Cock-A-Chon -- American Cocker Spaniel X Bichon frise

		Cock-A-Chon
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A. <> France / Belgium -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Cock-A-Chon

The Cock-A-Chon is a specific cross between the American Cocker Spaniel, a hunting dog turned family companion, and the Bichon à poil frisé, a cheerful little companion breed. The resulting hybrid is an endearing, affectionate animal with great intelligence and a willingness to please. They come in many color combinations and can have either the coarse, curly coat of the Bichon à poil frisé or the silky, smoother coat of the American Cocker Spaniel. Although their grooming requires daily attention and a little extra work, their exercise requirements are quite low, making them ideal candidates for apartment living.

History of the Cock-A-Chon

Spaniels are classified as a type of hunting dog, but they have been helping hunters long before the invention of the rifle. Initially, these dogs were bred to hunt game from deep brush for bowhunters and, in some cases, to retrieve birds from where they had fallen. Early Spaniels were divided into two groups according to where they worked: Water Spaniels and Land Spaniels. At some point in the 17th century, a distinction was made between types of land Spaniel and they began to be classified as Springer or Cocker Spaniel, based entirely on the size of the dog. The smaller Spaniels were used to flush out both furred and feathered game such as woodcock, giving them the name Cocker Spaniel, and the larger ones were given the name Springer Spaniel for their ability to flush out game for hunting.

	A little of the American Cocker Spaniel
	Spaniels are classified as a type of hunting dog, but in truth, they have been helping hunters long before the invention of the rifle. Early Spaniels were divided into just two groups depending on where they worked: Water Spaniels and Land Spaniels. Land Spaniels were originally bred to hunt game from deep brush for bowhunters and, in some cases, to retrieve birds and other animals from where they had fallen. In the 17th century, a distinction began to be made between types of Land Spaniel and they began to be classified as Springer or Cocker Spaniel, based entirely on the size of the dog. The larger Spaniels were named Springer Spaniels as they were used to spouting game, the smaller dogs, however, were adept at hunting woodcock and other such birds for their owners, earning them the names Cocker Spaniel and Cocker. The Spaniel Club was founded in England in 1902. American Cocker Spaniels were bred to be pets and domestic animals and so developed differently from the Cocker Spaniel in England. their backs became longer, their heads more domed and their prey considerably smaller. It was enough of a change that in 1935 a group was formed for those who preferred the traditional look of the English Cocker Spaniel and were adamant about discouraging crosses between the original English Cocker Spaniel and the new Americanized version of the Cocker Spaniel and in 1946 the American Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a distinct breed, which is the breed used to develop the Cock-A-Chon.

	Standard of the American Cocker Spaniel
	A little of the Bichon frise
	The Bichon Frise is a small white dog descended from an Italian Water Spaniel, the same Italian Water Spaniel that gave rise to the Poodle and Maltese breeds. These little pets were known as Bichon Tenerife and were appreciated for their cheerful, affectionate nature. They often traveled with sailors to be used as trade items, and from the 1300s to the 1800s, they were favored by one royal family or another. After falling out of favor with the royal family, these plucky little canines found homes working the streets with organ players and performing tricks in circuses and fairs. The breed was re-established after the First World War, the first breed standard was developed in 1933 and they were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1972.

	Standard of the Bichon frise

Appearance of the Cock-A-Chon

The Cock-A-Chon is a small but robust dog with a well-proportioned head and dark eyes with a gentle expression that is also alert and curious. Their eyes can be round or slightly almond-shaped, and their ears generally fall to the side of their head, although the length of the ears can vary. They are generally well-built with a precise, effortless gait that is evenly balanced and firm, round legs that can look a little like those of a cat. This hybrid has a double-layered coat composed of a soft, downy undercoat covered by an outer layer that can resemble the soft, straight coat of the American Cocker Spaniel, the coarse, curly coat of the Bichon à poil frisé, or something in between. Although these dogs can come in a variety of colors, lighter colors are more common than darker ones, and white markings are also frequently seen.

Temperament of the Cock-A-Chon

This energetic little dog has all the charm and intelligence of its parent breeds, is easy to train and tends to get on well with adults, children and other animals. Although they get on well with others, interactions between these dogs and young children need to be closely supervised to ensure that contact remains peaceful and that neither dog nor child is accidentally harmed. They tend to be gentle, affectionate and cheerful, love to be the center of attention and often excel in trick training and advanced obedience due to their high intelligence and willingness to please. Their intelligent, inquisitive nature requires frequent mental stimulation, and they tend to develop separation anxiety if left alone for too long, and Cock-A-Chons who are anxious or bored can become overly vocal or destructive.

Needs and activities of the Cock-A-Chon

Activity requirements for the Cock-A-Chon are relatively undemanding, and they are usually content with forty to sixty minutes of vigorous activity a day, although it's usually best to divide these sessions into smaller chunks of time. These little dogs are very happy living in smaller spaces with a few short walks or energetic indoor play sessions a day, and many of them can also excel at hunting dog activities and advanced obedience training. They are, however, quite intelligent and some sort of mental stimulation should be provided to avoid destructive behavior caused by boredom. These dogs are naturally quite calm and tend to make pleasant, polite housemates, making them a suitable choice for apartment living.

Maintenance of the Cock-A-Chon

The Cock-A-Chon will require moderate attention to its grooming regime, as its fur can tangle easily in some cases. This hybrid should be bathed at least once a month, and depending on the type of coat your Cock-A-Chon inherits, it may require shaping with scissors at that time. Many dog owners who need regular scissoring choose to go to a professional groomer instead of doing it themselves. They will need daily brushing with a pin brush to remove tangles and dead hairs. A smoother brush should not be used to remove tangles, especially if your hybrid's coat favors the Bichon à poil frisé; brushing with a smooth brush should only be done as a finishing step, as it can remove too much undercoat if used as a detangler.