Combai vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Combai is a dog from Tamilnadu, Southern India, developed to hunt dangerous animals by the Indian royalty. It is a rare breed in India, believed to be close to extinction.

The dog is also known as the Indian Bear Hound, Indian Bear Dog and Tamil Bear Hound. You can spell the name of the dog with a ‘C’ or a ‘K’, Combai or Kombai.

Accurate records as to the history of this dog haven’t been kept, so much of the dog’s history is on speculation, although it is believed with some certainty, that the breed has been around since the 15th century. It is thought that the Combai was developed from Mastiff-type dogs, Pariah dogs, the Thai Ridgeback and Khoisan dogs.

The gorgeous Cockapoo is a mixed-breed dog. He comes from mixing the Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle.Both these dogs have their own histories.

Known as a ‘designer dog’, the Cockapoo has been around since the 1950s in the United States already, although pure-breed associations don’t recognize the Cockapoo. There are some dog clubs that are working to establish the Cockapoo as a recognized breed.The Cockapoo Club of America was founded in 1998.

The Combai is a medium sized dog, standing at between 43 to 64cm in height and weighing up to 34kg. Possibly the most distinctive feature of the Combai is a ridge of fur that runs down its back, with the hair growing in the opposite direction to the dog’s body hair. The coat of the dog is short and smooth with colors being brown, tan or reddish. The dog is medium sized, though size does vary quite a bit . The dog is muscular, lean and athletic with a long tail that curls over the back.

The head of the Combai is fairly narrow with a muzzle which is quite long.The ears of the Combai vary as well and usually drop down or they fold backwards.

Temperament:

The Combai’s temperament is by no means gentle and it is believed to be a fierce, angry breed who will fight other dogs to the death.

It is sometimes hard to believe that the Combai, with training and socialization can make a good family pet. He then loves the company of his human family and remains loyal to them. When trained and socialized they also get on well with children in the home.

It isn’t recommended as a first dog choice for those who have never owned a dog as it does tend to be aggressive. The dog is also very territorial and alert and its why he makes a good watchdog.

The Cockapoo is a mixed breed- or hybrid dog that has become very popular in recent years. He is a small dog, but robust, and stands between 25 – 38cm in height and weighs between 5 and 11kg.

The Cockapoo has floppy ears, and the tail has always been docked to give the dog an attractive, distinctive look. Without tail docking, the natural tail is long.

The coat color of cockapoos is varied and can be anything like tan, white, cream, blonde, brown or black and sometimes even a combination of these colors. Cockapoo coats can vary from silky smooth to tight curls, although they usually fall somewhere in between.

He is a low shedder and you’ll often hear him being described as hypoallergenic, which is an advantage for Cockapoo owners who might be allergic to pet hair.

Temperament:

He is small and robust, always ready for a game and is loving, with a sweet, alert expression on his face. Even as an adult, his antics and looks make one think that he is just a big puppy.

He makes a wonderful pet and gets on well with adults and children as well as other pets. He is intelligent and can be easily trained, and when you shower him with attention he is a happy, energetic, social, fun-loving dog who goes out of his way to please you and be the perfect pet.

The personality of the Cockapoo isn’t set in stone and while one dog may be territorial and somewhat aggressive, others aren’t. Many dogs simply turn out according to the way they are raised.

The Combai is known for its bravery and fearlessness and this is what makes him such an exceptional watch dog as he also doesn’t take kindly to strangers.

The Combai is full of energy too and won’t like to spend days lying around. He will require regular exercise.

Have him trained and socialized and he becomes the most loyal and devoted pet and companion.

Cockapoos have become popular pets because they have a host of good qualities from both the breeds that make this pet – the cocker spaniel and the poodle.

They are jaunty, sweet looking, amicable, social, fun-loving, devoted, loyal, loving and low-shedding as an added perk. He loves spending time with his human family and will become unhappy and bored if he isn’t made to feel absolutely part of the family.

Look after your Cockapoo, because when you provide him with good food, you take time to exercise him and you love him to bits, you’ll find that you’ve got in him all the makings of a wonderful friend.

Most dog experts will agree that the Combai is a breed that enjoys excellent health, and that in fact it seems as though the dog is disease- and parasite resistant.

There are however, always common dog illnesses that every dog owner should be aware of and it is always to a dog owner’s benefit to have their pet tested by Foundations such as the Orthopedic- and Canine Eye Registration Foundation who can perform tests to identify potential health defects before they show up.

Some of the ailments of concern in hounds include progressive retinal atrophy, demoid sinus and hip dysplasia.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

The Retina is the light sensitive part of the eye and also part of the central nervous system. In retinal degeneration, the cells of the retina decline in function and this is what leads to possible blindness.

Progressive retinal atrophy worsens with time. If your pet doesn’t seem to react to light properly it may be wise to have him checked by the vet.

Demoid Sinus:

This defect is found in newborns as well as later on in life, and found primarily in Ridgeback dogs. Dermoid sinus is a neural tube defect that is typically found along your dog’s back, the tail and the neck.

The role of the tubes is to drain out dead cells for example. Not correctly formed, they become infected and an abscess forms with discharge. You will have to get your pet to the vet who will proceed with treatment as your pet can experience pain and discomfort.

The Cockapoo is generally a healthy, good tempered, mix-breed dog and with good care he can live to be anything from 13 – 15 years of age and even older.

Although you’re not likely to find any serious health problems with the Cockapoo, it is wise to know that there are many common dog illnesses that attack any dog, including the Cockapoo. Some of these are hip dysplasia, ear infections, dental disease which can affect other parts of the body as well as eye disorders.

Referring to ear infections, as a long-eared dog, the ears will need to be cleaned with the Cockapoo to avoid ear infections. Simple cleaning methods are explained at the veterinarian. Some eye conditions like progressive retina atrophy are common in both the dogs that make the Cockapoo.

Exercise:

The Combai is an active dog and he will require quite a bit of exercise. A good way of giving him exercise is to take him on walks or allow him to go jogging with you or cycling.

Denying him exercise will make him frustrated and destructive. His high exercise needs mean that he won’t do well in small apartments but will do well in the suburbs or in the country.

Grooming:

With his short coat, the Combai is a low maintenance breed.  This breed should never require professional grooming, only an occasional brushing.  Other than that, he will require his nails being clipped, his ears checked for infection and his teeth cleaned 2 or 3 times a week.

Diet:

High energy dogs like the Combai will require a top quality kibble diet recommended by your vet with raw meat included in his diet from time to time as well as nutritious cooked food added in such as brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken. Fresh water must be available to him night and day non-stop.

Grooming:

The Cockapoo can have a long, straightish coat or it can be wavy or curly. The coat will need a good brushing at least twice a week to avoid matting. He may well need a trip to the doggy parlor to have his hair professionally clipped.

What is also noticeable about this dog is that he is odorless too. Bathing him doesn’t have to be a regular occurrence at all, as too much bathing strips the coat of its natural oils, irritating and drying out the skin.

Exercise:

The Cockapoo is an energetic little dog and he will require exercise from you. Make it fun for him seeing that he is a fun loving dog, and take him on walks and have ball games with him.

Diet:

There are many different commercially produced dog foods, and some of the top quality ones offer an excellent mix of meat, fish or poultry in them with vitamins and minerals.

These top quality foods are usually found at your vet or in special pet stores and are not ordinarily found at the supermarket. Make sure to feed your Cockapoo the right amount of food according to the label on the packaging.

You can also include cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken into his kibble to give him some variety and give him some raw meat in his diet from time to time. This will help with avoiding skin allergies. Make sure he always has access to clean, cool water.