begins with tangles and knots, use a metal comb with two varied sizes of round teeth at opposite ends. Gently try to pull the tangle slightly to loosen the tangle/knot and then use the large teeth to begin removing the knot. Please do not pull hard on the knots as it could hurt your puppy. Also, if you see your dog has knots and you cannot get them out, please go to a professional groomer to have them removed. You do not want the knot to get to the skin and follicles as it is painful for your Cavalier.

There is a wonderful product on the market called Cowboy Magic, available on Amazon. I only purchase their conditioner. The spray conditioner works okay but the concentrated conditioner is magic. When your dog gets a knot, they will, put a small amount of the conditioner in your hand and work into the knot. Keep moving the knot around and like magic it will break down and use a metal comb to get the knot out.

I suggest that once your puppy is six months old and has had all his/her shots, take them to their first grooming appointment. The puppy needs to get used to the environment and it will make it much easier for him/her. The first grooming appointment should be a quick one. They will do a bath, nails, teeth and then a haircut, depending on your wishes.

Grooming is a perfect time to bond with your new bundle of joy and energy. Giving him/her a favorite toy to play with while being groomed decreases the chance, they see the comb/brush as a toy. First attempts maybe present challenges but keep working at it. Praise the good behaviors and redirect when not so good.