Living with a spaniel

[Volluto]

We've always had dogs but now have our first cocker spaniel. All other dogs have been wire types.

He is 7 months. A great calm dog in many ways apart from usual puppy 'zoomies'

But

The mess, the dirt. Constant wet ears. Fur soaked after a 2 min trip outside. Smelly. Needs bathing after every walk. But he is then sooo wet and his fur seems to soak up every drop of water and hold on to it for hours! Muddy hairy paws. Did I mention the wet ears!

Any tips for spaniel ownership would be VERY MUCH appreciated.

My Springer is never knowingly dry.

Always a dampness around the ears.

*Tiredemma
*
Belle looks so cute! Gorgeous!

My crazy cocker, Blue

OP your pup is gorgeous!

Crazyladee, Blue is gorgeous!

This was Charlie at 6 weeks...

And this is Chester

We have a waterproof coat for nighttime walks (reflective too for safety) it saves air of time and getting his bed wet. Otherwise it's just a case of teaching him to stand still for paw wiping, our boy loves being rubbed with a towel so happily has his paws wiped knowing what comes next!

I also didn’t realise cocker spaniels required so much grooming and smelled! I did so much research into temperament I forgot about their coats.

After having a stinking Shar-Pei I thought this one would be easier 🙈

They dont all smell! Mine is really clean smelling and we live on a farm; he's probably the least doggysmelly dog i've ever had. He has a very silky coat that just seems to slough off dirt

I've never used a groomer OP. I bought some good quality scissors myself and the coat king, a soft bristle brush and we manage fine. There are so many videos on dog grooming on Youtube, and we've never had any major disasters touch wood!!

Springer here... ours is fully clipped to within an inch of his life. He looks a bit like a fatter GSP!

Lovely photos, here are my 2 having a relax.

Dizzlzz

They look gorgeous! Love their colouring!

My working cocker is so unsmelly! Her fur is sleek and legs and paws kept short. She is on the farm and in the forrest all day and yet the mud just doesn’t cling to her. I wonder if it’s more of a show cocker thing as their coats are usually longer?

BirdyPup is a black show cocker - totally echo other posters comments about keeping the fur short. I didn't want her too short to start with but if not then her fur gets matted and she doesn't really like being combed on the legs. Getting your groomer to clip the feet really well is a godsend - we went from wet streaks all over the floor to distinct little footprints.

Luckily we've dried her feet from day one so she now lifts up her paws to get them done (when she isn't running to hide under the table to chew on a leaf she's taken in). Towels at every entrance. We're also lucky to have a downstairs shower near the front door so her feet are rinsed off after muddy walks (nearly every day). She hates the hairdryer though so that's a no-no for us.

The best find was Stink Bomb spray though as it really combats the damp dog smell (which I hate). But as PPs have said - just get used to a dirty floor as within hours of it being mopped and dried it's dirty again no matter how well you think you've dried their feet.

Teaching a circle on a towel like someone on here has done is a really good idea though - think I’ll nick that!

Sister has 2 springers. They get hosed down (even in winter) after a dirty walk every walk. Not shampoo though. They got hosed down Boxing Day and I did feel bad enough for them to get the dyson hairdryer out on them so they weren't locked in the kitchen drying out. I have 2 toy breeds who also retain water like 2 fat wrinkly sponges and also blow dry them. She keeps them clippered and does it herself at home as it's cheaper - even bought the restraint thing to keep them still. I do love a spaniel!

wombatron does your sister have the restraint thingy to attach to an existing table or did she buy the whole groom table? I ask because I often think it would be useful to have one I could use on an existing table but have never seen anything that looks robust enough?

We also find Muddy Paws door mats to be very good at trapping water and mud for the initial walk through the door and whilst being towelled dried!

@missbattenburg I believe it's an attachment that goes on the dining table (judge her not, limited space).

I will say, hers are naughty for me, but very well behaved for her and she doesn't take any shit from them so I'm not too certain they need that much restraining

Interesting (and, btw, I was thinking of my own dining table also ). Battendog doesn't need much restraining wither but I was just thinking of something to discourage him trying to make a break for it when he was getting bored. Just slow him down enough that I have time to react and tell him to stay put (ahem, bribe him with treats).

Yes batten I think it's just a muzzle and perhaps the haunch type thing. They are kept quite short and are always clipped so I don't think it's too much of a struggle

So any advice on choosing a groomer? What questions should I ask or will they all be similar?

Also what leads do you walk with? Is a harness a better idea. I notice lots of people here have the rope sort that you just loop over the neck.

I would ask where the dogs go while they're waiting and after they're finished. I have used three groomers. The first, there were dogs running loose around the room barking and jumping and all sorts - it was pandemonium. We never went back! The second was calm and quiet and had crates, all in the room so they were supervised - much better, used her for years until we moved. The third had them tied to a wall in a separate room accessible to the public and it of her sight line - anyone could have walked off with a dog. We never went back there, either.

Rope slip leads are used for gun dogs as they go on and off quickly and without the need for a collar (working dogs don't wear them as they are a strangulation hazard). They're only good for dogs that know how to walk to heel though as they'll hurt both the dog's neck and your hand. Good to have as a spare in the car or a pocket though as they're so lightweight. A harness is good for a puppy that is learning (as long as it fits well of course). We use both on different days.

Great advice on groomer thanks.
I've been given details of a mobile one who comes in a van .... can't decide