Clipping the American Cocker Spaniel

Necessary Supplies

• Large pin brush
• Steel comb
• Oster Clipper A5(recommended)
• #10 blade
• Slicker brush
• Ear powder (medicated)
• Lanolin coat conditioner
• #7 or 8 1/2 blade
• Matting comb
• Nail clipper(guillotine type)
• Scissors
• Thinning shears
• Artificial tears eye drops

Where To Use

Item	Where
Large pin brush	Brushing the coat
Steel comb	Entire coat
#10 blade	about 1/2" around the anus (never directly on anus) underneath tail pelvis (navel to groin) front neck top upper 1/3 of ears (inside & out) head
Slicker brush / Matting Comb	Removing mats
Ear powder	Inside of ears
Lanolin coat conditioner	Entire coat
#10 or 8 1/2 or 7	Entire back & tail (from back neck to tail)
Nail clipper	Nails (use caution)*
Scissors	between pads of feet leg feathering feet
Thinning shears	blending uneven hair at shoulders and hindquarters with leg feathering blending uneven hair on chest under chest (if necessary) front legs
Artificial tears eye drops	Use during and after clipping to remove any hair blown into the eyes

Links

GroomingSmarter gives clipping and grooming tips with illustrations on trimming cocker: feet, ears, bevels, underlines, back, neck, head, and shoulders.

Oster clippers & blades

The All Breed Dog Grooming Guide (2002) (available at Amazon.com)

References

Kohl, S., & Goldstein, C. (1973). The all breed dog grooming guide. New York: Arco.

Published 2003