Hiya Lea,
I would start off with the basics......
a Puppy Slicker brush/or tender care variety (Hub Int)
a spratts 76 comb (Hub Int)
Some hairdressing scissors (for keeping feet tidy etc) (Boots)
Cotton wool (For wiping eyes & inside ear flaps)
Thornit for keeping ears nice and fresh (Champion pet supplies)
Baby Nail scissors or clippers for trimming claws
A rubber car mat for standing puppy on whilst grooming
A first aid Kit (you never know
)
These are the basics that you could start with, obviously you can add to this as time goes on, ie thinners etc, marigolds for handstripping
(thats a whole other thread
)...
I definitely think there is something very satisfying about grooming your own dog. Obviously with a cocker grooming is a daily task but also helps with bonding i think. Start from an early age, just a few minutes at a time, be firm but fair and your dog will learn to love grooming sessions, hope this helps, I'm sure others will have items to add to this list
Gilly