“Miniature Schnauzer Cocker Spaniel Mix”
The Schnocker, the Mini Schnocker, or the Cockerschnauz is a cross between two purebred parents, the Miniature Schnauzer and the Cocker Spaniel. It’s a small to medium-sized pup that is great for families with kids or other dogs.
Don’t be fooled by its small size – this is one energetic pup! It’s one of the slightly active breeds that will love to run and play. The Schnocker also loves company, so it’s sure to follow you around the house.
Schnockers will also live well with other dogs, especially with enough socialization. However, they should be kept away from other small pets like hamsters or bunnies. They have a high prey drive and will likely chase all the small critters it’ll see.
Because Schnockers dogs come from parents with distinct features, their appearance varies greatly. They can either look more like a Cocker Spaniel, more like a Miniature Schnauzer, or a mix of both. Most owners love that their pups have the coats of Cocker Spaniels and the expressive faces of the Mini Schnauzers. However, that sweet, loving, and energetic personality is all their own!
Parents
Cocker Spaniel – Cocker Spaniels have been around for centuries as hunting dogs. “Spaniel” means a Spanish dog, so it’s believed that the breed originally came from Spain, while the “Cocker” in their name comes from the kind of prey they were bred to hunt, which was woodcocks. They were hugely popular in the United Kingdom during the 1800s, though some records from the 14th and 15th century already mention spaniels.
After some time, the Cocker Spaniels from the UK were brought to America, which led to the two types of Cocker Spaniels recognized today: the English Cocker Spaniel, and the American Cocker Spaniel. English Cocker Spaniels were bred to hunt Eurasian woodcocks. When the dogs were brought to the US, they were bred to hunt the smaller American woodcocks. As a result, American Cocker Spaniels came to be smaller than their English cousins.
Cocker Spaniels located and flushed out the woodcocks from their hiding spaces so their handlers could shoot them. Afterwards, the Cocker Spaniels needed to locate the gunned bird and retrieve it without damaging the body.
Cocker Spaniel coats come in a wide range of colors, either as solid or combinations. Colors include black, golden, red, tan, liver, and roan.
English Cocker Spaniels were the breed originally recognized by The Kennel Club in 1892. They were later recognized by the American Kennel Club as a separate breed from the American Cocker Spaniel in 1946.
Miniature Schnauzer – Miniature Schnauzers were bred in the late 1800s from the slightly larger Standard Schnauzers in Germany. They were bred smaller so they could work better as ratters, or dogs that catch and kill pest rats.
Mini Schnauzers make great guard dogs. Though they can be a bit aloof, they’re plenty energetic. They also have great patience as guard dogs, unlike other guard dogs that tend to bite when agitated.
There are four internationally recognized Miniature Schnauzer colors: white, black, silver and black, and salt and pepper.
Miniature Schnauzers were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1926.
Appearance
Schnockers are small to medium dogs. They stand at around 12-15 inches, and weigh at around 16-25 pounds. They are slim, muscled dogs with long sturdy limbs. Their paws are large, with webbing between the toes. The tail length can vary.
Its face can have a denser coat than the rest of its body, depending on which dog parent it inherited more from. In general, the ears are floppy and hang down the sides of its face. Schnockers have expressive round brown eyes. Their nose is rather large and prominent, and black in color. They usually inherit the rectangular muzzle of their Schanuzer parent along with the distinctive beard and moustache.
Their coat is usually where most Schnockers vary. It can be either long or short, straight or wavy or shaggy, and soft or coarse. The coat color has a wide range of possibilities, too. It can be black, grey, white, blonde, champagne, or brown. Schnockers with solid colors are rare; most of them will have patches of different colored fur usually on their face, chest, and legs.
Life Expectancy
The Schnocker breed can live for 12 to 15 years. Of course, plenty of love, care, exercise, and regular checkups will keep your pup healthy, happy, and thriving until well beyond its average lifespan.
Behavior
Coming from two hardworking parents, you can immediately guess that the Schnocker is an intelligent and energetic dog. Both Cocker Spaniels and Miniature Schnauzers are family dogs, and they always seem to inherit their sweet and loving nature.
Schnockers are, first and foremost, family dogs. They’re sweet, sensitive dogs that get attached to the family quickly. They crave affection and attention, so if you choose to own a Schnocker puppy, you need to be sure you can give it plenty of both every day.
They can sometimes tolerate being alone, if they inherited more of their Miniature Schnauzer parent’s nature. Most of the time, however, Schnockers hate being separated from their family. They’ll always want to be beside you and seek out your company.
Because it loves the company of humans, Schnockers are naturally friendly pups. They take to other people easily, especially if they shower your Schnocker with attention and praise. Sometimes, a Schnocker can get so excited at having so many people around that they can have a little accident on the carpet! Nothing to worry about, as they are calmer and more at ease when it’s just them and the family around the house.
They are great with other dogs, especially if the other dogs are as energetic and playful as them. Of course, it’s best if you can socialize your Schnocker with your other dogs first. Don’t push them into being besties with each other right away!
Likewise, Schnocker dogs are great with kids. Sweet, playful, and energetic, the pup will love the rough and tumble play with young children. However, you should be careful when introducing a Schnocker puppy to a young kid. You’ll need to teach your kid how to handle the puppy carefully first.
If you have small pets like guinea pigs or hamsters, it’s best to separate them from a Schnocker pup. Because Schnockers have hunting dog parents, they have a high prey drive and will likely chase your other pets if they see them. Schnockers can also get noisy. This barky nature can be curbed with proper training, but it’s best to know it early on especially if noise is restricted in your area.
Ideal Environment
The Schnocker breed are versatile dogs and can live in almost any home. But because they are such social dogs, they’ll do best as part of a family. Having a yard where a Schnocker pup can run around is a plus, though certainly not a requirement. As a small dog, it doesn’t need a big place to live in – it can live comfortably in an apartment or condo. Of course, you’ll need to provide it with fun activities so it could use up all its energy. This can include walks and socializing with other pets at dog parks.
One thing to note is that Schnockers tend to be barkers. If you live in an area where noise is discouraged, you’ll need to train your dog to control its barking.
Schnockers can live in any kind of climate, though if its coat is dense or long, you’ll need to care for it during hot summers.
Diet
Schnockers will need around a cup to a cup and a half of dog food a day, depending on its activity level. A Schnocker that’s quite happy to lounge about beside your couch while you watch TV is fine with a cup, but a rambunctious dog will need a bit more.
They can be picky eaters, so it’s best to get small packets of different kibbles at first to see which one it’ll like. Remember to incorporate new kibbles slowly into the old one, though. You’ll need to taper the old kibble slowly so that your dog will not get an upset stomach.
It’s also best to divide feedings into several times a day if your Schnocker is still a puppy. Its stomach is small – it won’t be able to hold an entire cup in one go. Divide the cup of kibble into three and feed your pup in the morning, afternoon, and night. As it grows you can gradually reduce the number of feedings, although you can continue to feed it several times a day to make sure its blood sugar level remains regulated throughout the day.
However, it should be noted that kibble is just one option for feeding. You can also try homecooked meals, or even an all-raw diet. However, make sure you’ll be consulting a veterinarian first. You need to make sure your Schnocker will be getting all the necessary nutrients it needs.
Exercise
Schnockers are moderately active dogs. You can’t blame them – it runs in the family! This just means that you should be able to give your Schnocker the activities it needs to stay healthy, fit, and happy.
If you have ample space in the yard, a daily game of fetch or Frisbee is great for play and exercise. You can also take it for daily walks for half an hour; twice a day is best. Playing with other dogs at the park is a great option, too. It can get the exercise it needs while socializing at the same time.
Do take note to care for your dog when going out in hot weather. The pavements can get especially unbearable for a dog’s paws during summer. If you can’t go out for walks during the hotter months, try taking your dog to a pool or nearby lake or river to swim. Schnockers love the water and are excellent swimmers, thanks to their webbed paws.
Training
This is where Schnockers can truly shine. Clever, highly trainable, and eager to please, a Schnocker will actually love being trained and getting high praise from you.
Aside from the basic potty training and obedience, your Schnocker will also benefit from bark training. You can also train it to heel on command, so you can control it when it gets the urge to chase small critters.
Be careful when training, though. They are sensitive dogs and will respond poorly to harsh training methods. Use positive reinforcement with plenty of treats, praise, and belly rubs during training and your Schnocker will do its best to please you.
Grooming
Schnockers need moderate grooming and maintenance because of their coat. If your Schnocker’s coat is long or particularly dense, it’ll need to be brushed several times a week to prevent mats and tangles.
Shedding can be minimal to moderate, depending on which parent it inherited more traits from. Miniature Schnauzers don’t shed a lot, and are considered hypoallergic. But Cocker Spaniels shed a lot more.
You can use a pin brush to get into the roots of the coat. You can also use a dematter brush to keep its coat tangle-free. If your Schnocker particularly sheds a lot, you can also use a deshedder or a wire brush.
You will also need to trim its nails once a week. Regular rough play and running on hard surfaces can wear down its nails naturally, but you’ll still need to check and trim weekly to avoid problems.
Schnockers don’t drool a lot, but they’re prone to halitosis or bad breath. It’s important that you brush its teeth at least thrice a week to prevent tooth and gum disease.
Health Concerns
A Schnocker will have the health concerns of both of its parents. For example, a common health concern for Cocker Spaniels is otitis externa, or outer ear infection. Miniature Schnauzers, on the other hand, tend to develop obesity and diabetes as they age. Both are concerns for Schnockers, too.
Aside from the inherited health concerns, another major issue to watch out for is retinal dysplasia. It’s an eye disease that’s mostly inherited from the Cocker Spaniel side. Seborrhea, or itchy and oily skin, is also another common issue with Schnockers.
Pancreatitis is another issue, something that they inherited from their Mini Schnauzer parent. This is an inflamed pancreas that causes pain to dogs.
Aside from a healthy diet and regular exercise, regular vet visits will help with early detection. Blood tests, CT scans, and other laboratory works can also be requested if your vet suspects anything.
Where to Look for Schnockers
Designer breeds are still new. Some even say that designer breeds are just mutts with a higher price tag. However, finding a reputable breeder is important if you want healthy Schnocker pups. Puppy mills breed indiscriminately, without thinking of the health of the parents and the pups. The result is weak and sickly parents, and even weaker and sicker puppies.
The best way to search for responsible breeders is online. You can search your local area if there’s a breeder or kennel nearby. If you can’t find a specific Schnocker breeder, you can ask Cocker Spaniel or Mini Schnauzer kennels if they know someone they can recommend.
Conclusion
Schnockers are lovable, playful, charming dogs – truly, a wonderful addition to any family. However, a dog shouldn’t be regarded as a passing fancy. You need to remember that getting a dog is a huge responsibility, one that you must promise to take on for the next fifteen years.
However, if you’re willing to be a patient, caring, and nurturing Schnocker parent, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most memorable years in your life!