Grooming Requirements for a Cocker Spaniel

Cocker spaniels are gentle and loyal dogs that make good family pets. The breed is also quite well-known as a show breed. However, a cocker spaniel is a high-maintenance dog, as its fur grows very fast and is curly. It requires regular grooming and you must be willing to keep the coat of your cocker spaniel looking tidy and clean.

  1. Brushing

    • A cocker spaniel needs brushing three to four times a week. After brushing, run a comb through the fur to remove small tangles that you may have missed. These tangles can turn into knots later on. Brush the fur in the direction of the growth. Pay more attention to areas that are prone to mats, such as the armpits, chest, hind legs and behind the ears.

    Foot Care

    • Brush the feet every few days between normal grooming sessions. The moment the foot hair grows long, trim it. If the foot hair is not trimmed, it can attract moisture resulting in impaction of hair and mats under the feet. Use thinning scissors to get rid of the excess hair growing between the pads.

    Ear Care

    • This breed has long and heavy ears, which prevents air from reaching inside. This can cause infections. Check the ears regularly to ensure that there is no infection or smell. If there is discharge or foul odor coming from them, take your cocker spaniel to a veterinarian immediately. Clean ears if they appear dirty. Use ear cleaning solution and cotton balls for cleaning. Trim the top of the ears as well as around the opening to facilitate air flow into the ears.

    Coat Trimming

    • Use blade number to groom the head, ears and throat. The ears should look triangular and after trimming them, they should reach eye level. Trim the edges to give a neat and slightly rounded appearance. Move to the top of the head. Give your cocker spaniel a round head shape. Thin the hair on the cheeks and muzzle. Trim the hair on the neck, starting from the breastbone. Give it a V-shape. Trim some of the fur from the shoulders to the neck too.

      Use thinning scissors to trim the hair on the sides and back. Ensure that the coat on the back is flat and short, but it should still blend into the fur growing at the sides. Trim the hair growing at the rear. Use a grooming sponge to get rid of dead and loose hair. This will also give the coat a sheen. Finally, hand-pluck any remaining dead hair hair on your dog. This takes practice and it will be some time before you are comfortable removing the dead and excess hair with your hands.