Grooming Your Cavalier

 A Note on Shaving: DO NOT shave your Cavalier! It it important to know that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a double-coated breed. They have a downy undercoat and a guard hair top coat. During the summer, the Cavalier will shed its undercoat. You can help eliminating shedding indoors by using a Mars Rake or other deshedding tool. It may be helpful to start using this at an early age and reward the puppy with treats during/after each grooming session. 

The top coat of hair protects the Cavalier from heat and sun burns. The air circulates through the topcoat and keeps the dog cool. Shaving your Cavalier will ultimately increase the dog’s body temperature, cause the dog to shed more, and ruin the look and soft feel of the coat.

Other Tips:

1. Deshedding: In order to reduce hair shedding inside, we recommend using a Mars rake or other de-shedding tool at least weekly. This will be especially helpful during changes between seasons.
2. Trimming: We trim the bellies with hair clippers as well as trimming between their paw pads. Cavaliers also may benefit from a “sanitary cut” between the legs and under the tail.
   Sometimes we also trim inside the ears, trim leg fringes, and shorten the length of the ears to keep them out of the water bowls.
3. Bathing: We recommend bathing your Cavalier at least bi monthly, often more during the summer months. Our favorite shampoo is Tropiclean Papaya and Coconut 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. You can remove excess water with a towel then blow-dry or allow them to air dry.
4. Nail Cutting: You can use nail trimmers or a dremmel to file down your dogs nails. Sometimes, Cavalier's nails will be filed down naturally from outdoor use. Be careful not to trim the "quick" of the nail. The frequency of nail cutting will depend on the activity level of your dog.