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Cock-A-Chon (Cocker Spaniel & Bichon Frise Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Cock-A-Chon (Cocker Spaniel & Bichon Frise Mix)

Height: 11–16 inches
Weight: 12–24 pounds
Lifespan: 10–14 years
Colors: Brown, tan, cream, white, black
Suitable for: Families, seniors, those living in apartments or houses
Temperament: Adaptable, affectionate, loving, joyful, tolerant, smart, people-oriented

These curly-haired cuties are a crossbreed between the Cocker Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. They’re small dogs, staying under 16 inches and 24 pounds. They’re generally a combination of tans, browns, and creams, with some white or black occasionally speckled in.

Because they’re small and not too energetic, the Cock-A-Chon doesn’t require much exercise or space. They’re equally well-adapted to living in a house with a yard or an apartment with none. Minimal exercise is necessary, but they need lots of attention. These are friendly dogs that want to be pals with everyone they meet. They need a lot of playtime and do best when given plenty of interaction and stimulation. If they get bored and feel ignored, they may start to exhibit destructive behaviors.

The Cock-A-Chon is a people-oriented pup that doesn’t want to be alone, preferring to be in the company of people. They aren’t a good choice for people or families who don’t have adequate time at home to devote to a four-legged family member.

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Cock-A-Chon Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Because Cock-A-Chons are a mixed breed, they aren’t as expensive as many purebred dogs that have papers and pedigrees. However, Cock-A-Chons have become quite popular as pets, so there’s still a large market of buyers out there driving up the price. When you’re looking for a breeder, make sure you can visit the breeder’s facilities and be ready to ask a lot of questions regarding the puppy’s health and parents. Though they are popular, you can still occasionally find Cock-A-Chons available for adoption in your local humane society or pet shelter. This will save you a lot of money and let you help give a dog its best life.

Chock-A-Chons tend to be affectionate and sweet dogs. They love to spend time with their human companions and will create strong bonds with their families. They need regular exercise and mental stimulation to avoid boredom so be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and energy to your new pup!

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cock-A-Chon

1. Cock-A-Chons are prone to developing separation anxiety.

Because these dogs are so people-oriented, they really don’t like to be left alone for long periods. If you leave your dog at home while you’re gone, it’s very possible that it will develop separation anxiety. This could cause your dog to bark and whine until you return. Worse, it could turn to destructive behaviors, like scratching, chewing, or digging.

This is the reason that Cock-A-Chons aren’t great dogs for individuals who live alone and work full-time jobs. They simply can’t provide the amount of regular attention that a Cock-A-Chon needs. Instead, seniors and families make better owners for these loving dogs.

2. They make excellent traveling companions.

Many people love the idea of a partner canine that can accompany them everywhere. But not all dogs make great traveling companions. Large dogs can’t go in many places and they’re harder to fit in crates for planes. Some dogs might be too hyper or bark too much.

The Cock-A-Chon isn’t overly energetic or vocal though, so they tend to make great traveling dogs. They do surprisingly well in planes, trains, and automobiles, often getting very eager at the prospect of a car ride.

3. This breed loves to please.

The Cocker Spaniel, one of the parent breeds of a Cock-A-Chon, was bred to be a game dog, meant to retrieve fallen birds after they were shot. They grew to become animals that love to please their owners, which made them the perfect hunting partners.

Today, the same trait makes them excellent companion dogs. They always want to make their owner happy, and this makes them agreeable and easy to train.

Parent Breeds of the Cock-A-Chon
Image Credit: (L) Lenkadan, Shutterstock | (R) Spill Photography, Shutterstock

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Cock-A-Chon 🧠

Cock-A-Chons are surprisingly intelligent dogs and they can learn quickly. They’re also very agreeable, not wanting to displease their people. Lovers at heart, they want a lot of attention and affection, cuddling up against you when you sit down and following you when you get up.

These dogs are calm, but they can still be very playful as well. Most importantly, they’re very adaptable, making them excellent companions in many situations. They do well both in houses with yards or apartments with little space.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Because the Cock-A-Chon wants so much attention, they are well-suited to families with children. They get along well with kids naturally and can make the perfect child companion if socialized early on. Families are ideal for this breed because they can provide enough attention and interaction to satisfy this dog’s craving for human love.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

A generally friendly breed all the way around, the Cock-A-Chon does just fine with most other pets. These dogs are non-aggressive for the most part, so they’re naturally pals with everyone. If you socialize them from a young age, your Cock-A-Chon should have no problems making friends with any other pets you might have.

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Things to Know When Owning a Cock-A-Chon

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Cock-A-Chon is a smaller breed and therefore has the nutrition needs of smaller dogs. A high-quality dry dog food that’s meant for small adult dogs is perfect for the Cock-A-Chon.

The Bichon Frise, from which the Cock-A-Chon takes half its genetics, is prone to a good number of health concerns, a primary one being canine hip dysplasia. To help prevent this affliction from taking route in your Cock-A-Chon, it’s a good idea to make joint supplements a regular part of their dietary intake. Supplements such as glucosamine can be a great way to help prevent problems like dysplasia from occurring.

Exercise 🐕

Being such a small dog, the Cock-A-Chon doesn’t require a whole lot of exercise. With an hour of physical activity each day, your Cock-A-Chon should remain healthy and happy. But that hour should be broken into smaller chunks. A few short 15-minute sessions of playing, fetch, walking, or any other activity should suffice for your Cock-A-Chon.

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Training 🦮

The Cock-A-Chon is intelligent and adaptable, making them excellent candidates for training. Moreover, they love to please their people and will go out of their way to do so. By using positive reinforcement, you make your Cock-A-Chon love training and it will learn tricks and commands with ease. Just be sure to avoid any type of negative reinforcement as it can actually produce the opposite effect.

Grooming ✂️

Though the Cock-A-Chon may have less-than-average exercise needs, they require a bit more grooming and maintenance than many other breeds. Their coats can vary, but many have thick, dense coats that will easily tangle and mat.

You’ll need to perform regular brushing and combing to keep the tangles and mats from taking hold. But that’s not going to be enough. You’ll also need to bathe this dog every 4–8 weeks with professional grooming taking place every 2–3 months. Otherwise, the coat may become an unruly mess.

Aside from this, you’ll want to take extra care with Cock-A-Chon’s ear canals. This breed is very prone to ear infections, but by keeping their ears clean and dry, you can help reduce the risk.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Overall, the Cock-A-Chon is a pretty hearty dog. They’re not known to commonly develop any detrimental health issues. However, the breeds they hail from are. Sometimes, these genetic issues can be passed down to crossbred offspring, so these are the ones to look out for.

One ailment to look out for is progressive retinal atrophy; this is a genetic disease that causes degeneration of the retinal tissues, eventually leading to blindness. Another big problem that Cock-A-Chons can experience is hip dysplasia. This is one of the more common afflictions that affects dogs and it’s very prevalent in the Bichon Frise breed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip grows deformed and doesn’t properly fit in the socket. This causes it to rub, getting worse with age.

Eventually, this issue will worsen to where the dog can no longer move. Years prior to this, the dog will begin to be in regular pain, and you’ll see their activity levels starting to drop. On a less serious note, otitis externa is essentially an ear infection. Cock-A-Chons are prone to them, particularly the Cock-A-Chons that have fur growing inside of the ear canal.

Minor Conditions
  • Otitis externa
Serious Conditions
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Hip dysplasia

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Male vs Female

Male and female Cock-A-Chons have a few small differences in temperament and physical appearance. Female Cock-A-Chons are often a bit shorter and weigh a little less than males, who are generally a bit bigger physically. Male Cock-A-Chons are often more aggressive and territorial as well, with the females being the slightly more affectionate of the two.

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Final Thoughts

Cute and loving, the Cock-A-Chon is the ultimate companion pet. These dogs want to go everywhere with you. They even make great travel companions, doing well in cars and planes. Just don’t leave your Cock-A-Chon alone for too long. They’re prone to developing separation anxiety and you might come home to a torn-up home and a dog with some destructive behaviors.

Excellent for families, these dogs are also great for anyone who’s home the majority of the time to give their Cock-A-Chon the attention they crave. These dogs are people-pleasers, and they’ll do anything to make their people happy.

Friendly all the way around, this breed gets along well with kids and other pets alike. They are generally healthy dogs that will make a great addition to any household that has enough love and time for this adorable breed.


Featured Image Credit: MOAimage, Shutterstock

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