A Cockapoo is a mixed breed dog cross between an American Cocker Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.
Also known as the Cockapoodle, Cockerpoo, or Cock-a-Poo. The Cockapoo crossbreed was developed as early as the 1940s. This breed is wildly popular in America.
Most Cockapoo breeders want to make the Cockapoo a purebred dog and use multigeneration crossing. The North American Cockapoo Registry is also working to establish the Cockapoo as a viable dog breed.
A Cockapoo is an adorable small dog with a big personality. These dogs are very affectionate and love to play all day.
When it gets to be nap time, you will find them right on your lap, which is their preferred place to lay!
Cocker Spaniel Poodle Mix History
We do not know very much about the Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix, but we do know it was developed at the beginning of the designer breed craze in the 1960s. Likely this mix was developed at first by accident but became so popular that many breeders breed this mix.
Let’s learn more about the parents that make up this breed below:
Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel originated in Spain hence the name Spaniel. This breed was initially bred as a hunting companion, where it was used to retrieve the birds that were shot down.
Eventually, the Cocker Spaniel breed made its way to America on the famous Mayflower in the 1700s. The dog breed was still used for flushing out and hunting small game as well as a companion dog.
The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1878. Today, the parent breed is still a beloved dog breed and is used in a few mixed breeds.
Poodle
The Poodle also has a long history that dates back to the 1500s in Germany. The Poodle also exhibits great intelligence and has been used to aid owners in hunting too.
Poodles were used to retrieve the animals that have fallen in the water after they have been shot. This breed was used in hunting for a very long time and then suddenly became a nobility dog and a royal symbol.
Many people in the nobility in France sought after this dog breed. Eventually, the breed made its way around the world and came to the United States, where the American Kennel Club recognized it in 1887.
Cocker Spaniel Poodle Mix Appearance
The size of the Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix will greatly affect the appearance of your dog. I explain the different sizes more in-depth in the size category below.
Your Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix can also take appearance traits from both the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle. So each puppy can look quite different.
The head of your dog will be rounded with long floppy ears, much like the Cocker Spaniel. Your dog will have an overall muscular build, even if it is one of the smaller sizes.
Your dog will likely have teddy bear brown eyes and a cute little black nose. The dog can also come in a variety of colors, with the most common being tan, white, or brown.
Cocker Spaniel Poodle Mix Coat
The coat of your dog will truly depend on which traits your dog inherits from which parent. There are three major different coat types, they are:
- Super tight curl coat
- Medium curl to wavy
- Flat straighter coat
Each coat will be very thick as both parents of this mix have very thick coats. Even though the coat will be thick, it will not be a double coat only a single layer.
Even though this not a hypoallergenic dog it still sheds far less than some of the other mixed breeds. The intention when this breed was created was to make a low shedding dog breed.
What Colors Do They Come In?
Here are a few of the colors that your Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix may come in:
- Black
- Brown
- Silver
- Cream
- White
- Red Hues
- Tan
- Sable
- Merle
The nose will be the traditional black color and the eyes will be brown.
Cockapoo Size
The cockapoo is bred in four different size groups.
Teacup Toy: The Teacup Toy is less than six pounds in weight and they are also less than 10 inches in height
The Toy Cockapoo: This group weighs around 12 pounds and less. Reaching about 10 inches in height.
The Miniature Cockapoo: This group weighs between 13 to 18 pounds, and they range between 11 to 14 inches tall.
The Standard Cockapoo: This group should weigh right around or more than 19 pounds. They should also be at least 15 inches tall.
Cockapoo Health Issues
Not all Cockapoos will get any of these health problems but it’s good to be aware of them. In no way are we saying your dog has this or will have these.
Cataracts: The dog’s eye will become cloudy, and your dog may have poor vision. This usually occurs in old age, and it can be removed to improve the dog’s vision.
Patellar Luxation: The patellar is the knee cap, and luxation means dislocation. Patellar luxation is when the knee joint slides out of its place, causing the dog pain. The dogs may live normal lives with this condition without you knowing.
Hip Dysplasia: This is an inherited condition where the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip bone. This can cause bad arthritis in the dog if not taken care of.
Allergies: Allergies are very common in all dog breeds. There are three types of allergies food, contact, and inhalant allergies. Treatments vary according to cause and may need dietary restrictions, medications, and environmental changes.
Ear Infections: This can become more frequent with a Cockapoo because of their floppy ears that can trap more moisture, dirt, and debris. Ask your vet home to keep your dog’s ear clean.
Liver Disease: This is really all about genes because Cocker Spaniels are more prone to getting this; just ask your breeder about the liver history of the parents.
Life Expectancy of a Cockapoo
The Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle can live an estimated life span of 12 to 15 years. When you mix two purebreds together, it can create a healthier dog as it will breed out underlying health conditions.
So expect your Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix to live between 12 to 15 years and sometimes even longer based on your dog’s health.
Cockapoo Temperament
A Cockapoo has a great friendly temperament. A Cockapoo does very well with young kids but usually does the best with older children. Cockapoo’s do very well with other dogs too.
This mix is brilliant and intelligent which makes training much easier. The dog will still need a firm hand but shouldn’t have too much trouble training.
This is a very lovable dog who will keep you smiling all day long! The Cockapoo loves to spend quality time with its owner laying back on the couch.
Cockapoo Grooming
Cockapoos have a single long coat that can either be straight or loose curls. All Cockapoos can come in different colors and color combinations.
Most people like to keep their Cockapoos groomed, and haircut and the hair around the eyes should be trimmed so they can have better visibility. Their coats should be brushed daily.
You should clean your Cockapoos ears weekly to prevent ear infections. You should also trim your dog’s nails once or twice a month to prevent tears.
Thankfully the coat of this mix does not shed like other dog breeds. You will still see some minimal shedding
Cockapoo Exercise
Most Cockapoos have a moderately high level of energy. They enjoy a good walk every day to help keep them from getting overweight.
The best type of exercise for these dogs is a good play session outside in the backyard. Depending on the size of your Cockapoo will affect how much exercise it needs each day.
You should be giving your dog around one hour of exercise a day. This can be broken up into two separate exercise sessions.
Children are also a great help when exercising your dog.
Cockapoo Living Conditions
The Cockapoo is an extremely adaptable dog breed. They can live in apartments, but they should never live outside in kennels.
They are bred to be campaign dogs, so if they are living inside they can suffer from separation anxiety when left for long periods of time.
Crate training is helpful because it will benefit the dog and you. This is a place where your dog can retreat for a nap. It is also a way for you to feel comfortable with them not making accidents in your house.
Make sure you don’t keep your Cockapoo in there all day. It isn’t supposed to be jail; just a place for your dogs to just spend a few hours.
This breed of dog is meant to be around people not locked up in a crate or kennel all day.
Cockapoo Feeding
The recommended daily amount of dog food this breed should have is ¼ to ¾ high-quality dry food.
How much your dog eats all depends on its weight, size, age, and build. Just like people they don’t all need the same amount of food.
Since there are so many different sized Poodle parents it is best to ask your veterinarian for exact feeding guidelines and amounts.
The quality of your dog food also makes a big difference. The better the food the more nourishment it will give your dog. Remember to feed your dog twice a day and give them plenty of water.
Cocker Spaniel Poodle Mix Training
The Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix is another mixed breed that is absolutely just filled with energy. Obedience training is something that will be extremely important to keep your dog under control.
This will teach your dog valuable skills in listening and responding well to commands. This is a quite intelligent mixed dog breed so simple tasks like potty training can be picked up easily by your dog after consistent training.
Always train your dog with reward-based training to keep your dog interested. This will also teach your dog that they did something correct and got a treat so they will continue to repeat that behavior to get more treats.
Overall this mixed breed should be quite easy to train as the Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix likes to please its owner.
Cocker Spaniel Poodle Mix Puppies
Start your search for a Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix puppy by looking for a breeder that breeds first generation Cockapoos. This is how you get a truly authentic mixed breed.
Also, make sure you do your research on breeders. You want to choose a breeder that takes pride in breeding practices as well as one that has healthy dogs.
Stay away from puppy mills and pet stores that sell the most popular mixed breeds. These dogs are farmed and not always the healthiest.
When you do finally find a breeder worth purchasing from, you can expect to pay between $1,000 to $3,000 for a Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix puppy.
Cocker Spaniel Poodle Mix Litter Size
Depending on the size of the Poodle parent will ultimately affect the litter size. If the female is a toy Poodle, chances are there will not be as many puppies in a litter, say if the mother was a standard size Poodle.
A standard Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix litter size will be between four to six puppies.
Close relatives of the Cockapoo
Here are some dog breeds that are similar to the Cockapoo:
- Cocker Spaniel
- Poodle
- Scottish Terrier Poodle Mix
- Schnauzer Poodle Mix
- Yorkshire Terrier Poodle Mix
Do Cockapoos Bark a lot?
The Cockapoo is not a traditionally barky type dog. This is not a dog breed that would be predisposed to barking. Your dog may occasionally bark but it won’t be like a Chihuahua where the breed is just yappy.
If your dog is excessively barking it may be cause for other underlying issues. A quick way to stop your dog from barking is giving your dog plenty of exercise and giving your dog some obedience training.
Is a Cockapoo Hypoallergenic?
While the Poodle parent is hypoallergenic, the Cocker Spaniel is not. So the Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix is not a hypoallergenic mixed dog breed.
This breed is quite less shedder than other mixed breed dogs, which can help an allergy suffer to a certain extent, but no the Cockapoo is not hypoallergenic.
