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

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Cocker Pug (Cocker Spaniel & Pug Mix)

Height: 12–18 inches
Weight: 18–35 pounds
Lifespan: 10–13 years
Colors: Black, fawn, white
Suitable for: Families, people who have fenced-in yards
Temperament: Loving, loyal, good sniffer, easily trained, friendly, will get along with just about anyone and anything

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

These dogs are friendly, adaptable, and affectionate and love spending their time with their humans. They are also intelligent and good with children. Do you think a Cocker Pug might be the dog for you? Read on to find out more!Divider 1

Cocker Pug Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

When you are looking for the perfect puppy for your home, one of the best things that you should do is find out everything about the dog that you can, so you know what to expect. Cocker Pugs tend to be loyal and affectionate dogs. They create strong bonds with their human companions and are a great choice for families.

They’re easily trained and are eager to play with anyone. The mix of the personalities of the Cocker Spaniel and the Pug balances each other out. These are intelligent and loving dogs. Be aware that they can inherit the health issues their parent breeds have, so it’s important to have regular vet checkups to prevent any condition.

Parent Breeds of the Cocker Pug
Image Credit: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the Cocker Pug 🧠

Your Cocker Pug’s temperament will be a combination of the personalities, dispositions, and characters of 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 causes chubbiness. They have low levels of energy and are glad to simply hang out.

If you notice 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 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,  like their parent breeds, this hybrid pup is great with children.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

They are good with other dogs as long as they are socialized early. That said, their temperament could vary, and not enough is known about this relatively new mix breed to be certain about how well they get along with cats.

cocker pug in water
Image Credit: treetstreet, Shutterstock

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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 when they’re 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 fatty acids to their diet, which is necessary for their skin, coat, heart, and brain.

Exercise 🐕

Pugs don’t have a lot of energy, but Cocker Spaniels have more energy. Therefore, the Cocker Pug 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 lie 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 also 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 ✂️

A Cocker Pug can have a coat that may be medium or long. You want to brush and comb it out several times per week, and it’s a good idea to have your dog groomed professionally once in a while.

Their nails should be trimmed monthly, either by you, your vet, or your groomer. Since this mix 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 them each month, particularly if they love 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 they might have trouble with fold dermatitis. Brush their teeth each week to stop tartar from accumulating.

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 them having a brachycephalic head with a short snout. If your dog has a face that is similar to that of the Pug, they are going to have more health issues than if they have 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.

Minor Conditions
  • Diabetes
  • Patellar luxation
  • Heart murmur
  • Mast cell tumors
Serious Conditions
  • Atopy dermatitis
  • Canine hip dysplasia
  • Ear infections
  • Entropion
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Seborrhea

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 that are purchased for breeding may be more expensive.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Cocker Pug

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

2. They need plenty of attention from their owners.

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

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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 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 that’s a lot of fun and you’re ready to work with them, a Cocker Pug is the dog for you.

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Featured Image Credit: treetstreet, Shutterstock

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