GROOMING YOUR ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL Puppy
Part 2

Jan Martin and Marsha Caldwell

FACE
Clean out along both sides of the jaw along the lower lip. This can prevent lip-fold infections, which are green, stinky, and stubborn. Run the clippers against the grain of the hair for best results, stretching the skin taut.

The MUZZLE gets only a very light buzz through the whiskers... don't even push down on the clippers. Otherwise, the face is left natural. To smooth in the area from the cheek to the ear, run the clippers WITH the grain.

We do some preliminary clipping WITH the grain on the top of the head. Pull the puppy's skin forward to clean up the part behind the occipital bone.

EARS

Clear out the hair from around the ear; this allows the ear to lie flat. Clip inside the ear, clearing the hair from the top third. Use your clippers at whatever angle will give you a clean inner ear. It's important to keep this inside area clear of hair, as hair can harbor germs and contribute to ear problems.

Shave the top third of the ear, against the grain. Make a nice, straight line across the ear, even with that little bulge.

FINISH THE NECK:

Work behind and below the ear. Don't go too far into the middle of the neck. Go against the grain on the ear, with the grain on the neck.

Go straight down to the shoulders, lifting the clippers a little to blend the hair at the shoulders.

HEAD
Blend the shaved area of the ear into the top of the head, going against the grain , stopping just above the eyebrows. Then blend again by feathering with the grain from the eyebrows to the back of the skull. It should be nice and smooth, without a noticeable ridge at the eyebrows.