Coat not repelling water very well?

[trekmoor]

I trim but never clip spaniels. Clipping does seem to lead to a fluffy coat and that sort of coat isn't very water repellent.......which may be why so many owners of the various wire haired breeds recommend stripping hair instead of clipping. The wire haired breeds look better if stripped instead of clipped too.

I trim around the ears , between the paws, behind the legs (the feathering) , the tail and maybe a little off the chest and belly. I do more combing etc. because of not clipping but my dogs coats do keep some water out.

Personally, I think all this stuff I read about feathering, long hair, being there to protect against brambles is a load of ballocks. Dogs would have the feathering in front of their legs if it protected against brambles. All long hair, featherings, do is to catch up in brambles.

Wullie

[Rough_mut]

I trim but never clip spaniels. Clipping does seem to lead to a fluffy coat and that sort of coat isn't very water repellent.......which may be why so many owners of the various wire haired breeds recommend stripping hair instead of clipping. The wire haired breeds look better if stripped instead of clipped too.

I trim around the ears , between the paws, behind the legs (the feathering) , the tail and maybe a little off the chest and belly. I do more combing etc. because of not clipping but my dogs coats do keep some water out.

Personally, I think all this stuff I read about feathering, long hair, being there to protect against brambles is a load of ballocks. Dogs would have the feathering in front of their legs if it protected against brambles. All long hair, featherings, do is to catch up in brambles.

Wullie

I think that must be what's going, I've stripped enough loose of tonight to fill a carrier bag, but we are probably at the point of no return as if we dont groom his I suspect I will end up with a giant fluff ball of a dog!

One advantage of him being clipped, is that he is never muddy! We don't get him shaved all the way down but makes life easier as I don't have to make sure the last thing I do is by a river, but this season when stopped he looked like he was struggling, it may also be giddiness, as soon as moving again he was fine. I might try this summer just to tidy him up and see if it gets better, hopefully it will!

RM

[Naj]

As I see it the point of feathering is to help dissipate the water. Water runs along the length of single hairs which then spike together on the outside of the coat & so help guide it away from the body until it finally drips off the feathering. Trim the length out of the coat & this process can't happen. Stripping takes away the undercoat but leaves the longer guard hairs that do all the work.

Naj

[Mike A]

I use a Mars coat King on mine especially the old woolly one . It works well to reduce the fluff while still keeping gaurd hairs and they don't have that shaved look

Mike

[Cass]

Think it's just the way he is. Clipped or not means nothing. My cocker has never been clipped and is the same - soaks up water like crazy. He also sheds like crazy. When duck hunting I have to towel him off between retrieves or he would freeze even with his vest on

[Rough_mut]

Think it's just the way he is. Clipped or not means nothing. My cocker has never been clipped and is the same - soaks up water like crazy. He also sheds like crazy. When duck hunting I have to towel him off between retrieves or he would freeze even with his vest on

He seems a lot shinier at the moment, no idea I he has finished his malting session or not, or if the constant brushing has helped! He's also back on mostly raw now ...... Could be coincidence!

No idea it's holding of water better or not but time will tell!

Rm

[Teddy]

Once the coat has had clippers on its ruined for life I'm afraid, all that grows is the woolly under coat as the longer guard hairs don't grow back.

[Hepe]

Spaniels doesn't have much as overcoat compared to labradors for example but still, there's some of it. When clipping you get away what little was there, unfortunately. Dirty with fat coat and unclipped is better for that. However, i could imagine it's worth it clipping anyhow if that's how you want it. I just use plenty of equafleece and coats during breaks and after working.

Helene

[Judy]

Interesting article: https://albertnorthvetclinic.wordpress. ... uldnt-you/

[munstyman]

I would be interested in any information on the release of the natural oils from the skin in relationship to the `waterproofing' of the coat, and in particular is it stimulated by the act of brushing or does brushing just move it through the coat ?