Breed · Long coats that mat
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel grooming: coat, ears and nails
AKC's Cavalier coat facts: a silky, feathered coat that needs regular brushing, weekly ear checks, monthly nails and a trim between the foot pads.
Also listed as Cavalier
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Unless a page says otherwise, our picks come from published specifications and listing research, not hands-on testing. How we make money · How we research
Short answer
The Cavalier has a silky, medium-length coat with long feathering on the ears, chest, legs, feet and tail; AKC rates shedding 2 of 5. AKC says it needs little more than regular brushing and an occasional bath, plus weekly ear checks and nail trims at least once a month. Core tools: gentle slicker or pin brush, comb, paw trimmer, nail clippers. Keep it natural: the breed standard allows trimming only the hair between the foot pads.
Key facts
- Coat type (AKC)
- Silky, Wavy[1]Breed standard: moderate length, silky, free from curl; a slight wave is allowed.
- Coat length (AKC)
- Medium[1]
- Shedding (AKC, 1-5)
- 2 of 5[1]
- Brushing (AKC guidance)
- Regular brushing; AKC gives no interval[1]
- Seasonal shedding
- None noted by AKC[1]
- Clipping and shaving
- No trimming in the breed standard except the hair between the foot pads[1]
- Nail trims
- At least once a month; overgrown nails can cause pain and structural problems (AKC)[1]
- Professional grooming
- Not called for in AKC's breed advice[1]
Watch out for
- Check the ears weekly for signs of infection (AKC); clean only when there's visible dirt, and never with cotton swabs (Cornell).
- Nails at least monthly: AKC says overgrown nails can cause pain and structural problems.
- Use brushing time as a body check: AKC notes grooming sessions are a chance to look for new or unusual bumps.
- Feathered feet: a grinder can catch the long foot feathering (VCA), so hold it back or use a clipper.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Slicker brush
Self-cleaning slicker brush (PS1140)Choose the single brush; any color.
For tangles in the feathering, used gently; a pin brush has no catalog pick yet.
Sold by Stone's Store
Paw trimmer
LED paw trimmer with nail-grinder headChoose the white trimmer, not the spare cutter head.
For the hair between the pads, the one trim the breed standard allows.
Sold by lazyishhouse Official Store
Nail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
For the monthly trims AKC calls for; a clipper avoids the hair-snagging risk VCA notes for grinders.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
A few times a week, which is AKC's general baseline for most dogs: brush the body, then comb the ear, chest and leg feathering. Weekly: an ear check. Monthly: nails, and a tidy of the hair between the pads.
No catalog pick yet for a pin brush or a metal comb; see slicker vs pin brush and how to trim dog paw hair.
Questions
How often should a Cavalier be brushed?
AKC gives no fixed interval: it says the coat needs little more than regular brushing and an occasional bath. AKC's general home-grooming advice is a few brushing sessions a week for most dogs.[1][2]
Can I trim my Cavalier's feet?
The breed standard allows trimming the hair that grows between the pads on the underside of the feet. The rest of the coat, including the foot feathering, is kept natural.[1]
How often should a Cavalier's nails be trimmed?
At least once a month, AKC says, because overgrown nails can cause pain and structural problems.[1]