Mix the British heritage Dachshund with a purebred Cocker Spaniel and the result you get as the hybrid is the Docker dog breed type. While Dachshund pure breeds have been known for producing excellent crossbreeds like the Dachshund and Jack Russell Mix, there is no secret that the docker breed is modern and unique too.
Popularly liked by many new pet owners, doxies or docker dog breeds as they are popularly know is a mixed breed dog commonly referred to as a crossbreed between the purebreed Dachshund and the Cocker Spaniel dog breeds.
Interestingly, this designer dog breed ranges in size from small to medium and are the kind of dog breed that thrive in homes where the pet owner enjoys lounging around with low to medium playtime.
If you are into pet games like Fetch, hiking, or squirrel chasing at your local park, the docker dog breeds would be ideal for you!.
They say an apple does not fall far from its tree, pups from Dachshund mixed with a Cocker Spaniel inherited some of the best qualities from both of their parents.
The stature and build of Dachshund mixed with the Cocker spaniel is a small to medium-sized Hybrid.
They can be easily identified as they have floppy ears, beautiful shiny coat which also come in varying color options.
When they are not called the Dachshund mixed with Cocker Spaniel, they are populary known as the Docker dog breed or doxies.
This Hybrid is known for being very affectionate, loving, etc. And it is almost every dog lover’s favorite.
If you’re here, then it must mean you’ve been thinking of buying this fellow as a family companion; if that’s the case, then you’re precisely where you need to be.
This is a Dachshund mixed with cocker spaniel full pet guide, meaning you will learn everything you need to Know about this Hybrid, after all it’s very important to know what to expect from this pet before you buy it.
History of the Dachshund mixed with cocker spaniel/ Docker
The Docker is a recent crossbreed, so there’s little to know about its history. But the best way to know what to expect from this Hybrid is by looking at the history of the parents, the Dachshund, and the Cocker Spaniel. The Hybrid will inherit almost all it’s characteristics from the parents.
The Dachshund
The origin of the Dachshund breed can be traced back to Germany in the 15th century when they were bred for hunting purposes.
There are basically 3 different sizes of the Dachshund, which are the Rabit size, the standard, and the miniature.
The Rabbit size is not recognized by the UK or American Kennel Club but is recognized by the world canine federation while the other two are recognized by both the American and UK kennel club.
These three types of Dachshund all come in different sizes and weight, a full-grown standard dachshund can weigh an average of 16lb to 32lb, and the miniature variety can weigh less than 12lb, the Rabbit size can weigh between 8lb and 11lb.
The Dachshund also has three different coat types, which are wire-haired, long-haired, and smooth-haired. The wire-haired Dachshund are mostly found in Germany and are less in America.
If you have ever been fascinated with pet dogs that have numerous color options for their coat, the dockers mixed dog breed types won’t disappoint you!
Whether its Black and Tan color option, Chocolate and Tan colored dog coat, maybe the Blue and Tan to the Isabella and Tan… They are all possible dog color coats you can treat yourself to.
In many cases, the majority of pet owners always go for the Wild Boar, which is a more common color for Wirehaired Dachshunds.
As if the variety of color options to the docker dog breed was not enough, they can as well have different patterns which obviously set them apart. This dog breed also throws in there patterns such as dapple (merle), piebald, brindle and sable.
Repeatedly, pet owners tend to favor red and tan however Out of all the colors options, the most common colors that feature predominantly is the Red color patch out of the two.
While Dachshunds are playful and a dog breed type that never fails to charm you, beneath that playful nature, there is stubbornness that causes some dachshunds to be quite a challenge to train.
But overall, the dachshunds are incredibly devoted and loyal to their owners.
The Cocker spaniel
The Cocker spaniel has origins in the United Kingdom where they were bred for hunting purposes, the term “cocker” derived from their use to hunt Eurasian woodcock.
Historically, Cocker Spaniels were purposely bred as hunting dogs in the United Kingdom, with the term “cocker” deriving from their use to hunt the Eurasian woodcock.
The American Kennel club recognized the breed in 1970. The Cocker Spaniels are known to have a sweet disposition.
They tend to be intelligent, making them the right pet for families; in particular, they are as well straightforward to train but will not respond well to harsh training ways because of their sensitive nature.
So it’s a must to be positive and encouraging when training the breed.
Physical Appearance of the Dachshund Mixed with Cocker Spaniel/ Docker.
As said before, the Docker is a small to a medium-sized dog weighing about 20 to 3 pounds and standing at 9 to 13 inches tall.
The Docker looks more like the Dachshund side of the family in terms of body shape. The Hybrid is usually long-bodied, deep-chested, and short-legged.
The coat of the Hybrid varies, from short and smooth to medium to long, and from wiry to silky, the colors to expect include cream, caramel, white, tan, black, and golden.
The eyes and noses of Docker are a little more predictable. Noses are black and eyes are either brown or hazel.
The Hybrid is not an elite athlete, but it is known for its feverous bouts of surprising speed, it erupts in small bursts and, when excited, may dash back and forth in this fashion.
Temperament/Characteristics of the Docker
The Hybrid is known for being an excellent family dog but needs to be trained and socialized at a young age to get along very well with children and other animals.
Once that is done, the Hybrid fits perfectly into any family.
Below we have listed the Characteristics to expect from the Docker:
They are loving and loyal: This Hybrid is very friendly and loyal to its owners. It loves sitting next to its owner as a way of showing love and affection.
The breed is said to be one of the best family companions because of it’s loving and loyal nature.
Intelligent but stubborn: The Docker’s intelligence makes them very easy to train, but at the same time, their stubbornness makes them a bit difficult to train.
This is a trait they inherit from the Dachshund side of the family. However, they do not need a trainer who will be harsh on them because they are very sensitive, so an encouraging trainer is best when dealing with this Hybrid.
Use its favorite treats during training times as a way of encouraging the dog to do better.
Friendly: This breed needs to be trained at a young age in order for it to socialize well with other animals and children, as well. If well trained at a young age, they grow to be very friendly with everyone.
They’ll enjoy playing around with children and other animals, which makes them a great family dog.
They sensitive: The Docker is very sensitive, this is a trait it inherits from both sides of the family. This is because back in the past, both parents were used as hunting dogs, so it became their nature to be very sensitive.
The Docker will bark once it sees or sense something unusual happening aroun them, they’ll as well sneef and follow around any unsual creature.
They are curious: This is also another trait the Hybrid inherits from both sides of the family. They are very curious little fellows that get interested in anything strange happening around them.
The reason behind is also because the parents were both bred for the use of hunting dogs. Curiosity naturally flows out of them.
Docker’s food requirements
One thing to be happy about is that the Docker’s diet is not unique; the dog will eat ant regular dog food just like any other breed. But the food should be high in protein and make sure you feed your dog two times a day.
Below we have listed the best three dog foods recommended for the Hybrid:
Wellness Core small breed recipe dog food
The main Ingredients of this Food are turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. The food contains lots of probiotics and is grain-free.
Nutro Adult small breed dog food
The main ingredients of this food are chicken and chicken meal, and it also contains whole grain carbohydrates such as oatmeal and Brown rice.
Blue Buffalo’s small fish and brown rice recipe dog food
The first ingredient of this food is whitefish, it contains no by-products meals, cirn, wheat, soy, preservatives, or artificial flavors.
Exercise and Training needs of the Hybrid
Ths Hybrid is active, just like both parents, so to have it healthy and happy, it’ll need regular walks.
Take it for walks every morning for at least 30 minutes. Also, take it to the dog park now and then so that it can enjoy the company of other dogs and play around freely.
As previously pointed out, the Docker dog breed type is synonymous for being stubborn and unruly if not trained from a young age.
Rightly so, this trait makes these dogs a formidable challenge to pet dog trainers as they are a bit difficult to train.
So they basically need a patient trainer who will approach them with positivity, use treats, rewards and encouragement during the training process. Punishing or scolding Docker will not help at all.
The Docker’s grooming requirements
The breed does not need too much grooming as it can shed a low to a moderate amount depending on the coat it inherited from parents.
So basically the dog will need to be brushed, at least 3 to 4 a week, nails need to be clipped once they get too long, bathing Should not be done regularly as it can strip it of its natural oils.
Though most dog breeds with floppy ears are more susceptible to yeast infection, the docker dog breed’s years are particularly at greater risk of infections. So, you need to keep a routine check to see if they are clean, and if not, they should be washed to avoid ear infections.
Brushing the dog’s teeth is important it Shou be done it at least two to three times a week.
The Docker’s health concerns
Dockers are prone to specific health issues, some if which they inherit from both sides of the family. Below we have listed some of the health concerns the dog can have to deal with:
Retinal dysplasia
This is an eye condition that eventually leads to blindness. Treatment is invasive and expensive; consulting with a veterinarian is the best way to navigate this issue.
Hybrid dog breeds also have a knack for dealing with skin conditions such as acanthosis nigricans, which is an uncomfortable skin condition that darkens and thickens the skin.
Mainly the skin found in skin folds which may be more prevalent in Dockers, which takes after the Dachshund more.
The crossbreed may also have to deal with Alopeciafects, a condition that causes its coat to shed and eventually to bald the majority of the dog.
Minor Issues
The dog may also have to deal with hip dysplasia, an issue that faces almost all crossbreeds.
The Docker’s life expectancy
If well taken care of, the Hybrid has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years.