Maintenance Of Your Cockerpoo (and other Cross Breeds)
Its apparent that cross breeds, particularly Cockerpoo's are becoming more and more popular by the day. As dogs go, they have a lovely nature, are cute and fluffy but if I'm honest they are the highest maintenance dogs from a grooming point of view, as are any poodle or bichon cross breeds. This is due to the nature of their non-shedding coat being mixed with a breed that does shed its coat. A cockerpoo may not appear to shed its coat but there will still be a steady flow of dead hair that needs to be combed out. If it doesn't get combed out, it matts. Additionally salt water, mud, sand, food etc all gets tangled up in longer coats and has to be removed.
In the first 8 months or so a Cockerpoos life its puppy coat is pretty easy to manage (as with many breeds). Unfortunately at some point after 8 months the puppy coat moults and the adult coat comes through. If the puppy coat isn't groomed out it will matt. It is usually about this time around the coat change that owners can find it difficult to keep the coat brushed out and matt free. Matts can build up very quickly if left and often a groomer will have no option but to clip the whole lot off as the matts are impossible to penetrate humanely.
I am a little disappointed if I'm honest that many breeders of Cockerpoo's (indeed I would include Cavapoo's, Cavachon's, Schnoodle's, Westichon's, the list is endless) don't give new owners the heads up at how much work is involved to maintain a cross breeds coat between visits to a professional groomer, or even advice on how to brush and comb their new puppy. With this in mind I have noticed that some new owners can struggle with basic grooming at home and may not necessarily have the right equipment, so I thought I would make a few suggestions from my own experience of working with these breeds regularly in the hope that its helpful.
Essential basics are a slicker brush and a deep tooth metal comb. The comb in particular needs to go right through your dogs coat to the skin, all over. This is to ensure the whole length of the hair from root to tip is tangle free. As a groomer I use cutting blades on clippers, generally with a guard comb which controls the length of cut. The teeth of the guard comb need to get right through to the skin. If the hair is matted the only way the clippers will work is to use a short blade that slides under the matt. This will usually have to be a blade that cuts very close to the skin as most matts form along the shaft of the hair near to where it grows from the skin. Of course the odd tangle can be brushed out which isn't a problem, and for small matts use of a detangler product (usually in the form of a spray) can really help but this isn't a practical solution to matts on a larger scale (see section on de-matting).
Another thing that is really helpful is when your dog gets wet, don't rub with a towel. Gently squeeze a towel over them instead or use a microfiber or chamois style cloth.
The best advice I can give is groom frequently at home and make it fun, use rewards, especially for feet and beards and tails which can be stressful areas for your dog to have brushed out, paws in particular seem to be an issue for many.
Use a hairdryer on them from a young age even if they are not wet, the sensation and noise can be quite scary if the first time they experience it is when they visit a professional groomer.
When combing pay particular attention to legs and feet and especially around the neck line where the collar or harness goes. The more time you can spend grooming them as pups and making it fun, the easier they will find it for the future.
I fully agree that your dog groomer is there to make your dog look beautiful but with the best will in the world we can't brush through 2 months of matting. On a positive note though, please don't feel bad if your dog needs to have his coat clipped off due to matting, think of it as an opportunity for a fresh start and I promise your dog won't feel 'embarrassed', just happy and relieved. Matted areas can be very painful as they tug at the skin.
On a final note, please ask if you have further questions, advice costs nothing.
In the first 8 months or so a Cockerpoos life its puppy coat is pretty easy to manage (as with many breeds). Unfortunately at some point after 8 months the puppy coat moults and the adult coat comes through. If the puppy coat isn't groomed out it will matt. It is usually about this time around the coat change that owners can find it difficult to keep the coat brushed out and matt free. Matts can build up very quickly if left and often a groomer will have no option but to clip the whole lot off as the matts are impossible to penetrate humanely.
I am a little disappointed if I'm honest that many breeders of Cockerpoo's (indeed I would include Cavapoo's, Cavachon's, Schnoodle's, Westichon's, the list is endless) don't give new owners the heads up at how much work is involved to maintain a cross breeds coat between visits to a professional groomer, or even advice on how to brush and comb their new puppy. With this in mind I have noticed that some new owners can struggle with basic grooming at home and may not necessarily have the right equipment, so I thought I would make a few suggestions from my own experience of working with these breeds regularly in the hope that its helpful.
Essential basics are a slicker brush and a deep tooth metal comb. The comb in particular needs to go right through your dogs coat to the skin, all over. This is to ensure the whole length of the hair from root to tip is tangle free. As a groomer I use cutting blades on clippers, generally with a guard comb which controls the length of cut. The teeth of the guard comb need to get right through to the skin. If the hair is matted the only way the clippers will work is to use a short blade that slides under the matt. This will usually have to be a blade that cuts very close to the skin as most matts form along the shaft of the hair near to where it grows from the skin. Of course the odd tangle can be brushed out which isn't a problem, and for small matts use of a detangler product (usually in the form of a spray) can really help but this isn't a practical solution to matts on a larger scale (see section on de-matting).
Another thing that is really helpful is when your dog gets wet, don't rub with a towel. Gently squeeze a towel over them instead or use a microfiber or chamois style cloth.
The best advice I can give is groom frequently at home and make it fun, use rewards, especially for feet and beards and tails which can be stressful areas for your dog to have brushed out, paws in particular seem to be an issue for many.
Use a hairdryer on them from a young age even if they are not wet, the sensation and noise can be quite scary if the first time they experience it is when they visit a professional groomer.
When combing pay particular attention to legs and feet and especially around the neck line where the collar or harness goes. The more time you can spend grooming them as pups and making it fun, the easier they will find it for the future.
I fully agree that your dog groomer is there to make your dog look beautiful but with the best will in the world we can't brush through 2 months of matting. On a positive note though, please don't feel bad if your dog needs to have his coat clipped off due to matting, think of it as an opportunity for a fresh start and I promise your dog won't feel 'embarrassed', just happy and relieved. Matted areas can be very painful as they tug at the skin.
On a final note, please ask if you have further questions, advice costs nothing.