How to Groom a Matted English Cocker Spaniel

The cocker spaniel is a cute, medium-sized dog that may be black, liver-colored or red. They were originally bred as gun dogs but now have been bred to be either working dogs or show dogs. The working cocker spaniel has a shorter coat that is slightly less prone to matting. This is a dog that generally has a good temperament. You can save yourself a lot of trouble and the dog some slight discomfort if you groom it just a little every day. However, despite your best efforts, your dog may still develop a matted coat, and you can learn how to deal effectively with this.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog shampoo
  • Bath
  • Table
  • Towels
  • Small soft-bristle brush
  • Slicker brush
  • Steel comb
  • De-matting comb
  • Grooming rubber glove
  • Cutting scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Groom your cocker spaniel pup from an early age, so he gets used to the process. Regular grooming can prevent the dog's hair from becoming too matted and also prevent some associated health problems. Because of their floppy ears, cocker spaniels can develop ear problems associated with ticks and grass seeds, which can become embedded in the dog's skin and cause pain. Use regular grooming time to check for these problems.

    • 2

      Stand your dog on a table outside. Groom the dog before bathing as the water can make the hair more matted. For a young dog whose hair is not too matted, brush gently with the soft brush. If your dog's hair is quite badly matted, use the slicker brush. This brush has thin metal tines that can tease out the tangles. Use the de-matting comb to break up particularly matted hair.

    • 3

      Remove excess hairs gently with a grooming rubber glove. Carefully trim the dog's hair around the ears and mouth and feet. Matted hair around these areas can cause the dog problems, including dermatitis around the mouth and lips. Shampoo your cocker spaniel with a specially formulated dog shampoo and dry gently with a hair dryer.