How you groom your Field might come down to personal preference, but there are a few area's that must be focused on. Starting gentle handling and grooming on your Field from a young age will allow them to get used to being touched and brushed. The more you can do when their pups, the better, but as ever, little and often !
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Ears:
Spaniel's ears are designed to cover the opening for the ear drum, to protect them for anything from entering, especially seeds etc. However, it does make them prone to infections and wax build-ups. So a weekly quick wipe-out with cotton wool will help keep them clean, ear drops once a month can also help keep on top of any build up. Keep an eye, or nose, regularly on their ears. A musky smell, lots of shaking of the head and itching are clues that wax could be building up and medicated drops from your vet might be necessary.
Brushing their ears, gently, inside and out will help keep knots, seeds and dirt out and very careful trimming the hair around the ear hole will also allow air into the ear to help infections etc at bay.
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Feet:
The hair around Field's feet can grow prolific and attract seeds etc, which can cause them problems. Trimming them with scissors around the foot and very very carefully in between the pads and toes will keep them neat and also causes less problems on the pad for walking.
Trimming the nails is also advisable when required. Started from a young age, so they get used to the sensation and noise, clipping dogs claws does not cause them any pain as long as you don't catch the quick. As their nails are dark, getting to close the quick, can cause a dogs claw to bleed and slightly pain to the dog, so if you're unsure in anyway or nervous about the idea, ask you veterinary practise or groomer to do them for you. A nurse or vet at a veterinary practice can easily clip them quickly and often there is no charge ! Remember, puppy's claws, even clipped are sharp for a good reason.
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Teeth:
Taking care of your dogs teeth helps the dog, especially in old age and promotes well being of the dog. Diet can go a long way in helping to prevent build up of plaque on their teeth, crunchy kibble, raw bones , hard fruits and NATURAL treats such as Yakk bars, Tripe chews and antlers can aid in the prevention of plaque build up, supplements such as seaweed and herbs can also help with fresh breathe. But the best way to help prevent plaque build up on they teeth is to brush them, at least once a week, with dog toothpaste and a simple toothbrush will keep them perfect. As with all things, start this young and always make sure the dog see's it as something fun and do not get stressed if they don't like it, but stay calm and never ever leave a dog unsupervised with a toothbrush.
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Bathing:
A show Field is bathed more regularly to have it looking its best for the ring, but a Field at home only needs bathing twice a year, depending on how dirty or stinky it gets. Over bathing can strip natural oils from the dogs coat, but allowing your pup to play in water so it gets used too the idea. If you plan to wash the dog in the bath or shower as an adult, get it used to the idea of this rather than using a sink or anything else, which could add confusion.
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A simple towel should be enough to get your field dry.
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Brushing:
Whilst their a pup, I'd recommend brushing your field every day, it only has to be for a minute or two, very little time, but getting them used to comb's, slickers and brushes and sitting still, whilst keeping everything calm and happy will allow you to be able to easily groom your dog as an adult. Pup's can be brushed on your lap, but I'd think it a much better idea to pop your pup on a table ( not necessarily a grooming table) or solid surface so they get used to the idea or standing still while you groom them.
You don't need lots of equipment for grooming; a good comb, a hardy brush and long toothed slicker should be ample for your needs. Make sure to get every corner, including arm pits, ears, legs and the rear, if you start from a fixed point on the head and work your way along and down, you'll be able to check you don't miss anything and be able to feel over your dog as you go.
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Clipping and stripping:
Some people prefer to use clippers on their Field's, it is my personal preference not to, as it changes the coat's consistency and once clipped, it will never go back. Hand stripping and scissoring may not be as neat as clipping with electric clippers but produces a more natural look of the dog.
The main body of the dog from its back, down its sides, to its chest can be done by hand stripping or with a stripping knife. This will remove old and dead coat and encourage new growth, The outer ears and feet can be trimmed using scissors and a comb, keeping them neat and tidy and smartening up the feathering on the legs for a balanced look.
Hand stripping involves gently pulling the old and dead hair out by hand, it should come out easily and quickly, the disadvantage to it is it can be time consuming and waring on the fingers. A Stripping knife makes it quicker but not as quick as clippers. The knife is not life anything you'd find in your kitchen, but is a little tool with tiny teeth that catch the dead hair and pull it out, they're not hugely expensive and a good knife will last you many years, the alternative is a coat king, but this won't get into certain area's that a stripping knife would.
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Coat consistency:
Different breeding produces different coats. Some dogs will have much more coat than others and will often not been distinguishable until the dog reaches full maturity. A puppy coat may give you some idea of how much coat the dog will have as an adult, but not always. The more coat you have, the more time you will need to allow for grooming, as it can easily get matted and dirty, which can lead to skin issues, if not dealt with properly. If the dogs coat gets too much, you may have no choice but to regularly clip it, in order to maintain a healthy dog.
Always remember, neutering a dog will change the coat and will often lead to a thicker, wooly coat, so bare this in mind.
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