When all of the fur has been examined, and every mat has been removed, you are ready to bathe your Cavalier. Any good quality shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for use on dogs is sufficient, but some are definitely better than others. Experiment to see which products you and your dog prefer. You can also get some recommendation from your vet or groomer.

Again, bathing an adult is not unlike bathing a puppy, although you will want to invest more time because of his larger size and adult coat. To begin, wet your dog from head to toe with warm water; it should feel slightly cooler than you would prefer for your own bath. Avoid using very warm water because it not only can cause your dog pain but can be instrumental in removing too many of the essential skin oils.

Apply shampoo and work up a generous lather, paying special attention to the undersides of the ears, which can get particularly oily. Using a washcloth only, gently lather the face and top of the head. Do not apply shampoo too close to the eyes. If you accidentally get shampoo in your dog’s eyes, immediately rinse it with copious amounts of cool water. Follow that with a liberal flooding of the eye using regular saline solution such as the type purchased for use by contact lens wearers. Move from head to tail, lathering the shampoo as you go.

When you’re done, rinse the shampoo out of the coat completely. Rinsing is important because any shampoo left behind can dry and damage your dog’s skin. Follow with a good quality conditioner and a second complete rinse.

Towel your dog briskly for a few moments. Run a fine-toothed comb through the coat to get all of the hairs in the right direction, and begin blow drying at the ears. The blow dryer should be set on a medium or low setting, never on high. Hold the blow dryer several inches away from your dog’s body and avoid his eyes. Blow dry your dog from front to back until he is completely dry, brushing the coat gently with a pin brush as you go.

Bath Time Checklist

Before bringing your dog to his bath, have all of your supplies set up and ready to go. After all, you can’t expect your soapy dog to wait in the tub while you run downstairs for towels. Here’s what you need:

• dog shampoo and conditioner
• cotton balls (placing a cotton ball in the opening of your dog’s ears will help keep water out)
• ophthalmic ointment (placing an ointment in your dog’s eyes prior to bathing will protect them from irritating shampoo and water)
• nonslip mat
• a hose or unbreakable container for rinsing
• one or two towels
• hair catcher for the drain