Brush first, rinse twice, and keep one towel for the shake. What the shop learned from washing a cockapoo every month.
Curly coats trap dirt close to the skin and mat when they get wet, so the order of things matters more than the shampoo.
Brush before the water
Work through the coat with a pin brush until it moves freely. Water tightens tangles; anything you miss now will be a knot later.
Rinse twice as long as you think
Leftover shampoo is what makes a clean dog itch. Rinse until the water runs clear, then rinse again.
One towel for the shake
Hold a towel over their back for the first shake, then dry with a second one. A hair dryer on cool works if they will put up with it; most cockapoos will, for biscuits.
More from the shop.
How long a bag of kibble really lasts
The maths on the back of the bag, done properly for a 9 kg beagle, and why we pack the next bag before you run out.
The cat cave, week by week
Most cats sit on top of a felt cave for a week before they go in. A diary of one cat who took eleven days.
Measuring a dog for a harness
One tape measure, two numbers, and the reason most harnesses are bought one size too big.