The Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix is the result of crossing a Cocker Spaniel with the popular Golden Retriever, and it’s often known as the Golden Cocker Retriever and the Golden Cocker. This hybrid breed inherits traits from both of the parent breeds, but the inherited traits can vary from dog to dog. Some dogs may end up with more Cocker Spaniel traits, while others may have more Golden traits. Here’s a closer look at the most common traits you can expect from your dog when you choose a Golden Cocker Retriever mix.
Origin and History
We don’t know a lot about the origin of the Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix, although it was likely created in the past 20 years, since designer dogs have surged in popularity in the last couple of decades. However, we can learn more about the Golden Cocker Retriever by looking at the origin and history of the Cocker Spaniel and the Golden Retriever.
The Cocker Spaniel traces back to a line of Spanish dogs and they were named because they were often used for woodcock hunting. However, these dogs weren’t recognized as a breed in England until 1892. Eventually the dogs came to America, and there eventually became a division between American and English Cocker Spaniels.
The Golden Retriever traces back to Scotland and Lord Tweedmouth, a man who wanted to breed a better retriever during the 1800s. He was unhappy with the setters and spaniels when hunting waterfowl, and he started the Golden Retriever Breed to be an excellent retriever, a good companion, and very calm. These dogs became recognized as a breed in 1911, and later in 1932 they were recognized as a breed in America.
Appearance
Usually the Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix grows to be a medium sized dog that weighs between 30 and 45 pounds, although some may get larger and weigh as much as 60 pounds. They usually are somewhere between 15 and 20 inches tall. The Golden Cocker Retriever has a skull that’s broad on top, ears that hang down, and round eyes that can be brown or blue. The coat is usually medium length or long in length, and it’s quite dense. The coat may come in many different colors, including yellow, cream, gold, white, brown, tan, and black.
Golden Cocker Retriever Temperament
Your Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix will be very smart, playful, and loving, and these dogs generally are quite calm. However, when they head outside for playtime, you’ll find that they have plenty of energy. These dogs usually form very strong bonds with their owners, and they love people and are quite affectionate. This means that these dogs don’t do well at being alone for long periods, since they are very social dogs. From the Golden side, these dogs have a strong desire to please, so they are usually quite easy to train. It’s important to only use positive training methods, since the Golden Cocker Retriever can be very sensitive to negativity. Since these dogs are so mellow and friendly, they usually do very well with other pets and with children.
You do need to make sure that the Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix gets plenty of exercise. They need daily exercise, including walks and playtime. They also need to have some mental exercise, so playing games like Frisbee and fetch is a great idea. While the Golden Cocker Retriever can adapt to apartment life, they usually do better in homes that have a nice yard where they can play and run.
Grooming
Since the Golden Cocker Retriever has a medium to long coat, they do shed, so you’ll need to make sure that you brush these dogs several times a week to prevent matting and to keep shedding at a minimum. It’s fine to only bathe these dogs when needed, since over bathing can be a problem for their skin. Ears and the hair around the toes may need to be trimmed by a professional groomer a couple times a year. Make sure their nails are clipped monthly if these dogs don’t wear them down on their own. Ears also need to be cleaned and checked weekly. It’s also essential to brush the teeth of your Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix several times a week to prevent dental problems and bad doggie breath.
Working Roles
Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers are both originally hunting dogs, so the Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix may do well in a hunting and retrieving capacity. These dogs also are excellent at agility and obedience training, and they may do well as comfort or service dogs.
Health
The Cocker Spaniel generally lives to be between 11 and 12 years old, while Golden Retrievers usually live to be between 10 and 12 years old. You can expect your Golden Cocker Retriever to have an average life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years. Usually the mix is healthier than its parent breeds, but you still need to be aware of the potential health issues that can be passed down from the parent breeds. Some of the potential health concerns that may affect the Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel mix include:
- Mucocutaneous
- Obesity
- Subaortic stenosis
- Hip dysplasia
- Cataracts
- Hypothyroidism
- Pericardial effusion
- Skin disorders
- Elbow dysplasia
- Hock osteochondrosis
- Hypopigmentation
- Insulinoma
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Various forms of cancer
- Mucular dystrophy
- Myasthenia gravis
- Bloat
- Patellar luxation
- Allergies
- OCD
- Epilepsy
- Eye problems