COCKAPOO

Temperament: Friendly, Smart, Outgoing
Height: From under 10 to over 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight: From under 6 to over 19 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Dog Breed Group: Hybrid Dogs

ABOUT THE COCKAPOO

The Cockapoo is perhaps the first of the “designer dogs” (not a purebred dog breed), dating back to the 1960s, rather than to just a few years ago.

Breeders combined the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle breeds to make a completely people-oriented hybrid who’s intelligent enough to train easily, hardly sheds, forgives quickly, and is so affectionate that you’ll never feel alone. In fact, you might even have to shut the bathroom door for a minute of privacy.

The Cockapoo blazed the trail among planned hybrids. Also known as the Cockapoodle, Cockerpoo, or Cock-a-Poo, he’s an utterly adorable little dog with a face that could melt a heart of stone.

Generally, 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 is often called a Spoodle. Efforts have been made over the last 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 who isn’t quite the barnacle a Toy Poodle can be, and who began as a sparkle in the eye of a Cocker Spaniel with a lovely, even temperament.

PERSONALITY

Cockapoos are bred more for temperament than for appearance, and they tend to inherit the sweet, loving and friendly natures common with both parent breeds. They are highly intelligent, easy to train and also typically inherit the poodle’s enthusiasm and tendency to be little jokers.

These dogs tend to be extremely friendly and thrive on social interaction. They hate to be left alone and can develop separation anxiety if left solo for long periods. They get along well with other pets and children although, due to their high energy and enthusiasm, they tend to do better with older children and should be supervised around young children.

FEEDING

Recommended daily amount: 1/4 to 3/4 cup of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.

NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

HEALTH

The notion of hybrid vigor is worth understanding if you’re looking for a Cockapoo. Hybrid vigor isn’t necessarily characteristic of mixed breeds; it occurs when new blood is brought in from outside the usual breeding circle — it’s the opposite of inbreeding.

However, there is a general misconception that hybrid vigor automatically applies to mixed breeds. If the genetic pool for the mixed breed remains the same over time, the offspring won’t have hybrid vigor. And if a purebred breeder brings in a dog from an unrelated line, those puppies will have hybrid vigor, even though they’re purebred.

Not all Cockapoos will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.

CARE

Most Cockapoos have a moderate level of energy, but that doesn’t mean they’ll laze around all day. They enjoy a good walk — and need it to keep them from becoming overweight. The best type of exercise, though, is a good play session in the backyard. Expect him to need at least 15 minutes of exercise every day.

The Cockapoo is an adaptable breed. He can live in an apartment, though the smaller varieties seem to do better there than do the Maxi or Standard Cockapoos. They thrive when with their family and can suffer from separation anxiety when left for long periods of time and that can lead to excessive barking and to destructive behavior.

Crate training benefits every dog and is a kind way to ensure that your Cockapoo doesn’t have accidents in the house or get into things he shouldn’t. A crate is also a place where he can retreat for a nap. Crate training at a young age will also help your Cockapoo accept confinement if he ever needs to be boarded or hospitalized.

Don’t stick your Cockapoo in a crate all day long, however. It’s not a jail, and he shouldn’t spend more than a few hours at a time in it except when he’s sleeping at night (although he would much prefer your bed). Cockapoos are people dogs, and they aren’t meant to spend their lives locked up in a crate or kennel.

GROOMING

Cockapoos can have different types of fur, including soft, tight curls, big looping curls, loose waves, and straight hair. Most have a curly or wavy coat, but a minority possess either the typical Poodle coat or the straight Cocker coat. Curly or straight, it’s always soft.

Even if they go to a professional groomer, all Cockapoos need regular, often daily brushing to prevent mats as well as regular baths in between appointments with the groomer. Those with the curlier Poodle coat require professional grooming every four to six weeks. Either way, it’s essential to take proper care of the coat, because without regular grooming it will quickly become a matted mess that can cause painful skin infections at the roots of the hair.

Keep the Cockapoo’s ears clean and dry. Also, Cockapoos are among the breeds that commonly develop reddish-brown tear stains beneath their eyes. Your best bet is to wash the face daily, carefully wiping beneath the eyes to prevent stains from setting.

Your Cockapoo doesn’t need a bikini wax, but you do need to trim the genital area for cleanliness or have the groomer shave the lower belly. This prevents urine from staining and stinking up the coat and feces from getting caught in the hair around the anus.

The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every week or two. Small dogs are especially prone to periodontal disease, so brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

SOME PICTURES ABOUT THIS BREED

Source: dogtime, hillspet, vetstreet.