English Cotralian

The name English Cotralian is a combination of the names of the two parent breeds, the Australian Shepherd, also known as an “Aussie”, and English Cocker Spaniel. The Australian Shepherd, despite its name, does not originate from Australia. In fact, these dogs were likely bred from Collie varieties in the early 1900s to herd sheep in western United States. The Australian Shepherd’s popularity boomed during the 1950s and they are now employed as handicap guides, therapy dogs, drug detectors, search and rescue workers, and – of course – beloved family pets. Over the course of its history, this breed has been bred down in size to create miniature and toy varieties. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1993. The English Cocker Spaniel originated in the United Kingdom and was bred in the 1800s for woodcock hunting, from which part of their name “Cocker” was derived. Until 1936, the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel (which tends to be smaller than the former) were considered the same breed. American and English breeders, however, began to disagree on breed standards. This resulted in two varieties, the American and the English Cocker Spaniels. The English version of the Spaniel was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1945. Although there is no exact date of origin for English Cotralians, the English Cocker Spaniels and Australian Shepherds are thought to have been bred together for decades because of their long and parallel history in the United States. This breed, although known for being extraordinarily amicable, is not widely popular. Additionally, English Cotralians are not purebred, so they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club.