Do you change your dog's grooming for the winter?

Question

I have an appointment at the groomer on saturday for my cocker first grooming. It's the first time I have a dog who requires partial shearing. Can I keep his traditional cocker look during the winter season or it may get too cold for him ?

(I live 5 hours north of New York)

Answer 1

Hello, as a professional groomer of 11yrs..I'd like to offer some help.
I assume you live in a home or apartment and this dog is a indoor dog. If this is the case, he can have a traditional cocker cut and will be fine all year round. If you are in your home and comfortable then he is comfortable (you have no body fur I imagine...joking) Cocker cuts cover the legs and belly half way up the body, that will be enough to keep your dog warm enough if he is mostly a indoor dog.
(If he is a completely outdoor dog I recommend letting his coat grow out for the winter, getting him a insulated dog house and making sure he always has clean food and fresh water)

Some people have said "get him a sweater".
I would be AGAINST the sweater with a cocker skirt. The sweater will matt up the hair on his legs, under front legs and chest which will require shaving him to get them out (brushing out matting is painful to the animal, time consuming, and expensive).
If you take him for walks in the rain and snow you may want to ask your groomer to shave your dogs pads of his feet clean
and then trim around the feet. This will keep the hair on his feet from getting all wet and muddy thus makng returning home from you walk happier on yor carpet.

hope that helped

Answer 2

I am a groomer and I usually use a slightly longer blade and not cut quite as close. Still has the cocker look but just longer

Answer 3

You can just keep it a little longer for winter. On the back have the groomer use the number 2 clipper .

Answer 4

If your Cocker goes out to play for short periods and otherwise is a house dog, then they can and should have a regular groom during the winter. Remember, all dogs lived out in the cold before we had heat, only the lucky ones got to sleep by the fire with the humans.

Answer 5

I have 5 cockers and all keep their cocker cuts year round. I put sweaters on them when they go out to potty & play. They stay warm & look adorable doing it!

Answer 6

I have poodles & during nice weather shave them close because they swim/yard etc. + it's easier to keep knots out. But as the weather gets colder ya gotta let them grow some fur to protect them from the cold. Where you live must get pretty cold , let him keep more fur & get a good coat , maybe boots ( if he'll tolerate)

Answer 7

Not sure it really matters as long as you either sweater a close cut dog or leave it a bit longer.

I have cockers and poodles (among othes) and I cut them very close as they are rescue dogs and I want their cuts to hold the longest period of time. i do use sweaters on a couple, and a couple don't like or want them.

Answer 8

Some people do some people dont. it depends on who you are and where you live, some places are colder than other and that is what causes people to change grooming paterns in the winter.

Answer 9

I have 3 poodles and I let their fur grow out in the winter and in the summer I keep them shaved

Answer 10

talk it over with your groomer ... also its not like your gonna keep your dog in the backyard in the cold and snow so it shouldn't matter