Best brush for a cockerpoo
There is no single 'cockerpoo brush' because cockerpoo coats are not all the same — some take more after the poodle side and grow a tight curl, others take more after the spaniel side and stay looser and wavier. The right brush depends on which one your dog has, and most cockerpoos need a slicker brush plus a metal comb rather than one tool doing everything.
What a cockerpoo's coat actually needs
A cockerpoo is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle, and the coat it ends up with can sit anywhere between the two parent breeds, even within the same litter. A tighter, curlier coat behaves more like a poodle's and mats easily close to the skin if it is not brushed through regularly; a looser, wavier coat behaves more like a spaniel's and mats mainly in specific spots.
Whichever type your dog has, the areas that mat first are almost always the same: behind the ears, under the front legs, and around the collar and harness line, simply because these spots get the most friction and the least attention during a quick once-over.
The brushes that work for this coat
A slicker brush, with its fine, slightly bent wire pins, is the main tool for working through loose hair and early tangles before they turn into a solid mat, and it works on both the looser and the curlier coat types. Follow it with a metal comb to check you have actually reached the skin rather than just brushed the surface, since a coat can look tidy on top while matting underneath.
For a more tightly curled coat, some owners also find a slicker brush alone is not quite enough on its own and add a dematting comb for the areas that catch most — behind the ears and under the legs in particular. There is no need for anything more specialist than that for a routine home grooming session.
Building a simple routine
A cockerpoo coat generally needs brushing several times a week rather than only before a bath, because once a mat sets in close to the skin it usually needs cutting out rather than brushing out, which nobody wants to be doing regularly. A few minutes with a slicker brush and comb, focused on the trouble spots, is easier to keep up than a long session once a mat has already formed.
If your dog's coat mats badly no matter how often you brush it, that is worth a conversation with a professional groomer about clip length, since a shorter, more manageable clip between salon visits can make home brushing far more effective.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Ancol Ergo Wooden Handle Slicker Brush
A stainless steel slicker brush on a wooden handle, for short, long, wiry and curly coats
From£6.99
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.79
Ancol Ergo Soft Bristle Brush
A soft bristle brush for dogs, for gentle grooming around the ears and face
£7.79
Ancol Ergo Grooming Glove
A rubber grooming glove for dogs, for removing loose hair on wet or dry coats
£9.79
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Slicker Brush for Dogs — Detangling & De-shedding
An ergonomic slicker brush with anti-scratch pins that works through tangles and removes dead hair from top and undercoat.
From£9.99
Groom Professional Curved Soft Slicker Brush
A professional-grade curved slicker brush with soft pins, designed to groom delicate and soft-coated pets without discomfort.
From£8.99
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Slicker Brush
A deshedding grooming tool for dogs and cats that lifts loose undercoat and eases out tangles, with a self-cleaning button that releases the trapped fur in one press.
£25.99
Common questions
- Do all cockerpoos need the same brush?
- No, because their coats vary a lot between individual dogs, from loose waves to tight curls, depending on which parent breed they take after more. A slicker brush and a metal comb cover most cockerpoo coats, but a heavily curled coat may also need a dematting comb for problem areas.
- How often should I brush my cockerpoo?
- Several times a week is typical for most cockerpoo coats, since mats form quickly in a coat like this and are much easier to prevent than to remove once they are established close to the skin. A dog with a particularly curly coat may need brushing most days.
- Can I just brush my cockerpoo before a bath?
- It is better not to rely on this alone, since mats that have already formed tend to tighten and become harder to remove once they get wet. Regular brushing between baths, focused on the ears, legs and collar area, prevents most mats from forming in the first place.
- What should I do if my cockerpoo already has mats?
- A small, loose tangle can sometimes be worked out gently with a comb, but a tight mat close to the skin is usually safer cut out by a professional groomer than pulled at home, since trying to brush it out can be uncomfortable for your dog. A groomer can also advise on a clip that is easier to keep mat-free.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.