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Descended from the original spaniels of Spain, the English Cocker Spaniel developed from the smaller dogs for hunting woodcock. This capable and energetic spaniel should cover the ground effortlessly in his pursuit to flush and retrieve. He is compactly built and without exaggeration – I did like the lines I read on this breed, “the whole worth more than the sum of his parts”.
The overall look of the English Cocker Spaniel should always appear natural. Best is to hand strip or strip excess undercoat with a stripping knife. Then trim feet, hocks, and outline using thinning scissors. Use clippers for the throat and top of ears. The standard also requires a flat, silky texture – never wiry or wavy, not too profuse and never curly.
To start Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo is a must for most Spaniels. Its deep cleaning ability is excellent for those oily ears and feet. Use diluted 1:3 (1 part shampoo to 3 parts water) for that amazing and clarifying clean to those extra dirty and greasy areas. A great beginning to your show prep.
When preparing blacks, blue roans and black and white English Cocker Spaniels for a show, use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo. Dilute 1:5 for a white finish and tone any unwanted warm or rusty tones of the darker colour of the coat.
For extra whitening on those difficult areas use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. It helps to maintain a white stain free coat. It is not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin This product is designed to remove gently unwanted warm or red tones to the coat. Best used on a damp or wet coat. Gently rub into the areas required allowing 5-10 minutes and rinse. For maximum effects repeat or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.
For solid black English Cocker Spaniels, you can also use Plush Puppy Black Opal Shampoo specifically for black coats. It is not a dye that colours the coat but a strong stain that contains organic sources with herbal extracts and intense black tone. This helps restore the lost cool tones in the coat and enhance the original colour. Firstly shampoo with Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo to remove any residues on the coat and then follow with the Black Opal shampoo. Dilute 1:3 on those areas needing restoration. Leave for as long as the dog will stay still, preferably 10 minutes, and rinse. Use as often as needed.
If shine is the main consideration, and indeed the standard uses the word “glossy”, use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo again diluting 1:5. Dilution allows for easier workability, the ability to apply the beneficial extracts evenly over the coat and easy rinsing. All the shampoos are fairly concentrated allowing dilution to its best advantage. This particular shampoo is also excellent for solid golds or use just on the gold parts of a gold roan or a parti colour. This product is brilliant even if it’s just along to topline for that added sheen.
If more coat is needed, such as for sparse featherings or a recent coat drop, use Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo diluted 3:1 for extra oomph. This shampoo does have a bodifying effect to the coat without an artificial feel plus it is wonderful for the coat as it is primarily naturally derived and infused with beneficial plant extracts. Can just be used on the areas needing it rather than the whole dog.
For the English Cocker Spaniel, take that extra care and clean around the face and eyes using Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It’s no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro-Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean soothes, adds moisture, aids healing, and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning.
All shampoos are highly effective and outcome orientated, so select the correct choice of shampoo for your particular situation at that time.
After shampooing, apply a light squish through the longer parts of the coat with a well-diluted mix of up to 1:10 of Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner. This will serve to keep featherings untangled and hydrated. It is not necessary to use a conditioner on the shorter body coat as you risk making the coat fluffy when the coat is needed to sit flat.
For show drying, use the Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush and a well-diluted application of Plush Puppy Swishy Coat to the English Cocker Spaniel featherings. Mix 1 teaspoon into 2 of cups water then apply liberally. Leave in, do not rinse out. This assists to keep the featherings disentangled minimises static and reduces excess wave.
Should the coat featherings appear boofy, excessive or wavy, then add 1 teaspoon of Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream to the above mix to really flatten and soften. Blow-dry to ¾ dry and then finish for smoothest result with Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. This 2-brush technique lessens the problems of overstretching the coat.
At times your dog may be out of coat so Plush Puppy Volumising Spray is perfect used to ‘fluff’ up the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer. Produced for easy use and scientifically balanced for this coat type. This is a hair thickener to add volume, not a hair stiffener and not detectable leaving the coat with a natural thicker look and feel.
For maintenance between shows, use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat diluted for quicker application. Mix 1 golf ball amount to 1 cup of water into a spray bottle. Spray onto the coat as a grooming spray or as a disentangler during the week. This is excellent for moisturising and hydration and helps maintain elasticity in the hair.
For damaged or brittle coats, use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue. It has been specifically formulated to bring dry or damaged coats back to life. Coat Rescue’s naturally blended essential oils and pure plant extracts help restore strength and elasticity to dehydrated and tired coat hair. The treatment is exceptional on brittle coat hair. Infused with naturally blended essential oils and pure plant extracts including Kaolin, Almond Oil, Cinnamon Bark, Castor Oil, Soya Protein, Seaweed Extract, and other naturally sourced ingredients.
Dilute 1 tablespoon of Coat Rescue into 1 cup of water and work well through the damaged or dehydrated areas. Leave on for a minimum of 5 minutes. Try to leave on for as long as possible, then rinse clear.
Another good in-between show remedy is Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. This will add shine, hydrate and condition to the coat. It is a truly beneficial blend of using extracts of Calendula oil, Wheat germ oil, and Evening Primrose.
Add 1 teaspoon to 2 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the coat and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. This is quite a unique product in that it is not greasy and totally water-soluble. It gives an outstanding healthy vigour to the skin and coat. Use the oil at this dilution rate after shampooing for a show. Again leave in and do not rinse. You will get a nice healthy sheen on the coat with this routine.
For added protection you can spray the topline and featherings and use a liberal spray around the pee feathers stops discolouration and breakage.
Now we’re ready for Show Day.
The very best grooming spray is Plush Puppy OMG. This is a revolutionary grooming spray that lives up to its name. OMG is the perfect product for this coat type. A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish.
Use at an approximate mixture of 1 part OMG to 20-40 parts water, using this break down from the OMG Concentrate or OMG ready to use. The stronger the mix the stronger their effects. Different dogs at different coat stages means different mixtures. The higher the amount of OMG the greater the effects. If you need more softening and hydration to a fuller or larger coat then a higher mixture is needed. OMG can also be used on topcoats and brushed or polished in for that wonderful smooth and flatness to the coat.
Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. An amazing product for regular brushing also as it hydrates the coat and reduces stress and coat loss. OMG and as its active ingredients smooth the cuticle and protect the coat. It never builds up, and never goes stringy. A product that took years to develop using clever technology for maximum effects. A true necessity for the tool kit.
Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash which is a no rinse wet instant shampoo for “those show day” last-minute emergencies as this will clean up anything, pronto. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off. Wonder Wash is a brilliant quick self-rinsing bathing alternative solution for quick and easy cleaning without the need for a complete bath. In moments when regular shampooing is not an option, Wonder Wash will clean, whiten and brighten problem areas on all coat kinds. Always keep our handy Plush Puppy Wonder Wash spray in your tack box. It contains optical brighteners, has a fresh apple fragrance, and violet tone.
Now for the final touch. Spray a light mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb just to the topline held at a distance of 30cms away. Let the mist fall over the coat just before you go into the ring to give a final boost to the shine and lustre of the coat.
At times due to various reasons including the weather static electricity can create flyaways. If this occurs use Plush Puppy Anti-Static Coat Control. This is a lightweight spray using the latest technology is infused with organic extracts of Witch Hazel Leaf, Linden Flower, Birch Bark and Nettle. It also adds to the protection, include a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat strength for the perfect finished look of the coat. This amazing product is idea for this breed and a must for your tack box.
Not to forget for show day, that final flourish for a great smelling dog with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher. It literally munches the odour and works well for smelly problems such as emergencies in transit. It leaves a light fragrance, certainly not too much and definitely not too little.
You do own a breed that is distinguished and one of a class of dogs from that old school of esteemed dogs – the Gundogs. For those of us with “other” breeds, we admire the skill and usefulness of a dog who is not only man’s best friend but has the ability to put food on the table. Shown today in the conformation ring, he has flash, dash, and class. Well presented, he is breathtaking.