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Cocker spaniel grooming
Cocker spaniel grooming: ears first, then the feathering.
Grooming a cocker means ear care every single visit, brushing the feathering before it mats, a wash that handles oily skin gently, and for most pet cockers a clip from a salon groomer every so often. We do the first three. We are honest that we do not do the fourth.
The coat and ears
What you are grooming.
Coat
Silky, with long feathering
Feathering on the ears, chest, legs, and belly mats faster than the body coat and holds water longer.
Ears
Long, low, and hair-lined
The shape traps warm, moist air against the canal, which is why cockers are one of the most ear-infection-prone breeds.
Skin
Naturally oily
Standard for the breed. Washing too often strips it and it comes back oilier.
Our price
$95
Cockers run 20 to 30 lbs and land in our medium tier. Nails and ears included.
The honest part
Most cockers see a clipper. Ours is not it.
Unlike a golden or a husky, a cocker coat keeps growing, and plenty of owners keep it short with a salon clip. That is real grooming work we do not offer: no haircuts, no trims, no feet or sanitary tidies. Across the Bay Area a haircut typically adds $30–60 on top of the bath price.
Where we fit is the bath-and-brush between clips: the ears checked and cleaned, the feathering washed, dried properly, and brushed open so it does not mat before the next appointment. It is the same role we play for doodles between haircuts. If your cocker is kept in a longer, natural coat, the bath-and-brush may be all the professional grooming it needs.
Home or pro
Each part of cocker grooming, and who does it.
Ears
At home: A look and a sniff a couple of times a week, and a gentle clean with a dog ear solution when they are waxy or after a swim.
At our visit: Checked and cleaned at every wash, included. If an ear looks or smells infected, we tell you instead of scrubbing at it.
Brushing the feathering
At home: Two or three times a week, with a slicker and a comb, paying attention behind the ears, the armpits, and the belly, where mats start.
At our visit: Brushed out before and after the bath. Light tangles worked free with a comb.
Washing and drying
At home: Doable in a tub with a degreasing but gentle shampoo. The feathering is the hard part to dry, and damp feathering is where mats and skin irritation begin.
At our visit: Washed to the skin, rinsed until clear, and dried completely, feathering included.
Nails
At home: If your cocker lets you. Many do not.
At our visit: Included in every wash, clip or grind.
Clipping and trimming
At home: Not a beginner job. The body, feet, and ear leather are easy to nick.
At our visit: Not us. A clip or a breed trim is salon groomer work. We do not cut hair at all.
The at-home ear routine, step by step, is in our ear cleaning guide.
The visit
What a bath-and-brush does for a cocker, step by step.
- 01
Ear and coat check
A look into both ears and hands through the feathering before any water, to find tangles and any sore or smelly spots.
- 02
Brush-out
Feathering brushed and combed through dry, because water tightens a tangle into a mat.
- 03
Wash
Warm water and a gentle shampoo worked to the skin. Oily cocker skin needs a proper clean, not a harsh one.
- 04
Rinse
Until the water runs clear. Residue left in the feathering is a common cause of itching.
- 05
Ears and nails
Ears cleaned, nails clipped or ground, paws washed one at a time.
- 06
Full dry and finishing comb
Every section dried, the ears and feathering last and most carefully, then a comb through to leave the coat open.
Cocker problems
Ear infections, feathering mats, and the oily smell.
Ear infections. The problem cocker owners run into most, and the reason the ear check is part of every visit. A smelly or waxy ear caught early goes to the vet sooner, before it has had weeks to get worse.
Feathering mats. They start behind the ears, in the armpits, and on the belly, where the coat rubs and stays damp. Regular brushing and a complete dry prevent most of them. Once a mat is tight to the skin, it needs clippers, and the dematting guide explains why brushing it out can hurt.
The oily smell. Cocker skin is oily by nature and the smell returns faster than on a drier-skinned dog. Washing more often usually makes it worse. A gentle clean, a thorough rinse, and a complete dry do more.
When it is a vet question. An ear that smells sour, looks red, or has discharge, a dog shaking its head or pawing at an ear, or greasy, flaky, or red skin that does not settle after a gentle bath. Ask your vet. We will not clean hard at an ear that looks infected.
Price
$95 for a cocker spaniel.
Our medium tier, flat. It covers the ear check and cleaning, the brush-out, the wash, the full dry through the feathering, and the nail trim. Nails and ears are included in every wash, never added on. No haircut, because we do not offer one.
How often to book is on the cocker spaniel bathing schedule.
Frequently asked
Cocker spaniel grooming questions.
Most pet cockers do, yes. The coat keeps growing on the ears, legs, and belly, and many owners keep it short with a salon clip every couple of months. We do not cut hair, so we are not a replacement for that groomer. What we do is the bath-and-brush in between: washed, dried, brushed out, ears and nails done, so the coat stays open and the next clip is easier.
The ear itself. It is long, hangs low, and is lined with hair, which traps warm moist air against the canal, close to ideal conditions for yeast and bacteria. It is a structural problem, not a hygiene failure, which is why a check at every bath matters more for a cocker than for almost any other breed.
A sour or yeasty smell, head shaking, scratching at one ear, redness, dark discharge, or a dog who suddenly does not want the ear touched. A distinct smell often shows up before the ear looks red. Any of those is a vet visit, and cleaning more often will not fix an infection that has already started.
Light tangles, yes, worked out with a comb during the brush-out. Tight mats close to the skin cannot be washed or brushed out safely, and water makes them worse. Those need a groomer with clippers. We will tell you before we start rather than force a brush through.
Our cocker spaniel breed guide has the schedule. Because the skin runs oily, washing too often backfires, so the interval stays moderate while the ear check happens every time.
What every visit includes is on the mobile dog bath page, and the nail options on nail trim and more.
Ears checked. Feathering dried. Every visit.
Bath-and-brush for your cocker spaniel at your driveway, $95 flat, nails and ears included.
or text us at (408) 599-8317
Owner-operated · Local service
Hi, I’m Ace.
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself — I’m the one who shows up at your door. Every visit is one dog at a time in the van at your curb: warm water, a full brush-out and a proper dry, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
Owner-OperatedLarge-Dog FriendlyDe-SheddingSenior & Anxious Dogs
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SUCH a great - and easy! - experience! Asa was immediately responsive (I love when businesses actually answer their phone!), worked Moose in within 24 hours, was communicative throughout, bought unscented products specifically for us, did a great job with my 12 year old doodle … all in all: amazing service!
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Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age — I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash.
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Ace was great with my 3 small dogs. They got washed and towel dried, their ears checked, their nails trimmed. One star off because he trimmed one nail too far and it bled for a long time, plus distressed my already anxious dog. Important to know that this service isn't van-based (yet). Ace brings a portable wash station to set up outside. He brings his own water and supplies. He doesn't do any hair cuts, just basic wash and towel dry. I'll call him again in the future!
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Ace did a great job with our little old chihuahua mix. Our appointment was for the evening and he came prepared with warm water, and made our sure our dog was comfortable the entire time. Don't let the lack of reviews on yelp scare you away, his prices are good, and he takes time to ensure that good work is done.
★★★★★
He did such an amazing job with my dog! He came out looking so nice, clean, and well-groomed, but what stood out to me most was how happy and comfortable he seemed afterward. You can really tell he was treated with care throughout the entire process. I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend him!
★★★★★
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
★★★★★
We booked Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash for our 90-lb German Shepherd, Koda, who hates the groomer. Ace parked the van right in our driveway in Willow Glen, walked her up the ramp himself — no lifting, no cage, no other dogs — and I watched the whole wash from my doorstep. Bath, nails, ears, and she came back inside dry and calm. Flat $95 exactly as the website said, no surprise charges. We've already booked next month. 😊❤️
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