Has anyone had their Springer Spaniel clipped?

[sunnydelight]

I wanted to get her clipped back in December in the heat of Summer but couldn't get an appointment. I am having her done next Monday - it's coming to the end of Summer now but I am spending hours trying to get the burrs out of her ear fur - she has dreads at the moment - so I think I'll go ahead. The vet has said she will look really ridiculous, but it's a good thing to do once a year here due to the heat/tick season etc. Any opinions?

Yes i have. twice a year. tell them NOT to touch her ears or the tufty bit on the top of the head, as that is their character but go ahead, so much easier.

The brambles used to get caught up on their tummies and would scratch their skin to pieces.

Thanks eyetunes. Not sure what to do about her ears though - she really does have dreads. Maybe the groomers will have more success than I have with a comb.

I have mine done once or twice a year, she is a major mud magnet

I make sure I keep the inside of her ears "tidy" in between times and just get the groomer to trim them a wee bit, they are a nightmare to keep clean though aren't they?

Mine doesn't have much of a tufty bit though so that doesn't really come in to it.

Yes, the groomers can clip out all the knots where it ghathers behind the ears, what i meant was don't let them trim the bottoms too short. Once I didn't mention it to a groomer and one of mine came back looking like a very angry dog. He was clipped up to the actual ear bit, had 2 shaven stumps, it was dreadful. I like them to have long curly madness but like you say, un knotted.

Just got in from walking mine, one has a bramble completely stuck in his tail and wont let me get it out, so he is nibbling away at it himself. They are both covered in mud, thick gooey mud, but what happy fellows

A dog's coat keep them cool in summer as well as warm in winter, so clipping will actually make the dog less able to regulate it's own temperature.

I have seen a few clipped Springers, cockers and sprockers, and sorry, but IMO they look ridiculous. I also have a friend who clips their Golden, he looks ridiculous too.

I know grooming can be a pain, but a quick daily comb will keep you on top of it.

I was told by my breeder not to have mine clipped as it makes their fur grow back curly and more unmanageable. I just trim the extra bits from the bottom of his paws and between his toes in the summer.
Have to brush him daily in the summer because of the burrs he gets covered in.

but it hurts when they have brambles caught in their coats, which mine invariably do.

They don't live your average life of road work and across the park, they are out there up hill and down dale, across farmland and woodland. Everyday, they get stuff stuck in their fur and have actually cut their skin when it has been tangled. So twice a year they have their hair cut. Not shorn to death, but clipped so there is still some length, but much easier to brush and keep clear.

It would never have occurred to me to clip a springer in the UK tbh (though I can certainly see why you do yours eyetunes), and I know she will look ridiculous, but vets here (Sydney) do recommend it. We also live on the edge of the bush and ticks are a real problem so one of the rationales of clipping them at the beginning of tick season is so you can catch any problem early enough to intervene with hopefully a happy ending. Lots of dogs die from ticks here, especially long hair breeds.

Oh well - I'll see just how ridiculous on Monday and if it's truly daft it can be a one off

Good luck!!!!!the coat will grow back curly and heavier, and in uk I would say don't do it. But where you are I guess it is a necessity . Also try keeping on top of it yourself.........a dog will never say doesn't like it and I am a groomed!!!! Lol