This
dog sports a fairly typical cocker coat. Any new owner must understand that cockers
need frequent combing/brushing and periodic bathing and clipping in order to maintain
the amount of hair that has become a trademark of the breed. They are not wash and
wear dogs. Although this dog doesn't "live" on the grooming table, and
he does spend a lot of time participating in outdoor activities, if his coat were
ignored, he would quickly come to resemble some of the dogs on our Wall of Shame.
Before taking a cocker home, you should plan to allocate ten minutes a day to spend with a comb (and a couple of treats). It's a great one-on-one time with your dog, and you get those mats tackled while they are small and their removal doesn't hurt the dog. Then you need to weigh the pros and cons of whether to get the dog groomed (bathed and clipped) professionally every 4 to 6 weeks or to buy the equipment and do it yourself.
Speaking of mats - In general they form in two ways:
* From rubbing. One of the first places you'll find mats is under the arms. Handled early, this is an easy fix - just clip out the area (which is hidden anyway).
* Around foreign matter. This encompasses a variety of material - from vegetation to dirt to urine. But the majority of them COMB OUT easily, especially when dry, and in the early stages. (Burrs and goo are another matter - but they still come out better SOONER than LATER!) The issue of food in the ears is a combination of prevention and combing afterwards.
Prospective owners should also understand that all rescue dogs are neutered - for both their health and to keep them from adding to the unwanted pet overpopulation problem. But when you take away the hormones, the coat reverts to puppy texture and frequently becomes prolific. If the cocker comes from lines which did not have a lot of coat to begin with, there probably won't be a noticeable difference - but a dog who had hair when intact will have LOTS of hair when neutered.
So - before you decide a cocker is the dog for you, be sure to examine your willingness to maintain the coat on a regular basis.