Today's Cocker Spaniel is a high maintenance dog.
While yet a sporting spaniel, the breed has evolved to carry a dense coat that when coiffed for the show ring accentuates the flowing movement, but is a commitment of its own to maintain.Grooming
Coat Care
Of course the coat can always be clippered short and the companion Cocker usually wears either a complete clip, or a modified "puppy clip" where the side coat and leg furnishings are scissored to a couple of inches. This allows the dog to move freely in the yard, field and pond. My Cockers are kept in some version of this clip after their show careers. Coated or clipped down, the Cocker is a beautiful dog.Ear Care
It is important to keep the hair trimmed off the ears to halfway down the ear leather, both inside and out. Cockers are prone to ear infections because of the ear set. If your Cocker swims, s/he is more susceptible to ear infections because of the water, like Labs, Goldens or Pointers. Blue Ear Power wash is a good all around ear cleaner and treatment, but if you notice your Cocker dragging her head on the floor, scratching incessentatly or having swollen ear flaps, take her to your vet for a diagnosis. Being vigilant on ear care can save your dog's hearing and much suffering.Baths
The average Cocker begins to smell stale, "barny" after a couple of weeks. I use Coat Handler Shampoo and Conditioner. Cockers can have allergies and the simplier the shampoo, the better. Always be sure to use cool water, don't scrub the dog's skin and rinse several times to remove any residue.Pads
Hair grows between the pads of the Cocker foot and needs to be trimmed regularly to avoid matts. If left untrimmed, the matts can grown to be hard balls that are like stones. These can form between the pads, toes and behind the foot on the pastern. You can feel for them by gently massaging the dog's foot. Using a clipper, you can quickly trim the hair without risking injury from a scissors.A gem of a tool that came on the market last year is the Wahl Platinum Arco Cordless Clipper. Available through Cherrybrook or New England Serum (now PetEdge). This is one of the handiest tools I've boughten.
Other Tools
Additional tools that help keep the everyday Cocker in good health and looking good, is a good nail trimmer, shears, thinning shears, pin brush, slicker brush, sturdy comb and a new gadget from England that the ECS people discovered, Mars Coat Kings, half mat rake, half stripping knife. Anyone can use it to some degree, unlike stripping knives that take some practice. You just brush along the topcoat periodically and it will keep the undercoat down.If you keep your Cocker bathed, brushed, nails trimmed, ears cleaned at least weekly, more often for some individuals, head clippered, and back stripped with the Mars rake--it will make a much more pleasant pet to live with in your household. And it will be healthier and more comfortable too.
Good CockerCare.
