How short to cut my English Cocker Spaniels hair?

I have a 4 month old English Cocker Spaniel and she is definitly in need of a trim. Growing up I trimmed my parents springapoo, but I always gave him the puppy cut where his hair was all one length. So, I would just like to know how short people usually trim the hair on the backs and heads of their cocker spaniels. I was thinking maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch would look nice, then feathering down the sides to tie in the short and long hair. Any good websites available on a proper trim would be appreciated.

Thank-you

How short to cut my English Cocker Spaniels hair?

Hello

Do you have any equipment at home already or are you starting from scratch?

If you are starting from scratch, I recommend going and getting the professional equipment. It might be more of an investment now, but it is sturdy and will hold up the entire life of the dog, especially if well taken care of.

The Eng Cocker trim is a modification of the Am Cocker. They are longer in leg than Am Cockers, and have a less dense coat. I would use a #5, 7, or 8 1/2 blade on the pattern on the back of the dog (this is the saddle), head, tail, neck and down to the begining of the brisquet and top 1/2 to 2/3 of the ear. Length of hair left decreases as the number on the blades increase. I would start with a #5 and see how that looks and if you like it. The length of hair each blade cuts to will be listed on the package as well.

As for the skirt, if you want to keep it short, you could attempt a # 3/4HT on this area, but that will not leave much of a contrast in length when the dog is older. If I were doing the trim, I would use a snap on comb over a #30 blade to trim it down but still leave it looking natural. Snap on combs are available through places like PetEdge. You can buy individual ones or an entire set for variety in lengths for changing seasons.

Definitely need to work on mastering the blending technique. The one sure fire way to get the worst trim possible is the leave a "hard line" where the short saddle and long skirt meet. When clipping the saddle, start at the front of the dog and follow the natural curve of the dogs body and allow the clippers to gently leave off about where you want the skirt to start. This will help make it look smooth and flawless.

And especially for a cocker - don't forget to pluck and clean the ears well. You will also need to trim nails and shave the feet clean. Sanitary trims on the perianal area and groin can be done with a #10 blade and the feet can be done with either a #10 or a #15. Cocker heads and ears can also be done with a #10 but just remember that these cut shorter than the body and you can actually cut the dog with these if they jump or wiggle. You might be better off starting with a longer length on these areas until the pup is accustomed to the whole process.

Here is a picture of a show trim

http://www.dognews.com/pedigreegallery/s...

For the pet cocker, the skirt is easier to deal with if it is shortened up. If shortened up just a bit, it will still look like a cocker.