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Smooth Foxker |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Great Britain <> U.S.A. -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the Smooth Foxker |
| The Smooth Foxker is a combination of the Fox Terrier Smooth and the American Cocker Spaniel (more rarely the English Cocker Spaniel). The English Cocker is slightly larger and has a longer, softer coat than the American Cocker Spaniel, but otherwise they are identical. The Smooth Foxker is a gentle, happy breed that fits wonderfully into any family, but it can have the hunting instinct of the Cocker Spaniel, so you'll need to watch your dog with small animals. They are easy to train for the most part and are generally in good health. |
History of the Smooth Foxker |
| The Smooth Foxker is a new hybrid that doesn't yet have much of a history. So it's important to look at the background of the American Cocker Spaniel and the Smooth Fox Terrier. |
A little of the Fox Terrier Smooth |
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| The Fox Terrier Smooth was developed in England in the 1700s as a hunting dog capable of entering fox dens and driving them out. It is not well documented, but is thought to have been bred from Beagles, Greyhounds, Bull Terriers and smooth-coated Black and Tan Terriers. The English Fox Terrier Club was founded in 1876 and the American Fox Terrier Club in 1885, the same year they were recognized by the AKC. Today, they are the 124th most common dog breed in the United States. | ||
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| Standard of the Fox Terrier Smooth |
A little of the American Cocker Spaniel |
| The Spaniel has been around since the 1300s and was developed specifically for hunting. The breed was brought to the U.S. on the Mayflower in 1620, but was not recognized until 1878. Spaniels were separated into water and land breeds and divided by size. The American Cocker Spaniel is actually descended from the English Cocker Spaniel and is the smallest of all. It was bred primarily to flush woodcock out of undergrowth for hunters, hence its name. The English Cocker Spaniel was taller, had a flatter head and shorter back, but American breeders gave it this appearance in the 1900s and the English Cocker Spaniel decided it should be considered a separate breed to avoid inbreeding. The American Kennel Club began listing the American Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed in 1946, and today it is the 29th most popular dog breed in the United States. |
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| Standard of the American Cocker Spaniel |
Appearance of the Smooth Foxker |
| The Smooth Foxker is a small to medium-sized dog with a medium to long, straight or wavy coat of normal density. Its coat can be any color, such as red, silver, orange, lemon, tan, chocolate, white, black, or a combination of colors and many different patterns, such as piebald, merle, spotted and speckled. The density and variety of the coat depend on whether the Cocker Spaniel's parent was American or English. They have hanging ears, a long muzzle with a black or brown nose, and oval brown eyes. The Smooth Foxker is stocky like the Cocker Spaniel with long, thick legs, but can also have the delicate features of the Fox Terrier Smooth. |
Temperament of the Smooth Foxker |
| Because the Cocker is such a good-natured, friendly dog, this breed makes a wonderful family pet. However, the Fox Terrier Smooth's genes give it a lot of nervous energy, and it can bite small children if sufficiently irritated. Therefore, it's probably best to avoid this breed if you have young children. But they make excellent watchdogs and will do their best to protect you from any danger, no matter how big or small. They are generally obedient and easy to train, although they are very energetic and need plenty of exercise to keep them happy and out of trouble. |
Needs and activities of the Smooth Foxker |
| Although the Cocker is a working dog, he can be lazy when he wants to be, but the Fox Terrier Smooth is a real ball of energy. Consequently, your Smooth Foxker will need at least one hour to 90 minutes of vigorous activity a day to stay healthy. Without sufficient exercise, he can become stressed and bored. He loves to hunt, swim, play with other dogs at the dog park, play flyball or Frisbee, walk around the neighborhood and run in a fenced-in garden. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash if you're not in a fenced-in area, as they tend to chase small animals. |
Maintenance of the Smooth Foxker |
| The thick coat derived from the Cocker Spaniel genes makes the Smooth Foxker a high-maintenance dog. You'll need a detangling tool and a spiked brush to prevent your dog from tangling. He also sheds a lot, so you'll need a plucking tool and a stiff bristle brush to remove excess hair. It's best to groom them every day, as it doesn't take much for their coat to tangle. They tend to pick up debris such as dirt, sticks and leaves in their long fur when outdoors, so you need to remove these daily. They should also be bathed with a conditioning shampoo and cream rinse once or twice a month to keep them smelling fresh and clean. Teeth and nails are also an important part of the routine; trim nails twice a month if necessary and brush teeth daily. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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