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Cocker Spaniel Mix: Info, Pics, Traits & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Cocker Spaniel Mix

Height: 13–20 inches
Weight: 15–30 pounds
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Colors: Black, black and tan, black and white, black white and tan, blue roan, blue roan and tan, golden, lemon roan
Suitable for: Small homes, children, elderly owners
Temperament: Gentle, smart, happy, curious

The Cocker Spaniel Mix (sometimes called the Colonial Cocker Spaniel) is a mixed breed created by blending the American Cocker Spaniel with the English Cocker Spaniel. It’s a gentle breed that’s never aggressive but easily develops social anxiety and cannot be alone for long periods. Spaniels date back to the 14th century, but the Colonial Cocker Spaniel’s exact origin is a mystery. It’s an energetic working dog with a moderately long muscular neck and rounded back. They have round, dark, low-set eyes long, floppy ears, and a slightly longer than medium-length coat.

Colonial Cocker spaniels are an intelligent breed that likes to please their owners. They want to be “good dogs” and go out of their way to make you happy and improve your mood. They are outgoing, rarely need harsh scolding, and they are very food-motivated, so they will do anything for a treat.

Divider 1Cocker Spaniel Mix Puppies

puppy cocker spaniel
Image By: Angela Holmyard, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Because of the extreme passive popularity of the Cocker Spaniel, it’s not hard to find one in the local pound. If the breeder you choose runs a lot of genetic tests on your dog, the cost will be higher, but you will have a better chance of receiving a healthy puppy free of the health risks associated with the parent breeds. It will also cost more to have breeding rights or a show-quality dog.

Food, clothes, toys, treats, and doctor visits will also be part of your puppy checklist. When you have your dog, they will need regular flea tick and heartworm medication, and you may also choose to enroll them in obedience puppy school, which are all things to think about from the beginning.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cocker Spaniel Mix

1. The Cocker Spaniel parent was one of the first 10 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.

2. Cocker spaniels are the smallest sporting dog.

3. Cocker Spaniels get their name from their ability to hunt the Woodcock, a type of bird.

Parent Breeds of the Cocker Spaniel Mix
Image Credit: (L) Lenkadan, Shutterstock | (R) Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel Mix 🧠

The Cocker Spaniel Mix is an active and lively dog that is also alert and attentive. It’s a playful breed, but it’s also gentle enough to have around children. It’s affectionate and likes to receive a lot of affection as well. Its love of being around family members means it quickly suffers from separation anxiety.

The Cocker Spaniel Mix is an intelligent breed that learns quickly, but they’re quickly upset, so you need to take a gentle approach. Some Colonial Cocker Spaniels have a difficult time being housebroken, but they’ll learn most other commands in a short time and can’t even manage multi-step tasks.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Cocker Spaniel Mix is a perfect family dog because it’s very gentle and likes to be around the family. It will often jump on your lap to watch TV or hang out with you in the yard while you garden. It’s never aggressive and likes to play with children, who enjoy their soft coat and friendly nature. It’s not an intimidating breed, but it likes to bark and will alert you to any would-be intruders and guests.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Colonial Cocker Spaniel gets along well with other dogs and cats and will generally cohabitate with any animal except birds. Early socialization is helpful, but it’s often unnecessary, though it may help stop them from chasing and barking at squirrels, rabbits, and other animals in the yard.

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Cocker Spaniel Mix

In this section, we’ll discuss some things you should consider before purchasing a Colonial Cocker Spaniel.

Food and Diet Requirements 🦴

The Colonial Cocker Spaniel is an active dog, but it’s easy to overfeed them, leading to weight gain. Many owners recommend starting with a high-quality chicken and rice diet and introducing other foods slowly. Always look for a brand that has a high-quality protein like chicken listed as its first ingredient. Avoid foods that use artificial dyes and chemical preservatives like BHT. A brand with real fruits and vegetables in its ingredients will provide your pet with antioxidants to boost the immune system, and flaxseed or fish oil will provide healthy omega fats.

Daily Exercise Requirements 🐕

The Colonial Cocker Spaniel is an active dog, but it’s not very large. Their tendency to follow everyone around the house and try to get them to play games will often allow them to get much of the exercise they need. However, they like to play ball or go for a walk, and spending 15 to 20 minutes a day engaging them in activity will help you bond and keep your pet strong and healthy.

Training 🦮

The Colonial Cocker Spaniel is intelligent and easy to train. They love to be the center of attention, so training sessions will be a high point of their day, and they’re eager to please, so they will be excited about learning new tricks. However, they get upset easily, so you will need to be gentle and patient. Your pet will require plenty of positive reinforcement, and you will need to keep plenty of treats handy for the best results.

Grooming ✂️

Unfortunately, the Colonial Cocker Spaniel is a high-maintenance dog that will require frequent brushing. You should expect to brush your dog at least once a day to keep its coat free of tangles and looking neat. The hair quickly mats and will require a professional quality dog comb with medium-spaced teeth. You will also need to pay special attention to their ears and keep them clean and dry to prevent infections. All dogs with floppy ears are prone to infection because they hold in moisture and dirt.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Many mixed breeds like the Colonial Cocker Spaniel have a reduced risk of health problems because the breeder can use selective breeding techniques to remove them.  However, some conditions are still known to affect Colonial Cocker Spaniels, and we’ll discuss them in this section.

Minor Conditions
  • Cataracts – Cataracts are another condition that affects the eyes of your pet. It’s a condition that clouds the lens of the eye, which can make it difficult to see. The American Cocker Spaniel parent is prone to cataracts, and in some cases, it can cause your dog to go blind. However, there are many stages of cataracts, and your dog can live a happy life for many years. Doctors can often remove the cataract with surgery.
  • Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca – Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca is yet another condition that can affect the eyes of your Colonial Cocker Spaniel. This condition prevents the tear ducts from working properly and leads to dry eyes. Because there are not enough tears to properly lubricate the eye, it can become red, inflamed, and painful. It may also cause ulcers to form on the cornea leading to impaired vision. Eye drops can help, and the damage is minimal if caught early.
Serious Conditions
  • Patellar Luxation – Patellar luxation Is a condition that affects the kneecaps on your dog’s front legs. It occurs when the patellar ligament cannot keep the kneecap in place and allows it to slip. As time passes the ligament stretches further, allowing the kneecap to slip more often, affecting your pet’s ability to put weight on the leg. It’s the leading cause of lameness in dogs, but surgery can help in some cases.
  • Entropion – Entropion Is a condition that affects the eyelids of your pet and causes them to roll in towards the eye. With this condition, the hair on the eyelid rubs against the cornea and can transfer pigment, which can stain the eye. It can also result in ulcers and even perforations on the cornea and can be quite painful. Entropion can cause your dog to try to hold one eye shut, and they may tear excessively. You may also notice a mucus discharge or that they’re squinting. The American Cocker Spaniel parent is especially prone to this condition, and it may require surgery to fix

Divider 5Male vs Female

The male Colonial Cocker Spaniel can grow to be a few inches taller than the female, but this is not always the case, and many times, they are identical in size and weight. The males tend to be slightly more move food motivated and will often be the first ones at their dinner dish while the female Colonial Cocker Spaniels like to snuggle and are usually on the couch.

Divider 3Summary

The Cocker Spaniel Mix is an amazing family dog that will keep you company and play well with children. They are active, alert, friendly, and attentive to the entire family and get along well with other pets. The only thing that might give someone trouble is their tendency to bark, and they are occasionally hard to housebreak. Overall, it’s a healthy breed with a fairly long lifespan that adapts well to apartment life and will provide you with many years of warm friendship.

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Featured Image Credit: kerswelljohn, Pixabay

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