In this article: Quick Facts About Cockapoos | Finding a Cockapoo Breeder | Are Cockapoos Good Pets | Do they need much exercise? | Feeding | Grooming | Health | Ownership Costs | Do they bark a lot? | Can they be left alone?
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Cockapoos are loveable, teddy bear-like dogs, easy to train and friendly. Cockapoos are the offspring from a purebred Cocker Spaniel and purebred Poodle cross. Their popularity has increased over recent years. The Cockapoo is known to be a loyal, intelligent pet, which has a lovely nature. It is a hybrid dog breed, which has been bred to have a good temperament and a light shedding coat. The Cockapoo has an affectionate personality, and is generally intelligent and active. They are suitable to have with young children, who will be able to satisfy its want to play, and will get on well with both people and other animals. Suitable for a small apartment or flat, due to their relatively small size, they will not feel like they are imposing on your home.
Group: A cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.
Size: Small to Medium.
Height: 25-38cm.
Weight: 10kg.
Average Lifespan: 12-14 years.
Moulting Level: Low.
Grooming: Regular brushing.
Exercise Required: 15-30 minutes of exercise per day.
Temperament: Intelligent, friendly, active.
General: Cockapoos get along with children, the elderly and people with disabilities, and can live happily with pets including cats.
Ensure that any Cockapoo breeder is a reputable breeder that uses safe and effective breeding practices. You will find that a good breeder, who has a good reputation to uphold, will be happy to invite you into their home or kennel area, to enable you to see the surroundings which the puppies are raised in. This means you will be able to see for yourself that the puppies have been looked after and loved for the important initial few weeks of their life. Make sure to research any potential breeder at first. Their social media profiles should offer a glimpse of what they are like, along with any reviews or posts from others which may be shared on these. You could ask your local vet if they know of any Cockapoo breeders in the area, or talk to local owners.
Alternatively to a breeder, you could look at the option of adopting a Cockapoo. It is a much cheaper route, but can be even more rewarding to find your new friend. Plenty of dogs arrive at rescue centres through no fault of their own and will be in need of a loving new owner. It is rare that you will be able to find a Cockapoo puppy through this route, and you must be aware that any rescue dog could come with some badly acquired habits - but if you can cope with these factors, this is definitely a route worth considering.
When buying a Cockapoo, you will notice differences of F1, F1b or F2. An F1 is a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle bred together to create a Cockapoo, and is known as the first generation crossbreed. F1b means that one parent is a Cockapoo and the other is a Poodle or a Spaniel. F2 means that both parents are Cockapoos.
Cockapoos are generally known to have fun, cute and friendly personalities and temperaments. Generally, they are good with people, children, cats and other dogs. If possible, it will help if you can see the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle that are the parents of Cockapoo puppies, as you will be able to glean an insight into their temperaments. Cockapoos are easy to fall in love with and fit perfectly for a hug. They are small to medium-sized dogs, who are big enough to have a play session with but small enough that they don’t feel they take up a lot of the room if you live in a smaller property.
Being the combined result of two of the smartest dogs as parents, Cockapoos are an intelligent dog and relatively easy to train.
Being a small to medium-sized dog, Cockapoos do not need a huge amount of exercise to keep them fit and healthy. You will be looking at around 15-30 minutes of exercise each day to satisfy them. In addition to this, you will find they will want to play at times through the day, so it is good to have some dog toys around and that you interact with them frequently to allow them to exercise their mind as well!
When you collect your Cockapoo puppy, your breeder will tell you what food they have been feeding and may give you some to take home with you. It is generally advisable to continue with that food while your puppy settles into their new home, but after the first few weeks you may wish to change it to something you are happier with. Pay particular attention to the ingredients listed on the packaging before making your decision, and consider which food-type best suits your lifestyle as well as your new companions. You can choose cooked, wet foods which come in pouches and cans, or dry foods which offer convenience to you.
The Cockapoo is a low shedding breed, however the breed does require a reasonable level of grooming, to help them to maintain a healthy coat. Regular, ten-minute brushing sessions, four to five times a week, should be enough to keep your new companion happy. A comb, brush, and nail clippers are ideal kit to have.
Cockerpoos tend to be a healthy breed, but like all breeds are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware of these and prepared if the ailments arise, the list below covers the most common problems.
Cockapoos are considered to be designer dogs. As a result, they are not cheap to buy, and this is especially true if you are looking for a first cross, purebred Cocker, with purebred Poodle (F1).
The likely lifetime cost for a Cockapoo will need to be considered, and will typically include the following.
The list above does not include veterinary costs if your pet becomes sick or injured, so these average lifetime costs could be even higher.
Cockapoos are great indoor family pets and do not tend to be known for barking a lot. However, with them being both active and intelligent, it is important to provide them with toys and activities to keep them entertained, engaged and stimulated.
Like most dogs, Cockapoos can be prone to separation anxiety which can manifest itself in a number of ways; from vocalisations (howling and/or barking) as soon as you leave the room, to destructive behaviour, or even toileting. Thankfully with training, most dogs can overcome separation anxiety and be trained to be left alone (more information on treating seperation anxiety in dogs can be found here).
As a general rule, Cockapoos should not be left alone for more than 8 hours but ideally you should limit your time apart from them to no more than 3-4 hours. Alternatives such as boarding or hiring a dog walker should be considered if that isn’t possible for your situation.
In recent years the number of Doggy Daycare providers have expanded rapidly. Whilst this can be relatively expensive, it does have the advantage of both socialising your dog with the other dogs there, and as well as providing peace of mind that your dog is being supervised for the entire day. However, if Doggy Daycare is out of your price range there are other options, such as using a dog walking service. Services such as Rover or Wag! offer skilled walkers at affordable prices. This option is appropriate when you know you’ll be gone longer than four hours. In turn, your dog will have a chance to go to the bathroom and exercise while you’re away.
Investing in a mentally stimulating toy is a great way to keep your Cockapoos separation anxiety at bay. Toys such as the ‘kong’ stuffed with food, are excellent at distracting your dog for the first 20-30 minutes when you leave.
