The English Cocker Spaniel requires frequent stops at the grooming salon, and it should be trimmed every six to eight weeks. Ideally, Cockers will be hand-stripped as for the show ring. However, this is rarely the case — when the coat grows thick and the legs become matted, pet owners usually have their spaniels clipped short.

The coat is flat, silky in texture, never wiry, wavy or curly. On some dogs, the coat is not too profuse, but many carry very heavy coats. The coat is well feathered on the forelegs, body and hindlegs above the hocks.Thinning scissors can be used to thin and flatten the coat, and are used to take the tufty hair from the head in many cases where clippers are not used. For the show dog, you should read the breed standard and adhere to any recommendations from experienced exhibitors on the correct procedure before putting a pair of clippers anywhere near the breed.

For the pet dog, you should consult with the owner for the most favorable method to suit all requirements, such as the time spent on daily brushing and combing, the kind of life the dog leads and the cost.

Equipment needed: Depends on whether it is a show dog or a pet. May include: slicker/pin brush, wide-toothed comb,
thinning scissors, scissors, clippers and a stripping knife.

These dogs are best trimmed on a regular basis of not longer than eight weeks. Pet owners frequently have their spaniels clipped all over. For show dogs, hand-trimming is recommended because it helps to maintain the coat quality. Roll the skin between the left thumb and index finger, gripping a few hairs at a time between the right thumb and index finger, and pull out the unwanted long hairs.

• Groom the entire coat with a slicker or pin brush.
• Comb through with a medium comb, removing tangles. Use a mat-breaker if necessary. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to remove matted hair by combing, in which case the dog may be hurt unless the mat is cut out. It is better to keep on top of things with regular grooming so that you are not faced with this problem very often.
• The pet dog is usually clipped underneath with an Oster No. 10 blade, incorporating under the elbows, the tummy, inside the thighs and under the tail, by at least one-width of the blade. No show dog would have this done.
• The skirt line is not straight as in the American Cocker Spaniel; the lower line is more of an inverted moon from the breastbone to the lowest point of the pelvis. For show dogs, if the coat is very heavy, the coat should be thinned down the line of the ribs. Comb the coat so that it lifts away from the skin, and remove the hair from underneath until the feathering falls naturally down from the ribs and does not billow out when the dog is moving.
• The top body coat is stripped, thinned or clipped . Remember, clipping is not 
desirable unless absolutely necessary as it will thicken the coat, making it almost fluffy in appearance and very curly. However, many pet owners ask for this breed to be clipped and they come to the salon every six weeks in order for the coat to be kept under control. Retired show dogs may also sport this type of cut.
• The head is thinned, plucked or clipped as required or desired; going away from the eye to the point of the skull and cleaned into the neck, incorporating the top of the ears to give flat, distinctive elegance of head. To create a neat finish, you will need to remove the excess hair — i.e., those that are longer and straggly. Show dogs will have this done by hand. Pet owners could use a clipper instead, although the coat will be left thicker and less smooth. It is also fairly common for the hair underneath the ears, where it meets the neck, to be thinned and trimmed, as this helps the ears to “breathe.”
• Work down the cheekbone and muzzle, and down from under the chin to taper into the breastbone. (Only use clippers if essential.) Thinning scissors are generally used here on the show dog.
• Remove the long, straggly hairs from the front and sides of the forelegs. Many owners choose to taper the hair down the front of the leg up to and including the foot. When viewed from the front, you should not be able to see any feathering falling around the back of the leg; it should lie backwards naturally, from the elbow. Remove any excess hair. Feathering at the base of the leg should not touch the ground, so trim if necessary.
• For the hindlegs, show dogs should have the feathering around their stifles shaped. Cutting to shape is not recommended, as plucking is relatively easy and looks more natural. The feathering should reach just to the knuckle, but it should be tapered, and not left looking like plus-fours! Shape down the hock to the pad. Do not trim the hocks too closely, as this makes for a spindly look.
• The tail should be thick at the root, tapering to a fine tip. Comb the feathering thoroughly and pluck out unwanted hair. The tail feathering should be as thick as the feathering on the legs — the aim is to achieve a balance throughout the whole coat. Plucking out the excess hair on the tail should create a neat, smooth finish on the top side of the tail and nicely but not overly thick feathering underneath. Trim the tail and cut neatly underneath it, shaping the feathering down to the top of the hock.
• Bathe the English Cocker Spaniel in a suitable shampoo and apply conditioner to help enhance the coat’s appearance and to encourage it to lie flat.
• Blow the coat dry while brushing (with a pin brush) in the direction of the hair growth.
• Check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.
• Trim the clean hair from the hock down to the foot.
• Trim the toes to a round appearance, and take out any surplus hair from between the pads under the foot. Excess, untidy hair should be plucked out, but do not remove too much as this can look very ugly, and is not desirable in the show ring. Aim to achieve a neat and even, close-cut finish. In pet dogs, the hair between the toes is often extremely matted and dirty. This can lead to skin problems, so it is advisable for the pet owner to remove whatever hair has not been thoroughly cleaned by bathing.
• Comb through the feathering.
• When finished, the coat should look clean, and is stripped, thinned, carded or clipped with the hair growth, depending on the coat texture and whether the dog is a show specimen or a pet. This process can be helped by polishing the coat with a soft chamois cloth, which should leave it gleaming with good health and condition.