Knowing when and how to groom your Cavapoo puppy is essential for caring for your furry friend. Not all Cavapoos (Cavoodles) are head-over-heels with grooming. So knowing how to prepare your Cavapoo and acquiring the correct tools makes the grooming process effortless and uncomplicated. Let’s find out more.
Cavapoo Grooming Age Recommendations
It’s best to start grooming your Cavapoo puppy sooner than later. The earlier you get your Cavapoo accustomed to the process, the less likely they will develop anxiety or fear of grooming. Grooming should be considered a regular part of their doggie life.
You can begin the gentle introduction to grooming your Cavapoo puppy when you bring them home at around eight weeks old. Your Cavapoo should no longer be dependent on their mother and should have settled and accepted their new home and human family.
It is best to introduce your Cavapoo to grooming before 16 weeks as this is also the optimal period for training your dog.
If you decide to send your Cavapoo to a professional groomer or pet parlor, ensure that your puppy has already had its vaccinations. Vaccinations will prevent your puppy from catching nasty illnesses from other dogs at the parlor.
Cavapoo Coats – Hereditary Coats Advise
Cavapoo puppies that inherited their poodle parents’ fur are prone to more knots and tangles due to their tight puppy curls. A Cavapoo puppy’s coat may also not shed and can get tangled in their newly grown adult coat which can cause knotting if not correctly managed.
Leaving your Cavapoo matted can bring about severe skin and health complications. Consequently, creating positive puppy grooming memories can have long-term effects on your Cavapoo’s future physical and mental health.
Why Does My Cavapoo Dislike Grooming?
Not all Cavapoo pups fancy a groom. Experience and personality can influence your pup’s attitude towards grooming.
All dog breeds have excellent memories, and any past negative experience relating to grooming can create a long-lasting impression on them.
Signs of Cavapoo Puppy Grooming Stress
Suppose your Cavapoo runs away, hides, bites, growls, or shakes during or in anticipation of grooming. In that case, you are most likely dealing with a puppy that carries a negative association with grooming.
These are clues that your Cavapoo may be anxious or scared. By paying attention and pinpointing the root cause of the stress, you can modify your groom and relieve any doggy distress.
Cause of Grooming Stress
Any grooming-related experience that is painful, scary, or upsetting for your Cavapoo puppy can initiate a refusal or anxiety to grooming.
A painful brushing or clipping experience, loud and unfamiliar equipment, an inexperienced groomer, a chaotic or threatening grooming environment can negatively affect your Cavapoo puppy’s future grooms.
Cavapoo’s are also highly active and energetic dogs, and some may not enjoy having to remain still for an extended period of time. This impatience can make your Cavapoo uncooperative and annoyed during a groom.
Though, most Cavapoo’s will love to be groomed if adequately trained. While different personalities may require further convincing.
How Can I Help My Cavapoo Enjoy Grooming?
A new experience can be scary for any dog. However, introducing your Cavapoo to a positive grooming experience early in life can make a considerable difference.
I am convinced my dog is a genius and is counting down the days to his next groom—the cheerful whines and joyful hopping that takes place the morning before a groom is unforgettable.
Here are some handy tips for creating a happy grooming experience for your Cavapoo.
Brushing Your Cavapoo
Familiarisation
Let your Cavapoo sniff and inspect your brush or grooming glove before using it for the first time. Reward your pup with small treats during this introduction and throughout the brushing experience. When brushing your Cavapoo puppy for the first time, do so respectfully and gently and keep the brush sessions short, only a few strokes at a time.
Comfort
Providing a soft, comfortable cushion or area to sit on can make your Cavapoo more relaxed and open to new experiences. You can try sitting your Cavapoo puppy in your lap to begin with.
Stick to easily accessible areas such as the back and neck areas, and remember to praise your Cavapoo continuously for their good behavior. It is imperative to stay calm. Your Cavapoo’s frustration will escalate if they sense you are similarly frustrated.
Once your Cavapoo is more accustomed to brushing, increase the brush time and introduce brushing to more sensitive areas such as the legs and chest. Treats are also a great way to motivate your Cavapoo to roll over on their side and back.
Cavapoo Maintenance and Haircut Choices
Brushing your Cavapoo two to three times a week will help to avoid tangles and painful grooming experiences.
Shorter poodle teddy bear cuts, summer cuts, and puppy cuts are great options for minimizing groom requirements. However, a daily brush will be necessary if your Cavapoo’s hair is longer than an inch (2.5 centimeters). Fur longer than ½ an inch (1.5 centimeters) will need brushing at least four times a week.
Distraction
Distracting your Cavapoo during grooming with treats and toys will make grooming easier and reinforce positive grooming memories.
Puzzle toys or treat-dispensing toys are great distraction options.
The Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Treat Tumble Blue Interactive Treat-Dispensing Puzzle Dog Toy and the Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-a-Lot Dog Toy are popular options for both owners and pets.
Lots of cuddles, compliments, and gentle patting will also go a long way to keep the Cavapoo puppy happy and preoccupied.
Timing
Grooming your Cavapoo after a walk or training session will enable your Cavapoo to accept sitting still for extended periods.
Additionally, keep initial grooming sessions short and sweet. The initial groom’s single and most important goal is to familiarise your Cavapoo with the groom rather than achieve the perfect groom.
Cavapoo Puppy Nail Trimming
Let your Cavapoo puppy grow accustomed to their paws being played with and touched.
Allow your Cavapoo to investigate the nail clippers and hear the clipping sounds. Gradually you can also reduce the distance between the clippers and your puppy until they are comfortable with the clippers touching their paws. Finally, provide lots of treats and positive reinforcement, and try to speak to your pup in a gentle, calming voice.
Trimming a puppy’s nails at the young age of 8 weeks will make future nail trimming stress-free. However, even if your pup’s nails don’t need cutting, it is still a good idea to get them used to the process.
Cleaning Cavapoo Puppy Ears and Eyes
As with nails, your Cavapoo puppy needs to grow accustomed to you touching them around the eye and ear area before you attempt any cleaning. Initial cleaning should be short and gentle. Using a wet cloth or cotton wool ball or cleaning the ears and eyes after a bath is usually simpler.
If your Cavapoo puppy is notably distressed when touching the ear or eye area, it is advisable to stop grooming immediately and visit a vet to rule out any signs of infection. You want to avoid any early negative associations to grooming.
Cavapoo Puppy Aggression When Grooming
Aggressive behavior from your Cavapoo puppy such as biting and growling should not be tolerated. Contact your nearest vet if you have identified triggers and have made changes with little or no results.
Your puppy could be experiencing pain due to an unidentified health condition. It’s better to have the vet treat the problem before the discomfort negatively affects grooming.
How Often Should I Groom My Cavapoo Puppy?
Grooming frequency is determined by your Cavapoo puppy’s hairstyle, age, coat type, and level of outdoor activity.
Puppies are usually more active and enjoy romping outdoors, which may make grooms more frequent.
If your Cavapoo puppy’s hair is kept short, you should only need to groom them every four to eight weeks. However, if their hair is on the longer side or they are the ‘outdoorsy’ type, they may need to bathe as often as every two weeks.
Cavapoo Puppy Grooming Costs?
The most cost-effective groom option would be to DIY groom your Cavapoo puppy yourself. An excellent choice for the first few grooms but can be time-consuming and difficult if you don’t have the necessary tools or knowledge.
If you choose to groom your pup yourself, it is still recommended to book professional grooming at least every couple of months.
You are looking at approximately $40 to $80 for a Cavapoo groom. Fortunately, your Cavapoo pup is small, so initial groom costs should be minimal. However, if your puppy has inherited a Poodle coat, your costs may be more, especially if you allow the fur to matt.
Mobile dog groomers’ costs are usually higher, but you benefit from the convenience and individual attention.
What Should My Cavapoo’s First Groom Look Like?
A Cavapoo puppy’s first few grooms will be very basic and straightforward. Only attempt a full groom once your Cavapoo pup is more comfortable with the idea.
Start by grooming your Cavapoo puppy at home or with a private at-home groomer. Private or at-home grooms are less stressful for your furry friend. In addition, they enable you to have more control over the environment and allow you to supervise your pup’s behavior more effectively.
Your Cavapoo puppy’s first groom session should revolve solely around getting to know and learning to trust the groomer. Briefly exposing your pup to all the alien grooming equipment and sounds will also help them in future groom sessions.
Basic Cavapoo Puppy Grooming Steps
If you choose to DIY grooming your Cavapoo puppy, take care to include the following steps:
Brushing
Brush your Cavapoo before and after washing to remove dander and detangle the fur.
Bathing
Wash your Cavapoo pup in lukewarm water with dog shampoo and detangler. Ensure to massage the shampoo equally throughout your puppy’s coat.
Rinsing
Rinse your Cavapoo puppy’s coat well after washing as soap can easily get trapped in its curls, causing skin irritation.
Ear inspection
Wipe the inside of the ears with a cotton ball or damp cloth and check for any odor or redness that may indicate infection.
Eye clean
Wipe the surrounding eye area to remove any stains or discharge using a new cotton ball or cloth. Poodle eye is common in Cavapoo breeds.
Drying
Dry your Cavapoo puppy thoroughly, not forgetting the inside of the ears. Leave your Cavapoo to air dry if they are still getting used to the hairdryer.
Nails
Clip your Cavapoo pups’ nails with a clipper that includes a nail guard. Alternatively, dedicate the time introducing your puppy to the clipper’s sound and feel.
Grooming Products For Cavapoo Puppies
Amazing grooming products can positively affect your Cavapoo’s grooming experience.
The two-sided pin and bristle brush work exceptionally well on the Cavapoo’s coat. The brush will help untangle as well as smooth your Cavapoo’s coat. A Grooming glove is also great if your Cavapoo is more nervous. The glove mimics the patting and stroking actions that your pup already enjoys.
Some excellent product options include:
Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush
This brush is not only a detangler and loose hair remover, but it also helps promote a healthy shiny coat by distributing your puppy’s natural oils.
These award-winning gloves are both gentle and easy to clean. It is popular with users due to its ability to be used both wet and dry.
Their inherited Poodle coat can make the Cavapoo more prone to tangles. Making use of a good-quality dog detangler will prevent you or your groomer from having to tug or pull on the hair when grooming. Check out our article Cavapoo Coat Types And How To Care For Them for a detailed discussion on hair grooming.
The TropiClean Sweet Pea Tangle Remover Spray for Pets is a wonderful detangling option. The all-natural ingredients make it safe and gentle for your puppy and leave them smelling sweet and feeling exceptionally soft.
Are you planning to do your own grooming? This low noise clipper set is highly rated and rechargeable, and great for your new fur baby.
Oneisall Low Noise Rechargeable Cordless Electric Quiet Hair Clippers
Further reading:
- What To Do If Your Cavapoo Hates Grooming: 16 Tips!
- How Often Should You Groom a Cavapoo Dog?
- Why Does My Cavapoo Smell? How To Make It Smell Better?
- How to Get Your Puppy to Sleep Past 6 am: Answered!
- Double Doodle Dogs: Pros and Cons
- Do Cavapoos Shed Hair or Their Coat? (Answered by an Owner)
- 8 Ways to Keep Your Dog Cool on Hot Summer Nights
