The Mini Hippo Is The Newest Choice For A Family Dog
The Mini Hippo is a fairly new designer breed that is a cross between a purebred Cocker Spaniel and a Chinese Shar-Pei. They are quickly gaining in popularity as a family dog due to their affectionate nature and interesting appearance. It gets its name from its short, broad snout which resembles the snout of a hippopotamus. The Mini Hippo gets some personality traits from each of its parent breeds, combining the calm and intelligent disposition of the Shar-Pei and the attitude of the Spaniel. The result is a very social dog who is friendly and playful yet very loyal to his family.
History
The Mini Hippo dog is a relatively new hybrid breed, a cross between the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Cocker Spaniel. This mix combines the unique traits of both breeds, resulting in a distinctive and adorable appearance with a wrinkled face and soft, short coat. The breed’s origins can be traced to recent years as part of the growing popularity of designer dog breeds aimed at combining the best qualities of each parent breed. The Mini Hippo has quickly gained attention for its affectionate nature, manageable size, and charming look, making it a desirable companion in many homes. The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest of the sporting breeds and it has a playful and happy disposition, which has long made it a favorite as a family dog. The Shar-Pei is an ancient Chinese breed with origins that stretch back as far as 200 BC, when it was likely bred to protect upper class citizens. They were also bred to hunt, herd and fight, making them extremely loyal and protective.
Temperament
Not surprisingly, the Mini Hippo combines the best characteristics of each of its parent breeds, resulting in a loyal, sweet and intelligent dog. While each individual pup will have its own distinct personality, in general you can expect a friendly, yet calm dog who is very protective of its family and territory. They are playful and gentle, making them ideal for children but they are also energetic and can be very social if they receive the proper training early on. As a loving and loyal breed, they prefer to cuddle and don’t do well with being left alone for long periods of time. Because they are so intelligent they are also great candidates for obedience and skill training and they will be eager to impress you with their achievements.
Environment
Standing between 18-21 inches tall and weighing between 35-45 pounds, the Mini Hippo is a fairly compact dog, making it a great fit for smaller homes and apartments. That being said, because they do tend to have a lot of energy they will need to get outside at regular intervals for mental and physical stimulation.
Exercise
While daily walks and play sessions are usually enough for Mini Hippos, their superior intellect means they also require regular mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Their intelligence means they respond very well to positive reinforcement training so they usually do very well in obedience classes. They have been used in military work and racing but have not been used in service rolls yet, though they show every indication of excelling in that area as well.
Grooming
They do not have an undercoat and only shed minimally twice a year, making them a good choice for allergy sensitive owners, although they aren’t technically considered hypo-allergenic. Longer coats should be brushed and groomed often and regular bathing is an important part of their grooming routine as their multiple folds can retain dirt.
