I am NOT an expert as Boz is my first Spaniel ( having owned other gundogs) but hope I can help.
If your is a working strain Cocker you will have less coat to deal with. Show Cocker - like mine - will be more work unless you decide to have him clipped off.
I like mine in full coat so I use: Pin brush (like a human hair brush really) Slicker brush (lots of little pins bent at an angle). Spratts comb (can't remember the number but is metal and has very close teeth (ask the breeder),
Also a pair of blunt nosed small scissors for tidying inside the ears and the underneathe of the feet.
From day 1 teach your puppy to stand just for a minute to be handled - look in ears, pick up feet. Lots of praise & reward at this stage. I put my dog up on a rubber mat on the utility worksurface, saves my back! However you need to be VERY CAREFUL in this situation that the puppy can't fall/jump off.
Re: ears. Check the ear canal visually every day and smell it - if you know the normal smell for your dog you can tell if there is a change. I only wipe the top of the canal with slightly moistened cotton wool.. Don't go delving downwards and dry after. When I trim back the hair to keep the airflow down the ear I plug the canal with cotton wool to stop any hair clipping going down it.
Get the puppy used to being brushed gradually - lots of positive association. Remember that the armpits easily get matted so practise gently lifting the fron paws to access the area.
I started with grooming tools from local pet shop but splashed out at Crufts for more expensive 'proper' groomerws tools - they were expensive but much easier to use and the brushes don't shed their pins.
Boz is difficult to groom now as he begs to be lifted onto the mat - and goes to sleep, making grooming some areas a bit of a challenge!
Watch out for him changfing from a puppy coat to an adult coat, the puppy coat will need to be removed in some way, I confess I used a coat king tool. Lots of videos on the net on grooming.
Pictures of your puppy are required on this forum by the way. Enjoy him/her and lots of advice on all things dog available on here.
Thanks for the suggestions and advice. He is a show cocker. I think we're going to keep him trimmed but not too short. We will use a groomer but brush daily. He's used to being handled thanks to the breeders (they are amazing) so I'll continue that.
Yes do brush teeth , special meat flavoured toothpaste available. Try first just touching teeth and gum s with your finger. Also keep an eye on dewclaws as they are likely to need to be kept reasonably short. I use a nail grinder and it does make a noise, so dog needs habituating to it.
Videos on YouTube I think.
Let us know how he gets on and enjoy him (beware the shark teeth !)
The puppy coat probably won't take too much grooming, so time well spent is just teaching your pup to stand where he's put, and to stay when repositioned. I also used to put mine on the kitchen worktop to be groomed, or you could use a grooming table. It so saves the back.
A tip I had from the breeder was to trim the hair very short behind the ears and under the elbows. You will know where cos this is where it will matt....... No hair equals no matt.
Use as soft a brush as will do the job to start with, and before using a slicker brush, or any brush with metal teeth, try brushing your own arm with it first, just to check what pressure is acceptable.
Grooming should be for your dog to enjoy the attention ( and treats) you are giving, rather than something to be suffered/tolerated.
Hope this helps.
Thanks. I have a breakfast bar and also a great raised bit in the back garden. I'll start him getting used to it early on.
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