Cockapoo - Charming Designer Breed

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The Cockapoo is one of the oldest deliberate crossbreeds, or designer breeds, whose origin and breeding start in the 1960s. When talking about designer breeds, 50+ years is quite a long time, especially when most designer breeds started in the 1990s.

These charming little dogs are known by several names, which include cockadoodle, cockapoo, cockapoodle, and coc-a-poo. They were created to become the ultimate companion and a low-shedding family pet.

However, when it comes to designer breeds, there are some things you should know before you decide to get one. So, let’s see what lies behind this cute little dog.

What is a Cockapoo?

The Cockapoo is a crossbreed between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle. It is a designer breed whose purpose was to get the best characteristics both these breeds have. Most designer breeds that are Poodle mixes were created with the Poodle’s intelligence and non-shedding traits.

The same thing was in mind when people started creating the Cockapoo. Dog breeders in the 1960s wanted to create a breed that would be an ideal companion with a less active character than the Poodle and the sweet and loving nature of the Cocker Spaniel. Unfortunately, when it comes to designer breeds, we cannot be sure which traits exactly will be inherited. Before you decide to go for one of these dogs, ask the breeder if you can meet the puppies to check their characters first.

What does a Cockapoo look like?

Predicting the future appearance of a hybrid dog is nearly impossible. It all comes down to what genes has a specific puppy inherited. Puppies from the same litter can have different sizes, colors, and coat textures. There are just too many possibilities and gene combinations to precisely predict what a puppy will look like.

Based on the large numbers of Cockapoo dogs, we can conclude that most of these dogs weigh between 6 and 30 pounds and are 10 - 15 inches tall. Most dogs are a cross between the Minature Poodle and the Cocker, so the size could be somewhat predicted. They can have wavy, straight, or curly coats, depending on what genes are dominant, and can come in a wide range of colors.

Poodles come in different sizes, and those sizes are the Standard, the Miniature, and the Toy. Cocker Spaniels are the same sizes and don’t have varieties within the breed. There are different Cocker Spaniel breeds like the English and the American Cocker Spaniel, so the future puppies’ temperament and appearance will be determined by which exact breed was used for crossbreeding.

What kind of temperament do these dogs have?

Again, it is difficult to say how exactly the future puppy will act and behave. Still, based on studying this crossbreed, breeders concluded that most of Cockapoos are friendly, relatively easy to train, and they love interacting and spending time with their humans. These dogs have a happy temperament that gets along well with just about everyone.

These dogs can be more or less active, depending on the heritage of their parents. Cockers and Poodles can be used for sports such as agility, obedience, or anything that requires a quick and agile dog, so if such a sporting dog was used for breeding, it is natural to assume that their offspring will be more active.

They are generally intelligent dogs with a tendency to learn things very quickly. Poodles are considered one of the smartest dog breeds in the world, and that is a trait they will most likely pass to the Cockapoo puppies.

A dog’s temperament can be influenced by different things - it is always a question of nature and nurture. A puppy can be shy at first, but if they were adequately trained and socialized, they could grow up to be happy, friendly, and sociable dogs. Make sure your Cockapoo puppy starts the socialization process as soon as it is safe (after vaccinations), and you can start training them as soon as they arrive at your home.

Mini Cockapoo

Luckily, some specific breeders specialize in breeding the smallest members of this designer breed family. They are called the Mini Cockapoo and are created by crossbreeding the Toy Poodle with the Cocker Spaniel.

Toy Poodles are tiny; they are about 10 inches tall and weigh 4 - 6 pounds. They will impact the size of the puppies, and that is how Mini Cockapoos are created. Minis should measure around 11 inches and are significantly smaller than the rest of this designer breed.

Maxi Cockapoo

The Maxi Cockapoo is the offspring of a Standard Poodle (the largest Poodle) and the Cocker Spaniel. As one might expect, these dogs are larger than your average Cockapoo, and Maxis inherit their size from the Poodle side of the family.

Maxis usually have a Standard Poodle mother, which is safer for larger puppies to develop. A small Cocker might have problems bearing so large puppies, so they should never have a Cocker mother.

Both Maxi and Minis have similar temperaments and coats; the most significant difference is their size.

Are these dogs healthy?

When talking about designer or mixed breeds, the term “hybrid vigor” is casually thrown around. That term implies that crossbreeds are healthier because they have a larger gene pool. That is not necessarily true, and genes do not work that way.

Over the past six decades, vets and scientists have studied this breed, and there are some known health issues Cockapoos can have. This doesn’t mean that these dogs will develop any of these problems; it just means that you should be aware of them as a future Cockapoo owner. Those health concerns are;

• Patellar luxation
• Liver problems
• Allergies
• Hip dysplasia
• Ear infections
• Cataracts

Cockapoos are considered relatively healthy hybrids and have a lifespan of 12 - 15 years.

Cockapoo for sale

When getting a dog, it is vital that you get it from a responsible breeder who is not in it only to make money. Finding a Cockapoo for sale ad does not guarantee that a puppy you found is healthy or well-bred. If you combine that with a lower price, that is usually a red flag that needs to be avoided.

Getting a designer breed should not be any different than getting a pureblooded dog. Make sure you find a responsible, reputable breeder that is taking good care of their breeding dogs and the puppies they produce. Ask the breeder as many questions as possible about the Cockapoo puppies they are selling. Ask about their temperaments, breeding history, health tests and certificates, inherited diseases, recommendations, etc.

Getting a dog is a process that should take time. Don’t be hasty and do your research about the designer breed you are interested in. Make sure you have enough time and space to accommodate a dog because that is a huge responsibility that will last for at least ten years.

World Dog Finder team