The Field Spaniel is an English Spaniel that was bred into a distinctive breed primarily from a combination of larger black Cocker Spaniels and other regional; strains such as the larger and longer Sussex Spaniels. A Field Spaniels coat should be long, flat, glossy and silky in texture. Never curly, short or wiry. Dense and weatherproof. Abundant feathering on chest, under body and behind legs, but clean from hock to ground.
Their colour varies from black, black and tan, blue roan, blue roan and tan, liver, liver and tan, liver roan, liver roan and tan. In self coloured dogs, white or roan on chest is permissible. Clear black and white, liver and white, orange, red or golden unacceptable.
When preparing a Field Spaniel, 2 important things must be considered correct – 1, colour and 2, coat texture.
Lets start with Shampoos. Firstly when cleaning faces always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. Leave this on until final shampoo rinsing to offer protection to the eyes.
The best shampoo for this breeds coat is Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo which addresses both the black and liver colours but also the roan coloured dogs. This shampoo will help the flat, glossy and silky texture also. It’s primarily derived from organic sources with Ginseng extracts, protein, and a violet tone combined in a rich formula that works brilliantly to whiten whites and intensify darker colours. It DOES NOT lighten or bleach but instead tones with optical brighteners. It reduces unwanted tones from sun fading or reddening in the coat. Similarly for dark colours, it will reduce any warm tones to intensify the depth of colour by revitalising any lost cool tones.
All coat colours are made of the full spectrum of the colours of the rainbow and first tones to fade are always the blues and purples leaving a reddish, orange overtone to the coat. This is a quick and effective way to give depth back to your blacks, blues and liver without damaging the coat or using any artificial coat colourings. Use at a dilution of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5-10 parts water).
There are times where a Field Spaniel likes being a Gundog and gets that extra bit grubby and dirty. For those times first bath using Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo which is a clarifying shampoo designed to remove grease, grime and any product build-up in a dogs coat. By clarifying we mean cutting through ANY impurities to leave the coat in an ultra-clean natural state. This shampoo has extra surfactants that open the cuticle deeper to allow the deep cleaning and clarifying process. It will provide the deepest coat clean available leaving the coat reset and refreshed. Not only will it spruce up dull whites, it can also be used on any colour coat for a thorough and intensive clean.
Deep Cleansing Shampoo will assist in reducing unwanted coat stains. It is a rich formulation infused with Green Tea and Seaweed extracts. Green Tea is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals and Panthenol (Vitamin B). It helps strengthen the coat and retain moisture. Seaweed extract provides detoxification, which leaves the coat in a healthier state. Use at 1:5 dilution rate. Lather well where needed (legs, around the neck and ears generally) and rinse. Then use the Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo.
For coats not requiring toning, use Plush Puppy Natural All Purpose Shampoo with Henna. We call this the ‘Shine’ shampoo as it features natural Henna stalk extracts that impart a beautiful gloss and shine to your dog’s coat. This is a great all round shampoo for this breed and perfect for use on normal to slightly dehydrated coats. Use diluted at a ratio of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). It is good for most coats and most situations and really brings up the coat colour.
When conditioning a Field Spaniel use Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner. Apply a light squish through the longer parts of the coat with a well-diluted mix of up to 1:10. This will serve to keep featherings untangled and hydrated. Use the conditioner mix at 1:20 on the shorter body coat for shine but this higher dilution will reduce the risk making the coat fluffy.
If you feel the coat is dehydrated on the shorter areas use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat. This is a unique hydration foam. Apply a couple of golf ball amount to the area and massage in. It hydrates by does not change the texture or fluff up the coat. Plush Puppy Reviva Coat is excellent for mid-week protection of pee feathers on boys and even girls. Lightly clean the area using Plush Puppy Wonder Wash our no rinse shampoo, towel dry and apply Puppy Reviva Coat and leave in. This product hydrates, protects and closes the cuticle to vastly reduce staining and breakage.
When brushing this coat make sure you use a moisturiser first and never attack a dry coat. Plush Puppy O.M.G is the perfect product for this coat. A light spray and brushing in allows complete coat refreshing. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish. Use O.M.G Concentrate diluted at 1:20 (1 part OMG to 20 parts water) or O.M.G. Ready to Use Grooming Spray. The stronger the mix the stronger their effects. Different dogs at different coat stages means different mixtures.
Use a cushioned oval Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush, for grooming and when drying. Dry till ¾ dry as this won’t stretch the featherings then switch to the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush which is an oval cushioned half bristle, half dialon brush to finish by smoothing the featherings. I use the two brushes as it is detrimental to the coat to not overly stretch hair when wet hence the use of the Pin brush first till almost dry.
This is a breed where many do those annoying coat drops from time to time. For those times which normally occur just before a great Show, Plush Puppy has 2 easy solutions. Apply Plush Puppy Volumising Cream at a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 cup water and spray well onto the ear featherings or sponge on liberally. Or, use Plush Puppy Volumising Spray which is a ‘Ready to Use’ spray for quick and easy fuller coat results. Perfect either before blow-drying or used to ‘fluff’ up the coat at the show. A light even spray, brush in until dry or use a dryer. This is a hair thickener to add volume, not a hair stiffener and not easily detectable as it leaves the coat with a natural fuller look and feel. Just perfect for ears and anywhere requiring a bit more lift.
Use the Pin Brush to ¾ dry and either finish with the air from the dryer and your fingers for a more tousled finish. Alternatively you can complete the drying lightly with the Pin Brush for a more regulated but still loose but full finish.
Finish with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb. The lightweight oval shaped spine combining fine and coarse pins will reduce drag and static to the coat. Perfect for use for this breed of dog.
For Show days make sure you pack the Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for the feet and legs if they got dirty or dusty. This which is a no rinse wet instant shampoo for last-minute emergencies that will clean up anything, pronto. Just spray and foam in with the fingers and towel off.
All senses come into play when judging and a good smelling dog is nice to touch. Plush Puppy Odour Muncher is sensational in that it kills the odour and leaves a pleasant scent behind.
For the final flourish, spray with Plush Puppy Shine and Comb, a magical shine spray that is non greasy and water soluble. A light burst onto the coat or onto your hands and smoothed over the top and flanks works like a charm. Try spraying just one side first and see the difference. It’s amazing. Your dog especially will just glisten with glowing good health.
The field is often an under rated gundog breed. It’s important to present this beautiful breed to their very best to capture the judges attention.
