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Cocker Spaniels carry a flat, silky body coat with abundant feathering on the ears, legs, chest and underside — beautiful but prone to matting and debris. The long, low-set ears are a particular care priority, as their poor airflow makes ear infections common. The breed needs regular brushing plus a tidy spaniel trim every 6–8 weeks.
Coat group
Long-coated
Shedding
Moderate
Difficulty
High
Typical cost
$80–$115 full groom in SEQ
Professional grooming
Professional groom every 6–8 weeks
At-home brushing
Brush 3–4 times a week, concentrating on the feathering
Coat type: Medium-length silky coat with heavy feathering on the ears, legs, chest and belly.
The Cocker's body coat is relatively easy, but the feathering is where the work lies. The long, fine hair on the ears, the 'skirts' on the belly and the trousers on the back legs tangle readily and pick up grass seeds, mud and burrs on walks. Brushing and combing through the feathering several times a week, and checking it after outdoor play, keeps mats and debris under control.
Traditionally Cockers were hand-stripped, but most pet dogs today are clipped and scissored into a tidy spaniel trim — body coat taken down short or medium, with the ears and feathering kept longer and neatened. Working-line Cockers often carry less coat than show lines, so the exact trim is tailored to the dog. Keeping the feathering a touch shorter makes home maintenance far easier.
Ear care is critical for this breed. The long, heavy, low-hanging ears cover the canal and trap moisture and warmth, creating ideal conditions for infection. The hair on the underside of the ear leather and around the canal opening should be kept trimmed for airflow, and ears should be checked and gently cleaned regularly — and always dried after swimming or bathing.
Spaniel trim
Body coat clipped or scissored short to medium, with the ears, chest and leg feathering kept longer and neatly shaped. The standard, practical pet look for the breed.
Short / Working clip
A closer all-over trim with shorter feathering, ideal for active dogs, bushland walks and the Queensland heat — much lower maintenance and less debris-catching.
Hand-stripped show coat
The traditional method that preserves the flat, weather-resistant body coat texture, with carefully maintained feathering. Offered by specialist groomers for show dogs.
Those long, heavy ears cover the canal and trap warmth and moisture, which is perfect for bacteria and yeast. Keeping the ear hair trimmed for airflow, cleaning the ears regularly, and always drying them after swimming or bathing makes a big difference — see your vet for any active infection.
It's a lifestyle choice. Long feathering looks classic but tangles and collects grass seeds and mud, so if your dog is active or you walk in bushland, a shorter trim is far more practical and comfortable, especially in SEQ.
Roughly every 6–8 weeks, with regular brushing in between. Dogs kept in longer feathering and those who get out in the bush often need the shorter end of that range to stay on top of mats and debris.
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🐾 Find a groomer near youThis guide is general grooming information only and is not a substitute for advice from a professional groomer or veterinarian. Coat care needs vary between individual dogs.