How To Groom A Peekapoo [Step By Step Guide]

Have you recently taken home a cute, soft-coated Peekapoo? Are you now aware that you’ve got grooming to do but are not sure of how to do so, when and the kinds of tools and equipment you’ll need to use? Don’t fret. I’m here to help. Here is everything that you are going to need to do and consider. 

So, how do you groom a Peekapoo? To groom a Peekapoo, you will need to provide daily brushing. Less frequently, keeping your Peekapoo well groomed will include: nail trims, teeth brushing, bathing, and sometimes light hair trimming. Peekapoos should receive a mix of at-home grooming and also grooming by a professional groomer every six-eight weeks. 

While keeping a Peekapoo well groomed involves several steps, with this guide, you will be able to create a grooming routine that both you and any Peekapoo you love will both enjoy.

It all starts with an understanding of their coat.

So let’s get into it.

What Type Of Coat Do Peekapoo Have?

Peekapoos have a coat that is fluffy and full but is low-shedding. Though as such, it is quick to matt and tangle. 

Peekapoo are a direct mix of Pekingese and Poodle parents, and their coats can come in a variety of textures, colors, and natural lengths. 

Pekingese have thick double coats that shed, while Poodles tend to have a single layer low to no shed coat – you essentially get a combination of the two – without the shedding!

Peekapoo Coat Feel And Texture

Almost all Peekapoos will have fur that is extremely soft with a cotton-like texture.

Peekapoos that take more strongly after their Pekingese parents will typically have thicker, longer coats, while those who favor their Poodle parents will have shorter coats with more wave or even curl. 

Many Peekapoos will have a coat that feels and appears thicker than that of their Poodle parent.

Even so, Peekapoos are desirably bred to have a single-layer coat.

This means if you run your fingers through your Peekapoo’s coat, you won’t feel a thick, frequently shedded second underlayer of fur.

It is this feature that keeps Peekapoos from aggravating many people’s allergies.

Peekapoos often have long silky hair over their ears, and even if the rest of the body is only somewhat wavy, you will often notice cute little curls around your Peekapoo’s head and face.

A Peekapoo also often has wavy or curly hair on their legs.

Peekapoo Coat Color

One of the most enjoyable parts of picking a Peekapoo to call your own is the wide variety of coat colors and patterns you can find!

Many Peekapoos have silvery white coats that shimmer in any light; others will have coats that are black or gray.

One popular color is known as ‘apricot,’ where the coat is a bright warm reddish brown.

A third common coloring is known as buff, which is a light tan across the body with slightly darker fur around the feet, nose, and mouth.

Peekapoos are often all one color, but some will have splashes of white across their stomach and chests or that appear as white ‘socks’ on their feet.

For Those With Allergies

Although Peekapoos were bred with people who suffer from dog-related allergies in mind, no dog breed is guaranteed to be 100% hypoallergenic.

Because these dogs are a mix of two-parent types, there will be different levels of shedding between each individual dog.

Plan that your Peekapoo will do less shedding than MANY dog breeds but may shed as an adult.

If you are very sensitive to dogs, test if a Peekapoo is likely to trigger your allergies by spending time with several different Peekapoos before adding one to your family.

How Often Should You Groom A Peekapoo?

Plan on brushing your Peekapoo at least every other day, with daily brushing being the best choice when possible. As with many small dogs, tooth brushing is an important part of grooming and should be done at least once a week. Other tasks, such as bathing and trimming of your Peekapoo’s nails and hair, can be done less frequently – about once a month in most cases. 

Because Peekapoo’s coats grow continuously throughout their lifetime and are prone to tangles, a trip to a professional groomer should be scheduled for every 6-8 weeks.

A professional groomer can make sure that hair isn’t getting matted, growing over your dog’s eyes, keep your dog’s hygienic areas trimmed and clean, and be an extra set of loving eyes on your dog’s health and well-being.

Even though a Peekapoo is not a large dog, regular grooming is vital for keeping them healthy.

Without regular grooming, your Peekapoo’s coat can become tangled and painfully matted against their skin. 

To make planning for your Peekapoo’s care easier, let’s look in more detail at how frequently you should plan to do individual grooming steps.

Brushing

Daily brushing is the key to a healthy, well-groomed Peekapoo.

Peekapoo coats are quick to tangle and mat.

A mat is a clumped or tightly tangled batch of hair close to a dog’s skin surface.

Mats can prevent proper blood flow to the skin, leave sores, and become impossible to brush out if left to tighten and grow.

Daily brushing helps prevent this condition.

Daily brushing builds a positive relationship with grooming for both you and your dog.

When you groom each day, you can keep sessions short, happy, and stress-free.

A dog that is brushed daily gets used to being touched and handled in all of the areas that will need to be touched when bathing or giving hair trims.

This makes the entire grooming process on big grooming days much easier.

Brushing each day also builds a predictable routine and guarantees you and your dog some quality one-on-one time together.

Brushing is a great way for pets and their owners to bond.

Need a brush? -> Best Brush For Peekapoo [My #1 Pick And Buyers Guide]

Bathing

Bathing frequency is a careful balance of keeping your dog mud free, smelling good, and maintaining their skin’s hydration.

You should plan that your Peekapoo will be bathed at each grooming appointment (every 6-8 weeks) and oftentimes once at home between visits.

This averages to about one bath every 3-4 weeks.

It can be tempting to give your easy-to-handle Peekapoo a bath every time they swipe their paws (or belly) through some mud but be careful about over-bathing.

Bathing your Peekapoo with shampoo more than recommended can lead to dry, irritated skin or even brittle fur.

If your Peekapoo loves to get dirty and you recently bathed them, consider doing a wipe down with a warm wet rag or spot rinsing just the overly dirty area.

You’ll be surprised what good a little water can do while helping your dog’s skin maintain the oils it needs to stay healthy.

Tooth Brushing

Small toy breeds like Peekapoos are prone to dental decay and disease.

You can help stop this process in its tracks by brushing your pup’s teeth at least once a week at home.

It may seem silly to brush a dog’s teeth, but dogs need healthy teeth to eat their food and enjoy their favorite activities.

Brushing once a week (and up to once a day for those who choose) will go a long way in supporting your dog’s dental and overall health.

Nail Trimming

The frequency of nail trims will depend a lot on each individual dog. It is also related to their age.

Young puppies have thin sharp nails that grow surprisingly fast.

Older dogs have thicker nails that can still be sharp but take longer to lengthen.

Plan on examining puppy nails weekly to decide if they need a trim. For adult dogs, a check on nails every 2-3 weeks works well.

Also, ask your groomer to check and trim nails at each appointment.

There may be times you check your dog’s nails and don’t know if it is time for a trim.

It is time to trim your dog’s nails when they feel sharp enough that they may hurt you, your furniture, or your floors while your dog does normal daily activities.

It is also time to trim your dog’s nails if they are curling under or pressing heavily on the ground and making it hard for your dog to walk properly.

When To Start Grooming Your Peekapoo

You should start grooming your Peekapoo from the day you bring them home.

Peekapoos make fluffy, adorable puppies and it can be tempting to avoid doing anything that might get rid of their sweet puppy fluff but waiting too long to start grooming is a bad idea.

Mats and tangles can form at any time, and a playful puppy is a master at rolling and twisting their hair in areas such as their stomach, leg creases, rear, and face.

For this reason, daily brushing should start as soon as the first day you bring your Peekapoo home.

Starting early also helps your Peekapoo immediately get used to a routine that helps it feel secure with daily care tasks.

When your Peekapoo sees brushing as an enjoyable part of everyday life, all grooming steps become easier.

Plan for your Peekapoo to have their first visit to your chosen groomer soon after their first round of puppy shots, usually around 12 -14 weeks old.

This first visit isn’t as much about getting groomed as it is about helping your puppy to build a positive relationship with the person who will partner with you in their care.

Other grooming steps, such as baths and tooth brushing, can begin within the first few weeks of having your Peekapoo home and once they have settled into the routine of daily brushing.

How To Groom A Peekapoo

The steps of grooming a Peekapoo are brushing, bathing, towel drying, trimming of nails, and tooth brushing. You may also trim your Peekapoo’s facial hair at home from time to time. Each of these grooming steps can be learned at home by following our guide.

Brush Your Peekapoo

Even when you do not plan to perform the other grooming steps, brushing should be done daily.

A small slicker brush is the easiest tool to use for brushing your Peekpoo’s extra soft coat.

This brush can be used from head to tail along the direction of the fur to loosen tangles and remove debris.

A slicker brush is a special brush designed specifically for the fur coats of cats and dogs.

It has many fine pins placed close together over the brush’s surface.

These pins are able to catch and loosen tangles in many coat textures and will remove tangles from the base of the hair, which other brush types may miss.

This is the one to get from Amazon:

It may seem like a good time saver to use a large brush, but a small brush is important for properly brushing out areas along the back of your Peekapoo’s legs, the underside of their belly, and other small curved areas.

A big brush may pass over these spots and leave tangles hidden in the fur to become mats that later need to be shaved out.

To make sure you are doing a good job of removing coat tangles, work in small sections along your dog’s body, always starting with the head and moving back towards the dog’s tail.

You want to make sure to apply enough pressure so that the pins of your brush reach the base of your dog’s fur without scraping harshly against their skin.

Practice using the brush on your own arm to try out various levels of pressure to find one that feels effective but pain-free.

Because some Peekapoos do shed more than others, you may find that hair builds up in your brush bristles.

Simply remove this hair with a swipe of your hand and then continue brushing.

Even with careful brushing, tangles and mats can happen. If you find tangles that won’t loosen after a few passes of your brush, don’t panic. 

Instead, get in touch with your groomer and schedule an appointment to have them look at your Peekapoo.

They may be able to help you gently remove the tangle or, in extreme cases, can shave or clip out the tangle before it worsens and spreads.

A Peekapoo should be brushed before every bath.

If you bathe your Peekapoo without brushing them, you will likely make any tangles in their fur harder to remove once they are wet.

Bathe Your Peekapoo In Warm Water

Every 3-4 weeks, it is smart to follow up your Peekapoo’s brushing with a warm bath.

Remember that your first few at-home baths may be more wet and playful than you desire as your dog gets used to receiving baths and enjoys the water.

With time most dogs will learn to settle into more relaxed bath time behavior.

One nice part of grooming a Peekapoo is that they are small enough for most owners to bathe in something as simple as their kitchen sink, a plastic tub on a table, or their home bathtub.

When filling your bath basin, be sure to pay attention to the depth of the water.

Only add enough water to reach the bottom of your Peekapoo’s chest.

While your Peekapoo can likely swim, deep soapy water can get into your Peekapoo’s nose, eyes, and ears which most dogs don’t enjoy.

If your sink or tub has a spray nozzle or shower head, they can be helpful for soaking and rinsing your dog.

Everyone, dogs included, enjoys a comfortably warm bath.

A bath that is too cold can be shocking to the system, and water that is too hot can burn or overheat your dog.

Test any bath water you plan to use with your own hand for a comfortable temperature before placing your dog in the tub.

Once you have prepped your bath location and water, begin by soaking your dog from their front shoulders, across their back and belly, and then their tail and down their hind end.

Avoid spraying or dumping water on your dog’s ears and face.

This is often frightening for dogs, could irritate their eyes, and also increase the risk of ear infections.

For a dog’s face and head, use a wet cloth to wipe down and wash the area.

After your dog is soaked, squire a nickel to quarter size amount of dog shampoo onto your hands and create a lather.

Apply this shampoo to your dog using a circular massaging motion in the same order you soaked them.

Taking time to create a nice lather will let you wash a lot of dogs with a little bit of soap.

Make sure to select soaps designed for use on dogs.

These soaps can be found in the pet section of many major chain stores as well as at almost every local pet store.

Human shampoo may seem like a good idea, but it may contain chemicals that are too harsh for a dog’s skin.

After your dog is covered in foamy soap (and probably you, too, if your dog has decided to shake), you can begin rinsing in the same pattern you used to begin the bath.

Rinsing can take time, as you want to keep rinsing until the water running off your dog is clear and soap free.

A spray nozzle with some water pressure will help with this process.

Try not to leave behind any soap, as it can easily build up in your dog’s coat and make it flaky and itchy.

Towel Dry Your Peekapoo

A beach towel or large bath towel is the perfect tool for drying your Peekapoo quickly and efficiently.

Wrap your Peekapoo in the towel as you remove them from the tub and gently rub them to help remove excess water from their coats.

It is easy to be tempted to use a hair dryer or other electrical drying system to quickly dry your Peekapoo, but these should be avoided for a couple of reasons.

Home dryers often get too hot for safe use on dogs and can burn their skin or cause them to overheat.

Home hair dryers are also quite loud and can scare any pups.

Being patient and using a towel will help keep bathing and grooming a safe and positive experience.

You can use a smaller hand towel to dry around your Peekapoo’s face or wipe down their individual paws.

Look At Your Peekapoo’s Eyes

Toy breeds, such as Peekapoos, can have sensitive tear ducts that occasionally leave tear stains on the fur at the corner and bottom of the eye.

These stains aren’t usually harmful to a dog but are not the desired look for most owners.

If your dog has excessive staining under their eyes, check with your veterinarian about your dog’s sensitive eyes.

For occasional, normal staining, you can simply use a warm wet cloth and one finger to gently wipe under your dog’s eyes.

Some groomers may also have a special stain-removing solution they can provide for you that is designed to lighten and remove tough stains from light-colored facial fur.

Brush Your Peekapoo’s Teeth

A great thing to do while your Peekapoo is drying is to brush their teeth.

Tooth brushing is a good habit to do weekly but brushing after baths is better than no brushing at all!

To brush your Peekapoo’s teeth, you will want to use a small soft toothbrush such as those designed for toddlers.

You can also purchase dog toothbrushes at many pet stores.

Holding your Peekapoo with your arm, use one hand to gently lift back your Peekapoo’s lips while the other hand brushes in gentle circular motions across the teeth from one side to the other.

It is okay to stop and let your dog lick at their teeth/mouth as you brush.

At first, this may feel more like a game of lick and chew with your dog wanting to explore and play with the toothbrush.

As you gain practice and your dog learns what you are up to, this process does become easier.

For brushing a dog’s teeth, make sure to use a toothpaste designed specifically for dogs. Human toothpaste includes many chemicals (such as fluoride) that can be unsafe for dogs if swallowed.

Dog toothpaste is non-toxic and just as effective at cleaning a dog’s teeth.

Inspect & If Needed Trim Your Peekapoo’s Nails

While your Peekapoot’s feet are still damp is a great time to inspect and trim their nails.

When the hair is wet, it will not be as fluffy as usual, which makes it easier to see and work with your dog’s nails.

Look at the sharpness and shape of your dog’s nails. Puppy nails can be incredibly sharp and do damage to your home and your skin.

Many times simply trimming or filing the tip of sharp nails can help with this problem. 

Adult dog nails can become thick and long, curling under and making it hard for a dog to walk correctly.

These nails can be clipped back to a healthier length that makes your dog comfortable again.

If you want to trim your dog’s nails at home on your own, take a trip to your local pet store and look for nail trimmers designed for dog nails.

It is safe to use regular home clippers, but dog nail trimmers are often shaped and designed to make trimming a dog’s nails safe and easy.

Be careful when clipping to only remove length necessary to get rid of sharp points or curls.

If you cut back too far, you may hit the sensitive quick, which is beneath the nail and contains nerves and blood vessels.

If you do cut back too far, stay calm, apply steady but gentle pressure to the nail and soothe your startled pup.

Although alarming at first, bleeding from the nail should stop within five minutes of adding pressure.

If bleeding continues, consult your veterinarian about the next steps.

If clipping makes you nervous, you can also use an electric file to gently grind away length and sharpness or shape a dog’s nails. 

If you are very uncomfortable handling your dog’s nails and your dog is regularly seen by a groomer, you may never have a need for trimming at home.

If a need does arise, most groomers will do nail trim only appointments for a rate cheaper than a full groom.

Wrap Up With Brushing

That’s right, more brushing, but this time it will have the amazing effect of fluffing up your pup and creating the final finished look you’ve been dreaming about since you started.

Brush just as you did before with careful focus around your dog’s chest and hips/hind end. 

Give your dog some delicious treats, cuddles, and lots of praise for enjoying this experience with you. 

How Do You Groom A Peekapoo Face?

To groom your Peekapoo’s face, you will need patience and a gentle touch. The features of a Peekapoo’s face are small, and we want to be careful not to hurt their eyes or ears as we groom their face. 

Sometimes the delicate hair on a Peekapoo’s face can become tangled and need special attention.

The two best tools for grooming a peekapoo’s face are a small single tooth comb and a soft bristle brush.

The comb will help untangle the hair around the Peekapoo’s mouth and nose, while the bristle brush will smooth the hair over the head and ears.

Start by using your comb around your Peekapoo’s mouth, where the hair can often grow into a bit of a beard that hangs down over the muzzle and past the chin.

This hair gets tangled due to licking and drinking water. It also may get dirty from the ground sniffing and eating wet food.

You can use a wet cloth to wipe off your dog’s face if it is dirty. 

Once the hair around the muzzle is detangled, you can decide if it is your desired length.

Many owners only trim their dog’s facial hair when it visits the groomer, but some owners may want to use a small set of hair sheers to trim back facial hair that has gotten long. Trimming back closer to the jawline creates a neat and tidy look.

The ears are best brushed with a soft bristle brush that can smooth the longer, straighter hair over the ears without painful pulling. Brush along the outside of the ears from the top down.

Some Peekapoos will have hair on the top of their head that stays curly and out of their eyes, while others may have straighter hair that needs to be trimmed to protect your pup’s vision abilities. 

If you want to trim your Peekapoo’s hair on the top of their head, it is best done with a pair of small sharp trimming shears.

Use your non-dominant hand to slide the hair on the top of the head up between your middle and index fingers to your desired length.

Then simply trim with your other hand across your fingers to remove excess hair. Start with short trims and cut back more if needed.

If you ever accidentally trim more than you would like, take a deep breath and remind yourself it will grow back before you know it!

What Is The Best Cut For A Peekapoo?

Peekapoos are most commonly seen sporting a puppy cut or a teddy bear cut. For people who want to keep their Peekapoo’s coat very low maintenance, a kennel cut is also an option, but this cuts down on the sweet fluffy appearance many Peekapoo owners crave.

Puppy Cut

The puppy cut is designed to do exactly what it sounds like – keep a dog looking fluffy and youthful even as they age.

For an owner who gets in the habit of daily brushing and routine groomer visits, this cut is fairly easy to maintain.

The puppy cut gives your dog one coat length across the majority of its body – usually around 1-1.5 inches long.

This keeps your Peekapoo soft and cuddly without looking wild and overgrown.

If left unbrushed, a puppy cut can tangle and mat, so be aware that this look is cute, but you will need to follow the grooming advice given in this article.

Teddy Bear Cut

The other cut you often see is a teddy bear cut. For many people, it may be a bit hard to tell the difference between a teddy bear cut and a puppy cut.

If your dog has a curlier, more poodle-like coat, it may be easier to see the differences in this cut compared to the puppy cut.

The teddy bear cut keeps the hair along a dog’s body short without looking shaved down. This hair will be all one length.

The thing that makes a teddy bear cut unique is that the hair over the face, feet, and legs is left a bit longer than the rest of the body.

This creates soft rounded visual edges that give a dog a very plush stuffed animal look.

A teddy bear cut will require more careful grooming of the face and legs to prevent tangles from forming, but it is a great look for a wavy-coated Peekapoo.

Kennel Cut

For owners who want a Peekapoo and are more worried about easy maintenance than extreme fluff, a kennel cut may be an option to consider.

A kennel cut is a very short allover cut that features clean, carefully trimmed feet, tails, and faces.

This shortcut is popular in summer and with those who may have limitations to their ability to groom at home.

It is also a great option for elderly owners who may not be able to groom their dogs as frequently or well as others. 

If you are unsure what cut would work best for your Peekapoo, ask your groomer!

They love seeing owners in love with their dog’s appearance and can have a wide range of suggestions that fit your individual dog perfectly.

Finally

Grooming takes time and practice but is one of the best ways to build a strong relationship with any dog you own while supporting their health.

After just a bit of practice, you will find grooming to be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.