English Cocker Spaniels have a long-haired double coat. They require a moderate level of grooming. Brush daily or at least every other day.

Regular brushing is one of the best things you can do to keep your pet healthy and happy, and you should always brush in the direction of hair growth.

Brushing:

. Removes dirt and debris
. Invigorates skin
. Spreads oils to moisturize skin and keep a shiny coat
. Prevents mats and tangles which are irritating painful and can harbor bacteria, fungus, other infection
. Keeps your house much cleaner especially during shedding seasons
. Bonding, massaging, loving interaction
. Early detection of fleas, tics, eczema, infection and smells

It's very important to brush a dog with an undercoat. Mats can develop that harbor fungus and create infection. If the mats develop to the point that the dog needs shaving, it can create no-end problems for the dog. Its seasonal growth cycle is disturbed; it will have problems regulating its temperature, become itchy and irritated and can get windburn or sunburn.

Tools: Slicker or Pin brush, Soft Brush or Curry comb, Medium-toothed comb, Spray conditioner or water

Line brushing consists of holding hair up and out of the way and then brushing/detangling a small amount of hair, a line or row at a time from underneath. Always work from the inside out on a coat and from the bottom to top of the hair.

Work at tangles with the brush, softening with spray if necessary. The objective is to be able to comb through easily. Use a soft brush or rubber curry comb on your spaniel's head.

Eyes: Check your dog's eyes daily.

Debris is flushed to the corners and daily wiping with a wet cloth or paper towel can keep that bacterial breeding ground from building up.

Ears: Check ears once a week.

English Cocker Spaniel's ears are prone to infection. They should be pink and healthy inside. If not, don't do anything to them until you see a vet. Keeping ears clean minimizes odor, removes dirt, bacteria and mites trapped in wax. Never use a cotton swab on the inner ear.

Tools: Cotton balls or soft cloth and ear solution.

There is solution made specifically for dogs but substitutes include: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, mineral oil, witch hazel, and tea tree oil

Place a few drops of ear solution in ear and rub and massage to loosen wax. Swab out with cotton balls or cloth.


Ear Hair Plucking: Every two weeks.

The English cocker spaniel has hair growing into the ear canal. This can prevent the canal from drying properly, trap bacteria and cause fungal infections.

Tools: Tweezers, powder, chalk, rubber gloves all optional

Lift the dog's ear and lay it back. Grasp the hair along the inside of the ear between thumb and forefinger and pull firmly. This hair removes easily.

Use tools to help grip slippery hair.

Teeth: Regularly.

Should you brush your dog's teeth? Yes. 80% of 3 year old dogs have periodontal disease. Cavities and gum disease are painful for your dog; they diminish the dogs pleasure and ability to eat. Bacteria that develops can infect the heart, kidney, liver and brain. Really bad breath is usually a sign of gum disease.

Tools: Toothbrush/finger cap/cloth, doggie toothpaste, tooth scraper

Never use human toothpaste. It is not edible.

Starting your dog out with this practice takes patience. Reward it constantly, no matter what their behavior is like (within reason) to create a good associations with grooming.

Start out getting them used to their mouth being handled and then progress to touching the teeth with your finger.

Get some meat-seasoned toothpaste or similar and apply it with your finger.

Then introduce the brush. Clean a few teeth at a time and soon you will have a routine that takes just minutes. Brush in a circular motion and get under the gum line.

If you don't want to brush everyday, use a tooth scraper to get rid of the plaque buildup once or twice a month. Most accumulation is on the outside of the teeth and on the back molars. This won't be so much fun for your dog or you though. Lots of bones and hard, crunchy foods can minimize plaque but not to a truly effective degree.

Nails: Every two weeks.

Nail care is very important to your English Cocker Spaniel. Nails that aren't trimmed can splinter and infect the quick or grow and curl into the flesh. This can be painful for your dog to walk on, affect it's gait, posture, and eventually it's skeletal and ligament health. Nails should never touch the ground. When your dog is standing, its nails should rest above the ground. If you hear clicking on the kitchen floor, clipping is past due.

Tools: Doggie Nail Clippers (Scissors, pliers, guillotine), Dremel or file, Styptic or Kwikstop.

Sit beside your dog and put your arm around its shoulders if you can so you are clipping from underneath and at the right angle.

Lift the paw and press on it to expose the claw.

If it has a clear nail you should be able to see the quick: a dark bundle of nerves and blood vessels.

Clip from underneath close to the quick but do not cut into it. If you do, your dog will let you know. Use Styptic pencil or Kwikstop to staunch the bleeding.

Buff the ragged edge with a file or Dremel. Some dogs can handle their nails being buffed by the Dremel regularly rather than clipping at all.

If it has a dark nail, clip just under the curve of the nail and then you will be able to look inside and see the quick if you are close enough. Clip tiny snips at a time.

Don't forget to check for dewclaws: an extra claw dogs may have farther up on the leg that works like a thumb.

It is better to clip your dog's nails more frequently than not as this causes the quick to recede farther away from the tip.

Paws: Check daily/ Trim every two weeks

It is very important to check between dog pads for foreign objects that may have wedged there and to check the pads themselves for cuts, scrapes and infection.

Tools: Small, blunt scissors, slicker brush.

The hair that grows between pads can mat and trap bacteria besides becoming painful to walk on.

Trim hair around the paw to keep them cleaner. This should always be done with the dog standing.

Then, push feathers growing on top of the foot down through the toes to the pad.

Lift paw and from the back, brush out hair and trim to pad level.

Push feathers back up through toes and trim from the top.

Hygienic trimming: 2 to 4 weeks.

Tools: Thinning shears, electric clippers

Thinning, trimming and clipping at the ear opening, base of the tail, around the anus and privates keeps your dog feeling better as well as keeping it and your house cleaner.

Expressing Glands: Every 2 to 4 weeks

This is a task normally done when you take your dog in for professional grooming. Your dog uses scent glands in the anus to mark its territory.

These glands also excrete when your dog defecates. At times, they may get impacted. Signs of this include: increased doggie odor, excessive licking and chewing of the behind, and worst of all, scooting. That's when your dog drags its butt/bottom along your carpet or floor.

There is no risk of overly expressing these glands so it's a good habit to become accustomed to. It will lesson dog odor.

Tools: Warm cloth

Lift the dog's tail and hold the cloth against it's behind. Place your fingers at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Press inward and squeeze to expel.

Bathing: As needed

Most dogs do not need regular bathing. The have natural oils that moisturize their skin, keep their coat glossy and resistant to dirt and water. Stripping these oils with frequent bathing dries out the skin and is a detriment to a healthy coat.

The cocker spaniel, especially if it goes outside, merits more bathing. Its long fur attracts debris, fleas, ticks, tangles and mats that can quickly become skin infections. Bathing can help to remove a large amount of hair during shedding season as well.

Tools: Non-slip mat, sprayer hose, dog shampoo, conditioner, leash, towels.

Choose a place where you can close off escape routes and expect 1-3 water-spraying shakes.

A leash tied to a higher point than your dog's head will keep it standing and deter escape. This is highly recommended as it's really hard to stop a slippery dog.

Never bathe your dog in standing water. A sprayer hose is a must.

Wet your dog using your hand to massage and lift hair to get to the undercoat.

Avoid getting water into the eyes, nose and ears.

Massage lather down to the undercoat.

Rinse thoroughly as leftover shampoo can severely dry out and irritate your pet's skin, you should then condition feathers and rinse.

Siphon off excess water by running your hands along its body and pressing.

Towel them dry, and comb and blow-dry feathers.

The Salon Treatment: Varies by preference.

Is your English Cocker Spaniel a companion dog or a show dog? Each breed has very explicit specifications for showing. A professional groomer can guide and instruct you.

If you're not concerned about showing but would like to keep your dog to some semblance of traditional form there's much you can do yourself.

Remember though, your dog does not have to be a slave to fashion.

Tools: Straight scissor, thinning shears, electric clipper, clipper wash, #7 and #15 clipper blades, comb

Use comb and a #15 clipper blade to shave the face from under the eye to the muzzle, around ears, upper 1/3 of ear, and neck.

Use comb and a #7 clipper blade to shave body, back, front of forelegs and body sides.

Use thinning shears on ears and chest to blend, as well as thinning chest hair, feathers and haunches.

Use straight scissors to trim around ear edge, paws, back of feet, tail and feathers. Comb out feathers and cut in a straight vertical line.