Belle
4 years old · Kennebunkport
A liver-and-white show-coat springer whose feathering takes real comb time. Her ears get extra drying every visit and she's never had an infection since.
Breed Grooming Guide 5.0 · Southern Maine
English Springer Spaniel Dog Grooming.
English Springer Spaniels carry feathering on the ears, chest, legs and belly that looks elegant and works hard against them — those long drop ears trap moisture and dirt, and springers are famously prone to ear infections as a result. K-Pup grooms springers mobile, at your house, with the ear care and de-matting attention this breed needs whether it's a field dog covered in burrs or a show-coated house companion.
Show Coat, Field Coat & Feathering
Grooming for every springer.
Field-bred and show-bred English Springer Spaniels carry noticeably different amounts of coat, but both share the breed's signature ear feathering. For background, see the AKC English Springer Spaniel breed page.
Ear Feathering & Leather
The heavy feathering on the ear leather traps moisture, hair and debris right over the ear canal, which is a major reason springers run high rates of ear infections. We comb the feathering out fully, trim the underside of the ear leather short so air can actually reach the canal, and clean and dry the ear thoroughly every visit.
Show-Style Coats
Show-line springers carry fuller feathering on the chest, legs and belly. We hand-scissor this coat to keep the classic silhouette — long feathering with a neat, defined edge — rather than clippering it down, which would remove the look entirely.
Field & Hunting Coats
Field-bred springers and working hunting dogs carry shorter, denser coat that still mats behind the elbows and picks up burrs, ticks and briars from brush. We check thoroughly for hitchhikers before bathing and often trim the feathering shorter and more practical for a dog that's in the field every weekend.
Puppies & Coat Change
Springer puppies grow their adult feathering gradually through the first two years, and that stage mats easily behind the ears and on the legs if it's skipped. Regular brushing through the change keeps the transition clean.
Built Around Ear Health
Ears, feathering and a busy field dog.
Ear infection prevention is priority one
Springers rank among the breeds most prone to chronic ear infections, driven by long, low-hanging, feathered ears that trap heat and moisture. We pluck excess canal hair when needed, clean thoroughly, and dry the ear completely before the dog leaves the trailer — and we'll tell you honestly if something looks like it needs a vet visit.
Feathering mats fast when wet
Chest, leg and belly feathering that gets wet from rain, dew or a swim and isn't dried and brushed out mats within days. We line-brush to the skin before every bath and dry the feathering fully with a high-velocity dryer so nothing is sealed in damp.
Field work, ticks and burrs
Dogs that hunt or hike brush around Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise come home carrying burrs, seed heads and the occasional tick buried in the feathering. We check carefully before bathing and flag anything embedded in the skin.
Nails and an active gait
A springer that's mostly running fields rather than walking pavement often has nails that grow faster than they wear. We keep them trimmed short and check feet for cracked pads or debris after field days.
The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association and its health committee publish ear-care and coat guidance worth reading between appointments.
Services
English Springer Spaniel grooming services.
01
Full Springer Groom
Bath, full feathering comb-out, ear leather trimmed and cleaned, hand-scissored feathering shape, feet and sanitary trim, nails.
02
Field-to-Clean Bath
A thorough burr check, rinse and dry-out for dogs coming straight off hunting or trail work, with feathering combed out completely.
03
Ear & Feathering Care Visit
A focused between-groom appointment: ear cleaning and plucking as needed, feathering combed and tidied, and nails.
Our Process
How we groom a English Springer Spaniel.
Every english springer spaniel appointment follows the same order, start to finish, in the trailer in your driveway. Typical appointment time: about 1 hr 30 min, one dog at a time.
Ear and feathering check
We check the ear leather and canal for odor or debris and comb through the chest, leg and belly feathering to find any mats, burrs or ticks before bathing.
Line brushing the feathering
Feathering on the ears, chest, legs and belly is combed to the skin so nothing seals in matted once the bath starts.
Bath with ear protection
A gentle shampoo worked through the coat with cotton kept in the ear canals during the bath to help keep water out of ears prone to infection.
Thorough dry and ear drying
A full high-velocity dry through the feathering, followed by careful hand-drying and cleaning inside the ear canal itself.
Feathering and ear leather trim
Hand-scissored shaping of the leg, chest and belly feathering, plus a trim of the hair under the ear leather to improve airflow to the canal.
Nails, sanitary and finish
Nails clipped and ground, sanitary and feet tidied, and a final check of both ears before your springer is handed back.
This is the full step-by-step process K-Pup Dog Grooming uses for springers in southern Maine.
Client Spotlight
Our favorite springers.
A few of the springers we look forward to seeing on the schedule — regulars from around southern Maine who hop up on the table like they own the trailer.
Gunner
6 years old · Arundel
A field-bred hunting dog who arrives most weeks with a burr collection worth cataloging. We check him thoroughly before he ever sees the tub.
Daisy
10 months old · York
Black-and-white and still growing her adult feathering. We're brushing through it now so it never gets the chance to mat behind her ears.
Fun Facts
The best things about springers.
We groom a lot of springers, and every one of them reminds us why the breed has such a loyal following. Here's what we love about the english springer spaniel.
Named for how they hunt
'Springer' comes from the breed's job — springing game birds up out of cover for the gun, rather than pointing and holding.
Show and field lines look different
Decades of separate breeding for the show ring versus the field have created two visibly different types within one AKC breed.
Those ears are a real health factor
Long, low, heavily feathered ears trap moisture and heat, making springers one of the breeds most prone to chronic ear infections.
Boundless bird-dog energy
Springers were built to work all day in the field, and that stamina doesn't switch off just because it's grooming day.
One of America's classic sporting breeds
English Springer Spaniels have been a fixture of American field trials and hunting camps for over a century.
Related Breeds
Similar coats we groom.
springers share brushing, drying, and trimming needs with these breeds — each guide covers coat care, timing, and pricing for mobile grooming in southern Maine.
Boykin Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Cocker Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
English Cocker Spaniel Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Irish Setter Dog Grooming
Feathering & ear care
Airedale Terrier Dog Grooming
Hand-tidy terrier trims
Services
Services for your English Springer Spaniel.
The visits springers book most often, and what each one includes.
from $85
See every service and price →Matted Dog Grooming
Humane dematting, honest shave-down advice, and why a short haircut is sometimes the kindest option.
Read more →from $25 add-onFlea & Tick Bath
Medicated flea baths and full tick checks — done in the driveway so the problem never comes inside.
Read more →Where We Groom English Springer Spaniels
English Springer Spaniel grooming across southern Maine.
Searching for a springer spaniel groomer near you? Our trailer covers the southern Maine coast weekly, from field-heavy inland towns to the beach. Pick your town and book. See all our locations →
Kennebunkport English Springer Spaniel GroomingKennebunk English Springer Spaniel GroomingCape Porpoise English Springer Spaniel GroomingGoose Rocks Beach English Springer Spaniel GroomingArundel English Springer Spaniel GroomingBiddeford English Springer Spaniel GroomingSaco English Springer Spaniel GroomingWells English Springer Spaniel GroomingOgunquit English Springer Spaniel GroomingYork English Springer Spaniel GroomingOld Orchard Beach English Springer Spaniel GroomingScarborough English Springer Spaniel Grooming
English Springer Spaniel Grooming FAQ
Questions springers owners ask us.
How often should a springer spaniel be groomed?
Every 6 to 8 weeks for a full groom, with ear checks and feathering brushed at home two or three times a week. Field dogs that spend weekends in the brush often do better on a shorter cycle.
Why does my springer keep getting ear infections?
The breed's long, heavily feathered drop ears trap moisture and reduce airflow to the canal, which makes yeast and bacterial infections common. Regular trimming of the hair under the ear leather and thorough cleaning and drying at each groom genuinely helps.
Can you keep my springer's show-style feathering?
Yes. We hand-scissor rather than clipper the leg, chest and belly feathering to keep the classic silhouette, and we can talk through length preferences before we start.
My springer is a hunting dog. Do you do practical field trims?
Regularly. We can trim feathering shorter and more functional for a dog that's in briars and water every weekend, while still protecting the ear leather and checking for ticks and burrs.
Do you check for ticks during grooming?
Yes. Springers that spend time in brush and tall grass are checked thoroughly before bathing, and we'll point out anything we find so you can follow up with your vet if needed.