The Cocker Spaniel carries a lot of coat. Dressing one well is about working with it.
A Cocker is built with a deep chest, a gently sloping back, long ears and the soft feathering on the chest, belly and legs that gives the breed its silhouette. It also gives it the most common problem in Cocker clothing: a piece that flattens the feathering, catches in the coat and is pulled off after ten minutes.
Here is how we think about dressing a Cocker.
Start with the fit, not the size
A Cocker’s chest is its widest point, so size by chest first, then check the back length. If you are between sizes, choose the larger: a piece that pulls across the chest is a piece the dog will fight. Our guide to measuring your dog takes two minutes. Or send us the measurements on WhatsApp and we will choose the size with you.
Mind the feathering
The coat under a garment is what decides how comfortable it is. Brush the chest and belly before dressing the dog and after taking the garment off, so the feathering does not mat. Smooth, closely woven fabrics glide over the coat better than rough or loosely woven ones. This is one reason we like cotton and tightly knit baby alpaca for long-coated dogs.
The three pieces we would start with
1. A raincoat
A Cocker’s feathering collects water and mud. A water-repellent coat keeps the underside of the dog cleaner and the walk shorter. La Pluie Softshell is our everyday workhorse, and The Trench Rain-Coat is the tailored option. Both are made in France.
2. A baby alpaca sweater
For autumn and winter, baby alpaca is warm without being heavy. See The Honeycomb Degradé and The Baby Alpaca Polo. Read how to care for a baby alpaca sweater.
3. A cotton piece for the rest of the year
A striped cotton tee is lighter, easier to care for and kinder to the coat. Bleu de Paris is made in Paris, with the dog’s name embroidered for free.
When to dress a Cocker, and when not to
A Cocker has a coat of its own and does not need clothes in every weather. A coat for the rain, a sweater for a cold, still day, and nothing at all in warm weather. A dog that is panting, restless or constantly pulling at a piece is telling you something. Take it off.
See them on real dogs
Follow the pieces on dogs at @colettetgaston and @azurandozzy.