Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs' heads?

Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs'
heads?

I ask because I will be getting a cocker spaniel in a little over a
year and the tops of their heads are shaped like light bulbs (the only
part of them I'm not crazy about), so I was hoping that that's because
they're groomed this way.

I've seen many with long hair on the top of their heads which obstructs
the shape of their skulls from view. Do they all have naturally long
hair on the top of their heads, or some do and some don't? I know that
this is cute, but I prefer a wider/rounder shape. Thanks in advance for
any help.

Chris Tsao

Hi there,

A proper cocker head has a "topknot".
Go to any show breeder's website and you will see nice head shots.

Talk to your breeder about proper grooming of the dog.
If you are showing your dog, I doubt you will be doing the grooming
yourself.

--
Carol J
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC
www.csrbc.org
"Christopher Tsao" wrote in message
oups.com...
Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs'
heads?

I ask because I will be getting a cocker spaniel in a little over a
year and the tops of their heads are shaped like light bulbs (the only
part of them I'm not crazy about), so I was hoping that that's because
they're groomed this way.

I've seen many with long hair on the top of their heads which obstructs
the shape of their skulls from view. Do they all have naturally long
hair on the top of their heads, or some do and some don't? I know that
this is cute, but I prefer a wider/rounder shape. Thanks in advance for
any help.

Chris Tsao

Christopher Tsao wrote:
Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs'
heads?

I ask because I will be getting a cocker spaniel in a little over a
year and the tops of their heads are shaped like light bulbs (the only
part of them I'm not crazy about), so I was hoping that that's because
they're groomed this way.

If you really don't like the way they look, then why get one? I mean,
English Cocker Spaniels have a more traditional spaniel shape to their
head. The American Cockers have the more rounded head. I would consider
getting a dog that I really like in all ways, instead of not being happy
with how the breed's head is shaped. Especially if you go through the
trouble to find a good breeder and pay for a well bred dog. You might as
well pay for what you completely want, instead of what you mostly want.

natalie

--

What fresh hell is this?
--- Dorothy Parker

on 2005-06-06 at 04:36 wrote:

If you really don't like the way they look, then why get one?

heh. i dunno. when i started considering a second dog, about
the only thing i knew for certain was that i didn't want a
short, single coat, docked tail, or floppy ears and no
brachycephalic breeds, thankyouverymuch. five years later,
you couldn't pry my Boxer from my cold, dead hands. she's one
of the most beautiful dogs i've ever laid eyes on. *ever*

--
shelly
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette
http://cat-sidh.blogspot.com/
http://letters-to-esther.blogspot.com/ (updated 4/3/05)

Are you going to show the dog? For show, the person grooming does
leave a little more hair there and it tends to make the head look more
domed. Even if it is cut shorter, the Cocker will still have a domed
head. It will be just less so than one in show coat. It is something
they breed for, that domed head. But I think they've over done it.
And the coat, and the sloping topline and the ridiculous hocks and....
I could go on. Cockers used to be great little dogs. Wonder where
you could find one like the 1950's ones now days.
Sara


Christopher Tsao wrote:
Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs'
heads?

I ask because I will be getting a cocker spaniel in a little over a
year and the tops of their heads are shaped like light bulbs (the only
part of them I'm not crazy about), so I was hoping that that's because
they're groomed this way.

I've seen many with long hair on the top of their heads which obstructs
the shape of their skulls from view. Do they all have naturally long
hair on the top of their heads, or some do and some don't? I know that
this is cute, but I prefer a wider/rounder shape. Thanks in advance for
any help.

Chris Tsao

wrote:
Are you going to show the dog? For show, the person grooming does
leave a little more hair there and it tends to make the head look more
domed. Even if it is cut shorter, the Cocker will still have a domed
head. It will be just less so than one in show coat. It is
something they breed for, that domed head. But I think they've over
done it. And the coat, and the sloping topline and the ridiculous
hocks and.... I could go on. Cockers used to be great little dogs.
Wonder where you could find one like the 1950's ones now days.
Sara


Christopher Tsao wrote:
Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs'
heads?

I ask because I will be getting a cocker spaniel in a little over a
year and the tops of their heads are shaped like light bulbs (the
only part of them I'm not crazy about), so I was hoping that that's
because they're groomed this way.

I've seen many with long hair on the top of their heads which
obstructs the shape of their skulls from view. Do they all have
naturally long hair on the top of their heads, or some do and some
don't? I know that this is cute, but I prefer a wider/rounder shape.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris Tsao

If I were going to get a cocker, I'd go for the English Cocker--largely
because I really prefer the look of their heads. Interestingly, I see more
English Cockers around here. I can't recall the last time I saw an American
cocker spaniel out and about.

In article . com,
wrote:

Are you going to show the dog? For show, the person grooming does
leave a little more hair there and it tends to make the head look more
domed. Even if it is cut shorter, the Cocker will still have a domed
head. It will be just less so than one in show coat. It is something
they breed for, that domed head. But I think they've over done it.
And the coat, and the sloping topline and the ridiculous hocks and....
I could go on. Cockers used to be great little dogs. Wonder where
you could find one like the 1950's ones now days.
Sara

Some of the more remote byb's can still produce these type dogs. They
often have the temperaments of that era, also.

Linda H.

Linda E. Hungerford wrote:
In article . com,
wrote:

Are you going to show the dog? For show, the person grooming does
leave a little more hair there and it tends to make the head look more
domed. Even if it is cut shorter, the Cocker will still have a domed
head. It will be just less so than one in show coat. It is something
they breed for, that domed head. But I think they've over done it.
And the coat, and the sloping topline and the ridiculous hocks and....
I could go on. Cockers used to be great little dogs. Wonder where
you could find one like the 1950's ones now days.
Sara

Some of the more remote byb's can still produce these type dogs. They
often have the temperaments of that era, also.


Actually most field-bred have the same look.
http://www.mfrye.com/skyrocket/dice.html

Just feathering, a "plain" head, and loves everyone she has ever met.
They tend to be soft but resilent, but have the someof the same health
issues as show breds.
I trim the hair on top of her head, but that's all she needs.

(Oh yeah, and placed 8th at WT tryouts as a 2 1/2 yo , and is half
way to her MACH...)

They are harder to find but hopefully getting less so!

Other examples
http://members.aol.com/ASCFC03/index.html go to Gallery
"Biena, Bronco Bruiser, Buck, Cisco, MAV, Patches, Ransom,Shana, Spud
and Willie are fieldbred.

Melissa
www.mfrye.com

Linda H.

Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC wrote:
Hi there,

A proper cocker head has a "topknot".
Go to any show breeder's website and you will see nice head shots.

Talk to your breeder about proper grooming of the dog.
If you are showing your dog, I doubt you will be doing the grooming
yourself.

--
Carol J
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC
www.csrbc.org

Thank you.

Natalie Rigertas wrote:
Christopher Tsao wrote:
Do cocker spaniel breeders cut the hair on the top of their showdogs'
heads?

I ask because I will be getting a cocker spaniel in a little over a
year and the tops of their heads are shaped like light bulbs (the only
part of them I'm not crazy about), so I was hoping that that's because
they're groomed this way.

If you really don't like the way they look, then why get one? I mean,
English Cocker Spaniels have a more traditional spaniel shape to their
head. The American Cockers have the more rounded head. I would consider
getting a dog that I really like in all ways, instead of not being happy
with how the breed's head is shaped. Especially if you go through the
trouble to find a good breeder and pay for a well bred dog. You might as
well pay for what you completely want, instead of what you mostly want.

natalie

I like cockers the best. I guess it's a toss up between them and lhasa
apsos, but I've had lhasa apsos since 1968 and would like a change. My
lhasa seems to be on his last legs , and I think that maybe I'd like
the cockers' lightbulb-type of skull, but would need others' opinions,
so I shall ask my friends and relatives. I am crazy about cocker
spaniel faces.