Grooming Tips for Spaniels
Spaniels are very energetic, even tempered, very intelligent, easily trained and have great personalities.
They’re normally very friendly, although some are a little reserved at first, they are a dog which can suit most home environments.
However, Spaniels require regular exercise and plenty of mental stimulation.
Because of this, they’re one of the most popular breeds in the UK and rightly so as they’re a wonderful dog.
To keep their coat in good condition we recommend a combination of visits to the Groomer and weekly grooming sessions in-between visits.
We’d totally recommend more frequent bathing if your dog has an attraction to getting dirty and rolling in dubious smelling materials, which unfortunately most Spaniels seem to have!
The visits to the Groomer should be focused on clipping of nails, trimming of the coat and, of course, a good wash and groom.
Most owners advise these visits are every 6 weeks.
So, to keep your Spaniel’s in great condition in-between grooming sessions we’d advise having your own washing and grooming sessions at home.
This can be a rewarding and fun experience, and you help to keep your pets coat in tip top condition by following these simple rules…
Before you start your shower and grooming sessions, give your Spaniel a good brush and then make sure you have all tools and materials required:
• Shampoo – Make sure you use a Dog Shampoo, not made for humans. This will ensure that the fur stays in a great condition as human shampoos have different formulas not always compatible with dogs.
• Towels – 1 x Roses Mega Absorbent PVA Dog Towel, and 1 x Large Super Absorbent Dog Towel
• 1 x Grooming Dryer Brush
• 1 x Good quality dog brush – We recommend Rosewood Soft Protection Salon grooming Slicker Brush
• A good supply of treats
Washing your Spaniel
For all Spaniels we advise you to use the shower, don’t forget to use a non-slip shower mat as washing may result your pooch attempting the great escape and potentially harming itself!).
Ensure the water is a comfortable temperature, not too hot or too cold, then use the shower attachment to thoroughly wet your Spaniels coat.
Next, apply the shampoo and knead it thoroughly into the coat.
Do not vigorously rub as this can cause tangling, so simply knead in the direction of the coat.
If your Spaniel has got extremely dirty you may need to repeat this process, but if possible only use one application of shampoo, as this helps preserve the natural oils in your Spaniels coat.
Important to note:
When rinsing out the shampoo you must ensure that all the suds have been rinsed away as any residue can cause itchiness.
Important to note:
Avoid getting shampoo into the eyes and try to keep the inside of ears dry away from shampoo and water.
If using a conditioner, repeat process and again make sure the conditioner is thoroughly rinsed out of the coat.
When Fido’s coat has been thoroughly rinsed it’s time to dry, and technique is important here to keep your Spaniels coat in great condition.
Firstly, dab the coat all over with the Mega Absorbent PVA Dog Towel, squeezing excess water out often to ensure maximum absorbency.
Once all surplus water is removed, wrap your Spaniel in a Large Super Absorbent Dog Towel making sure to gently dab the towel all over until the coat is just damp.
It is important that you do not vigorously towel dry your Spaniel as this can result in frizz, split ends and matting.
Now to the final stage; drying and grooming.
Connect your Roses Top Dog Grooming Dryer Brush and set on medium heat (low speed) and start brushing and drying the coat.
Top tip:
Ensure the whole coat is dry, particularly around the base of the tail and around the ears as this can make your pooch quite uncomfortable.
Ensure all the coat is brushed through and dry, and if your dog’s a little anxious encourage with tasty treats and words of encouragement.
Once your dog is familiarised and comfortable with your Grooming Dryer Brush you can increase the heat setting to full and increase the speed to high.
Important to note:
When drying around the eyes and ears only use medium heat and low power.
The permanent ionic feature will enhance the conditioner used on your dog’s coat during washing, and will keep Fido’s fur silky smooth.
The choice of brush head to use varies from dog to dog.
Generally, we recommend the large square head for large areas such as sides and back, the oval brush head for use around the ears, tail etc and the round brush head for under the chin and tops of front legs, but once you have used the tool a few times you will develop your own technique and use brush heads which you feel will give you the best results.
We know that in following these simple instructions you will soon be getting great results and you and your Spaniel will enjoy these sessions which can help create an excellent bond between you and your Spaniel and of course keep your Spaniel looking great and smelling good – most of the time!
Following a wet walk, you can also follow these guidelines.
If your pup isn’t too mucky there’s no need to shampoo or condition, simply towel dry as outlined above and quickly dry off with the Grooming Dryer Brush, and on cold winter walks your Spaniel will welcome being dry and warm.
We look forward to hearing your experiences and of course receiving pictures of your Spaniel after your Grooming and pampering sessions
The Top Dog Team
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