I retired Jasmine from showing today. She's a pale shaded buff, American Cocker Spaniel. I clipped off her coat so that she could have a better lifestyle than she has had up until now.

Until today, Jasmine was the only American I had left in full coat. The others all go out to the woods every day with my Irish Setter, and Jasmine had to have a different type of exercise. Due to her full coat she could only go for dirty walks on bath days and had to make do with a walk on lead every other day to keep her from getting too matted. Anyway, her show career wasn't anything to write home about, so I decided to make it easy for myself, and make her life better. So off came the coat :(

It took me several weeks to pluck up enough courage to do it, but it's done now, and she looks cute...... I suppose. She's gonna love it in the woods tomorrow. The thing is though, I'm thinking that maybe that's it for me and American Cockers in the ring. I know you should never say never, but I'm not sure I could take on the responsibility of all that coat care again. I find breeding too traumatic, and anyway my home is full to overflowing with dogs. Mine is a forever home so I have no idea when the next puppy will arrive. When it does though, it'll be another Irish Setter.

Dawn R.

Hi Dawn
Don't they just look wonderful in a puppy trim :-)  I'm sure she will just love her walk in the woods tomorrow.

I have to say though, and perhaps i'm just lucky, but my dogs go out every day for at least an hour of free running exercise
that includes the show dogs in full coat.
I'm just really careful where we go, i'm lucky in that there are loads of walks here which are big grassy fields, and even if it is
wet the dogs do not get muddy, just wet, and there isn't too much for them to collect in the coat eg brambles etc.
I just make sure the dogs are dried off when they get home (15 min job) and that they are bathed regularly.
Part of the joy of having these dogs is to see them having fun, racing around, keeps them fit and mentaly sound for showing too :-)

Enjoy your dogs, and let them enjoy life too...
Oh and never say never
Sharon

Now Dawn...
Im taking your hand...and leading you away from that bridge..whilst simultaneously taking the box of matches out of your other hand ;) ;) ;) (Never say Never!!! :) )

But an Irish Setter.......ah hooooooooooooooo, Mmmmmmmmmm!!!! :D
Enjoy your walk tommorrow ;)

:D You're right HG, I'm feeling a bit miserable about it. I think it's not so much the hair, but that it symbolises the end of showing Americans, at least for the forseeable future. :(

I'm sure I will have cheered up by tomorrow when I see Jazz flying through the leaves on the ground, and next weekend, when she doesn't need to go in the bath and be de-tatted. :) :) :)

Dawn R.

Did she have a good run Dawn? Hope you're more cheerful now!

She did Lucy, in fact she's had two good runs now. She's loving it, and it was so the right thing to do. I'm not sorry really. :)

Dawn R.