The Springer Spaniel is a lovely, friendly dog with a unique, beautiful coat. And, requiring a medium amount of care, it’s easy for you to keep your Springer Spaniel’s fur looking sleek and feeling soft.
But, what about when it’s time to give your Springer Spaniel a haircut or touch-up? Can Springer Spaniels be shaved? In fact, what type of coat does this Spaniel have?
Well, in this article, we’ll be answering all these questions and more! So, read on to find out more about how to groom and care for your Springer Spaniel’s coat:
What is the Springer Spaniel like?
The Springer Spaniel was first bred as a gun dog. Historically, Springer Spaniels would aid hunters by helping to ‘flush’ the game out of burrows and bushes into the open. However, the Springer Spaniel is also obedient and friendly. It’s no surprise, then, that the Springer Spaniel is one of the most popular pet dog breeds of recent years!
What kind of coat does the Springer Spaniel have?
The Springer Spaniel has a dense double coat that offers them some protection from the sun’s rays and extreme cold. The Springer’s undercoat is the part that keeps them warm, linking up with the texture of their topcoat to provide an impenetrable shield against wind chill and UV rays.
You’ve likely seen Springer Spaniels in the past that are primarily white, with black or red-brown liver markings. However, fully liver or black Springer Spaniels are equally as common. You can also find blue or finely mixed, flecked roan Springers.
There are even tricolor Springer Spaniels – liver and white or black and white, with tan markings. These markings are commonly located beneath the tail, inside a Springer’s ears, or on its eyebrows. The white parts of a tricolor Springer Spaniel’s coat can be flecked with small areas of black hair, too.
How do you maintain a Springer Spaniel’s coat?
Regardless of your Springer’s coat coloring and type, they’ll need a certain amount of maintenance. Namely, it’s essential to brush your Springer Spaniels coat at least three times a week.
Springer Spaniel recommended brush
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Not only will this help keep the unique double coat looking sleek and stunning, but regular brushing also goes a long way in preventing tangles or matts.
Another advantage of brushing is the fact that it aids in removing excess loose hairs that your Springer Spaniel would otherwise shed all over your furniture and clothing!
How do you bathe a Springer Spaniel?
Though the breed sports a thick double coat, the fact that a Springer Spaniel sheds moderately year-round means that bathing them is not as much of a concern; bathing your Springer Spaniel too often can have the adverse effect of drying your pooch’s skin out.
Despite this, you can’t deny that Springer Spaniels love running off and rolling in dubious, mysterious stinky substances just as much as any other dog. So, when it comes time to give your Springer their monthly or emergency bath, use a standard doggy shampoo as directed on the bottle. I use Burt’s Bees for Dogs 2 in 1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner you can find the latest price here.
When you’ve finished scrubbing your Springer, one concern is the breed’s unique, floppy ears. If your Springer Spaniel’s ears are not properly dried out after bathing, there’s a substantial risk that they could develop an ear infection.
So, gently wipe your Spaniel’s ear using a cotton ball, cloth, or face cloth. Only wipe the area of your Springer’s ear that you can see. Never insert anything too deep into their ear canal to avoid injury. Your veterinarian may recommend a Spaniel-specific ear-cleaning solution like this one here.
How do you trim a Springer Spaniel?
As you bathe your Springer Spaniel, you may like to take this opportunity to give your pooch a bit of a trim. Your Springer does lose fur year-round, of course.
But, your Spaniel still needs your helping hand to get rid of enough fur to keep them cool and debris- and matt-free. So, give your floppy-eared pooch a trim around four times a year. You can use a set like these — And read my other article Best dog clippers for thick hair here.
After a nice bath, set about stripping your Springer. You can strip your Springer Spaniel by hand, simply using your fingers to pull out the loose undercoat hairs that want to come out anyway. Alternatively, a stripping rake can help you to get the job done quicker.
If you like, leave some ‘feathering’ on your Spaniel’s upper legs and tail. However, be aware that this long hair can attract burrs and other debris that can take hours to remove and also be tedious to brush. Long fur can also mask injuries and conceal parasites and skin conditions.
If your Springer Spaniel seems cold after being stripped, let them wear a coat during walks or around the house for a while.
So, can Springer Spaniels be shaved?
Well, the jury’s still out on whether you should shave your Springer Spaniel. Some people argue that shaving your Springer Spaniel is inappropriate with the unique double coat of the breed. This grooming method removes both the upper fine hair-like coat and the warm, insulating furry undercoat indiscriminately.
When your Springer Spaniel’s shaved coat starts to grow back, the two different types of hair may grow at different rates. Doing this can result in a coat that is an entirely different color from what you’d expect.
However, if you live in an area that gets especially hot during the summer months, there may not be many better options for keeping your Springer Spaniel safely cool during heatwaves. You may be forced to shave your Springer Spaniel in such a situation.
On top of this, if your Springer Spaniel’s coat becomes severely matted or tangled, it can be difficult and time-consuming to try to brush these tangles out of your Springer, not to mention painful for your pooch. If your Springer Spaniel becomes severely matted, shaving the matted areas of their coat can be the most humane and convenient thing to do.
Whatever the reason, if you are forced to shave your Springer Spaniel, do make sure to leave at least six millimeters of fur. Doing this will help to protect your Springer’s skin from UV rays. If you have to completely shave your Springer, either use a coat or cover or a canine sunscreen to protect your Springer’s skin against melanoma.
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