A cute little dog with the personality of a big clown. The Cockapoo is arguably the first of the “designer dogs” (not a purebred dog breed), dating back to the 1960s, rather than just a few years ago.
Breeders combined the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle breeds to create a completely people-oriented dog that is intelligent enough to train easily, barely sheds hair, forgives quickly and is so affectionate that you will never feel alone. You may even have to close the bathroom door for a minute of privacy.
Your cockapoo buddy will also love to run around, show his tricks to company, be petted as a therapy dog, or just hang out on your lap. Your lap is theirs, by the way.
Quick Stats: Cockapoo
| Popularity: | Steady since the 1950s |
| Purpose: | Companion or assistance dogs |
| Weight: | 6–30 lbs, depending on the Poodle parent |
| Height: | 10-20 inches |
| Temperament: | Energetic, sociable, and happy. Find out more… |
| Coat: | Varies from long and scruffy, to tight and curly. Find out more… |
Frequently asked Cockapoo questions
| Are they good family dogs? | Yes, provided they are well socialised. |
| Are they hypoallergenic? | They may be low shedding. But no mixed dog breed is truly hypoallergenic. |
| Do Cockapoos Bark? | Yes, but you can train them to bark less. |
| How Long Do They Live? | 10-14 years |
| Do they have any health problems? | Some joint problems, prone to PRA. Increased risk of some rarer conditions. |
Pros And Cons of Getting A Cockapoo
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Loyal and loving | Need lots of exercise |
| May be low shedding | Need lots of mental stimulation |
| Easy to train | High maintenance |
| Clever and active | Prone to barking |
More about this breed
The Cockapoo is a result of planned crossbreeding, he is the progeny of the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel. Also known as the Cockapoodle, Cockerpoo or Cock-a-Poo, he is an extremely cute little dog with a face that can melt a heart of stone.
He is affectionate and accepts everyone – old people, children and other pets. He is also easily sized, small enough to cuddle and big enough to romp with larger dogs. Cockapoos have an infectious zest for life that spreads to everyone around them, that essential joie de vivre that makes every day a celebration. These guys are just happy to be alive.
But what’s the appeal of getting a Cockapoo, rather than a Cocker Spaniel or a Poodle ? It is that, in some ways, the Cockapoo represents two ideals. First, what the Cocker Spaniel was: a sweet and stable temperament, before the breed’s popularity skyrocketed in the wake of Lady and the Tramp. And second, the human-minded Poodle versus the cocker who prefers to follow his nose in the field.
In addition, Cockapoos do not require the level of grooming that Poodles do. Although, you can also shave a poodle less to get a labradoodle look.
Of course, there is a world of difference between intentionally breeding carefully selected purebred dogs versus a Poodle mix, as no one has any idea what his background really is.
The true Cockapoo was bred with the goal of a healthy, hypoallergenic dog with a good temperament. Cockapoo breeders feel that the dog’s health and temperament are far more important than appearance, which is what they continue to strive for (but nevertheless, the Cockapoo tends to be a cute looking dude). You won’t find much, if any, discussions among these breeders about head shape and height.
When the cross works as intended, you get the intelligence and soul of the Poodle with the sturdiness and field soul of the Cocker. Sure, if the crossing doesn’t work, you can end up with a submissive, urinating fear-biter — but that can happen to any mixed breed and any breed with unlucky genes.
In general, the Cocker Spaniel used to create the Cockapoo is an American Cocker Spaniel. But some are the offspring of Poodles and English Cocker Spaniels, the latter often referred to as a rushel. Efforts have been made over the past decade to clearly separate Cockapoos and Spoodles into two different hybrids, and some success has been achieved. If the type of Cocker involved is important to you, be sure to ask.
But all that is neither here nor there for the Cockapoo enthusiast who just wants to hang out with a sweet, cute, attached dog and who started out as a sparkle in the eye of a dog with a wonderfully even temperament.
Cockapoo size and appearance
The size depends on the size of their ancestors.
Poodle | Cocker Spaniel | Cockapoo | |
| Size: | Standard, mini or toy | Medium | Mini, small, or medium |
| Height: | Stnd: 15-24 inches Mini: 10-15 inches Toy: <10 inches | US: 13-16 inches UK: 15-17 inches | 10-20 inches |
| Weight: | Stnd: 40-70lbs Mini: 10-15lbs Toy: 4-6lbs | US: 20-30 lbs UK: 26-34 lbs | 6-30 lbs |
Our cockapoo dogs will get around 35 – 40 cm height and will weigh between 10-20 kg. You can visit the puppies with their mama, take a look at the size of the mother or ask it when you visit our puppies.
Highlights
- The Cockapoo is not known to be a barker. However, some will bark if they see someone approaching their home, or if they are left alone for long periods of time.
- The Cockapoo should be a non-shedding dog with a slight doggy odor to the skin and coat. He needs to be brushed daily, and his hair needs to be trimmed and clipped from time to time.
- They are usually good for allergy sufferers, as they produce small amounts of dander and hair.
- They were developed as companion dogs and tend to be friendly and extremely happy. They do well with other dogs, pets and children; however, older, more considerate children are generally best.
- While the Standard or Maxi Cockapoo doesn’t adapt as easily to apartment life as his smaller cohorts, he can do well if given enough exercise. The ideal situation is a house with a small, enclosed garden.
- He is so intelligent that it is easy to train with positive reinforcement.
- Cockapoos have moderate energy levels, but still need daily exercise. Expect to give him at least 15 minutes a day and offer a variety of activities, such as games of fetch, walks, and good runs.
- To get a healthy dog, you should never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder or pet store.
To find a responsible breeder, visit the breeder. You can immediately see whether it is a good breeder. - Designer dogs, also known as hybrids, are not true breeds – they are crosses of two specific breeds. If you are interested in a Cockapoo puppy, understand that his appearance, size and temperament are not as predictable as purebreds as you don’t know what characteristics of each breed will show up in any given dog.
History
When it comes to designer dogs, the Cockapoo is an old hybrid, popular since the 1960s. The first breeding may have been accidental, but the happy result was a litter of puppies that were intelligent, almost odorless, with a coat with little hair loss. And on top of showing the easy-going and loving nature of the Cocker Spaniel. These puppies were well received and the Cockapoo line began.
Some efforts are being made in America today to establish breed standards and put the Cockapoo on the hard road of becoming a true breed, one that produces offspring with consistent traits. They are one of the few designer breeds that have not been given up at high rates even now, and many breed enthusiasts attribute that desirable circumstance to the Cockapoo’s intelligence and sweet and loving disposition. He has become a highly regarded family dog.
Once the Cockapoo became more famous, it only grew in popularity. Some Cockapoo breeders like to make the Cockapoo a purebred dog and use multi-generational crosses, while other breeders prefer the basic Poodle/Cocker cross. There are Cockapoo clubs, but they are not affiliated because of these different philosophies.
The Cockapoo Club of America was founded in 1999 and, in an effort to create consistency in breeding, created a breed standard. The club promotes breeding of multi-generational Cockapoos with each other rather than creating new first generations. Because this technique is intended to help puppies maintain desirable traits that are not found in all first generation dogs.
The American Cockapoo Club was founded in 2004; these members do not mix generations and do not breed Cockapoo back to a Poodle or a Cocker Spaniel. They, too, have a breed standard and their goal is “to see true Cockapoos bred with lines that trace back to their original roots of AKC Cocker Spaniels and AKC Poodles.”
The North American Cockapoo Registry is also working to establish the Cockapoo as a viable breed. Founded in 1999, this group provides certification for Cockapoos, which are the result of the first through sixth generations. The registry states that “a true Cockapoo is ONLY a deliberate, planned cross of a purebred Cocker Spaniel with a purebred Poodle.”
Breeding philosophies aside, the Cockapoo’s popularity hasn’t just remained steady — it’s increased over the decades. With the help of responsible breeders and national organizations and clubs, the Cockapoo, in one form or another, could be on its way to becoming much more than a ‘designer breed’.
Size
The Cockapoo is bred in four different size categories:
- The teacup toy is less than 4 kilograms in weight and less than 25 centimeters in height. (We don’t have, and will be very hard to find)
- The Toy Cockapoo can grow to 25 centimeters in height, but has a sturdier build, the taller ones tipping the scales at just under 6 pounds. (We don’t have, and will be very hard to find)
- The miniature Cockapoo weighs 6 to 9 kilograms and ranges between 28 and 36 centimeters in height.
- The Standard or Maxi Cockapoo must weigh over 19 pounds and be at least 38 centimeters high.
Temperament
Intelligent and easy to please, the Cockapoo was established as a companion dog. He’s kind and happy, happy, happy. He has an outgoing nature and usually gets along with everyone. Depending on his temperament, he can be active or just snuggle up on the couch with you.
He has the intelligence of his poodle ancestors, but also the sweet nature of his Cocker Spaniel heritage. If the parents don’t have the loving quality expected of a Cockapoo, then neither will their offspring.
Like any dog, the Cockapoo needs early socialization – exposure to many different people, sights, sounds and experiences – when they are young. Socialization helps ensure that your Cockapoo puppy has a good foundation for a social life.
He prefers to be with his family at all times and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. He can be easy to train, although that depends on the temperament of the parents. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train a Cockapoo. He can reach a high level of obedience with time and patience.
Concern
Most Cockapoos have moderate energy levels, but that doesn’t mean they will laze around all day. They love a good walk and need exercise to keep them from putting on too much weight. However, the best type of exercise is a good play session in the backyard. Expect him to need at least 15 minutes of exercise every day.
The Cockapoo is a flexible breed. He can live in an apartment, although the smaller varieties seem to do better there than the Maxi or Standard Cockapoos. None of them are allowed to live outside or in kennels as they were bred to be a companion dog. They thrive in their family and can suffer from separation anxiety if left for long periods of time. Separation anxiety can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.
Bench training benefits every dog
However, don’t crate your Cockapoo all day long. It’s not a prison, and he shouldn’t spend more than a few hours in it at a time, except when he’s sleeping at night. Cockapoos are people dogs and are not supposed to spend their lives locked up in a crate or kennel.
Nutrition
Recommended Daily Allowance: 1/4 to 3/4 cup of high quality dry food per day, divided into two meals.
NOTE: How much your adult dog eats will depend on his size, age, physique, metabolism and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like humans, and they don’t all require the same amount of food. It goes without saying that a very active dog needs more than a couch potato dog. The quality of the dog food you buy also makes a difference: the better the dog food, the more it nourishes your dog and the less you have to shake it in your dog’s food bowl.
Keep your Cockapoo in good shape by measuring his food and feeding him twice a day, rather than leaving the food outside all the time. If you are not sure if he is overweight, give him the eye test and the practice test.
Look at him first. You should be able to see a waist. Then put your hands on his back, thumbs along the spine, fingers spread downwards. You should be able to feel but not see his ribs without pressing hard. If you can’t, he needs less food and more exercise.
Coat color and care
The Cockapoo has a single, long coat that can range from straight to loose curls, but it shouldn’t be kinky. Cockapoos can be found in all the colors and color combinations common to both Cocker Spaniels and Poodles – a richer variety of coat colors than is common in many other breeds.
The Cockapoo is usually seen au naturel, but many people like to clip the coat. However, it should only be trimmed to a length of 5 to 7 inches. Hair around the eyes needs to be trimmed to allow for visibility, so he doesn’t give the impression of an Old English Sheepdog. The coat should be brushed daily, see coat care for dogs.
While it’s different for every Cockapoo, a puppy that is the result of multigenerational breeding is believed to be odorless and not shedding hair (although “hypoallergenic” is a fantasy as every dog
Because his floppy Cocker ears block air circulation, the ears should be checked and cleaned weekly to prevent ear infections. Gently wipe away the wax – only the part you can see! – with a cotton ball moistened with a cleaning solution recommended by your veterinarian. (Do not insert cotton swabs or anything else into the ear canal, as that can damage the ear canal.) Your Cockapoo may have an ear infection if the inside of the ear smells foul, looks red or appears tender, or shakes its head frequently or scratches his ear.
You can also brush your dog’s teeth from time to time, although this is not really necessary. You can also give a bone specially developed for dental hygiene.
Check once or twice a month that the nails are not too long. Trim as needed if your dog is not wearing them out naturally to avoid painful tears and other problems. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they are too long. Dog toenails have blood vessels, and cutting too far can cause bleeding. Your dog may not cooperate the next time the nail clippers come out. So, if you don’t have experience trimming dog nails, ask a vet or groomer for tips.
Start accustoming your Cockapoo to being brushed and examined when he’s a puppy. Treat his paws regularly – dogs are sensitive to their feet – and look inside his mouth. Make grooming a positive experience full of praise and rewards, and you’ll lay the groundwork for simple veterinary exams and other actions when he’s an adult.
While trimming, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation of the skin, in the nose, mouth and eyes, and on the feet. Eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early.
Children and other pets
The Cockapoo does well with young people, although he generally prefers families with older, more considerate children. He also gets along well with other dogs and pets.
As with any breed, you should always teach children how to approach and handle dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent either party from biting or pulling the ear or tail.
Teach your child to never approach a dog while he is eating or sleeping, or try to take the food away from the dog. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unattended with a child.