I took Willow when she was around 5 - 6 months, the groomer wanted to clip her there and then
She said, "I'm not sure why you are here then ?" when I said no thanks. I just wanted to introduce her to the being handled/bathed by a stranger, the more powerful hair dryers etc. Also, she said, "you dont hand strip cockers". Hence, we only went to her once.
After that we went to an agricultural training college, and they did a fab job, although they still wanted to get the clippers on her
The funny thing was, she showed me a cocker, that was there, I said, oh yes, I like how he looks, hehe, she said, he's in to be clipped !