Typically small and fluffy, a cockapoo is a cross between a poodle and a cocker spaniel. These dogs are smart and playful, but their coats can require some extra care. With proper grooming, your cockapoo will turn heads wherever he goes.
Step 1
Comb out your cockapoo’s coat before you bathe him, removing tangles, mats and debris. This will make the rest of the grooming process easier, plus it will help to insure that you can get your dog clean. Pay special attention to the areas around his ears, feet and tail, which are especially prone to dirt and matting in some dogs.
Step 2
Bathe your cockapoo with a mild dog shampoo, scrubbing him gently all the way down to his skin. Rinse him well, making sure to get all of the shampoo out. Run your hand through his coat to check for any remaining shampoo before you take him out of the tub.
Step 3
Dry your dog well. If you want him to have more of a poodle look, use a blow drier and brush his coat as he dries. If his coat favors the cocker side of the family, or if you don’t want him to be so fluffy, use a blow drier without brushing, or just let him air dry.
Step 4
Brush or comb your cockapoo’s coat again. Work from his head to his tail, parting the hair in sections along his back as you go.
Step 5
Clip your fuzzy-haired dog with dog clippers, using a comb attachment that leaves his hair the desired length, usually 2 to 3 inches. Run the clippers against the coat, working your way from his tail to his head. Repeat the process on his sides, chest, belly and legs. If you want your cockapoo to have a hair-free face, use the clippers without the comb attachment to remove the hair on his muzzle.
Step 6
Scissor around the bottom of his ears to give your cockapoo a smooth, clean look. Use your fingers to pull any dead hair out of your dog’s ear canals.
Step 7
Trim the hair on the top of his head with scissors to give it a smooth, rounded appearance. Do the same for his tail. If your dog has cocker spaniel-type hair, you can skip this step.
Step 8
Wipe out your dog’s ears with a cotton ball moistened with ear cleaning solution. The solution will help prevent the dampness and bacterial growth common in dogs with ears that hang down.
References
- Dogtime: Cockapoo: Coat, Color and Grooming
- The Cockapoo Club of Great Britain: Grooming
- Cockapoo; Mary D. Foley
- You and Your Cockapoo; David Alderton
Tips
- Get your cockapoo puppy used to grooming by brushing him gently four or five times a week. This will help him accept the idea of grooming, which becomes more important as his adult coat comes in.
- If you have trouble gripping the hair in your dog’s ears to remove it, use ear powder to make the hair less slippery.
Warnings
- Shampoo left in your dog’s coat will create dry and itchy areas. Don’t get shampoo in his eyes, and keep water out of his ears as much as possible.