MASTERCLASS
Field Spaniel
COCO
The Field Spaniel was originally bred in the 19th century as a versatile hunting dog, valued for its endurance in fields, marshes, and woodlands. By the early 20th century, the breed nearly went extinct due to excessive crossbreeding for show, but dedicated breeders restored its original form. It shares ancestry with the Cocker Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel, with size being the main difference before breed distinctions were established. Have you ever had a Field Spaniel in your Salon? In this tutorial, Tiarne shows how to groom the friendly, happy Coco in a Traditional Show Trim. Even if you don’t see this rare breed in your Salon, you can use the same grooming principles on other Spaniels.
Part 1 Tiarne will take you through how to strip and card out the jacket and legs and what tools she uses.
Part 2 Head, ears and throat. Tiarne shows how to clip the ears, face and throat and how to blend the clipped and stripped areas. Top tip: learn to skim and blend with clippers, great time saver.
Part 3 How to trim the feet into a nice tight cat foot.
Part 4 Bottom, tail, feathering and shaping the underline. Tiarne demonstrates how to use thinning shears to thin out the bulk and soften the feathering.
Equipment Used:
Jodie Murphy Coat Tender - Fine tooth & Coarse tooth
Artero Carding knife
Metal comb
Clippers #10 blade
Thinning scissors
Curved scissors
Fingers and gloves
Breed Standard at Dogs Australia
Study Notes | Key Concepts
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Carding and hand-stripping are essential for removing dead undercoat and maintaining coat texture in show-quality Field Spaniels.
Use different tools for different sections, such as fine-tooth carding knives for the top coat and coarser knives for thicker sections.
Avoid cutting the coat when showing or competing. Instead, rely on tools like thinning shears to reduce bulk without damaging the coat.
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Trim the top third of the ears while ensuring that the inside and outside match.
Blend the ears so they appear seamless rather than creating a sharp stop line.
For the head, avoid clipping if possible. Hand-plucking and careful scissoring are preferred to maintain a soft look.
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Field Spaniels should have a cat foot shape. Use thinning scissors to reduce bulk and create neat feet.
Check between toes for matting and ensure nails are properly exposed for a clean look
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Blend the coat along the body and underline by following the dog’s natural contours.
Pay special attention to the feathering, ensuring it falls off the back of the leg, and blend it into the body to avoid a choppy look.
Be mindful of sensitive areas like the underbelly and around the nipples on desexed dogs
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Double-check for symmetry, especially around the ears and underline.
Use blending techniques with thinning shears on areas like the throat and shoulder to avoid harsh lines
Want to learn hand stripping properly?
The Essential Guide to Hand Stripping takes you beyond the introduction, with detailed learning on coat and hair, tools, terminology, technique, rolling and staging coats, breed standards, handling considerations and more.
Some of the breed demonstrations included in the course are already available to you here on igroomhub, so Members receive 50% off the full course.
Use code CHUX at checkout
