The muscular looks of a Pitbull and the sweet face of a Cocker Spaniel showcase traits any pet owner would adore. When the two dogs breed, they produce a broad-faced Cocker Spaniel Pitbull mix puppy with a compact physique packed with muscle quarters inherited from its Pitbull parent.
Also known as Pitbull cockers or Cockerpit, this dog is highly energetic and is a proper fit for an active family. It’s not surprising to see the Pitbull cocker overly protective of its owner.
The hybrid contains intense athleticism and loyalty. If you want to know this designer dog better, continue reading this article for more information about the breed.
What Is the Cocker Spaniel Pitbull Mix?
The Cocker Spaniel Pitbull mix is a crossbreed between the Cocker Spaniel, a well-known dog breed with a graceful outlook, and the athletically-built and loyal Pitbull.
Typically, the resulting puppy is a robust and compact dog. Its medium size is typical of both parents. It has a short, dense coat that may display various colors that please the eye. You can find this dog in color patterns such as black, gold, and brown and their many variations.
Being an intelligent dog breed, you won’t find it hard to train him. He’s responsive, obedient, and readily adapts to commands. That said, the Cockerpit harbors elements of stubbornness that you may need to flush out.
To understand this dog breed better, let’s jump into the history of its parents right next.
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The History of the Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel traces its origins in Spain, perhaps the reason for its “Spaniel” name that looks and sounds almost like Spain. The history of this dog dates back to the 14th century when it was first bred.
The purpose of the Cocker Spaniel was to create a sporting dog that would help flush out game and birds into the open fields for hunters to knock them down. It would then retrieve them.
Actually, the name Cocker comes from woodcocks as the dog specialized its work around flushing out these birds for a catch.
There are two varieties of the Cocker Spaniel:
- The Cocker Spaniel, a breed specific and typical to the United States.
- The English Cocker Spaniel of the United Kingdom.
While the two breeds were similar in many ways, the English Cocker was slightly larger and taller. It also came with a longer muzzle and head.
In 1940, the two breeds were recognized and registered by the English and Canadian kennel clubs. The American Kennel Club later followed suit six years later, in 1946.
Come the 1950s, and the Cocker Spaniel breed gained tremendous popularity in the United States and beyond. This trend established what would be an impeccable bloodline of the Cocker Spaniels.
History of the Pitbull
The pitbull dog breed originated in the United Kingdom. It was a crossbreed that featured the American bulldog and Terrier.
Breeders had repurposed to have this dog as an agile hunter of semi-feral livestock and other game.
In 1898, Pitbull received recognition from the United Kennel Club, which registered it as an official dog breed. That notwithstanding, the American Kennel Club has not recognized the Pitbull dog as a distinct breed.
The first breeders of this dog had other ideas in mind. They designed Pitbull with aggression to participate in dogfighting events. Although the aggressive qualities targeted other dogs and not humans, people still feared the Pitbull breed.
In fact, there was talk of Pitbull attacking the public, which led to their ban in certain jurisdictions. Pitbull are still not recognized by the American Kennel Club. Instead, the club features the American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed developed by U.S. breeders when the Staffordshire Terrier from Britain arrived in America.
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Characteristics of the Cocker Spaniel Pitbull
Before we look into the characteristics of the Cocker Spaniel Pitbull, here’s a quick table showing the characteristics of the individual parents. From this, you can easily guess the behavior and character of the Cockerpit.
| Trait/Characteristic | Cocker Spaniel | Pitbull |
| Height | -Males: 14.5-15.5 inches -Females: 13.5-14.5 inches | -Males: 18-19 inches -Females: 17-18 inches |
| Weight | -Males: 25-30 pounds -Females: 20-25 pounds | -Males: 55-70 pounds -Females: 40-55 pounds |
| Coat Color | Varied; black, black and tan, black and white, black white and tan, brown, brown and white, brown white and tan. Red and white, and more. | Varied: Blue fawn, blue, brown, liver, red, black, blue brindle, white, white brindle, liver brindle, seal brown, fawn sable, red sable, etc. |
| Life expectancy | 10-14 years | 12-16 years |
| Family Life | -Very affectionate dog -Loves playing with young children. It can be trusted. -Recommended to play with other dogs | -Affectionate with family members. -Good with young children, although it needs supervision -Can tolerate other dogs if monitored closely. |
| Physical | -Moderate shedding -Frequent coat grooming -Does not drool a lot | -Less shedding -Less grooming -Less drooling |
| Social | -Easy to make new friends -Loves playing -Average watchdog | -Can make friends with strangers easily -Playful dog -Extremely vigilant; great watchdog -Can adapt quickly. |
| Personality | -Very eager to please -Easily trainable -Highly energetic -Barks moderately | -Easily trained -Energetic and highly active -Moderate barking -Needs something to do for stimulation. |
| Overall | A calm, intelligent, and gentle dog. | A, good-natured, courageous, and loyal dog. |
After combining the two breeds, here are the traits of the resulting hybrid:
1. Physical Appearance
The Cocker Spaniel Pitbul displays a robust, solid body with a medium-short coat. The coat could take various color patterns, but all are pleasant to the sight. The Cocker Spaniel Pitbull puppies will most likely steal from the long, lushy ears of the Cocker Spaniel parent.
The small compact body is not only stable but also strong and athletic, thanks to the innate qualities of a Pitbull. Similarly, it enjoys a deep chest that plays a big role in its energetic activity.
It’s hard not to identify Cockerpit’s large and round, broad face it borrows from Pitbull. Your typical Cocker Spaniel Pitbull mix stands 14-21 inches (35.56-53.34 cm) at the shoulder.
The mix offers a well-packed hybrid dog with an average weight of 25-55 pounds (11.34-24.95 kg).
2. Personality and Temperament
One concern from pet owners revolves around the temperament of this mix. Is the Cockerpit’s temperament unpredictable? The fears follow that Pitbull are inherently aggressive even though this trait is suppressed with good training.
Generally, the hybrid does not display aggressive qualities. In fact, the Cocker Spaniel Pitbull mix produces a friendly, people-loving, and obedient dog that rewards its owner by being loyal to them.
Pitbull indeed has some aggressive elements but all that is channeled into playing and working. Of course, with a good training routine. Ensure you train your dog consistently–it helps flush out any potential negative energy.
This is a playful dog with lots of energy under its belt. It can play with all family members, including adults and children.
Such a powerful dog will need highly energetic games. Think of the dog continuously playing with a flirt pole for about 10 minutes. This will definitely exhaust his strength and, in the process, release the negative tendencies.
It’s also a sweet-natured, social dog with a few elements of a watchdog. However, don’t rely on this canine for a guard dog, as it’s not shy of visitors.
When walking a Cockerpit dog, make sure you secure its leash well. It can get excited seeing other unfamiliar dogs, and once it can’t help, it’ll bolt out chasing after them.
3. Lifespan
The quality of life your Pitbull Cocker lives determines whether it lives for a short or long span. Typically, the dog can live between 12-15 years on average with good care.
You can also check how long its parents can live and gauge from there. Cocker Spaniels have an average life expectancy of up to 14 years. Their Pitbull partners live between 8-15 years.
Experts agree that a healthy dog lives longer than a frequently sick dog. In addition, a good diet with proper nutrition can extend your dog’s life. In a recent research titled A simple Step for Extending Your Dog’s Life, scientists found that your dog doesn’t have to eat plenty of food to be healthy. It is a health risk.
How Do You Care For Your Cocker Spaniel Pitbull Dog?
For a well-maintained Cocker Spaniel Pitbull mix, ensure the following:
- Provide regular training: Cocker Spaniel Pitbull are quick learners and hard workers. They won’t disappoint your efforts to teach them a new thing or trick.
- Provide regular exercise: You want to take your dog out for intensive runs and long walks to avert aggression. These activities drain his energy and leave him exhausted but relaxed and friendly.
- Provide a balanced diet: While you want to treat your doggy well during mealtime, provide the food in the right quantities. Don’t spoil your dog by giving him more than enough food. Avoid too many canned foods for dogs.
- Groom your dog: With a mixed coat that combines the long, silky coat of the Cocker Spaniel and the short coat of the Pitbull, your Cockerpit may need grooming two or three times a week.
Don’t forget its health: The health of your dog matters. So, make regular visits to the vet even if your doggy seems perfectly fine.
Final Thoughts
The Cocker Spaniel Pitbull mix is an excellent family dog. Therefore, it’s a good option if you’re looking for pettible canine. However, you must be prepared to train it to tame its excessive energy that may lead to poor traits like unnecessary barking.
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