Cocker Pug (Cocker Spaniel & Pug Mix) Info, Pictures, Facts

Cocker Pugs are medium-sized designer dogs that come from Cocker Spaniels being bred with Pugs. Their coats are either wavy or smooth, based on the parent the dog takes after, and they can be medium or long lengths.

These dogs are friendly, adaptable and affectionate, and love spending their time with their humans. They are very intelligent and good with children. Do you think a Cocker Pug might be the dog for you? Read on to find out more.

Cocker Pug Puppies – Before You Get One…

when you are looking for the perfect puppy for your home, one of the best things you should do is find out everything about the dog that you can, so you know what to expect. That’s why we have created this guide to the Cocker Pug.

3 Little-Known Facts About Cocker Pug

1. You need to exercise Cocker Pugs daily, otherwise, they will become pudgy.

2. They need lots of attention.

3. These dogs are very intelligent, but they are often stubborn. Many of them are motivated by treats or food.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Cocker Pug 🧠

Your Cocker Pug’s temperament will be a combination of the personalities, dispositions, and characters from the Pug and the Cocker Spaniel. Cocker Spaniels are happy, affectionate, and social. They are also good with other dogs and children when socialized early, as well as being sweet and gentle. They always want to please you and they crave your attention. Cocker Spaniels are also energetic, so they love to explore and play.

Pugs are known as being clowns, while at the same time being intelligent and not at all aggressive. They love spending time with you, and they do their best to take all of your attention. These dogs can also be lazy, which often will cause chubbiness. They have low levels of energy and are glad to simply hang out.

If you are noticing that your Cocker Pug is taking after their pug parent, make sure that you are giving them exercise daily. Your dog will be good with children and other dogs, but they can be strong-willed and stubborn. Many times, the genes from the parents of the puppy will balance one another out, resulting in an intelligent, loving and charming companion. That being said, they’ll need consistent training, playful interaction, and loads of attention. If this isn’t something you can provide, you should look for another type of dog.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, they are great with children.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

They are good with dogs as long as they are socialized early. Not much is known about cats.

Things to Know When Owning a Cocker Pug

Now that you know the basics of having a Cocker Pug, let’s get into what you should expect from everyday life with your dog.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Protein will be an essential part of the diet for your Cocker Pug. The recommendation is that, as a puppy, it should comprise 22% to help them grow. When they are an adult, it should be 18%. This will be covered when you purchase high-quality dog food.

Another important part of your dog’s diet is fat since this will help with giving them energy. The percentage for puppies should be 8% and 5% for adults. This also will put flavor in your dog’s food and make it really appealing. Fats also add Omega-6 and omega-3 to their diet, which is necessary for their skin, coat, heart, and brain.

• Related Read: Best Food for Pugs 

Exercise 🐕

Pugs don’t have a lot of energy but Cocker Spaniels have more energy. Therefore, the Cocker Pug you have will likely have a low to medium level of energy and could need as much as 45 minutes’ worth of stimulating playtime or walks each day.

Cocker Pugs generally are social dogs that will enjoy going to a dog park and making some new friends. However, your dog may be more laidback, which means they are happy to simply lay around. Unfortunately, this can make them gain weight. Walking them daily so they get exercise will be needed to keep your dog from becoming overweight.

Since they have shorter snouts, these dogs may be more heat sensitive. So it’s best to do your walks with your Cocker Pug early in the morning or once the sun has set. Don’t walk your dog on the hot asphalt, since this may burn their paws.

Training 🦮

Even though Cocker Pugs are generally willing to do anything to please you and they’re full of energy and enthusiasm, they’re known for being strong-willed. Therefore, you will need patience while training them. Some of these hybrids can be very stubborn. Even though they will understand what you want them to do, they’d rather do whatever they want to do. They are easy to distract, so it’s best to keep your training sessions interesting and short.

You can usually motivate your Cocker Pug with food, so use this to your advantage. You also want to use positive reinforcement, combining small treats and vocal praise for rewards during training. They don’t react well when you use punishment or negative reinforcement. This can make them lose interest in their training.

Grooming ✂️

Cocker Pugs have coats that may be medium or long. You want to brush and comb him out several times per week and it’s a good idea to have them groomed professionally once in a while.

Their nails should be trimmed monthly, either by you, your vet, or by your groomer. Since he has floppy ears, you will need to keep them clean to prevent infections due to the buildup of bacteria. Your vet will be able to recommend a wash for you to use.

You may need to bathe him each month, particularly if he loves rolling in the grass and dirt while outside. If there are folds on your Cocker Pug’s face, make sure you are wiping them and cleaning them each day since he might have trouble with fold dermatitis.

Brush his teeth each week to so that you stop tartar from accumulating.

• Related Read: Best Shampoos for Pugs 

Health and Conditions ❤️

There are a few things that you should look for when it comes to your Cocker Pug. One of the biggest things is the possibility of it having a brachycephalic head with a short snout. If your dog has a face that is similar to a pug, they are going to have more health issues than if it has a Cocker Spaniel head.

These dogs are occasionally diagnosed with kidney disease and obesity, and they may need tests such as hip x-rays, thyroid tests, skin scrapings, allergy tests, electrocardiograms, biopsies, and others.

Male vs Female

There is no noticeable difference between female and male Cocker Pugs in their size and weight. The only difference you might see is in price, since females who are purchased for breeding may be more expensive.

Final Thoughts

A Cocker Pug is a friendly and lovely dog. They crave attention from their owners and will constantly be motivated by food. They’re perfect for people who lavish affection on their dogs and who fawn all over them.

They make great companions for any type of owner and get along great when with dogs. They are feisty and cute when they’re trying to be aggressive. They do all they can to please you, but they have to be managed or they’ll keep doing what they want to do.

If you are looking for a dog who’s a lot of fun and you’re ready to work with them, then a Cocker Pug is the dog for you.

Featured Image Credit: treetstreet, Shutterstock