Grooming a Field Spaniel

 

Unlike many other spaniel breeds, the Field Spaniel carries a moderate coat.  The coat is well-suited to the owner-handler who wants to show his dog, yet easy to maintain for the hunter or pet owner.  We often refer to Field Spaniels as a “wash’n wear” breed as even for show, we do not spend hours upon hours in grooming the dogs here at Calico.

 

Regular brushing and bathing, along with an investment in basic grooming equipment will save countless dollars spent on visits to the grooming parlor.  Only a minimal amount of trimming of the ears and feet is required for everyday wear. For show purposes, a bit more trimming on the head and throat will be necessary.

 

Basic Grooming Equipment Needs

Routine Brushing

 

· Brush the coat with the lay of the coat, starting at the head and working gradually to the rear.

· Comb feathers gently, taking care to avoid pulling the feathering if you find a snarl.

· Misting the coat lightly with a spray bottle filled with distilled water avoids coat breakage during routine brushing and combing. 

· If there is an old, sturdy table available, placing a non-slip rug on top of the table and lifting the dog to the table top will make routine grooming chores easier to do. The rug will provide an adequate surface so that the dog does not slip.

· Frequency?  If you can do this daily, that’s great. If not, try for at least once a week.

 

Clipping Toenails

 

Field Spaniels generally have tough black toenails and the “quick” (vascular nail bed) is nearly impossible to see. Nails must be kept up on a weekly basis as nails, which are too long, may result in improper placement of the foot as the nail hits the floor. A nail clipper is used to nip the end of the nail off, followed by using the nail file to smooth rough edges. Styptic powder is a necessity since with the difficulty of seeing where the nail bed lays; it is all too easy to cut a bit too close. As an alternative, a nail grinder may be utilized to shorten the nail and provide the same smoothing of the file at the same time. Many dogs dislike nail cutting intensely. This may be avoided by routinely handling the feet at times other than for nail cutting.

Here is an excellent site for learning how to use a dremel to do your dog’s nails: www.DoberDawn.com and then scroll down and click on the “How to Dremel Dog Nails” link. 

 

Ears

 

Ears should be cleaned weekly using cotton balls and a powder or liquid cleansing agent as recommended by your veterinarian or breeder. Do not be tempted to use a cotton swab since you can probe too deeply and cause harm! Shorten the hair at the opening of the ear canal by plucking or careful use of a thinning shears.

 

Teeth

 

There are many types of brushing products available for routine dental care.  Although you will need to train your dog to accept brushing/cleaning of the teeth, it is time well spent. A tooth scaler is also a useful device that is relatively easy to learn to use to remove tartar.  Your veterinarian should be able to show you how to use a tooth scaler appropriately.

Bathing

 

Fields who are shown are bathed far more frequently than those whose primary occupation is companion. On the average, a home companion will require bathing no more frequently than once a month especially if routine coat care via a thorough brushing is done.

 

Go to Next Page►

Go to Kylie’s Pictorial Guide For Grooming Field Spaniels ►

◄Return to Article Index

◄ Return to Site Index