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Cock-A-Chon Hybrid Description

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Hybrid Description

The Cock-A-Chon is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the American Cocker Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. The best way to determine the temperment of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross. It is possible you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. Not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generational crosses. Please review individual breeds for potential health issues.

American Cocker Spaniel Breed Description - Cross #1

The signature trait of the American Cocker Spaniel Spaniel is it's dark, expressive eyes that reflect a happy, loving, and active nature. American Cocker Spaniels are a dropped eared breed (pendulous ears) and the mature American Cocker Spaniel is shown in a full feathered, silky coat. After its show career ends, the fur is often trimmed into a "puppy cut", shortened on the legs, sides and belly, that is easier to keep whether as a pet, performance dog, or hunting companion. It is important to keep the hair clipped from both sides of the ear about one third down the ear flap. This helps to keep air flowing through the ear canal and reduce risk of ear infections from bacteria, injury or parasites.

American Cocker Spaniels weigh an average of 18 to 28 pounds. For show dogs, the ideal height of a American Cocker Spaniel Spaniel is 15 inches for dogs and 14 inches for bitches at the withers. An adult male who is over 15.5 inches, or an adult bitch over 14.5 inches would be disqualified in a conformation show. Bone and head size should be in proportion to the overall balance of the dog.

Behavior

With a good level of socialisation at an early age, an American Cocker Spaniel can get along with people, children, other dogs and other pets. This breed seems to have a perpetually wagging tail and prefers to be around people; it is not best suited to the backyard alone. American Cocker Spaniels can be easily stressed by loud noises and by rough treatment or handling.

He can adapt to apartment life, as long as he is taken on daily walks. He requires daily brushing and combing, bimonthly bathing, and monthly grooming. His ears need regular attention.

Their temperament is typically joyful and trusting. The ideal American Cocker Spaniel temperament is merry, outgoing, and eager to please everyone. They can be good with children and usually sociable and gentle with other pets. They tend to be soft dogs who do not do well with rough or harsh training. The popularity of the American Cocker Spaniel Spaniel led to a considerable amount of irresponsible breeding in an attempt to keep up with the demand. The results have included fearful or aggressive behavior in some of the dogs, submissive urination, and resource guarding. Responsible breeders have worked diligently to eliminate these negative characteristics while trying to educate the public regarding responsible breeding. Temperament of the American Cocker Spaniel Spaniel should always be the primary concern when breeding these dogs. As with all puppies, owners are advised to choose their breeder carefully.

Health

American Cocker Spaniels are susceptible to a variety of maladies, particularly infections affecting their ears and, in some cases, their eyes. As a result, they may require more medical attention than some other breeds. Common eye problems in American Cocker Spaniels include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), glaucoma, and cataracts. The American Spaniel Club recommends annual eye exams by a veterinary ophthalmologist for all dogs used for breeding. Autoimmune problems in American Cocker Spaniels include autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and ear inflammations. Less common are luxating patellas and hip dysplasia. Dogs used for breeding can be checked for both of these conditions, and dogs free of hip dysplasia can be certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).



Bichon Frise Breed Description - Cross #2

Most dogs have a soft white coat but non-pure breads may show apricot, buff, or cream shadings commonly around their ears and fading after the first years of life and no graying of the muzzle when they are old. These dogs have curly and silky hair, usually between 3 to 4 inches long and very loose that helps with fashionable trims. Their head is proportional to their body, although with a fairly flat skull with rounded, dark eyes, flat cheeks, black nose, and thin lips. Another eye characteristic are the dark edges of eyelids and their pendulous, drop ears covered with fine, long curled hair, which are carried forward when the dog is alert. Bichon’s tail is raised without curling onto the back and curving gracefully. The Bichon Frise has a muscular, broad body, which is slightly elongated, with a long neck and a well-developed chest and rounded croup. Muscular tone in Bichon Frise dogs have overall exceptional quality, but mainly in their thighs and buttocks region.

Behavior

The American Kennel Club refers to the Bichon Frise as "merry" and "curious," and the breed standard calls for a dog that is "gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate." The dogs are generally very sociable and do well with an owner who takes them along on outings, and are affectionate and intelligent. If affiliated with a particular territory and encouraged by owners, they can become very territorial. Developed as a companion-dog breed, the Bichon Frise tends to get along well with both children and other animals. Bichon Frises are very obedient if training is started early and continued constantly.

Though not considered a retriever or a water dog by modern standards, the Bichon type, due to their ancestry as sailors' dogs, have an affinity for water and enjoy retrieving. On the boats, however, the animals' role was that of companion dog.

Bichon Frises have coats that require a diligent grooming schedule. Grooming helps remove loose hair, and the curl in the coat helps prevent dead hair and dander from escaping into the environment, as with the poodle's coat. The coat is combed to remove loose hair, mats, and tangles. Bichon Frises may need grooming approximately every four to eight weeks. This breed tends to have hair growing within the ear canals, that if not plucked regularly, can trap moisture, bacteria, and yeast, creating an unbalanced microbiome in the ear. This may lead to excessive head shaking, causing an ear hematoma. As Bichon Frises are white dogs, frequent bathing is required to maintain the color.

Bichon Frises are considered to be hypoallergenic as they do not readily shed (moult) and are thus generally suitable for people with allergies. It is important to note that human sensitivity to dog fur, dander, and saliva varies considerably. Although hair, dander, and saliva can be minimised, they are still present and can stick to "clothes and the carpets and furnishings in your home." Inhaling the allergens, or being licked by the dog, can trigger a reaction in a sensitive person.

Health

Bichon Frises are prone to scratching and chewing on themselves in the summer because of the warm and moist air, which commonly results in serious skin conditions. They are comparatively hypoallergenic, but they themselves suffer from allergies to fleas, ticks, chemicals, pollen, dust, etc. Loose knee joints, ear infections, cataracts, diabetes, and heart disease are also common.

Bichons are also prone to liver shunts. These often go undetected until later in life, leading to complications that cannot be addressed, and therefore liver failure. Bichons who are underweight, runts of the litter, or have negative reactions to foods high in protein are more likely to be suffering from a shunt. When detected early, shunt often can be corrected through surgery. However, the later in life the shunt is detected, the lower the likelihood of surgery being successful. Shunts can be kept under control through special low-protein diets and through medications to support liver function, help flush toxins that build up in the kidneys and liver, and control seizures that often occur as a symptom of the shunt. Without surgery, Bichons with shunts on average live to be 4–6 years old. Other symptoms include dark urine, lethargy, loss of appetite, and increased thirst. Seizures come in all forms; episodes of seizures can begin early in life but may go undetected. Early seizures can appear as a hypnotic state or an episode of vertigo.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA, also called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, or IMHA) and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) are responsible for many premature Bichon Frise deaths. These diseases can strike with little or no warning and kill very quickly. In AIHA, the dog's immune system attacks its own red blood cells, leading to severe, life-threatening anemia. Symptoms include weakness, loss of energy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, dark urine, and pale or yellow gums.

ITP often accompanies AIHA. In ITP, blood platelets (which cause blood clotting) are destroyed. The most common clinical signs are haemorrhages of the skin and mucus membranes. Mortality rates of 20% to 80% are reported.


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