Caring for an English Cocker Spaniel's Coat

An English Cocker Spaniel should be accustomed to the daily routine of brushing its coat from a very young age. Although it may seem excessive when puppies have such short hair, it will be imperative to brush your dog's coat daily when it is an adult if you want it to have an impeccable appearance without any knots or tangles.

This is especially important, as the English Cocker Spaniel's coat grows very fast. Furthermore, this daily interaction with the dog strengthens the relationship between owner and pet. This will make your English Cocker Spaniel more inclined to follow your orders and instructions - which otherwise can be a weakness of the breed.

The English Cocker Spaniel's ears are very long and floppy. This means that they often get into the dog's food when eating; therefore, if they are not protected properly, they will have to be cleaned every day, which is quite annoying.

One way to prevent the dog's ears from becoming dirty is to reduce the diameter of its dog bowl, but this is not an ideal solution. Instead, we recommend putting a protective cloth cap on the dog. These caps are sold in pet shops, but it is extremely easy and cheaper to make one yourself. Take a piece of fabric and form a tube about 12 cm (5 in) in diameter and 20 cm (8 in) long. Find a rubber band and sew it from one end to the other so it will fit your dog's head, keeping its ears inside and fully protecting them.

The English Cocker Spaniel is prone to otitis, so internal and external hygiene of its ears is essential.

An English Cocker Spaniel's fur is composed of more than 90% protein. This means that a good diet specific to this breed is crucial to properly maintain their coat. There are specific feeds for Cocker Spaniels that can be very useful. Its composition is designed for their nutritional needs; their coat will be dense, silky and shiny.

Another factor to consider about this breed is its tendency to become obese. Younger dogs are active, but as they approach old age they become somewhat apathetic and sleepy. For this reason it is very important to know how much and how often you should feed your dog.

The English Cocker Spaniel has 3 very popular haircuts. Take a look:

1. Puppy cut

This type of cut is the most comfortable and easiest to maintain. All the fur is cut in the same way, not exceeding 4 cm (1.5 in) in length. It is the most appropriate one for the summer, and no knots will form.

2. Princess cut

This haircut is more difficult to maintain. You have to keep the fur short on its back and leave it long on its side, almost touching the ground. The help of a professional groomer is essential. The fur on the ears should also be grown out.

3. Catwalk cut

A very elegant cut of overlapping layers, but difficult to do. Only a professional groomer, or someone with a lot of knowledge about dog stylism, is suitable to attempt this complex and elegant cut. The dog should be brushed every day.

You can learn more about haircuts for Cocker Spaniels in more detail here. Stay with us and discover all about the different types of spaniel dogs: Spaniel breeds around the world.

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