If you’re the proud owner of a Cockapoo, then you’ll probably know that its coat needs a fair bit of maintenance in order to keep it healthy and shiny. But when it comes to choosing the best brush for a Cockapoo, there isn’t a “one size fits all” solution. The best brush for your Cockapoo will depend on its age and the type of coat they have.
Cockapoo Grooming Basics
The Cockapoo has become one of the most popular mixed breeds, and it’s not hard to see why. Cockapoos have a lovely affectionate nature thanks to their Cocker Spaniel genes. Pair that with the intelligence of the Poodle, and you’ve got yourself the perfect family dog.
The Cockapoo is also often referred to as a hypoallergenic dog due to its low-shedding (or even non-shedding) coats. Whilst no dog can ever be guaranteed to be 100% hypoallergenic, this does mean that they appeal to families with allergies.
But, Cockapoo coats can be a little challenging and it’s important to make sure you regularly brush your Cockapoo in order to avoid matted hair.
Challenges of Grooming a Cockapoo
As they generally don’t shed their coats regularly, Cockapoos need regular grooming. They need to be brushed thoroughly at least once a week as well as having a professional groom every six to eight weeks too. This will help to remove dead hair and keep their coats healthy.
When Cockapoos are out on walks, or just playing in the home, their hair can easily become tangled. Tangled hair that’s not brushed can quickly lead to mats. These mats form close to the dog’s skin making them very difficult to get out with a brush. Matted hair can cause discomfort and even lead to illness caused by infection, so it’s important to get into the habit of regular brushing right from the beginning.
Cockapoo Coat Differences
As a Cockapoo is a mixed breed crossed between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel, it could inherit the coat from either of its parents or even be a mixture of the two. You likely won’t know for sure until your Cockapoo loses its puppy coat. Both the texture and colour of hair can change quite dramatically as a puppy matures, so the way you groom a puppy will probably be different to the grooming needs of an adult dog.
The Poodle Coat
Poodles have a thick, curly coat which is generally low-shedding. Whilst this is great for allergy sufferers, the Poodle’s curls need regular maintenance.
Poodles actually often need daily brushing in order to avoid tangles and mats, so if your Cockapoo has Poodle-style curls, then it’s important to stay on top of brushing them regularly.
The Cocker Spaniel Coat
The Cocker Spaniel coat is very different to that of a Poodle. In fact, Cocker Spaniels are known to have high-shedding coats which are the last thing an allergy sufferer wants.
Cocker Spaniels also have thick coats, but they are much straighter than the Poodle.
The Cockapoo coat
As a mixed breed, the Cockapoo will inherit different aspects from each of its parents. There’s no way of knowing what kind of coat a Cockapoo will have though until they reach adulthood. If you’re worried about allergies and want a dog with more of the Poodle, non-shedding coat, then you can choose to have an F1BB Cockapoo which has the highest percentage of Poodle genes, giving the best chance of a Cockapoo with a non-shedding coat.
What Coat Type Does Your Cockapoo Have?
Whilst you can increase your chances of having a hypoallergenic Cockapoo by opting for one with a higher percentage of Poodle DNA, there really aren’t any guarantees. If you go to visit a breeder who has Cockapoo puppies, it’s very difficult to tell what kind of coat each puppy will have when they grow up. A Cockapoo will usually lose its puppy coat at around eight months old and it’s only once their adult coat is fully in that you’ll be able to fully realise what coat type your Cockapoo has.
How to Choose the Right Cockapoo grooming tools
The best brush for a Cockapoo will largely depend upon the type of coat they have and whether they have curly hair, wavy hair, or even straight hair.
Grooming a Cockapoo puppy
It’s always a good idea to use a professional groomer every six to eight weeks. But you will need to maintain your dog’s coat at home too as well as taking care of them in general, so you need to have a few items in order to help you do that effectively.
- A steel comb with rounded teeth
- A slicker brush
- Nail clippers
- Ear cleaning wipes
- Toothpaste
- Dog clipper set
If you plan to get your Cockapoo groomed professionally every month or two, then you should be ok to just get a steel comb and a slicker brush, but these are the bare minimum you will need.
Different Types of Brushes
There are many different types of brushes available for different dogs because there are so many different types of coats and they all need treating differently.
Bristle Brushes
A bristle brush is a stiff brush that is mostly used for dogs with short, straight hair, so they tend not to be the best brush for a Cockapoo.
Slicker Brushes
A slicker brush has a flat or curved head with rows of thin wire pins. It can be used on all coat types and is particularly effective for the Cockapoo coat.
Slicker brushes are perfect for removing small tangles and mats. They are also a good choice to use after giving your Cockapoo a bath.
Pin Brushes
The pin brush is one of the most commonly used brushes for dogs. They are particularly useful on dogs with curly coats as the pins help to tease apart the curls and clear out any tangles. A pin brush is useful for getting rid of any loose hair and works well on most Cockapoo coats.
Metal Comb
A metal comb is a must-have item for every Cockapoo owner. Using this quickly each day is one of the easiest ways to keep your Cockapoo free of mats.
Best brush for a Cockapoo puppy
The best brush for a Cockapoo puppy is a pin brush. This will allow you to gently work through the puppy’s hair and tease out any tangles. A pin brush is also a great investment as it can be used when your puppy reaches adulthood too.
You could get one of these double-sided brushes with pins on one side and bristles on the other. The bristles are a little gentler on tangled fur and may be useful to use to begin to detangle before using the pin brush side. Puppy grooming needs to be gentle so that the puppy doesn’t associate grooming with pain.
Best Brush for a Cockapoo Adult
Once your Cockapoo reaches adulthood, you’ll be able to see what type of coat they have.
Every Cockapoo owner should have a slicker brush. These are the best way to brush right down to the skin of the adult coat to get rid of loose hair and tease apart any tangles.
Your Cockapoo Grooming Routine
It’s a good idea to get into a grooming routine right from the beginning in order to establish good habits and keep your Cockapoo’s coat healthy.
You should brush your Cockapoo at least twice a week ideally.
Pay particular attention to the areas that are most prone to matting:
- Behind the ears
- Under the armpits
- Harness and collar area
- Groin
- Tummy area
Your Cockapoo may not like being brushed, particularly on its underside, but if you can get them used to it from an early age then they are far more likely to be accommodating.
How to Deal with Matted Hair
If your Cockapoo’s coat does become matted then first of all, don’t panic. These things can happen no matter how hard you try to stay on top of grooming. But equally, don’t ignore it. If you spot mats, then they need dealing with straight away.
Your first option is to try to get rid of the mats yourself. Start by gently working away at the matted area with a steel comb to loosen the mats. Hold your dog’s hair close to their skin whilst you do this in order to minimise pulling which can be very painful. Once you’ve loosened the matted section, you can then use a slicker brush.
Secondly, you could take your Cockapoo to a professional groomer who will be able to safely get rid of the mats whilst causing minimum distress to your dog.
Don’t be tempted to give your Cockapoo a bath in the hope that this will help their matted hair. Getting wet can actually make mats worse rather than improving them.
Best Brush for Cockapoo
The best brush for a Cockapoo will depend on the type of coat they have and whether they have a curly coat from the Poodle, or a thick, wavy coat from the Cocker Spaniel. But, a steel comb combined with a slicker brush is usually a great solution to keeping your Cockapoo’s coat healthy and shiny.
