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About ElizaBeth CRONK
Expertise
Professional Dog Groomer-How to groom dogs- all breeds but specialize in the Art of the Hand Plucked Terrier, Bichon and Portugese Water Dog. Scissoring, clippering, and most known for hand plucked terrier skills. I am well known for my private business in Manhattan. I train owners and professionals looking to upgrade their skills Trained at NY School of Dog Grooming and apprenticed with several Internationally known expert breeders, handlers, and judges, assisted many years Westminster and Montgomery Kennel club shows.

Experience
20 years private residential dog grooming service- I have groomed over 30,000 dogs

Publications
terrierific.net

Education/Credentials
New York School of Dog Grooming/ worked with many professional handlers, assisted many dog shows bred my own dogs

Past/Present Clients
private listing over 250
video now available on website

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Dogs > Dog Grooming > Cocker Spaniel Bald Spot

Dog Grooming - Cocker Spaniel Bald Spot

Expert: ElizaBeth CRONK - 10/13/2009

Question

bald spot

I am the proud Mom of 3 Cockers. My eldest (Jazmyne) turned 13 in June, Marcella (16 months) and Luey (15 months) joined the family last fall. I can't have human kids, and I spoil my furbabies. They are all so different! Jazmyne has been with me through 6 surgeries, college and law school. She is perfect - and brilliant - parti white/blonde. I am having some challenges with the babies, but that is part of the joy of being a parent. Marcella is only 12 pounds, and is all eyelashes, she is so black it is hard to get a good picture. Luey is 37 pounds - a giant wagging ball of black and tan; he keeps his Beatle-esque curls or his grey beard is too distinguished looking. I got Luey from a puppy mill. My mom and I drove round trip 26 hours straight to get him, and I was appalled at what I saw - I shouldn't have given those bastards any money, but I couldn't leave him in such squalor. He is my needy, clinging gentle giant. Full of love and devotion to me, but still terrified at the strangest times. I groom them at home and am thinking of going to "Groom School". I can't afford to take all 3 in for cuts, and Luey drools and vomits on car rides and shakes non-stop if I try to leave him.

Here is question: all 3 have bald spots at the juncture of their rib-cages, at their canine solar plexus. It isn't irritated or red, doesn't itch; they never seem to even notice. It seems a silly thing to ask, but could this be rug burn? My new house has VERY steep stairs! Jazmyne takes her time like the lady she is, but sometimes the pups 'help' the speed of her descent. Marcella's legs are so short she kind of belly surfs. Luey can never remember that his back legs don't get to go first. It rather reminds me of my dad's calves, hairless from years of wearing dress-socks. Is that possible? They are all so different in every other behavior, I can't think of any other way all of them would have the same bald spot!?

One other question: you have such amazing credentials, may I be presumptuous enough to ask if you can recommend a Groom School in the Chicago area?

Thank you so much!!

Answer
Hi Robyn,
you certainly have your hands full- grooming them yourself will be a huge cost benefit. I am not sure you really need to go to school for this but maybe find a good video. Unless of course you plan on making it a career. I believe there is a school in Chicago but am not familiar with it. All of them are pretty expensive and frankly there are lots of demonstration videos and you have lots of raw material to practice on... you may not get a cocker to work on in school and since that is your primary concern I would opt for the video. Most important is the table/ arm and good equipment. You can find links and suggestions on my website- terrierific.net
You are most likely are right about the bald spots too. A Harness will do the same thing if thats what you use as well.
I use to have an American Cocker and he had as much hair as a sheep dog so in order for him to look like a cocker I had to carve the whole pattern- which is what you need to learn - the cocker pattern. Often breed clubs have pamphlets that you can obtain that give you instructions - so what don't you try there first.
All you need is a good grooming table, clippers with a snap on attachment for shortening the furnishings, scissors and a metal comb. I would keep the length on the short just for time sake. It takes a lot of time to comb out cockers and you have 3!
good luck and thanks for rescuing your "kids"!

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