American Cotralian -- American Cocker Spaniel X Australian Shepherd

		American Cotralian
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A. -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the American Cotralian

The Cotralian is a cross between the American Cocker Spaniel and the Australian Shepherd Dog. It's a medium to large dog with a playful, affectionate personality. These dogs tend to make excellent pets, but they may not be so good with small children and pets, as they can be a little aggressive towards them. Early socialization and lots of training will be required for this breed, however, the good news is that they train easily and respond very well to consistency. Cotralians take on the appearance of both American Cocker Spaniels and Australian Shepherds, measuring around 40.5 to 56 centimeters and weighing between 13.5 and 27 kilos. Their coat is generally of medium length and very soft, with a wide range of colors to choose from, usually black, beige, brown, gray, red, silver and white. These dogs prefer milder temperatures as they don't necessarily overheat or cool easily. If you're looking for a pet that also makes an excellent exercise partner and adventure companion, then the Cotralian may be the perfect dog for you.

History of the American Cotralian

Because the Cotralian is a new hybrid breed that hasn't had much time to develop an origin story, we don't know much about where it originated. Fortunately, we have a lot of information on its parent breeds so we can get an idea of where Cotralian came from. By combining these two parent breeds, you can expect the Cotralian to be an energetic, intelligent, loyal and friendly dog that makes an excellent pet for those looking for a companion that likes to be active and adventurous, while loving its owner unconditionally.

	A little of the American Cocker Spaniel
	The Cocker Spaniel has been around for centuries and has always been used as a hunting companion. This breed was particularly adept at hunting waterfowl, such as the woodcock from which the Cocker Spaniel takes its name. Although these dogs have always had a certain degree of popularity, that fame really exploded after the English Cocker Spaniel was featured as the leading dog breed in the 1955 Disney film Lady and the Tramp. Because of this, unfortunately, the dogs began to be bred carelessly. and quickly, resulting in some bad temperaments creeping into the breed. Since then, breeders have worked hard to solve these problems and restore the English Cocker Spaniel to its full potential. These dogs are used in shows, as pets and as hunters.

	Standard of the American Cocker Spaniel
	A little of the Australian Shepherd
	The Australian Shepherd, despite its name, was first bred in the western United States during the gold rush of 1840. The Aussie is a working dog at heart, designed to get along with cattle and other livestock. Intelligent, energetic and loyal, this breed is ready and willing to work its hardest for its master. They are easy to train and eager to please. The Australian Shepherd became very popular after the Second World War, when there was renewed interest in Western-style riding. Everyone was really impressed by the beautiful, intelligent dogs that worked alongside cowboys and the rest of history. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1993 and has since been used as a working, show and companion dog.

	Standard of the Australian Shepherd

Appearance of the American Cotralian

As a hybrid breed, the Cotralian will combine different aspects of appearance from both parent breeds. Although it's difficult to predict what each Cotralian will look like, even within the same litter, the typical Cotralian will be a larger dog with short to medium-length hair that's very soft. The English Cocker Spaniel and the Aussie are both extremely attractive dogs, so it's easy to assume that the Cotralian is also a very attractive breed. Their coats can come in a wide range of colors and tend to be the same style against the body as the Australian Shepherd. The ears, however, are more like the English Cocker Spaniel in being loose against the head and full of fur, a slight crimp in the coat may be visible. Bright, intelligent eyes rest on the Cotralian's face and, like the Australian Shepherd, can actually be bright blue in rare cases. More often, however, the eyes will be dark brown or black. The Cotralian's body is robust and athletic, with a long tail that may have very light feathering on the underside. Cotralians do best in mild to cooler temperatures, as their longer fur type tends to keep them on the warmer side.

Temperament of the American Cotralian

This breed of dog is certainly not for the novice dog owner. While the Cotralian is very loyal and loving, it is also very intelligent, which means that a firm hand in training will be needed to ensure that the dog knows who's boss. On top of this, the Cotralian can tend to be a little aggressive towards small children and small pets. This is probably due to the hunting and herding instincts of its ancestors. Although this problem can be solved with early socialization and lots of training, it would be best for this hybrid breed to be in a home with older children and larger animals. In addition to this, the Cotralian is a gentle, loyal and playful dog that likes to spend a lot of time with its owner, whether playing or working. It's a breed that doesn't bark unless it has to, and it may bark at strangers because its trust has to be earned. For this reason, the Cotralian is an excellent dog to have around your neighbors, as he won't be a nuisance with endless barking sessions.

Needs and activities of the American Cotralian

Because the Cotralian has working dogs as parent breeds, you can expect him to need 1 to 1.5 hours of physical and mental activity to keep him happy. Some activities that work very well to tire your dog out would be a long walk, a jog, a bike ride, a workout and a recovery game in the yard or a park. It's important to spend plenty of time training your Cotralian so that no aggression or bad manners can develop. On top of that, training is a big part of keeping your dog mentally tired so he doesn't get bored. The Cotralian is a very lovable dog and loves to cuddle, but he certainly needs to be exercised a few times a day. If you do, your dog will be able to grow and mature responsibly, putting its energy to good use.

Maintenance of the American Cotralian

The Cotralian is a moderate maintenance dog. Although there isn't much in the way of a grooming routine, both its parent breeds shed seasonally, so weekly grooming will be necessary. Brush your Cotralian a few times a week with a metal comb and raking brush to remove any fur and dirt that may be on the body. This will keep the coat healthy, clean and shiny. Bathing should only take place once a month, or whenever your dog is particularly dirty. Be sure to dry your dog's ears thoroughly after bathing or swimming. Because Cotralian has folded over the ears, moisture can get trapped inside and cause ear infections. By drying your ears, you can avoid any infection problems. In addition to bathing and brushing, be sure to trim the paw nails every few weeks or whenever you hear the nails clicking against the floor. This will keep feet healthy and snag-free.

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American Cotralian -- American Cocker Spaniel X Australian Shepherd