Grooming your English Springer Spaniel: 6 Steps

English Springer Spaniels are known for their beautiful, flowing coats. However, keeping them tangle-free and healthy requires consistent grooming. Otherwise, the mats can quickly become overwhelming.

Luckily, the required grooming isn’t difficult. It just requires consistency and the right procedure. Here are the steps involved:

1. Brushing

Brushing your English Springer Spaniel is vital to their coat health. You should plan on brushing your spaniel at least once a week. During shedding seasons, you may need to brush your spaniel even more. These seasons typically occur in the spring and fall, but they can differ from dog to dog.

Using the right tools for brushing is also important. Use a slicker brush for the bulk of your dog’s coat. It should remove loose fur and tangles with ease. Afterward, use a comb for finer tangles and the harder-to-reach places on your dog’s coat.

Always brush in the direction of fur growth. Start at the head and work your way down your dog’s back. Always be mindful of more sensitive areas, like the ears, belly, and paws. Use a detangling spray if you need to. However, this shouldn’t be necessary if you’re brushing your dog at least once a week.

2. Bathing

You should bathe your dog at least once every 6 to 8 weeks. If your spaniel gets particularly dirty, you may need to bathe them more often than that. Luckily, their coats are pretty self-cleaning, so they don’t need bathing frequently.

Use a gentle shampoo specifically formulated for dogs when bathing your spaniel. Harsh shampoos have their place but can also strip your dog’s natural oils. Human shampoos aren’t formulated for dogs and can cause skin irritation in many cases.

Rinse well, as leftover shampoo can cause skin irritation, even if labeled as “gentle.” You can use a separate conditioner if you’d like. However, this typically isn’t necessary for English Springer Spaniels.

3. Trimming

Your English Springer Spaniel must be trimmed every two months or so. While the bulk of their coat is natural, their feet, ears, and eyes must be trimmed to maintain a neat, healthy appearance. If the fur is left too long in these areas, it can get excessively dirty and trap moisture, leading to bacteria growth.

You can accomplish this trimming at home. Be cautious not to over-trim, as this can alter their insulation. Their body doesn’t require much trimming, if any.

Many people also take their spaniel to a professional groomer for trimming. You can also get your dog bathed at this visit, which cuts down on much of the grooming work required.

4. Nail Trimming

Like all dogs, your English Springer Spaniel requires regular nail trimming at least every two to three weeks. Otherwise, their nails can become too long, making them uncomfortable and prone to splitting.

Overgrown nails can sometimes split and become infected, leading to potentially serious conditions. It’s important to stay on top of your dog’s grooming needs.

5. Ear Cleaning

You should check your dog’s ears regularly for signs of infection. Redness, odor, and discharge can all be signs of an infection, even if your dog has no other symptoms. Trimming their ears can help prevent infections, but all dogs can still develop them.

If you notice any built-up wax or dirt, you can clean your dog’s ears with a wet cotton ball. Never shove anything into your dog’s ears, though, as this can lead to damage.

6. Dental Hygiene

Brushing your dog’s teeth daily (or at least every other day) with a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs is important. Just like humans, your English Springer Spaniel can develop dental problems if you don’t stay on top of cleaning their teeth.

Dental problems can become very serious if left untreated. In some cases, your canine may even need antibiotics and other treatments. Some severe complications can be deadly. Therefore, you must keep your dog’s teeth clean to prevent these potential complications.

Schedule for Grooming Your English Springer Spaniel

All of these steps can be a lot. To help you plan and make sure you’ve covered everything, here’s a ready-made schedule:

• Daily: Teeth brushing
• Weekly: Brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning
• Every 6-8 Weeks: Bathing and trimming (potentially professional grooming)

You may need to adjust this schedule to meet your dog’s needs. During the shedding seasons, you may need to brush more frequently. If your dog is particularly active, you may need to bathe them more often.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © IPGGutenbergUKLtd/ via Getty Images