Although the Spanador is a relatively new breed, we know that it was created with the intent of meeting the desire for cross bred dogs that were of a bigger size. Besides this, there isn’t much information on the Spanador’s history. So to get a bigger picture on what this dog breed is like, we can turn to the parent breeds’ origin stories: The Labrador Retriever and the Cocker Spaniel. To start, the Cocker Spaniel is a breed that was always used as a hunting companion, one who loved to flush game out from the bushes and retrieve it on command. His name, the Cocker, was actually taken from his unique knack of hunting for woodcock, which is a type of wading bird. This breed is most commonly recognized by their beautiful silky coat, large intelligent eyes, and long velvety ears which are covered in slightly wavy fur. While this breed has some wonderful traits, bad breeding has influenced a few negative aspects into the breed. Despite this fact, if you find a reputable breeder, you can get a marvelous, loving, beautiful dog that has the sweetest disposition around. The Labrador is also a very adept breed when it comes to hunting and, obviously, retrieving. At first, they were known as the lesser Newfoundland which helped to distinguish them from the larger and longer furred Newfoundland of St. John. Over time the dogs become known as the Labrador, thanks to Spanish word for “laborer”. These dogs are extremely hard working and loyal to a T, always striving to please their masters as best as possible. They were known for retrieving items from the water such as nets, downed prey, and even delivering messages between boats. When British travellers visited Newfoundland, they fell in love with the Labrador and brought them back to England where the captured the attention of an Earl who wanted them to help him hunt. It wasn’t long before the Kennel Club of England recognized the breed in 1903, opening the door for these talented dogs to make their way into America. In the early 20th century, Labradors were imported by American sportsman where their popularity then skyrocketed. They are now used as show dogs, companions, hunters, and guard dogs.When combining these two unique breeds, we end up with the Spanador; who is an excellent mix of the two. Loyal, intelligent, hard working, dependable, and gentle the Spanador makes an excellent family pet for those who are looking for an easy dog to train that will get along well with pretty much everyone. Whether you are new to owning dogs or have been well experienced, the Spanador would make a great addition to any family being low maintenance and eager to please.
