Cockapoo Bathing and Grooming

Plan Ahead
Those of us who groom our dogs at home often plan ahead which includes having washcloths, towels, towelettes, blankets, ear cleaner, shampoo, conditioner,  comb, brushes, nail clippers, and shears, paw balm, and a hairdryer nearby.

Ears: We generally clean the ears first, starting on the outside and working inside.  We use an Epi-Otic Relief we purchase from our vet.  Put the liquid in the ear and massage at the base of the ears and then let the dogs shake it out. 

We follow that with a moist towelette to gently clean the inner ear and we use a cleaner that has an antibacterial and antifungal ingredients to help prevent infections.  We frequently use Vet's Best Dry Dog Ear Relief.

It's important to make sure the dog's ears are clean as material in the ears can lead to infections and or itchiness.


Coat Length / Combing and Brushing
Normally during the winter months, we keep our dog's coats longer.  We comb and brush out the dog's coat using a pin and bristle brush or a slicker brush.  

Nail Clipping
During this time we also look over their paw pads and groom their nails.

Bathwater
Dogs require lukewarm water.  We have a self-serve dog wash nearby but prefer to clean our dogs at home. If your dog’s face is dirty, use a damp washcloth to wash it. 

Shampoo and Condition
Apply the shampoo from the neck down and massage into the coat. This is a good time to check for the dog for lumps or signs of inflammation. 

We are always on the lookout for a good shampoo for our cockapoos. Occasionally we use HyLyt Shampoo for Pets. This soap-free shampoo is hypoallergenic which makes it a good choice for our Cockapoos. It also contains natural moisturizing ingredients for maintaining skin hydration this helps control flaking. Another shampoo we use is Tropi Clean  Oatmeal and Tea Tree medicated shampoo. I like that this is soap free and has a good lather. It leaves the dogs with a clean scent.

Finally, we rinse the coat thoroughly to remove residue and then we apply conditioner and follow the same process. We use  Avo'Derm conditioner as it has avocado oil and that helps with the shine. We find this conditioner also helps prevent tangles, leaving their coats healthy.


We have one dog that has a soft coat naturally and the others have coats that are in need of conditioning. One product we feel is a must is a leave-in nourishing conditioner that revitalizes their coat while additionally helping to detangle curls. Made with avocado and olive oil Burt's Bees leave in conditioner is a Vet recommended formula. It's pH balanced for dogs, colorant-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and made with no added fragrances. We spray directly on their coat as it's beneficial for irritated skin and hot spots too. 

Towel Off

After the dogs are rinsed clean, we throw a towel over the dog and use another one for their face. 

Blankets

Our dogs often finish the drying off with the aid of their blankets.

After Wash

We go back over the ears and tear duct areas. Our dogs have epiphora, which means their tears overflow onto their face. We're informed this is common in many cockapoos.  We wash the tear buildup away to avoid irritation or bacterial infection.

Blow Dry
This time of year requires drying off inside. If you’re using a hair dryer, keep it on the warm-low setting.

 When it is warm enough outside, the dogs dry off in the sun.

Electric Clippers 
When we use electric clippers we have been using Andis 2 speed. The blade is detachable and it is and does not heat up nearly as quick as our old set. However, I recommend a cooling spray or extra blades because these still do get very hot after awhile. I like that they are quieter and this unit has a longer cord which makes reaching the underside of the cockapoos easier. 

 Muzzle

During the grooming process, all of our dogs do well except Motley. So,  Motley briefly wears a grooming muzzle while we groom him.