Helpful Grooming Tips for Your English Cocker Spaniel

The English cocker spaniel is a medium sized breed of dog that has a happy personality and loyal temperament. They get along with children very well and develop a very strong bond with their primary care taker. This makes it very easy for the owner to groom the pet.

With a thick, beautiful coat that may be wavy, grooming your pet is important to keep them looking healthy. Train your pet as a puppy which makes it easier to groom them as adults.

Tools required for grooming English cocker spaniel:

• Bristle brush
• Coat clipper
• Fine and wide tooth comb
• Straight and thinning scissors
• Sponge
• Nail clipper
• Gloves

How to Groom Your Pet?

• Coat: Brush your pet's coat every alternate day or every time he comes back from being outdoors. Brushing regularly keeps his coat tangle free and silky. Brush the coat to remove fleas and tangles. Run your fingers on the skin under the coat to feel for mites/tick which should be firmly removed without breaking them. Use clippers to trim the extra hair that grow on the feet and drag on the ground. A neat cut not only makes your pet look good but also keeps him comfortable.
• Eyes: Clean around the eyes with a soft damp cloth removing any dirt or mucus. If there is excessive discharge or redness, they require medical attention as this may be signs of an infection or a foreign particle lodged in the eye.
• Ear: Clean the ears weekly with a dog ear cleaning solution. Wipe around the ears every two days or every time he comes back from his outdoor. Look for signs of infection which should be treated immediately.
• Teeth: Brush your pet's teeth three times a week. This removes the plaque and prevents tartar buildup and growth of bacteria, which may cause infection affecting the heart, kidneys or liver.
• Nails: Trim the nails once a month. If they are too long, they will tap on the floor causing injury to the paw and scratch you when he jumps on you. Take care not to cut the ‘quick' which will cause bleeding as it carries blood.

Fix a time for grooming and reward him every time he cooperates with you. Make grooming a fun activity for him so he looks forward to the grooming session which will make it easier for you to groom him. When grooming your English cocker spaniel, you must look out for signs of infection, such as sores, rashes, thickening of the skin, loss of hair, bad odor, or whining when you touch a certain body part. These symptoms require immediate medical attention.

When groomed well, this breed, with its long ears, coat, black nose, and expressive oval eyes, is one of the most handsome breeds.