Cockachon vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Cockachon vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Cockachon is originated from United States. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 27 cm / 11 inches higher than Cockachon. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 21 kg / 47 pounds more than Cockachon. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Cockachon has almost same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may have more litter size than Cockachon. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance. But Cockachon requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
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Belgium
United States
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
25 - 39 cm
9 - 16 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
23 - 36 cm
9 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
2 - 6
Size:
Large
Toy
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Bichon Spaniel, Cock-a-Chon, Bichon Frise-American Cocker Spaniel Mix
Colors Available:
Black
chocolate & tan, black, black & tan, buff, red, sable and cream. , chocolate
Coat:
Dense double coat
curly, dense
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Minimal, Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

belgian shepherd dog groenendaelLooking much like a pitch black German Shepherd dog, the Belgian Shepherd is a beautiful looking dog. Their roots go back to the 1800s to Groenendael, Belgium. This is where they were bred by a certain Nicolas Rose in 1910. The Groenendael is one of four different Belgian Sheepdog varieties but the Groenendael is sometimes treated as a distinct breed.

They have always been used for their intelligence, serving for instance in the police force and being message carriers in war situations. Originally, Belgian Shepherds were used to herd livestock. It was in 1911 that the Groenendael was registered in the United States, and not much later the first Belgian Sheepdog Club of America formed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912.

cockachonThe Cockachon is not a pure bred dog but rather a cross between the Cocker Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. Very little if anything is known about who initially developed the Cockachon. It is known that the International Designer Canine Association (IDCA)registered and recognized the hybrid in 2009.

It is obviously a relatively new cross breed. The hybrid is also recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR) and the Designer Dog Kennel Club (DDKC).

Description

Large, Strong and Well Proportioned

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppy - descriptionWith his alert, bright brown eyes, the Groenendael, referred to often as the Belgian Sheepdog, has erect ears with a long, feathered tail. The straight, strong legs are also feathered. He is well proportioned, athletic and strong. He has a dense double coat, and this working dog’s coat is black, but you sometimes find some small white markings around his paws and muzzle. The size of the Groenendael is roughly 60-66cm at the withers with the females sometimes being slightly smaller. The weight of the dog is roughly 25–30 kilograms.

He’s a Social Dog who Craves Companionship

The Groenendael is an active, intelligent breed and training and socializing will be necessary to ensure he knows how to behave around his human family. He is a big, social dog and won’t do well when left alone day after day in the back yard. In fact he may even show signs of separation anxiety if you leave him indefinitely. He makes for an excellent family dog, just loving their companionship and he becomes very protective of them.

An Intelligent, Alert Breed

He is used to making use of his intelligence and therefore he will need mental stimulation as opposed to lying around all day. He gets on well with adults, children and other pets, but he needs to grow up with children and not be put among children when he is already an adult. He is loyal and loving to his human family, forming a deep bond, especially with just one member of the family.

cockachon puppy - descriptionThe Cockachon is a cute, little dog very popular in current times. He is small, compact, dark eyes, a round head and black nose. He has a baby face and fluffy hair. It has a furry tail and a blunt muzzle.

The Cockachon is a mix between the American Cocker Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. In order to get a better idea of what the hybrid can look like just look at the individual parents. The American Cocker Spaniel is a small dog with a short muzzle and domed head. It is in the Sporting Group, but it is the smallest member of the group. He has a compact, sturdy body and though domed his head is refined.

The Cocker’s stance includes a sloping topline, muscular hindquarters and strong shorter legs adds up to a balanced canine. The coat can be in a wide variety of colors including liver, golden, black, and red. Also, it could be liver and tan, black and tan, roan or tricolors. So, while the Bichon Frise is always white the Cockachon can be any of these colors including white. The types of coats that the Cocker Spaniel and the Bichon Frise have are very different as well.

The Bichon Frise is also a small dog, actually smaller than the American Cocker. The Cockachon usually ends up being about the size of the Bichon at 5-10 kg in weight and 23-30 cm in height. The skull of the Bichon Frise is round rather than domed and the muzzle is also rounded. The tail is long and curly while the Cocker would usually have a cropped tail. The nose and eyes of the Bichon Frise are black and its hair is dense and curly. Unlike the Cocker Spaniel it barely sheds.

Many Cockachon have floppy ears, curly coats and come in any variety of colors though many, many are white.

Characteristics

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dog - characteristicsYour Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent, active, loyal companion for you. He is highly intelligent too, and will need the right owner who can meet his energetic needs. He therefore wouldn’t do well with in a small place where the owners are couch potatoes. He is a working dog and will require being kept busy.

Provide him with good food, look after that thick, lustrous coat of his, provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep and plenty of exercise, love and attention and he will turn out to be the wonderful pet that makes him such a popular breed.

cockachon dog - characteristicsPeople created the Cockachon to get a small, lap or carry dog that had certain characteristics. These characteristics included a very social, loving dog. He is active and friendly, sweet and gentle. He is loyal, and loves being loved. He is great with other dogs and you can trust him with your children. He is a little independent but very loyal.

Like many little dogs he can have serious separation anxiety. Crate training is recommended so that he has a place to feel safe when you are not with him.

Health Problems

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Groenendael is a healthy, strong breed with no major health problems and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

As with every dog breed, there will be some health issues to be aware of. Skin allergies, epilepsy, eye problems and hip- and joint dysplasia are some areas to look out for

Dental disease for instance, is a common problem with pets, and your Belgian Shepherd can have serious problems with their teeth. Tartar build-up on the teeth ca take you down a trail of infections and gum disease. If you don’t want to make use of a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste, your vet will do it for you.

Your Groenendael will also be susceptible to ticks, fleas and bacterial and viral infections. As a puppy of 6 – 8 weeks, vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and distemper will be necessary. You’ll also need to be generally watching your pet’s health and to get him to the vet when he shows signs of being run-down and ill.

cockachon puppies - health problemsHybrid dogs seldom have a lot of inherited diseases as they seem to jump a generation but if they do, it can be either a combination of both breeds issues or issues from just one of the breeds in the cross. For the Cockachon these issues include:

Luxating Patella

This loose kneecap issue is common to many small dogs and can cause lameness if not addressed.

  • Eye & Ear Problems

Eyelid problems such as the ones that might bother a Cockachon can be found in many small dogs. These include Entropion and Ectropion.

Caring The Pet

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dogs - caringThe Groenendael has a double coat and because it is also fairly long, his black coat may well be high maintenance and brushing every 2nd day will be necessary to keep the coat unmatted and to also get rid of those loose hairs. In fact, heavy shedding is part of this breed’s life and while heavy shedding happens twice a year, light shedding continues throughout the year. Sometimes is may be necessary to send him to a dog grooming parlour to snip his hair and to wash it.

Other care routines to watch for -

A healthy, quality diet it absolutely imperative. Speak to your vet about the best kind of wet- or dry food suited to an energetic breed like this and appropriate to his age. You need to include raw meat into your pets diet every day now and then to avoid skin problems. Always ensure a bowl of clean, cool water is available, The bowl will need to be washed out every other day.

make sure his ears are cleaned. Once again you have to be careful when prodding in a dog’s ear and your veterinarian will show you how.

keep him well exercised with long walks and ball games.

Feeding

cockachon dogs - caringDon’t overfeed a Cockachon. Give him ¾ -1.5 cups of dry food of high quality in two meals per day.

Health issues

In addition to the issues listed above, the Cockachon is also prone to heart disease and cardiac issues.

Exercise and games

The Cockachon has a lot of energy for its size. Make sure it gets plenty of exercise. If walks are the exercise of your choice make sure you walk him for 30 minutes a day. He loves to play, and a back yard would be nice. These little guys do well in obedience but are usually to small for agility.

Comparison with other breeds

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  9. Cockachon vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
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  26. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison