Mudmatters Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Hi There, I have a 2 yr old cocker bitch who has been kenneled since a pup. In recent months (4) we have had her in the house at night as she has calmed down and its good for her to soicalise with the kids etc and our other dog (an older cocker). I mostly wildfowl with some rough shooting and I was wondering if she will get a better coat if she is kenneled as opposed to in the house. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 What do you mean by 'better'? Thicker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Indoors or out a cocker is never going to have a suitable coat for working on the foreshore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudmatters Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Better / Thicker. My logic is that I think that she would have a thicker coat if she was kenneled as she is more acclimatized to seasonal weather differential which would encourage her winter coat to come through. I should point out that I don't know much about dogs coats and their malting hence the question. fenboy, thank you for your helpful comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) Might be as well to start looking at neoprene dog coats for water work. Our dogs live in and they get a bit thicker coats in Winter even in the house but our Springer has never had a thick coat even when he was in kennels. This one was recommended on the Wildfowling thread: Jack Pyke neoprene dog vest Edited September 30, 2014 by loriusgarrulus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Better / Thicker. My logic is that I think that she would have a thicker coat if she was kenneled as she is more acclimatized to seasonal weather differential which would encourage her winter coat to come through. I should point out that I don't know much about dogs coats and their malting hence the question. fenboy, thank you for your helpful comment. It may well get a thicker coat being kenneled outside , but that thicker coat will still not be waterproof anything like a Lab etc so will in effect just become a giant sponge once soaked the dog will feel the cold. As mentioned a neoprene coat will help a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Shame you can't get Nik Wax for dogs. Don't any think of trying it though as its not suitable for dogs, but brilliant for clothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) Bit off topic but there seems to be two distinct coat types in cockers, sleek and shiny and FUZZY! We've got both types. The fuzzy one looks like a bear whereas my others look like sleek little seals! Interestingly out of our last litter of cockers we had one fuzzy one and five smooth! Edited September 30, 2014 by bigbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Our springer is sleek. At the gundog training there was a springer that was really fluffy. I did wonder if it had been neutered as that can sometimes make their coats go wooly, but it was intact. At least Leo is quick to dry off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Your dog will have a better coat for working outdoors if she is kept outdoors - thicker with more naturally produced oil in it. However I do tend to agree with fenboy that the foreshore is not the ideal place for a cocker and I would look for a neoprene overcoat to help the dog retain heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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