Hello and Welcome to our new blog. Today at spanieldogs.com we will be looking at yet another popular canine hybrid, the Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua Mix. So, without any further ado, let’s start with our discussion.
Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua Mix is a small and high-spirited pup with lots of love to share with the whole world. Also known as Chi-Spaniels, this hybrid is derived from selective breeding between purebred Chihuahua and Cocker Spaniels, and hence the name. They are highly intelligent puppers and have a friendly personality, which earns them the tag of being one of the best hybrids for family dogs.
Origin of the Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua Mix
Going by the alias, Chispaniels, Chi Cocker, and Cocker Chis, these pups are a popular hybrid between purebred Cocker Spaniels with another highly sought after purebred Chihuahua. Although the exact reason behind their creation is still a mystery, pet parents suppose the selective breeding was done to procure a new short yet spunky designer canine.
Similarly, looking at their parents, the Spaniels and the Chihuahuas, the initial existence of this particular hybrid may not have been more than 20 years. Both the parent breeds came to America during the mid 1800s or 1900s, and hence the concept of cross breeding must be rather recent.
Physical Appearance
Very unpredictable due to the mix up of two genetically different canines, the size of these puppies may vary between small to medium. For instance, if the pup bears 75 percent of Chihuahua DNA and only 25 percent of the Spaniel, its appearance and other characteristics will be more similar to the dominant parent, and vice versa.
However, typically on an average the Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua Mix will weigh around 10 to 18 pounds, as their bodies are slimmer and well-toned like its parents. They have a set of wide dreamy eyes, a short muzzle, fluffy ears, and little paws that gives them the appearance of a soft plush bear, which you can never get enough of.
Depending upon their specific set of genes, their coat colours may range from pure black, white, brown, red, golden to a rare combination between tan, blue, and silver shades.
Temperament and Personality
As with appearance, the temperament and personality of these pups can be a combination of both parents or represent only one of them. They can be as calm, and loving as the Cocker Spaniels or loyal and super-feisty as the Chihuahuas.
However, when taken into consideration, overally the hybrid is a super loving, gentle, fiercely loyal woofer that will happily follow you wherever you go. They are very intelligent and catch on to command cues much faster than other hybrids, therefore making them one of the best dog companions you can ever have.
The designer hybrid is also super friendly with toddlers and other pets in the home when socialised properly from a very young age. They can patiently tolerate all frustrating actions of your tiny tots, only asking for lots of cuddles and pampers in return. And it is because of this attention seeking nature, Chi-Spaniels are often prone to separation anxiety issues.
Additionally given their guarding character, they can easily snap or display aggressive behaviour towards strangers, including growling or biting. So, every time a guest appears, make sure to introduce the pup to them properly before leaving them unmonitored.
Do they make a good apartment dog?
Fortunately, this little beast doesn’t need regular vigorous exercises and hence makes a good apartment dog. About 30 minutes of daily walking, playing fetch or off leash running in the dog park is more than enough for their petite bodies which can be easily done within the constricted spaces of the apartment lifestyle. Similarly, if you have pets letting them play or do crazy zoomies within the house will also work out for the Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua mixes, given their small slim figure.
However, the only thing that may cause trouble is their constant yappiness. Chihuahuas are known for their extremely yappy nature, and hence if your hybrid pupper is doing the same, you may want to enforce positive reinforcement training methods to subdue the noise.
Life expectancy and Health conditions
A lovechild between two very healthy breeds, the average life expectancy of the Chi-spaniels range between 10 to 16 years. While this is just a widely acknowledged norm, with proper care and feeding, some pups may even last longer than that.
Even though hybrids are believed to have stronger genetic makeup, some parental breed-specific health conditions may also be seen in them. In the Chi Cockers, they include:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Luxating Patella
- Osteoarthritis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Thyroid issues
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Although the list doesn’t indicate that the pups are bound to suffer from these health disorders, the hybrid may be prone to them, based upon their dominant parental gene.
Do the Chi Cockers need extensive grooming?
Blessed with luscious smooth fur all around their body, or in some cases on their ears, you will have to take proper care of your Chi Cockers. This hybrid needs to be combed at least twice or thrice a week, or you might end up having to pick up their loose hair from all over your house.
For this you will have to invest in a good raker, as normal combing might not be as efficient. Moreover, raking a dog not only helps eradicate dead skin cells, but also ensures that their hair roots get enough nutrition and thus stay soft and healthy without getting matted every now and then. The same is for their teeth and nails. A dog with a yellow smile can embarrass you every time it opens its mouth and may even smell a lot. So, why risk such situations, when you can always invest a few bucks on a good doggy toothpaste and a nail trimmer.
Simultaneously, if your woofer often produces sticky discharge from their eyes, make it a habit to clean them as frequently as you can. Accumulation and hardening of these discharges will not only cause discomfort to the pup but will also trigger much more severe eye conditions.
What are the best methods to train a Chi Cocker?
Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua mixes are everyone’s favourite. They are quick-witted and always eager to impress their owners. So, while training them using regular positive reinforcement training methods might not be as backbreaking as training other hybrids, some pups might be a bit headstrong.
Thus, if you have one such pup who loves to challenge your authority, here are a few pointers to help you out.
- Always follow positive reinforcement training methods only- When trying to train a persistent dog to listen to your commands, never, and I repeat NEVER shout, hit or use cruel methods to make them forcefully submit to you. Doing this will only make the pup regard you as an unreliable person and hence fear and not love you. But on the other hand, praising the furball and offering them treats will help them understand the process better.
- Take cues and act according to it- Not only dogs but their humans are also required to understand cues from their furry partners. When the pup isn’t feeling good or too absentminded, training them won’t work out and this is why dog experts advise following a particular time for training purposes. Monitor your Chi Spaniel’s behaviour and note down the time where you both remain active enough to learn new things, because training is not only for the pups but also for their human companions.
- Consult a vet or behavioural expert if things go haywire- Now, if your Chi Spaniel is behaving out of the way or is being too aggressive, you need to consult with a vet as soon as you can. The innocent animal may be going through some health issue that might be stressing them out, causing them to snap at anyone that comes near them.
If you want, you can also take a look at some Cocker Spaniel Chihuahua Mixes and trace their life on SNS platforms by clicking here.
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