Cock-a-Tzu

The Cock-a-Tzu is a small to average-size dog developed by crossing the Cocker Spaniel with the Shih Tzu. This cross breed has the lean body of the Cocker Spaniel covered with the soft coat of the Shih-Tzu. They have a roundish face, mostly covered with hair. They have floppy ears, round eyes, which are sometimes yellowish, while the muzzle ends in a pinkish to brownish nose. Their tails are long and bushy.

Cock-a-Tzu Pictures

Temperament and Behavior

The Cock-a-Tzu is a well-behaved, loyal dog with a warm disposition. They cherish every moment they spend with their family, longing for the attention of their near and dear ones, expecting a little more than just a caress or hug.

Because of their strong bond towards their masters, they are quite submissive, not having concerns in being dominated by them.

They get along well with young children and pets, being a perfect playmate for them. In spite of their playful nature, they might be lazy and inactive at times.

Though at times they might show hyper attitude, this breed has a low watchdog ability and would seldom bark. However, with their inherent loyalty they would be conscious about guarding their owner’s terrain against outside intrusion.

Training

The Cocker Spaniel Shih Tzu mix is a good learner, and they would constantly try to please you by being obedient, thus making the training procedure easier.

To ward off possibilities of their occasional bouts of anger, give them more of your company, and make its moments with you beautiful. Take your dog out for a drive with your kids, participate in interactive games, or do anything recreational.

To keep them active and refrain from sitting in a lazy corner, take them out for jogs or walks regularly following a completely different route. This should help them explore new things, thus making exercising interesting to them.

If you find it is tough to housebreak your puppy, follow the crate training method from a very tender age. Once it is accustomed to taking commands, you can take your puppy outside every hour using customized verbal cues like “Tzu, let’s go out for a poo?”, “Hey, wanna go out?”, etc. Reward it every time it succeeds in its endeavor.

Diet/Feeding

A diet routine normal for small to medium size dogs, including red meat, chicken, fishes like salmon and herring substitutes, is enough to keep your Cock-a-Tzu healthy.