How to Groom my Cockapoo

Coat Types

A Cockapoos’ coat can vary  depending on their heritage or “type” and range from straight or wavy, (Spaniels)  to tight and curly (Poodles).  These “types” are defined as an F1 or F2 to a F1b. In simple terms, an F1 is the first generation which is a Cocker Spaniel crossed with a Poodle. An F2 or second generation is an F1 crossed with an F1. An F3 is an F2 crossed with an F2 and so on and so forth… .

Straight coat:

This coat type is relatively low-maintenance and doesn’t require as much at home grooming as other coat types. This coat is also known as a flat coat and  resembles the wavy coat of a Cocker Spaniel. The straight coat still has some low-shedding properties and may not be as hypoallergenic as the curly coat.

Wavy coat:

This coat type is a combination between a straight coat and a curly coat. Although low-shedding and hypoallergenic, they most likely will require higher maintenance and frequent grooming. Brush one small section at a time, lifting up that section of coat. Ensure you’re not just brushing the top of the coat but brushing right through from root to tip, then go over the whole body with a wide tooth comb. The comb should go through the coat with no tugs and struggles.

Curly coat:

The curly coated cockapoos are similar to the tight curls of a typical Poodle. It requires regular grooming and brushing to maintain a healthy appearance and prevent tangles and matting. The dense curls make it the most hypoallergenic choice among the coat types.

How to Maintain my Cockapoos’ Coat

Cockapoos have a unique coat that requires regular maintenance both at home and with regular visits to your groomer. There are a few essential brushes and combs for Cockapoos that you can use in between professional grooms:

Slicker Brush:

This type of brush has fine, short pins that help remove tangles and debris. It’s a great tool for Cockapoos with curly or wavy coats.

Wide Tooth Steel Comb:

A steel comb is excellent for finishing and removing any leftover tangles after using a slicker brush.

Pin Brush:

This brush has metal pins with rounded tips that help to detangle and smooth the coat without causing discomfort.

Aim to brush you pup every day to avoid matting and to help prevent skin conditions. A Cockapoos’ coats easily mat without daily maintenance and regular professional grooming. When grooming your Cockapoo at home, ensure you’re not just brushing the top of the coat but brushing right through from root to tip. Then go over the whole body with a wide tooth comb. The comb should go through the coat with no tugs or struggles. When home grooming, be sure to brush all areas including armpits, behind ears, chest and sanitary areas as these are common areas for matting.

How Often Should I Take my Cockapoo to the Groomers?

We always tell our clients that the frequency of grooms depends on how long they want the coat and how often they brush and comb at home. That said we generally recommend that a Cockapoo with a long, wavy or especially curly coat should be professionally groomed between every 6-8 weeks.  Dogs with a straight coat can go longer between visits and this coat type is less susceptible to matts and tangles.

What Does a Visit to the Groomer Involve?

Coat Assessment and Client Consultation:

When you attend your first visit at ‘My Best Friend’ we take the time to talk to you not only about your dog’s coat and grooming preferences and lifestyle.

Pre Clipping:

Depending on the thickness and condition of the coat we may start with a pre-clip.  This is a very useful to remove any debris and dead coat and also reduces drying time.

Bathing

We then move on to the bathing process using our hydro-bath. This is a combination of a bath and power shower which has a built-in recirculating pump and heating unit creating a warm and pressurised shampoo solution enabling full penetration into the coat for fast and effective bathing leaving the dogs’ coat squeaky clean!

Drying:

Once bathed and all clean we move on to the drying process. We start by removing any excess water with an absorbent towel and move on to a high velocity dryer to remove the majority of excess water. Once the coat is 90% dry we complete the process with a stand dryer for the head and ears and to fluff dry their coat.

Styling:

Once the dog is fully dried and fluffed then we’re ready to start styling to your preference. Depending on the coat type we will use a combination of clipping and scissoring to complete the groom.

From start to finish the grooming process can take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

If you are looking for  professional dog groomer for your Cockapoo just click on the button below. You can chose from either our Cirencester or Langford salons.