The grooming routine for a show dog is only slightly different from that of a pet, but those differences are important. When your Cavalier walks into the ring, the first thing that registers will look at, is the beautiful, healthy coat. A show dog’s coat must be kept in meticulous condition. Of utmost importance for Cavaliers is maintaining a stain-free coat and well-groomed ears.

Coat Stain Removal

Particolor Cavaliers usually have white feet and legs, and a white abdomen, bib, and tail. It is not unusual for these white areas to become stained over time. Saliva will stain them a shade of pink, and grass, soil, and exposure to garden areas containing bark will also stain the coat. For some reason, some dogs are subject to staining much more than others. It’s possible that the hair itself differs in some way to make these coats more susceptible, perhaps because the hair shaft is more porous. Whatever causes it and however it gets there, staining is difficult to remove.

Cavalier coats cannot be bleached or artificially lightened.
 Because the breed standard is so specific about this, it falls to
 the Cavalier breeder to locate the best products for simple stain removal. Some very good products are available that will remove stains and keep the coat in wonderful show condition. When used as directed at every grooming, they will keep your Cavalier’s coat in great condition and glistening white.

Grooming the Ears for Showing

The long and luxurious ears of the Cavalier are certainly his crowning glory. Grooming the ears for showing takes a little extra effort. Being single-coated dogs, most Cavaliers produce an undercoat of sorts that is evident on the ears. Whereas pet owners are well advised to remove the undercoat from the ears because it contributes significantly to matting, our recommendation is that to leave every hair on the ears. It is this soft, fuzzy undercoat that gives the ear its fullness.

When bathing and grooming your Cavalier for a dog show, shampoo the ears at least twice using a liquid dish soap that contains a degreasing component. Dawn liquid dish soap works extremely well and is approved by many vets. Both the inner and outer aspect of the ear flap often gets oily because of continued contact with our hands. This oil must be completely removed in order for the ears to show well. The use of a degreasing soap will help to remove all oil. If your are showing, do not condition the ears. Conditioner, while not an oily product, can still weigh down the hair on the ears and prevent them from attaining their maximum fullness.

Carefully towel the ears dry before you begin working with the blow dryer. Begin blowing the ears and brushing them with a pin brush at the same time. Blow dry them until each individual hair is separate and bone dry. Dry both the inner and outer aspects of the ear completely. Then dry the fur around the ear and on the neck completely. After they have dried, you will notice that the degreasing soap, together with the lengthy period of blow drying, has resulted in a very full, lush-looking ear.

This is the look that you are seeking. Preserve each hair, degrease the fur on the ears, and blow dry the ears until each individual hair is perfectly dry. Practice this on regular grooming days so that you feel confident on show day.

Grooming as a Health Check

In addition to making your dog look good, grooming time is also an opportunity to do a health check. Before you begin grooming, take a minute and run your hands up and down your dog’s body. Notice if he has any sensitive areas, lumps, bumps, scratches, or sores.

Part his fur in a few places and check for signs of fleas or ticks. Take a look at his coat. It should be shiny, and there should be no missing patches of fur. The skin shouldn’t be very dry or flaky, and the fur shouldn’t be brittle. Check the feet and look for cracked foot pads or overgrown/ingrown nails.

Look inside the ears and check for excessive ear wax buildup or signs of ear mites. Open your dog’s mouth and examine his teeth and gums. The gums should be pink and healthy, and there should be no missing or broken teeth. The eyes and nose should be clean and clear, not runny.

Taking a few extra minutes to examine your dog before you groom him keeps him healthy and alerts you to any physical changes that may indicate a problem.