Do Cocker Spaniels Shed? Know How To Deal With Your Puppy's Hair

Cocker Spaniels are a favorite among pet parents, simply because of their look and friendly nature.

Few people can ignore the fluffy ears, dreamy eyes, and golden coat of this breed. But being a hairy dog means you will have to deal with a lot of furs, so Cockers owners must know when their puppies shed.

Cocker Spaniels are moderate shedders. This means they'll shed from time to time, but not as much as Labrador Retrievers or the Bernese Mountain dogs.

Fur loss gets intense during the shedding season. But the amount of shedding depends on various factors including their coat, brushing, and bathing frequency, the amount spent outdoors, and their overall health. In this article, learn how to care for a Cocker Spaniel puppy and how to deal with its hair.

If you liked reading this article, then you can also read about do Chihuahuas shed and do bears eat honey here on Kidadl.

Do Cocker Spaniels shed all year round?

Dogs belonging to the Cocker Spaniel breed have a hairy coat. Because of the heavy hair structure and wavy length, many people think of them as double-coated. So it gets them thinking, do Cocker Spaniels shed a lot? The answer is both yes and no.

Yes, because there's no such dog breed as a non-shedding breed. All dogs shed to replace their damaged and worn-out hairs. It's a natural process. And Cockers are not an exception. They will shed from time to time no matter what. However, they shed nowhere near to their double coat counterparts like the Siberian Husky or Labrador Retrievers.

The answer to, do Cocker Spaniels shed all year round is no if you're asking will they shed evenly throughout the year. They will shed a lot during the shedding season, which is around the spring or fall. But during other seasons, they will shed noticeably less.

Dogs have an in-built circadian rhythm that they follow. It informs their body when to shed their coat and adjust to the weather. During the spring season, when the temperature goes up, they usually lose hair that they had grown for the winter.

They no longer need a thick coat. Moreover, Cocker Spaniels are a joyful breed and spend a lot of time playing outdoors. So this dog has to get rid of the extra hair and that's why it sheds more in the spring.

Dogs also shed loose hair during fall. That's because they replace their damaged hair with new ones to better prepare for the cold winter coming ahead.

So you may spot some patches or uneven coats during this season. But that's all normal and your dog will grow a complete furry body soon (unless it's suffering from a disease, of course).

Puppies are likely to shed more than adults because they're still growing.

Do American Cocker Spaniels shed more than English Cocker Spaniels?

There are two common types of Cocker Spaniels, namely, American and English Cocker Spaniels. Both of them belong to the same Spaniels family and share many characteristics.

The English variant was native to England and was used as a hunting breed. The American type was later created by crossbreeding to get a dog that is more relaxed and friendly. That's why the American Cocker Spaniel is smaller than the English one.

An American Cocker grows 13.5-15.5 in (34.3-39.4 cm) while the English Spaniel grows about 15-17 in (38.1-43.2 cm) tall. The former will weigh between 26-34 lb (11.8-15.4 kg) while the latter will weigh between 20-30 lb (9.1-13.6 kg).

There's little evidence to suggest that an American Cocker Spaniel will shed more than its English counterpart.

The American breed may shed more than the English breed since their coat is more abundant and delicate in comparison. Their coat also tends to be longer compared to the English breeds. But then you have to consider the other factors like the environment, well-being, heredity, and allergic reactions.

A dog that's living in harsher conditions, is in poor health, has hereditary flaws, and is around allergens will likely experience a higher amount of shedding. So you need to account for all these factors to reach a conclusion.

Do Cocker Spaniels need haircuts?

Cocker Spaniel dogs have a coat that grows quite fast. Because of this, their hairs form tangles and become rough and matted.

This can irritate them and even cause pain when handled. So your pet Spaniel does need haircuts from time to time to stay in a good shape. It's also important to choose the type of haircut that will suit your pet and get the timing right.

If you've just got a Cocker Spaniel puppy, you won't usually have to cut its hair until 12-16 weeks years old. Also, don't take it to a professional groomer until it has all its vaccine shots. Make sure your puppy is fully vaccinated and healthy before interacting with other dogs and humans that regularly handle canines.

But you can give them a haircut at home. When you notice that the fur is starting to get to a point where it can form tangles, you should trim the hair down to a safe level.

Once your Cocker Spaniel enters the adult stage, you should give it a haircut every two to three weeks with regular grooming in between, ideally every three to four weeks. Cockers aren't stubborn, so they won't oppose the grooming or make things tough for the owners.

You can give both adults and puppies a 'puppy haircut'. It's the simplest of all haircuts. Simply take a trimmer and cut all the hair on its body to the same length. The maximum hair length should be 1.6 in (4 cm).

It's the best haircut option for your Cocker Spaniel during the summers. Short hair will help your pet stay cooler. It will also make it feel lighter and be in a better mood. The 'puppy haircut' is also easier to maintain.

If you're preparing for a dog competition and need the best haircut for your Cocker Spaniel, try out the 'princess haircut'. In this haircut, the hair will be coming down to the floor like a luxurious lining.

You have to trim the fur on the back and leave the leg hairs. You'd also have to spare the hair on the ear. Needless to say, this is really difficult to maintain, but it's highly likely to win you some awards.

Do Cocker Spaniels need high maintenance and grooming?

When bringing a pet dog home, many people are concerned about the maintenance and grooming requirements. And rightfully so because such activities demand time and investment. So if the dog's maintenance costs are high, it's better to be prepared before bringing that breed home.

A Cocker Spaniel dog is a high-maintenance breed. This means the owners need to be prepared to take care of their brushing, bathing, and grooming needs. Their fur grows at a faster pace and they're hyperactive as well. So these dogs are prone to damaging their long hair and coat.

The first step to grooming is keeping their hair length in check. Ideally, you should trim down their hair to under 2 in (5 cm) to prevent hair tangling and matting.

Otherwise, their hair is going to get messy and hard to manage. They'd need a haircut every two to three weeks. Calculate and include these dates in your calendar.

The next maintenance requirement is regular brushing. Due to their long coat, it's important to brush your Cocker Spaniel dog every other day. This would allow you to catch matted hair before it spirals out of control.

Brush through their entire body and legs gently. Owners should give special care to the dog's hair around the ears. The ear hair tends to be a bit thicker.

Also, the skin is really thin at the edges. So rough treatment may discomfort your pet dog. Regular brushing will also prevent ticks and insects from entering or living on your dog's body and keep him healthy.

The last mandatory maintenance requirement of a Cocker Spaniel dog is bathing. Their long and luxurious coats will require washing from time to time. As dogs go by their day, their fur will accumulate dust and foreign particles.

A comb or brush will do little to remove this. Therefore, a bath session will help get rid of the dirt.

Wash the hair with a dog-friendly shampoo. Avoid using regular shampoo or soap since they can affect a Cocker Spaniel's sensitive skin. After washing, dry the fur and the coat with a dryer.

Another benefit of the shampoo treatment is your dog will be safe from allergens. Give your dog a bath at least once a week. Most Cocker dogs won't mind going into the tub even if they're not trained to do so.

A well-groomed pet dog is the dream of every owner. With regular grooming and brushing, Cocker Spaniel dogs are also likely to shed less, which means less work for you. But if after the treatment the Cockers lose more hair, get in touch with your vet immediately. Take proper advice on grooming your Cocker since every dog is different.

Generally, Cocker Spaniels are not a hypoallergenic breed. But it varies from person to person. The best way to know is to spend a lot of time with it before bringing the dog home. If the Cocker triggers your particular allergy, then it might not be suitable for you.

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