Hello everyone and welcome back to our new blog where we will be discussing the rather recent hybrid, the Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix.
Below we have also arranged for the top frequently asked questions about the pupper, so you don’t have to go anywhere else. Thus, what are you waiting for, take out your reading glasses and let’s start with the topic.
The Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix, also known as the Docker Dog or the Spaniel Doxie, is a lovechild between a purebred Cocker Spaniel and a Dachshund. These petite creatures are very sociable, unwaveringly loyal and highly affectionate, so they can adapt to newer surroundings or faces very well.
Table of Contents
- 1 Where does the Docker Dog come from?
- 2 How does a Spaniel Doxie look like?
- 3 How big do the Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix get?
- 4 How long does a Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix live?
- 5 Are these pups Hypoallergenic?
- 6 How to groom a Spaniel Doxie? Do they shed a lot?
- 7 Are the Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix good dogs?
- 8 What are the exercise requirements of the hybrid?
- 9 How to train a Spaniel Doxie?
Where does the Docker Dog come from?
With years of history backing up the two parent breeds, the birth of the first Docker dog was registered in the United States in 1999. Unlike its biological parents, the hybrid was specifically bred to serve as a companion dog for their humans and hence they might not show the typical hunting persona.
Moreover thanks to their super-adorable looks and tiny bodies, pet parents all over the world have also started recognizing the breed as a designer dog. While the small ones can fit into your arms easily, the medium sized ones don’t take too much space. Hence, if you have been looking for a woofer that is tiny, loving, and has a smooth beautiful coat, the Dockers are for you.
How does a Spaniel Doxie look like?
The first thing to remember when it comes to depicting the physical appearance of a hybrid is to understand that depending upon the dominant set of genes, the final result is decided. Therefore, even breeders are unable to exclaim the exact physical attributes that one of these pups might have.
However, in an overall context, these canines are blessed with a typically elongated body, somewhat similar to the Dachshunds, that can be either small or medium. Their heads are small, adorned with two soul-reading almond shaped eyes, a tiny muzzle and lots of fur. The ears stay down right just like its parents and have layers of fur coating them.
The Docker Dog also has two pairs of small legs, and a soft coat running all over their body. The coat might be wavy like the Spaniel or straight and shiny as the Dachshund. Similarly, the coat colours might range from single tone colours including white, black, brown, red and even to rare combinations of golden and silver.
How big do the Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix get?
Upon reaching adulthood, the Spaniel Doxie can reach upto a height of 9-15 inches at the shoulders, with the small-sized pups generally varying between 9-11 inches and the medium sized ones measuring between 12-15 inches. Due to their very compact size, they are easy to carry around and seem to be emanating a puppy-face for most of their life.
The pooch also reaches a weight of about 25 pounds when fully matured, making them the perfect option for lap dogs and designer breeds. Even more, with the rise in the popularity of this very hybrid, breeders are also working to create a toy-sized Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix which can even be fit into a purse.
How long does a Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix live?
These pups are born with a life expectancy of 12-14 years, however proper care and optimal exercising can also ensure a much longer lifespan. They are very healthy dogs in general, but based upon the parents’ progeny and health issues, these pups may also be endangered with certain serious medical conditions.
Thus, if we compare their parents susceptibility to health conditions, here are a few afflictions that the hybrid pup may also be prone to:
- Patellar Luxation
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Gastric torsion
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Skin allergies and infections
- Eye and Ear infections, etc.
Simultaneously, some types of skin cancers may also be the cause of concern for Docker Dog owners, if their parents’ genes are not as good as claimed by the breeder.
Are these pups Hypoallergenic?
Sadly, No!!!! The coats of these wonderful hybrids require moderate to high maintenance as they produce a lot of dander and loose fur that contains harmful proteins in bulk. When not brushed and cleaned properly, these proteins will spread around the home, acting as allergens for sensitive individuals.
Even more, their saliva is also loaded with Can f 1 and Can f 2 allergens which upon being transferred to the skin of patients triggers severe reactions. These include restlessness, breathing troubles, severe rashes or emergence of itchy red skin bumps. Thereby, if you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog you might need to swipe past these beautiful creatures, as they might not suit your health.
How to groom a Spaniel Doxie? Do they shed a lot?
Even though the Doxies are blessed with a medium length silky coat, leaving them unattended for long can cause severe matting within the fur layers. Thus, every time you try combing through the mess, your pup is bound to whine, snap, or howl in pain. This may also increase their fur shedding which generally stays within moderate levels all around the year.
To avoid such instances, pet owners need to brush in their long luscious hair regularly if they have their Spaniel parent’s genes and once every week if they have a coat that is short and similar to the Dachshund. Similarly, bathing them using a good quality mild shampoo, trimming their paws, cleaning their teeth, eyes and ears are also of utmost importance.
Moreover, you can also take them for professional cleaning and grooming services every few months as it allows the pup to relax and breathe a little freely.
Are the Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix good dogs?
Especially bred to always accompany their owners, the Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mixes are one of the most wonderful pup hybrids that you can ever come across. Their personality generally resembles that of a small toddler with loads of character, trapped inside a tiny woofer’s body. They will happily spend most of their time playing and goofing around with their owners, given that they are allowed ample times of rest in the middle.
But, when it comes to smaller children or other cheeky pets, the hybrid needs to be properly socialised from a very young age. Given their Dachshund genes, they are not very patient and welcoming to constant poking and other irritating behaviour like other family dog breeds. Hence when provoked in the wrong way, they might show aggression signs including howling, growling and even snapping back, requiring you to properly train them.
Similarly, some of these pups may also exhibit extreme yappiness which is a common thing in smaller dogs. They have a high prey-drive and therefore even a small movement may irk them to bark their heads out.
What are the exercise requirements of the hybrid?
These tiny puppers although seem too fragile, in reality are little beasts filled with enormous amounts of energy. So if you are planning to bring a Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Mix puppy home be prepared to invest loads of quality time with them. The hybrid will require a daily 30 minute walk, cuddles, favourite toys, cuddles, mind stimulating games, and even more CUDDLESSS!!! This is mostly because the hybrid can easily get separation anxiety when left with all that unspent energy and without their favourite hooman’s presence.
So, at the end of the day if you don’t want to open your house to a total disaster and chewed off furniture, tending to their exercising needs is a must.
How to train a Spaniel Doxie?
As we discussed above, there’s definitely a lot that pet parents need to do to have a properly behaved Spaniel Doxie in their home, but who doesn’t have shortcomings!!!!
So, if you are thinking of training your Doxie to display ‘ideal dog’ characteristics, then positive reinforcement training methods are the best bet for you. When you introduce a good memory with every command, it naturally makes the woofer happy and hence understand the difference between good and bad actions.
Whereas on the other hand, shouting at them, using other cheap methods of training or yanking them every time they do something wrong will end up either making them severely scared of you or make them a tiny terror.
This was all about the Docker Dog hybrid. See you in our next topic. Till then, stay safe and take care.
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