Grooming questions

Question
Hi Kerri,

I am looking into getting my first puppy. I have always loved cocker spaniels since I was a kid. I have a few questions about the grooming of cocker spaniels. These might be amateur questions, so bear with me:

1. Do cocker spaniels all have the same coat length naturally, or are there short-haired and long haired ones?

2. I would want to keep his/her coat medium length. So, what exactly would that require of me? (clipping, brushing, etc.)

3. As I am looking for a cocker spaniel puppy, what questions should I be asking the breeders?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Greg

Answer
Hi Greg,
I'm happy to hear you want a Cocker Spaniel...you'll fall in love the minute you see your new puppy. Not only are they adorable but they have the best personalities a dog could have. They quickly become one of the family!

Here's the answers to your questions:

1. The texture of coat in Cockers are different according to the color they are. I find the redder the more wire haired and coarser they feel. I have a black one and he gets pretty full when his hair grows out. There is not a long haired or short haired breed. Since  Cockers are supposed to be groomed every 3 months, they should have a clean look, instead of shaggy and overgrown.

2. The length just depends on how often you groom them. If you let the hair grow out, it will require daily brushing. I suggest to groom every 3 months, since they do accumulate a lot of hair around their paws which can be bulky and hard to clean. As well, regular grooming cuts down on the amount of hair that you'll have around the house. The longer the hair, the more there is to shed.

3. If possible, get a good look at the parents of the puppies. Find out what temperment they are and how the interact with you. If there is a sign of aggression, I suggest that you look elsewhere. Also watch how the puppy you select interacts with its brothers and sisters. Is it overly aggressive or is it a loner? You want a well rounded out puppy so make sure it has had lots of human interaction. The best time to get the puppy is between the 7-8 week stage of their life. DO NOT take a puppy that is younger than 6 weeks. They need their mother for nurturing and disciplining during that time.

Hope this helps you!

Kerri