Hello
I have a 9 mnth cocker and im really concerned about the summer creeping in. We have only just got over puppy and snow....
can anyone advise about how to best look after a dog in these warm months. How much of his coat should we strip off? Is he really uncomfortable right now? He seems fine in the evening - but after a run in the park he is panting like crazy. I am so worried about overheating that i constantly carry a damp towel and run this over him to help him cool down.

is there anything else you can advise me doing?
thanks!

A fit dog should be able to cope with a normal summer, don't walk in the heat of the day, early morning and evening is the rule. Not sure about cocker grooming but think it is a matter or removing dead hair and if needed trimming furnishings (feathers) some are clipped out but that should not be necessary. Is you dog black? Black dogs do seem to suffer more from the sun and white ones should have sun block on any area where the skin shows through, as should cats.

I have 5 cocker spaniels, dogs are clever when it comes to keeping cool.  They will find a spot in the shade, or like my lot, they lie in my hall on the stone flooring, bellies to the floor back legs out straight, just make sure he's never  locked in anywhere hot without water,  like a cage or car.

I'm lucky enough to have an air-conditioning unit in my kitchen, so the dogs tend to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day!

He'll be fine!

Forgot to say, as I don't show my dogs, I tend to keep their fur quite short during the summer, not clipped as they do need their fur to protect their skin from the sun,  to keep them cool and to avoid all the sticky buds and twigs they are likely to pick up.

Please don't have your cocker shaved!! :(  Hand stripping/grooming the body with a fine comb will remove the dead coat.  A well groomed coat will insulate against the heat as well as insulate against the cold.  Removing the coat from the body removes the protection from the sun and the heat.
Jackie has given you good advice about walking him in the cooler parts of the day.  Just make sure that he has access to the coolest part of your home, whether that is kitchen, utility, or a shady patio area.  When the temperature is very hot, even short coated dogs like labs, dobes, boxers etc struggle, so removing the coat won't help at all.