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Cockapoo Overview
- Dog Breed:
- Cockapoo
- Breed Group:
- Mixed Breed
- Characteristics:
- A crossbreed with a mix of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. The Poodle portion may be Teacup, Toy, Miniature, or Standard size and that will affect the size of the Cockapoo. A happy, sociable, clever, and friendly dog that often has a lot of energy but can also be calm!
- Height:
- <10 inches (Teacup and Toy Cockapoos) 11 to 14 inches (Miniature Cockapoo 15 to 18 inches (Standard Cockapoo)
- Weight:
- <6 pounds (Teacup Cockapoo) 6 to 12 pounds (Toy Cockapoo) 13 to 18 pounds (Miniature Cockapoo) 19 to 24 pounds (Standard Cockapoo)
- Life Span:
- 12 to 15 years
- Coat Colors:
- Black, chocolate, red, apricot, blonde, white, phantom, parti, tuxedo, tricolor, sable, roan.
- Area of Origin:
- USA
- Best For:
- Families and first-time dog owners
Cockapoo Characteristics
About The Cockapoo
They were initially bred in the United States, as an accidental mating
The Poodle portion should give Cockapoos a low-shedding coat
They are a small to medium, mixed breed but can vary in exact size
Cockapoos were first bred in the United States in the 1960s. The first litter produced was from an accidental mating, however, the resulting puppies were so popular that more of this breeding took place. The emphasis of this further breeding was to produce dogs with a friendly, fun, and affectionate temperament, with low shedding and less intense grooming requirements than a pedigree Poodle.
The low shedding, which is a result of the Poodle portion of the breed, is beneficial as it means that Cockapoos can be more suitable pets for those with allergies or sensitivities to dog hair, including asthma and skin rashes.
Cockapoos can be bred using a variety of sizes of Poodle, ranging from tiny Teacups to the larger Standard. Therefore, Cockapoos can vary in size, and new owners can, to an extent, select which size of dog would be best for them. However, it is impossible to predict with accuracy the size that a puppy will eventually be when fully grown, despite the size of their parents.
Cockapoo Breed History
The first litter originated from an accidental mating.
Commonly regarded as the first ‘designer dog’’ breed.
The appearance and temperament of Cockapoos are still too variable for it to be a recognized breed with a breed standard.
Breeding of Cocker Spaniels crossed with Poodles began as early as the 1960s in the United States, but the first mating was not intentional. The puppies produced by this ‘accident’ were attractive, fun-loving, friendly, and affectionate, and were therefore very popular. Subsequent matings planned to create a dog with similar, desirable traits, as well as a hypoallergenic coat.
Because Cockerpoos are a hybrid, bred to create a desirable dog, they are widely considered the first of the ‘designer dog’ trend. Whilst this can be viewed as a negative if you consider the rising price of puppies and the ever-growing plague of puppy farms, Cockapoos are, for the most part, very happy and healthy dogs.
Their popularity is growing year on year so demand for puppies is high. Unfortunately, the risk with overbreeding or indiscriminate breeding is that undesirable traits like anxiety and fear-aggression will become more common.
To be recognized as an official breed, consistency is key. Cockapoos have not yet achieved that consistency, but breeders are aiming to achieve a breed standard of temperaments and traits, which is a step on the path to recognition. Once the breed standard is recognized and consistently achieved, the Cockapoo can be certified as a pure breed. With multiple generations of Cockapoos now in existence, this consistency and the breed standard may soon be within reach.
Cockapoo Size & Weight
The size of a Cockapoo varies from small to medium depending on the size of the Poodle parent.
They vary in height from less than 10 inches to 18inches.
They vary in weight from less than 6 pounds to 24 pounds.
The main variation in size, height, and weight in Cockapoos, comes from the size of Poodle used for breeding. Teacup, Toy, Miniature, and Standard (also known as Maxi) are the four sizes of Poodle and this loosely correlates with the relative size of the puppies produced. However, predicting what exact size a Cockapoo puppy will be in light of their parents’ size is not reliable.
As a general rule, male Cockapoos will be both heavier and taller than female Cockapoos from the same parentage.
Cockapoo Personality & Temperament
Clever, friendly, and sociable.
Fun-loving, playful, energetic but able to relax.
Ideal for first-time dog owners and families.
Cockapoos are often easy to own and love due to their intelligence, trainability, and sociable approachable nature. As long as they have been exposed to new people, pets, and experiences from a young age, their interaction with strangers or new dogs is friendly and predictable. This predictability makes them very suitable as a first dog. That being said, as with any dog they require training, but thankfully their smart nature makes it easy to train them.
Their fun-loving and playful nature means that they are a great family pet, well suited for hours of playtime with children, adults, or other dogs. They do require a fair amount of exercise but will enjoy evenings happy lazing on their bed or having snuggles on their owner’s lap.
Their friendly and sociable nature means that they are usually a joy to be around, taking new experiences in their stride. They are often very enthusiastic to approach other dogs, so ensuring good recall will be important in case they approach dogs that aren’t so friendly and confident.
With their sociable nature comes another downside – their love of constant company. Cockapoos are loyal and friendly companions, but they don’t like to be left alone. Ensuring that you have adequate time to dedicate to a dog before taking on a Cockapoo, and getting them used to being left, in a controlled way, from a young age, will help to reduce their tendency for separation anxiety.
Cockapoo Health & Grooming
Cockapoos are prone to skin allergies and ear infections
The Cocker Spaniel portion of the breed is prone to cataracts
Although they have a low-shedding coat, they do require regular grooming
Cockapoos are prone to skin allergies, which can be to pollen, parasites, dust mites, or food, amongst others. This can cause them to get regular skin rashes and infections, especially in the warmer months. Since the inside of the ear is an extension of the skin, they are also prone to ear infections, especially if they swim or their ears are allowed to get too hairy.
As well as allergies, cataracts, liver disease, hip dysplasia, and luxating patellae (kneecaps) are also conditions that the parent breeds are predisposed to. It is often wrongly assumed that Cockapoos are healthier as they are crossbreeds and have ‘hybrid vigor’. However, this is not necessarily the case.
Cockapoos have a tightly curled coat, and this combined with an active, fun-filled lifestyle makes them prone to knots and mats. Therefore, regular grooming sessions, as well as daily brushing, is necessary to keep their coat and skin healthy. Although they have a low-shedding coat, they are not always hypoallergenic and can still cause allergies in some people.
Cockapoo Training
Relatively easy to train due to their intelligence.
Good recall and unlikely to wander.
Training to avoid separation anxiety is important.
Cockapoos are clever dogs which, when combined with their loyalty and eagerness to please, makes them reasonably easy to train using positive reinforcement. However, they are quite excitable and energetic, as well as being sociable, which could make them prone to distraction. For this reason, it is sensible to begin training in a calm and quiet environment where they are better able to focus.
Cockapoos enjoy their owner’s company so much that they tend not to wander too far, and are relatively easy to train to return to heel. However, their sociable nature does mean they might approach other people or dogs to say ‘hi’. As an owner, it is important to be aware of any nearby dogs that may not want to be approached so that you can intervene and recall them if needed.
Again, due to their sociable and friendly nature, Cockapoos often suffer from separation anxiety. Using positive reinforcement from a young age to get them used to being left, initially for a short time, can help to reduce this.
Cockapoo Exercise Requirements
Relatively easy to train due to their intelligence.
Good recall and unlikely to wander.
Training to avoid separation anxiety is important.
Although Cockapoos have quite high energy levels and require reasonable amounts of exercise, they are not always on the go.
There is no doubt that they need a decent walk or run daily as well as shorter toilet break walks, and they enjoy extra fun and stimulation from toys, balls, ropes, or frisbees. But don’t be fooled, they also know how to relax. They’re just as happy spending an evening curled next to their owner or lying calmy in their bed.
Cockapoos often enjoy swimming, so a trip to the beach, river, or lake for fun and games will help to happy and healthy, but don’t forget to clean their ears afterward!
Cockapoo Diet & Feeding
As an active breed, Cockapoos should have a high-quality diet.
Breed-specific or working dog diets may be a good choice.
Diet should be reviewed at each life stage.
Cockapoos have a reasonable amount of energy and need a diet full of good quality protein and carbohydrate sources. Breed-specific complete diets or a working dog diet may help to provide the calories and nutrition required for this breed. Beware, if feeding a working dog diet there may be higher calories so the dog may need a consistent exercise routine to ensure they don’t gain weight.
Just like with any breed, Cockapoos require different nutrition dependent on their life stage, neuter status, and lifestyle. For example, puppies should be fed a complete puppy diet, whereas dogs over 7 or 8 years old should have a senior diet. Once neutered they can be more prone to weight gain, so a reduced-calorie diet and/or more exercise may be needed.
As with any dog, if Cockapoos eat too much and exercise too little, they can easily become overweight. Monitoring food and treat intake as well as changes in exercise will help Cockapoo owners to maintain their dog’s weight.
Cockapoo Rescue Groups
Cockapoos are becoming more and more popular in the UK, and there are many rescue groups across the country. The details of Cockapoos that need a new home can be found on the following UK based Cockapoo rescue pages:
