How To Groom A Cocker Spaniel - Tips And Step-By-Step Guides

How To Groom A Cocker Spaniel - Tips And Step-By-Step Guides

Always delighted to see you, willing to be trained, smart, full of energy and the life of the party, Cocker Spaniels are an ideal companion for many families who have as much love in their hearts as the ‘merry spaniel’ has for them.

One of the more difficult and unique aspects of taking care of your Cocker spaniel is that they will need more grooming than some other breeds, with brushing and trimming sometimes necessary to stop tangles from developing.

Thankfully, grooming your Cocker Spaniel can be a lot of fun, especially when you and your furry friend get used to bath time, you find the right brushing technique, and you have the professional-grade tools of the trade to help you through.

So exactly how do you groom a Cocker Spaniel? 

Here, we explore what makes Cocker Spaniels a unique challenge for dog groomers and owners alike, why it matters so much to keep their fluffy coats in check and what you need to do every night, every week and every month.

How Is A Cocker Spaniel Unique Amongst Dog Breeds?

Cocker Spaniels are perfect family pets in so many ways. Aside from having an irresistible face, Spaniels are also gentle, playful and very smart, which makes them perfect pets for families with children and in care homes.

They are motivated by positive reinforcement and food treats, which also helps with training, as many pet owners prefer to encourage good behaviour rather than discipline, although all dogs are unique and some Spaniels have a different temperament to others.

Where this matters is with grooming. 

Unlike Greyhounds, Labradors or Bull Mastiffs, who are not only easy to train but also easy to keep their coats looking clean and healthy, Cocker Spaniels do require more grooming than most, which is usually where careful technique and good training matter.

Why Is It Important To Groom Your Cocker Spaniel?

Grooming a Cocker Spaniel is not just about aesthetics but about their overall health; as they have long ears weighed down with fur alongside their beautiful coats that flow majestically with the help of the right conditioner, grooming ensures they are happy and helps you spot medical issues.

Stops Matting

All of this, in combination with their playful nature and love of walks, means that Cocker Spaniels are more prone to matted fur than most.

Matting can create the risk of your dog feeling uncomfortable, increase the risk of skin irritation and with that infections that can be really painful and expensive to fix.

Maintains A Shiny, Healthy Coat 

A good grooming session not only clears away dead hair and dirt from the coat, but it also stimulates blood flow through the skin, which encourages hair to grow out more healthily.

It Provides An Early Warning Sign For Infections 

Grooming is not only good for its own sake, but it also provides an easy way to check your dog’s fur for parasites, infections, disease or infected patches. If you catch an infection early, it is much easier for a vet to take care of your dog.

In particular, the ears of Cocker Spaniels are long and floppy, making them prone to moisture retention, ear wax and dirt. Ear infections are just as painful for dogs as they are for their owners, so avoiding any additional pain is extremely helpful.

Encourages Other Healthy Grooming Habits

Whilst you are taking care of your Cocker Spaniel’s elegant coat, you also have the perfect opportunity to take care of their teeth by brushing and using a dental stick/bone to reduce the risk of dental infections, caries and disease, which can be particularly devastating for a dog.

Similarly, whilst some Cocker Spaniels never need their nails clipped because they live such an active life, they naturally wear down; clipping nails helps to prevent ingrown nails, which can be painful and potential vectors for infection.


Grooming Your Cocker Spaniel

Here is a brief guide to the basic grooming tasks you should expect when taking care of your Cocker Spaniel. However, if you are worried at all about what you are expected to do, get in touch with a professional groomer. 

What Do You Need To Groom Your Cocker Spaniel?


Daily Grooming Tasks

Brushing Their Coat

Every day, you will need to brush your dog’s coat to minimise shedding, stop matting and get rid of dust and dirt, leaving a shiny coat as your reward.

  • Use a pin brush and deeply brush your dog’s coat.
  • Take care to watch for signs of discomfort.
  • Check for burrs, thorns or other sharp bits that can cause discomfort
  • You may choose to use a coat fragrance at regular intervals, between baths. Read more about how to choose the right fragrance for your Cocker Spaniel.


Weekly Grooming Tasks

Detangle The Fur

  • Use a detangling spray and work it using a wide-tooth comb from the ends of the fur all the way to the root.
  • Be gentle and do not force tangles loose.
  • Work slowly to stop matting. If you are struggling to prise a mat loose, let your groomer know.


Clean Their Ears

  • Get your vet-approved ear cleaner and cotton balls ready.
  • Hold your dog’s head steady and pour a tiny amount of the cleaner into the ear canal.
  • Massage the ear from the base outwards to spread the cleaner throughout the ear.
  • Gently wipe any excess out using a cotton ball.
  • Repeat until both ears are clean.

Consult your vet immediately if you notice any swelling or odd smells.


Trim Nails

  • Gather your nail clippers and blood stop (also referred to as styptic powder) together.
  • Hold each paw comfortably and look for the quick.
  • Trim gradually, cutting only small parts of the nail at a time.
  • File any rough edges smooth.


Monthly Grooming Tasks

Bathing

Whilst a minimum of a monthly task, bathing is done as often as you need; if your Cocker Spaniel likes to play in the mud, then you may need to bathe them weekly.

  • Make sure they are familiar with the bath, know it is non-slip, and feel comfortable staying in there.
  • Fill the bathtub with warm water below the tops of their legs.
  • Pour some dog shampoo into a jug of warm water to dilute it.
  • Gently place the dog in the bath.
  • Pat the dog with warm water. Take care not to splash their head or ears.
  • Massage the dog shampoo into their coat before rinsing it off completely.
  • Use a conditioner on the matted areas and longer parts of the coat.
  • Rinse your dog completely.
  • Towel your dog and gently lift them out of the bath.
  • Use a hairdryer if they are comfortable with it.


Trim Fur

In general, prioritise the hair between the paw pads, the hair around the genitals and the hair on the muzzle, but do so extremely gently.


Top Tips For Making Grooming Your Cocker Spaniel Free Of Stress

  • Ensure that your grooming sessions are in a calm environment, with music or white noise.
  • Use positive reinforcement and keep praising your Cocker Spaniel during any grooming sessions.
  • Do not rush. Be gentle and take breaks if either of you feels uncomfortable.
  • Think about professional grooming whenever you feel uncomfortable grooming
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