Spaniels are built for the outdoors — which means mud, grass seeds, burrs, smells, and tangles are part of normal life. But grooming isn’t just about appearance. Done properly, it helps prevent skin flare-ups, reduces matting and discomfort, keeps ears cleaner, and makes health issues easier to spot early.
This guide covers what spaniel grooming should actually look like in real life: what to do daily, weekly and monthly, how often to bathe, how to handle shedding, and how to keep your dog clean without over-washing or causing irritation.
Key guides in this section
Bathing and shampoo
- How often should a Cocker Spaniel be bathed?
- When can you bathe a Cocker Spaniel puppy?
- Best shampoo for Cocker Spaniels (top choices)
- Is it safe to use human shampoo on a dog?
- Best grooming bath for spaniels (at home setup)
Paws, nails and hygiene
Shedding, coat and smell
- Do Cocker Spaniels shed hair?
- Do chocolate Cocker Spaniels shed?
- Do Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels shed?
- How to minimise shedding in your Springer Spaniel
- Do Clumber Spaniels shed?
- How much do Brittany Spaniels shed?
- Do Cocker Spaniels smell?
- Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels smell?
Breed-specific grooming
- Grooming Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels
- Grooming a Clumber Spaniel
- How to groom your puppy at home (easy routine)
- Do Springer Spaniels need haircuts?
What grooming a spaniel really involves
Most spaniel grooming is “maintenance grooming” rather than full styling. The key areas are:
- coat brushing and de-matting
- cleaning and drying after wet walks
- paw care (mud, grit, salt, seeds)
- nails and foot hair
- bathing when needed (not too often)
- checking for lumps, parasites, sore patches and irritation
Even 10 minutes a few times a week prevents most common problems.
The spaniel grooming routine (simple and effective)
Daily (1–3 minutes)
- quick check for burrs and twigs
- wipe paws if muddy
- check eyes and face hair
- check for anything stuck behind ears/neck
Weekly (10–20 minutes)
- brush through coat fully (especially ears, chest, belly, legs)
- check paw pads and between toes
- check nails (don’t let them overgrow)
- check for red skin, scabs or hotspots
Monthly (or as needed)
- bath (if dirty/greasy/smelly)
- full trim/tidy if you maintain coat length
- deeper check for coat condition changes
How often should you bathe a spaniel?
Bathing is useful, but over-bathing can dry the skin and worsen itching.
As a general guide:
- lightly dirty: rinse/wipe and dry properly
- smelly/greasy coat: bath is appropriate
- itchy skin: don’t keep bathing without fixing the cause
If your spaniel is itchy and you keep bathing, it can make the skin barrier weaker.
Shedding: what’s normal and what’s not
Spaniels shed. Some shed heavily at certain times of year.
You need to investigate further if:
- shedding is sudden and extreme
- there are bald patches
- the skin is red or flaky
- there’s constant scratching/chewing
That’s no longer “grooming” — that becomes a health issue.
➡️ Related hub: /spaniel-health/skin-allergies/
Nail care and paw care
Overgrown nails cause poor movement and joint strain over time.
Paw care also matters because spaniels pick up:
- grit and salt in winter
- sharp seeds in summer
- soreness between toes from running in cover
Even basic paw checks prevent limps and pain.
Clothing and coats: do spaniels need them?
Some spaniels benefit from coats in cold/wet weather, particularly:
- older dogs
- very lean dogs
- low activity dogs
- post-injury recovery periods
The key is comfort and practicality, not fashion.