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Breed guide
How often should you bathe a cavapoo?
Every 4 to 6 weeks for a shorter, groomed coat, every 2 to 3 for a longer one. A small dog that barely sheds still needs real brushing discipline, or the coat tangles instead.
Quick facts
The cavapoo at a glance.
Coat type
Wavy to curly, poodle-influenced
Low-shed by design, which means the coat needs brushing discipline instead of tolerating a shed-it-out approach.
Shedding
Minimal
Like other poodle-mix coats, loose hair mostly stays trapped in the coat rather than falling out, so it mats if ignored rather than piling up on the floor.
Our bath cadence
Every 4 to 6 weeks, or 2-3 weeks for a longer coat
Shorter, groomed coats stretch to 4-6 weeks; longer coats and heavy outdoor time push the interval down.
Typical price
$75
Cavapoos typically run 9 to 25 lbs and land at or near the bottom of the price ladder.
The real problem
Barely sheds, still needs the brush more than the bath.
A cavapoo's wavy to curly coat, inherited from the poodle side, is genuinely low-shed, and that gets sold as easy maintenance. It's the opposite. Hair that would fall out on a shedding breed instead stays trapped in the coat, and any friction, a collar rubbing, a harness, lying against furniture, works it into a mat over time. The ears and legs are usually where it starts first, since they see the most movement and the least attention.
That's why coat length changes the schedule more than anything else on this breed. A shorter, groomed trim can comfortably stretch to 4 to 6 weeks between baths. A longer coat, or a dog that spends a lot of time outside, needs the tighter 2 to 3 week window to stay ahead of tangling. Either way, the brush comes before the water, not after, on every visit.
Check the ears at every bath. Feathered, floppy ears trap moisture and hair against the canal, which is a common setup for irritation in this breed specifically.
The schedule
A cavapoo bathing schedule you can put on the calendar.
Every 4-6 wksFull bath, groomed/short coat
Standard wash and blow-dry with a brush-through. Works well for cavapoos kept in a shorter maintenance trim.
Every 2-3 wksFull bath, longer coat
A longer coat tangles faster, especially around the ears and legs, and benefits from a tighter interval to stay ahead of mats.
2-3x weeklyBrush and comb at home
Brush to the skin, then comb through. Ears and legs are the usual mat starting points on this coat type.
Every bathEar check
The feathered ears common on cavapoos trap moisture and hair; a check and light clean each visit heads off irritation before it starts.
If your vet has prescribed a medicated bathing plan for skin issues, that plan wins over this one.
The honest answer
Does a cavapoo need professional bathing?
A cavapoo fits in a sink and a short, well-brushed coat is a reasonable home job if you're already keeping up with the brush between baths.
Where we're useful is the coat that's fallen behind, or the ear checks most home baths skip. We brush first, wash, dry completely with a brush and airflow together, and check ears every visit. $75, in the van at your driveway, under an hour.
Beyond the bath schedule for your cavapoo
Get your cavapoo's schedule with real dates.
The schedule builder already knows the cavapoo coat. Answer a few questions about your dog's coat length and lifestyle, and it turns the cadence above into dates you can act on.
Build the schedule, freeFrequently asked
Cavapoo bathing questions.
Every 2 to 3 weeks, tighter than the 4-6 week window that works for a shorter, groomed coat. The longer the hair, the more surface area there is to tangle, and this coat type mats rather than sheds when brushing falls behind.
Very little, which is part of the appeal, but it comes with a tradeoff: hair that doesn't fall out stays in the coat and can mat if it isn't brushed regularly. Low shedding isn't the same as low maintenance for this coat type.
The ears are feathered and floppy, which traps moisture and hair against the ear canal, a setup that's prone to irritation and infection if ignored. We check and lightly clean ears at every bath for exactly this reason.
Every 4 to 6 weeks once they're old enough, similar to the adult schedule, with extra care to keep the water warm and the session short. Getting a cavapoo puppy comfortable with brushing early makes the lifelong mat-prevention routine much easier.
Wavy and curly poodle-mix coats are exactly what our doodle wash service is built for.
Brushed first, washed, and dried without new tangles.
A full cavapoo wash is $75 in the van at your driveway, ears checked every visit.
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.
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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.
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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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