Sanflorian Cavaliers

Cavaliers require fairly light grooming, but it is important to start the rituals early - when
your Cavalier is a young puppy, if possible. When acclimated to these rituals at a young
age, most Cavaliers accept them with minimal fuss. If you wait and try to start these tasks
when the dog is older you are almost sure to have a battle.

Brushing - Regular brushing, paying careful attention to ears and feathering is necessary
to keep your dog tangle free. First use a soft slicker brush followed by a wide-toothed
comb to be sure you have removed all tangles. A fine-toothed comb works well to remove
excess dead hair from the body coat if necessary. You should plan on brushing at least
once weekly. If your Cavalier has particularly full ears and feathering, you might want to
brush those areas daily.

Bathing - How frequently you bathe your dog depends entirely on your personal
preference. Just be sure your dog is tangle free before any bath or you will make the knots
impossible to remove. If you bathe your dog frequently, be sure to use a gentle shampoo
to keep from drying the skin too much. When you bathe your dog, you may find it easiest
to prevent tangles by drying the ears and feathering. Use a dryer made for dogs. Human
hair dryers are often too hot and could hurt your dog, so if you choose to use one, use it
on the cool setting.

Nails - Nails should be trimmed once each week. A cat nail clipper is the right size for
young puppies. Full-grown Cavaliers require the use of a small dog nail clipper. We prefer
the scissor type clippers, but the guillotine type are fine as well. Just remove the tip of the
nail, being careful not to cut the quick. On white-nailed dogs, you can see the pink quick
inside the nail. On dark nailed dogs, just remove the tiny tip of the nail regularly.

Ears - Ears should be cleaned once each week with a cotton ball soaked in a gentle ear
cleaner made specifically for dogs.

Teeth - Many Cavaliers have problem teeth. The easiest way to keep them healthy is to
brush them at least weekly - regardless of what kind of diet you feed. You can use a
regular style tooth brush or a special fingertip brush, which might be easier for your dog to
tolerate. Your vet may have suggestions for spray or gel products which, combined with
brushing, help prevent tartar buildup.

Try to stay relaxed and make grooming time a soothing, bonding time for both of you and
you might find that your dog actually enjoys it!