Key Facts
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The beloved and friendly cockapoo is a mix between a poodle and a cocker spaniel.
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Cockapoos have unique personalities and needs, individual from both their parent breeds.
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This article is a guide to the best practices in caring for cockapoo pups.
A Cockapoo puppy is a mix between a poodle and a cocker spaniel. Cockapoo puppies have gained an array of nicknames like cockerpoo, cock-a-poo, and even cockapoodle. Cockapoo puppies get along well with others and have an outgoing disposition in general. These adorable fluffballs of joy have become one of the most popular family dogs, and part of the reason they’re so great in families is that they’re easy to train and super friendly.
Cockapoo puppies often have fluffy and curly coats, which help keep them warm in colder months, but even though they have a lot of fur they still enjoy fun in the sun. As long as owners watch their cockapoos for signs of dehydration or heat stroke, these dogs love a few good hours enjoying warm weather.
Cockapoo Puppies Care Package
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History
People started breeding cockapoo puppies in the early 1960s on purpose. Cockapoo puppies have grown to immense popularity over the past few years. Because the cockapoo is a mixed breed, it doesn’t belong to any specific breed group.
Cockapoo puppies gain traits from either of their two parent breeds. Often, mixed breeds won’t adapt qualities equally from two different breeds, but they lean more heavily to reflect one specific breed. Cockapoo puppies adopt their poodle relative’s playful and energetic attitudes, or they might reflect the attentive needs of a cocker spaniel.
Throughout history, dog breeds have been used for work or companionship. Although the cockapoo is a breed created for companionship, these dogs also come from two very hard-working breeds. Poodles worked as water hunters originally, which is a big reason poodles are so easy to train and eager to please their owners. Cocker spaniels, on the other hand, hunted birds. Thanks to the influence of their parent breeds, cockapoo puppies are sure to have tons of energy and playfulness. These dogs have a history of training on agility courses because of how speedy and easy they are to train. Many cockapoos have been successfully trained as therapy dogs as well.
Cockapoo Size
Cockapoo puppies are mixes of a cocker spaniel and a poodle, which means they come in a few different sizes. The standard poodle is a medium to large size dog, but the poodle also comes as a miniature or toy-sized poodle. The size of the poodle parent will greatly affect the size of the cockapoo offspring.
Cockapoos stand between 10 and 15″ tall, and their weight ranges from under 6 pounds to over 20 pounds. If a toy poodle is used to create this breed, the dog is likely to be on the smaller ends of these scales.
Potential cockapoo puppy owners should know that not all dogs will fit these guidelines. These measurements are just general measurements and won’t always be correct for every type of cockapoo. Mixed breeds such as the cockapoo have a less uniform breed standard and, therefore, these dogs don’t always match their descriptions as closely as purebred dogs do.
The cockapoo’s size is ideal for many families since they’re small and don’t take up much room, but they are big enough to still play with other dogs. Many smaller dogs are more fragile, but cockapoos maintain their sturdy build in their smaller frames. Their variety in size is also part of what makes these dogs such versatile pets.
Cockapoo Temperament
Cockapoo puppies are some of the friendliest and more social dog breeds. These dogs are popular for their easy-going personalities and even temperaments. Even though poodles are very friendly dogs, they are prone to being standoffish to strangers. Thanks to their relation to the cocker spaniel, the cockapoo is much warmer, on average, than its poodle relatives.
The cockapoo has a very even temperament and typically enjoys doing whatever its owners are doing. Cockapoo puppies are very people-oriented, and they love spending time with their families. Some of these dogs may even follow their owners into the bathroom.
Even though this mixed breed is known for its friendly temperament, dogs develop behavioral problems if their exercise and mental stimulation needs aren’t met. Dogs like the cockapoo have a lot of natural energy bundled up in them, so they’re excited to get it out throughout the day. Providing adequate activity and exercise allow cockapoo puppies to release their energy. Meeting their daily activity requirements makes sure these dogs are happy and behaviorally healthy.
Cockapoo Intelligence
Cockapoos are very intelligent animals. The poodle is one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world and is often renowned for its incredible intelligence and ease of training. Because the cockapoo is half a poodle, these dogs have similarly stunning intelligence levels.
Cockapoo puppies learn quickly and respond well to positive encouragement. Potential cockapoo owners need to ensure they never scold their dog for making an error during training sessions. It’s essential to keep training sessions as positive as possible, so cockapoo puppies keep their playful energy and their desire to please their owner. By providing positive reinforcement during training sessions, owners are teaching their dogs to enjoy learning.
Shedding
The Cockapoo has a single-layer long coat that is curly or straight, but it isn’t typically kinky. These dogs are found in many different color varieties as well. Black-coated cockapoo puppies are common solid-color coats, but these dogs also have multi-colored coats. Their fur comes in cream, white, apricot, red, chocolate, or any mixture of these colors.
Thanks to the cockapoos’ relationship with the poodle, these dogs are very light shedders. Technically, no dog is 100% hypoallergenic because allergies are caused by hair, fur, dandruff, saliva, and general bacteria that every dog has, but dogs who shed less tend to irritate allergies less. People who suffer from dog allergies should rest easy knowing that some breeds like the cockapoo are great companions for people with allergies. They shed very little, and an ongoing grooming regime takes care of excess fur.
Cockapoo Health
Cockapoo pups live 12 to 15 years old, although the smaller versions of cockapoo puppies tend to live on the longer side of that scale. These dogs need lots of daily activity to be in their best physical and cognitive health. Cockapoo puppies are typically very healthy dogs, but they have their own risk of developing a few different health conditions.
There’s a common misconception that mixed breeds are automatically healthier than their parent breeds, but this is untrue. According to science published in Canine Medicine and Genetics, Dr. E. Burnett et al. report, “Some sought-after traits in designer crossbreeds are misconceptions that risk canine welfare, including relinquishment risk, if owner expectations are not met.”
These dogs still have a predisposed risk of any conditions their parent breeds are at risk of experiencing. Poodles and cocker spaniels are at risk of developing the same issues, like hip dysplasia or heart disease. Cockapoo puppies maintain the same level of risk as either one of their parent breeds if they don’t already have a higher risk overall.
Cognitive Conditions
Cockapoo puppies are generally happy animals. These dogs maintain their carefree and outgoing nature as long as they are kept mentally and physically healthy. Dogs that don’t receive adequate amounts of physical activity might respond by having raised stress levels.
When dogs don’t rid themselves of their excess energy, they become stressed and might act out by becoming destructive or ignoring their owner’s commands. To avoid this undesirable behavior, provide daily walks as well as toys for dogs to entertain themselves.
Anxiety
Cockapoos are incredibly friendly and loyal dogs, and while these traits are great, it also means they’re likely to experience separation anxiety. The cockapoo might get anxious if they’re left alone for too long or if they experience dramatic changes in their regular day-to-day lives.
Owners help their dogs reduce anxiety by providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation, allowing dogs to use their noses to calm them. Giving your dog a toy, treat, or bed helps calm them in times of anxiety. Spending more time playing with your dog creates a stronger bond as well. A strong human-dog bond helps your dog feel more relaxed when you are away for longer periods. Strategically provide your dog with mentally stimulating toys to distract your pup when you’re away.
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Calming Dog Products
Comfy dog beds allow your cockapoo pup a place to relax when they experience anxiety and stress. Some owners like to give their dogs treats that calm them down as well. Surrounding your dog with things that remind them of positive experiences is an excellent way to keep them relaxed and happy.
Physical Conditions
Cockapoo puppies have some health conditions they’re predisposed to contract. While these dogs are, overall relatively healthy, many dogs are affected by some minor health conditions. For example, almost 50% of all adult pet dogs in the United States are obese, so cockapoo dogs may become obese. Poodles have a higher risk of obesity because of how much activity they require, and cockapoos carry along this obesity risk.
Cockapoos are predisposed to hip dysplasia and ear infections. Even though these dogs are at risk of these conditions, most cockapoos will live their lives without experiencing any conditions.
Obesity
Cockapoos are high-energy dogs, and even though they don’t grow to be very big, they need a similar amount of stimulation that larger dogs need. When these dogs don’t get enough exercise, they tend to gain weight. Weight gain leads to other issues, such as respiratory or heart disease. If your dog is experiencing any subtle heart or joint issues, obesity will magnify these problems. Dogs with obesity have worse arthritis if they develop hip dysplasia. Overweight dogs also become depressed due to decreased quality of life.
If you’re standing above your cockapoo, you should be able to see their waist. Healthy dogs have an easily visible waistline, but it shouldn’t be too exaggerated or hard to see. Check if your dog is overweight by feeling for their ribs. If you put your hand on your dog’s ribs and apply a little pressure, you should be able to palpate their ribs easily. If you need to put a lot of pressure before you discern the ribs, then the dog is overweight. Dogs that have visible ribs need to gain weight.
Help your dog by providing daily exercise and limiting your dog’s daily calories. Often owners overfeed their dogs because they forget to add treats into their dog’s daily calorie count. When owners record their dog’s calorie intake and activity levels, they better decide whether their dog needs more exercise or less food. By spending more time playing with your dog, they stay physically fit while creating a closer bond.
Ear Infections
The fur of a poodle is curly and dense, and it traps heat in their coats. This comes from a long line of genetics and the fact that poodles used to work in cold water. Fast-forward to the cockapoo, and they have very similar fur thanks to their parent breed. The fur that traps heat also traps moisture, debris, and bacteria, which leads to ear infections.
Easily treat ear infections with a simple DIY ear cleaning solution or a purchased cleaning solution obtained at your local pet store. Just put a cotton ball in the solution to clean the ears and gently rub out a dog’s ears without going inside the canal. It’s a good idea to clean your dog’s ears once a month to keep them clean. When cleaning, massage your dog’s ears and never use a cotton swab to clean the ears.
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Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a condition that occurs when a dog’s hip joint doesn’t align properly. This condition causes arthritis in the joint and benefits from special supplements and nutrients that are meant to target the joints and arthritis.
Help your dog with hip dysplasia by regularly exercising them but avoiding hard contact surfaces like concrete or wood. Using rugs or squishier flooring gives your dog’s joints a break from constant stress. Swimming is a great way for a dog to exercise and keep their range of motion without putting pressure on their joints.
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Oral Health
Many dogs need their teeth brushed more often, and cockapoos benefit from bi-weekly teeth brushing, minimum. Daily brushing is the best way to prevent gum disease and bad breath. If you only brush your dog’s teeth two to three days a week, that is enough to remove tartar buildup.
Cockapoo families will need to make sure they have a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Some dogs don’t adjust well to toothbrushes right away, so consider purchasing a finger brush first. If you want to take extra special care of your dog’s oral health, also provide dental treats. Dental treats are great ways to reward your dog while also caring for their mouth, and these treats are designed to rub off extra plaque and tartar.
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Cockapoo’s Daily Needs
These dogs love learning, and training sessions are great for using up excess energy. Expect to provide daily exercise, and keep in mind some cockapoos will be more energetic than others. If you have a toy cockapoo, they will not need as much exercise as a standard cockapoo.
Energetic dogs need outlets to expel their energy. Cockapoos love to go on daily walks with their owners. By providing daily exercise and toys to play with at home, your dog has an outlet to release excess energy.
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Nutrition
While every dog’s individual needs vary, cockapoos on a typical dry diet eat between a 1/4 cup and 3/4 cup of high-quality food every day. Split these portions into two smaller meals. Potential cockapoo parents should keep in mind that these average measurements are just guidelines.
Every dog’s diet will change based on their daily exercise habits, any other health conditions they have, their gender, and their age.
To make sure your dog is getting proper nutrition, talk to your vet about the best food brands and the proper amount of food your dog should eat.
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Grooming
Part of the reason the cockapoo is a great alternative to a poodle is because of the grooming needs. These dogs do need grooming, but they need much less in comparison to a poodle. While cockapoos are low shedders, they do have more grooming needs than a short-haired dog like a greyhound.
Cockapoos thrive with daily brushing sessions. The more often you practice grooming with your dogs, the more your dog will love being groomed. Daily brushing will help your cockapoo keep their hair in the best shape possible while also keeping up with any shedding.
These dogs need their hair to be trimmed and clipped every once in a while, so cockapoos need to be professionally groomed every few months. Get your cockapoo’s coat trimmed shorter than two or three inches in length. Be sure the hair around their eyes and ears is clipped back to help prevent irritation. Clipping this hair back also makes it easier for your cockapoo to see and prevents ear infections.
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Top Product Picks for This Breed
Cockapoo puppies have apparent needs like food, collar, leash, and harness, and they also benefit from a few other products. Providing a bed and a crate for your dog is a great way to give them a space of their own. When dogs experience anxiety or want to rest, having a place designated just for them offers them a way to relax. Other tools like dog-specific shampoo and nail clippers help keep up with your Cockapoo’s grooming needs. Cockapoos benefit from special brushes to keep their fur clean and detangled.
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Other Resources
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The Friendly and Beloved Cockapoo
These dogs are ultra-friendly, and if you have other pets and you’re looking for a second dog, cockapoo puppies are excellent with other dogs, cats, or other types of animals as long as they get proper training and introduction. Cockapoos are naturally outgoing and love meeting new people and exploring new things. As long as a Cockapoo puppy is adequately socialized and always given encouragement and positive reinforcement, it is easy to teach your Cockapoo to enjoy new things.
As The Telegraph reports in July 2023, the cockapoo’s popularity makes them a favorite family dog. The cockapoo is a wonderful, merry, and loyal companion. These dogs live happily in a big country home or a downtown apartment as long as their needs are met. Because cockapoos are easy to care for and adaptable, they’re excellent choices for both first-time dog folks and long-term dog lovers alike.
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