Dogs & Puppies Blog

Archive for the ‘Cocker Spaniel’ Category

Showing your dog can be a very rewarding experience, for both you and your pet. But there are some things you need to know first, and knowing them before you just start throwing yourself out there can attribute greatly to your future success in the ring. Everything from equipment to training must be assessed, and you will need a show budget just for starters.

1. Make sure your dog has what it takes to go the distance, this doesn’t mean a Westminster qualifier, but he should be a decent representation of a Cocker Spaniel, and cannot be neutered or spayed.
2. Your dog’s coat should be in show coat condition. If you are not able to give this sort of clip to your Spaniel, find a good local groomer with prior show experience to do one for you. They may even help you catch how to do it yourself.
3. Dogs in any sort of competition require high quality dog food to look and feel their best in the ring. Poor quality dog chow will result in a poor coat and body condition.
4. Parasites, should never ever exist in your home. There are no exceptions to this rule.
5. Find a local club or stock breeder of Spaniels to befriend, offer to be their helping hand and “go for” at some of the big shows, they will in most cases be happy to show you the ropes, give you the run down on whose who, and get you a start in the ring.
6. Brush your Cocker Spaniel daily, that beautiful coat require a ton of upkeep to keep it in top shape, and remember to pick apart, not tear out, the tangles or your beautiful show coat will be pretty short.
7. Add a little Show Sheen (a product used on the manes and tails of horses) to the dog’s coat. This will help keep it from tangling and collecting codswallop from around the house.
8. Keep the dog as indoors as much as possible, the more contact it has with the outside world, the more break off that goes on with that hair.

Don’t think you have to be wealthy or living a jet island lifestyle to be able to compete in this arena; you might be surprised at how little it takes to get you started. Follow these rules of thumb and you are sure to go far.