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Breed guide
How often should you bathe a cavalier king charles spaniel?
Every 4 to 6 weeks. The coat and ears are straightforward; the real variable with this breed is temperament, and how the bath itself is run matters as much as the schedule.
Quick facts
The cavalier at a glance.
Coat type
Silky, moderately long coat with feathering
Feathering on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. Softer and finer than a cocker's, with similar mat-prone feathered areas.
Shedding
Moderate, year round
No dramatic seasonal blowout, but the feathering tangles if it isn't brushed regularly.
Our bath cadence
Every 4 to 6 weeks
This breed's skin and coat tend to be well-behaved at a normal interval; there's rarely a reason to go shorter.
Typical price
$75
Our small tier. Cavaliers run 13-18 lbs and sit near the bottom of the price ladder.
The real problem
A people-oriented breed that reads the room more than most.
Cavalier king charles spaniels were bred as companion dogs, and it shows up directly in how they handle bath time. The coat itself isn't the challenge, it's a manageable silky coat with feathering that any groomer or attentive owner can keep tangle-free. What actually varies from dog to dog is stress tolerance in a busy environment: crates, other dogs barking, and a loud dryer can turn a routine wash into a genuinely hard afternoon for this breed more than for a lot of others.
The fix is less about the shampoo and more about the setup. One handler working at the dog's pace, a quiet driveway the dog already knows instead of an unfamiliar salon floor, and a calm dryer approach all matter more for a cavalier's experience than any product choice. Get the environment right and the 4-6 week bath schedule itself is easy.
Senior cavaliers need extra gentleness. The breed is prone to certain heart and joint conditions as it ages, so a low-stress, unhurried bath matters even more for an older dog than a young one.
The schedule
A cavalier bathing schedule you can put on the calendar.
Every 4-6 wksFull bath and dry
Gentle shampoo, full dry through the feathering on the ears, legs, and tail, which holds moisture longer than the short body coat.
Every bathEar check
Long floppy ears trap moisture, and cavaliers are prone to ear issues similar to other floppy-eared spaniel breeds. We check and clean at every visit.
2-3x weeklyBrush the feathering
Focus on the ears, chest, legs, and tail, where the longer, softer fur mats first if brushing lapses.
Every bathCalm, one-handler approach
Cavaliers are an affectionate, people-oriented breed that can run anxious in a busy environment. One handler, a quiet driveway, and a calm pace suit the breed's temperament well.
If your vet has prescribed a medicated bathing plan for skin or ear issues, that plan wins over this one.
The honest answer
Does a cavalier need professional bathing?
Not on coat difficulty alone. A cavalier's coat is a manageable home wash for an owner with patience for the feathering and a calm setup.
Where we earn the $75 is exactly the temperament piece: one quiet handler, your own driveway instead of a busy salon, and a pace set by the dog rather than a schedule board. Ears and nails are handled the same visit, included in the price. Under an hour, flat price.
Get your cavalier's schedule with real dates.
The schedule builder already knows the cavalier coat and temperament. Answer a few questions about your dog's age and nerves, and it turns the cadence above into dates you can act on.
Build the schedule, freeFrequently asked
Cavalier bathing questions.
Often more sensitive to environment than to water itself. The breed is famously people-oriented and can get stressed in a loud, crowded salon setting more than from the bath itself. A calm, one-handler wash at home tends to suit the temperament better than a busy grooming shop.
At every bath, similar to other floppy-eared spaniel breeds. The long ear shape traps moisture against the canal, and cavaliers can be prone to the same kind of ear irritation as cocker spaniels, just usually to a lesser degree.
Mostly just baths and regular brushing for most owners; the coat isn't typically clipped short the way a poodle-type coat is. Trimming the feet, ears, and tail feathering is an optional groomer service on top of the standard wash-and-dry cadence.
Cavaliers are prone to certain heart and joint issues as they age, so a gentle, low-stress bath matters more than usual for an older dog. Sticking with the normal 4-6 week interval, a warm calm environment, and careful handling covers most of what an aging cavalier needs.
Anxious and senior dogs of any breed are exactly who our approach for senior and anxious dogs was built for, and nail care is covered on our nail trim and more page.
One calm handler, a driveway your cavalier already knows.
Full cavalier wash is $75 in the van, at your pace, dried completely before we hand them back.
or text us at (408) 599-8317
Owner-operated · Local service
Hi, I’m Ace.
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself — I’m the one who shows up at your door. Every visit is one dog at a time in the van at your curb: warm water, a full brush-out and a proper dry, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
Owner-OperatedLarge-Dog FriendlyDe-SheddingSenior & Anxious Dogs
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SUCH a great - and easy! - experience! Asa was immediately responsive (I love when businesses actually answer their phone!), worked Moose in within 24 hours, was communicative throughout, bought unscented products specifically for us, did a great job with my 12 year old doodle … all in all: amazing service!
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Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age — I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash.
★★★★☆
Ace was great with my 3 small dogs. They got washed and towel dried, their ears checked, their nails trimmed. One star off because he trimmed one nail too far and it bled for a long time, plus distressed my already anxious dog. Important to know that this service isn't van-based (yet). Ace brings a portable wash station to set up outside. He brings his own water and supplies. He doesn't do any hair cuts, just basic wash and towel dry. I'll call him again in the future!
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Ace did a great job with our little old chihuahua mix. Our appointment was for the evening and he came prepared with warm water, and made our sure our dog was comfortable the entire time. Don't let the lack of reviews on yelp scare you away, his prices are good, and he takes time to ensure that good work is done.
★★★★★
He did such an amazing job with my dog! He came out looking so nice, clean, and well-groomed, but what stood out to me most was how happy and comfortable he seemed afterward. You can really tell he was treated with care throughout the entire process. I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend him!
★★★★★
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
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We booked Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash for our 90-lb German Shepherd, Koda, who hates the groomer. Ace parked the van right in our driveway in Willow Glen, walked her up the ramp himself — no lifting, no cage, no other dogs — and I watched the whole wash from my doorstep. Bath, nails, ears, and she came back inside dry and calm. Flat $95 exactly as the website said, no surprise charges. We've already booked next month. 😊❤️
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