Sam could you give me details, I looked at the petstop website, but couldn't find any reference to it at all, would love to do it if I can. I have also ordered the dvd recommended on here, it hasn't come yet though.
I don't know of any current grooming courses that will teach you how to hand strip and present a Cocker properly for the show ring. Grooming courses tend to be aimed at keeping pet dogs neat and tidy so you're unlikely to find one that covers hand stripping techniques - just something to be aware of as I know you are interested in showing your girls
The lady, Lynette, that does the cocker grooming workshop at MyPetStop shows cockers and will be showing us how to handstrip and groom for showing. Lynette is one of their groomers and she does workshops as and when they have people interested.
It is my trainer Jen, who also shows American Cockers, who has set us up with this groomer. Jen says that she personally wouldn't show me what to do as doing American Cockers is different to English and she says its quite an art which is why she wants us to do a workshop with Lynette to be shown properly.
I haven't decided whether I want to show Barney yet. It wasn't something I intended to do when I got him, and I really don't know much about it. I've been urged to consider it, and told he won't win Crufts but he could do nicely. But of course I wouldn't have a clue if he's a good/reasonable example of the breed or not, as I don't have any experience. But I would like to learn to groom him to show standard, whatever I decide, for my own enjoyment too.