10-25 lbs
12-14"
Europe, United States
The Cockalier is a gentle-natured small dog that shows a strong desire to please their pet parents. Attractive to look at, they make an ideal family dog who relates well to children and other pets. They are intelligent dogs who are easy to train as they love to please, and respond well to kind instructions and lots of praise and pats along the way. These dogs are usually easy to housetrain. They make loyal and devoted pets and don’t seem to have an aggressive bone in their body. They may bark on the arrival of strangers, but it is a warning only – rarely do they get aggressive. The Cockalier will love to play or go for a dog walk, but they still retain the instincts of the hunt so keep them on a leash, or they may take off after birds or small animals.
It will take a while before the Cockalier has a unique history of its own due to its relative new appearance as a breed and its rarity. The best way to see what the Cockalier has to offer is to look at the parent breeds. The Cocker Spaniel dates to the 14th Century and originates from the English Cocker Spaniels which were brought to the United States of America. They were bred down in size to the dog we know today. The Cocker Spaniel is a hunting gun-dog that was excellent at working in difficult terrain in both wet and dry land. They were great at flushing out game and then retrieving it with a gentle mouth. They are good at listening to commands.
The name Cocker comes from the woodcock – a game bird the dogs where known for flushing out. The American Cocker Spaniel was first recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1873. The origin of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a royal history as its names indicate. King Charles II was particularly fond of them. They descended from the King Charles Spaniel. In the late 1600s, the King Charles Spaniel was interbred with the pug dog that produced a dog with a flatter face. It was in the 1920s when breeders began to breed back the longer nose dog that was like the ones in the famous paintings of King Charles II which was then given the Cavalier name to distinguish it from the King Charles Spaniel.
The AKC recognised this breed in 1940. The Cockalier has an interesting history behind it, which only makes it more appealing and delightful.
The Cockalier can vary in appearance depending on how predominant the individual parent dog genes are. For the most part, your Cockalier will tend to have short legs and a stocky build similar to the Cocker Spaniel. The head is rounded on the skull, and they have a long muzzle in proportion to their head. They have a cleanly chiselled and refined head, with large round, expressive eyes. Ears are long and fluffy or feathered. They come in a multitude of color options and overall, they present a well-proportioned dog for their size with a sweet and loving disposition.
The coat of the Cockalier will vary depending on whether it is more like its Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent or whether it takes after its Cocker Spaniel parent. They usually have a coat that ranges between the fine soft Cavalier coat or the curlier Cocker Spaniel. They do need regular brushing to ensure their fur doesn’t get matted, but once or twice a week with a firm bristle brush is fine. The Cockalier will love the attention of the grooming session, so take the opportunity to also wipe out inside the ears, check around the eyes, and to brush their teeth to keep them healthy. Their nails may need clipping especially if they are mostly indoors – you will soon know when you hear them ‘clicking’ around the house.
The Cockalier is a dog breed that is well known for its easy-going ways and sweet temperament. They are intelligent dogs and eager to please, so they do well in training. The Cockalier is a quick learner, and their strong desire to please their pet parents makes training a breeze. These dogs get along with other pets in the home, and they make good family pets. They are very tolerant of the antics of young children, and usually, never display any signs of aggression. The Cockalier is a loyal, devoted and very loving dog who enjoys being part of family life. They are just as content to curl up on your lap for a good belly rub and soak in all the attention they can garner, as they are enthusiastic to join in when a game is offered. While they will bark to let you know when someone is on the property, they will most likely lick them joyfully, rather than show aggression.
The Cockalier does need to get outside and run about to burn off a little energy and to check out all the interesting things in their secure yard. If you are taking them for a walk, make sure you keep them on a leash unless the area is secure. Otherwise, they may take off after any small game that they can smell. Their instinct is still strong to hunt, so it is best to be aware of it. The Cockalier is equally at home in an apartment as it is a house, but it does need to get out and about each day. They adapt well to town or country areas and enjoy a moderate climate.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 10/26/2017, edited: 07/14/2021
More articles by Darlene Stott
A 3 month old cockalier showed aggressive behavior to another smaller dog in the same family. Does this indicate a dog that might have aggressive tendency even when it gets older?
My Rusty a 14 year old male cockalier is 40lbs and is 24 inches high. Don’t know how he grew those long legs He is a beautiful mix. When he passes I would love to get another cockalier puppy
