I was at a dog festival this past weekend and was blown away by how many cocker spaniels and cocker hybrids were there. Cockers are a dog I find myself working with reasonably frequently, so I thought it might be worth lifting the lid on this charismatic breed and their cross-breed cousins.
Ever since Lady and The Tramp, cockers have been a popular breed. Before Disney fired them to stardom, they were mainly a working dog used to flush and retrieve birds like pheasants, partridge and woodcock, from which the name cocker is derived. From the 60s onwards they were bred with other breeds to give us the “designer dogs” like the cockerpoo (cocker and poodle) and the spanador (cocker & labrador). But who are these dogs? What are they like? And how should we look after them?
The cocker spaniel
The cocker spaniel is a spectacular working dog and to see one go about its business, in-tune with its handler is a phenomenal sight. Very nose driven, a high work drive and biddable, a cocker spaniel is a highly trainable machine. It isn’t just hunting game birds that their considerable skills can be applied to. The first cancer detection dog was a cocker spaniel, trained to sniff out the metabolites from cancer cells, a remarkable feat.
Of course, it’s more than their working skills that make this an attractive and popular breed. They are friendly, pretty and lovable dogs with their classic chestnut to golden colouration, or the black and whites, and tasselly fur. Their compact size makes them an easy-to-handle dog too.
Cockerpoos
The most popular cocker cross breed is the cockerpoo, a cocker crossed with a poodle, normally a miniature poodle. They are friendly and affectionate dogs, and they look like teddy bears, so it’s no surprise they are so popular. Intelligent and trainable, they are a good dog for novice owners.
Thirty different crosses!
Amazingly there are thirty different cocker crosses! This is a testament to the solid characteristics of the cocker. Some of these crosses are very familiar, like the cockerpoo. But digging deeper reveals some more unusual pairings. Cockertian – that’s a cocker and dalmatian cross. A cockzsla is a cocker crossed with a vizsla. I think my favourite, for looks at least, is a cocker setter – a cocker and Irish setter mix, a very elegant dog.
If you are considering getting a cocker cross have a think about the sort of dog you want. Make sure the component parts of the dog you get are in line with the dog you are after. Don’t get hung up on looks. For example, a cockerpoo is a combination of two hunting breeds so you’ll need to play with that dog a lot to give it its hunting fix (more on that later). A spanador should be a more relaxed dog if it takes after the labrador parent but will benefit from lots of obedience to keep it in balance.
Working dogs need work
I get asked to work with quite a few cockers and cocker mixes. They might have all sorts of different problems ranging from the serious, aggression, resource guarding, to the annoying, like pulling on the lead. This doesn’t mean they are inherently difficult dogs. Actually, I rate them as pretty straightforward. We just have to remember one thing: they have the soul of a working dog. With such cute little teddy bears it is easy to forget that these dogs are working machines. That doesn’t mean they should be kept in outdoor kennels, or they shouldn’t be allowed on the sofa or given affection, far from it. What it does mean is that they have a need to do some work. For them to be happy, fulfilled and balanced they need to be given something to do and this needs to be a regular thing. Doing some highly quality heelwork on the walk every day might be enough. You might need to throw in some regular obedience as well, never a bad idea with any dog. If you are ticking these boxes and your cocker or cocker mix is acting-up in some way then maybe you need to give them something a bit more advanced.
Scent work is my go-to for cocker breeds. You only have to watch a cocker on a walk for a moment to see how they love to use their noses, so use this to your advantage. Teach the dog to find something. I like teaching dogs to find truffles, I find that people get quite excited about it whether that’s because they like truffles or because they could sell them for a tidy income. You could use anything that the dog doesn’t have a natural interest in, a scented tea bag, essential oil on a cotton swab, it doesn’t matter. The key here is that finding the target is a job for the dog – the dog works for the handler and then gets rewarded for successful completion. Once you have taught the dog the association between the scent and the reward it becomes easy to hide the target and then give the dog a command to go find it, and then be rewarded. This activity will naturally tap into the dog’s instincts and provide an outlet for its work drive.
Don’t forget play
Playing with your dog is one of the most important things you can do. But it has to be a game that involves you. This builds the relationship between you and your dog. It also let’s your dog express its prey drive. Most games a dog will play replicate the hunt, whether that is the chase or the take-down. Allowing a dog to express this part of its character will give it balance. It will be able to settle more easily, it will allow it to focus more when you are teaching obedience. Get a flirt pole and a tug toy, you won’t regret it.
In summary
It’s always important to think of your dog’s needs but I don’t think there is a breed that demonstrates this more than the cocker and its crosses. If these dogs’ needs for work and play are met, they will be loyal, obedient, affectionate dogs.
Until next time, enjoy your dog.
Nick
