Thanks ladies, louis mum i have been on your website many times and both Alfie and Louis are groomed beautifully (i cant believe you taught yourself).Brackens mum i've never used comb and elastic band, i use finger cots but have heard people say about it, is it good? I got Jacky Marris -Bray dvd last week for my birthday(sad arent i lol) its so confusing, i was shown to handstrip legs but she thinned them out, also ive never been shown how to strip around backend, on dvd she says thin out around tail area. I do go to a few champ shows and am a member of London Cocker, i live 2 mins from the sea in East Sussex, i know i couldn't live any further South if i tried, which doesnt help getting to shows,( believe you me i will make the effort when im showing). Its just so frustrating as showing is the first thing i've been interested in years, i love it,it also doesnt help that im impatient lol, im just sooo eager to learn(im also a bit of a perfectionist).So really what you're both saying is give it a go, cry at my mistakes lol,wait a while then give it another go. omg my poor girl x thanks ladies