Many love the tiny Cockapoo with a clown personality. It’s a hybrid between two brilliant and balanced in temperament parents, making its traits favorable for family living. The breed is popular worldwide thanks to its amazing personality and good looks.
If you’re interested in this dog, you must have many questions about it. We’re here to answer them and tell you everything you need to know:
- The Cockapoo History
- What Is a Cockapoo? — The Little Clown
- Meet the Parents — Poodle & Cocker Spaniel
- Cockapoos Have Great Looks
- Its Beautiful Curly Coat Comes in Many Colors
- The Toy, Miniature, and Standard Cockapoo
- The Cockapoo’s Warm Personality Gets Everyone Smiling
- Praises & Treats — The Key to Successful Training
- How to Take Care of Your Cockapoo
- What Are the Breed’s Health Concerns?
- Where to Adopt or Buy a Cockapoo
The Cockapoo History
The breed dates back to the 1960’s. This Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix was deliberately created in the US in the search for a fantastic and healthy companion dog. Since then, pet lovers worldwide have fallen in love with its warm personality and charm.
While Cockapoo breeders have tried to establish it as an official breed, the AKC and the American Cockapoo Club doesn’t recognize it as such yet. Still, these dogs are perfect companions and great family members.
What Is a Cockapoo? — a Small Doggo With the Heart of a Clown
Cockapoo dogs are loveable, funny, and simply adorable. They’re the first designer dogs and were intentionally bred to love people.
These dogs have charming personalities and cute faces that have won them affection from pet lovers everywhere. They forgive easily, so it’s hard to break the bond you share. Cockapoos will always crawl back to your lap.
Aside from their warm temperament, they’re also low maintenance. These dogs don’t shed much, making them perfect if you have allergies or just don’t want to deal with much fur around the house.
Meet the Parents — Poodle & Cocker Spaniel
The Cockapoo is a hybrid of two awesome breeds — the Cocker Spaniel, a naturally beautiful and charismatic dog, and the Poodle, among the most intelligent breeds. The result is a beautiful, smart, sweet, and loyal mix.
Let’s Talk About the Looks
People often mistake a Cockapoo of Excellence for a Cavapoo. The difference between a Cavapoo vs Cockapoo is in size, with the latter being slightly bigger. But both have Poodle parents, making them look alike.
A Cockapoo Has a Teddy Bear Face
Its cute face and beautiful curly hair will make you a proud owner of a living teddy bear. All you’ll want to do is to snuggle and cuddle with it.
Its Beautiful Curly Coat Comes in Many Colors
The Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix comes in various colors depending on their parents. The Poodle comes in 10 standard colors, while the Cocker Spaniel has 9.
You’ll usually meet this crossbreed in black, apricot, chocolate, white, cream white, red, chocolate, golden, beige, light brown, dark brown, and merle.
The Toy, Miniature, and Standard Cockapoo
So, how big does a Cockapoo get? It’s challenging to determine the size of mixed puppies, but here’s a rough estimate:
- Toy — Up to 10 inches with a sturdy build that can reach 12 pounds
- Miniature — Grows to a height of 11–14 inches, weighing 13–18 pounds.
- Standard — Also known as Maxi Cockapoo, it grows to 15 inches or more and weighs over 19 pounds.
The Cockapoo’s Warm Personality Gets Everyone Smiling
The Cockapoo personality is charming. These dogs are happy and friendly, making them ideal for families with children. They’re positive dogs that are so enthusiastic it’s contagious!
If you’re looking for endless affection and attention, Cockapoos are more than willing to offer that. But you might find it hard to set aside a little “me” time with them following you around all day.
Most people love the Cockapoo characteristics and enjoy its little comedian nature. There’s not a dull day with this dog. You’ll always stay happy and entertained. Plus, it’s an intelligent breed, making it easily trainable.
These dogs are known for their incredible energy, so make sure you provide plenty of activities. The Cockapoo temperament, sweet and incredibly social, makes it perfect for families with children and other pets. That said, you should always supervise it around younger children.
The breed is perfect if you live in an apartment or small space. Just remember to give it a daily dose of exercise of about 15 minutes.
Generally, the Cockapoo doesn’t bark. But it’ll alert you if you have a guest or an intruder. Also, it might bark incessantly if left alone for too long.
Praises & Treats — The Key to Successful Training
Are Cockapoos easy to train? They’re brilliant and have enthusiastic personalities, so training is fast and a breeze compared to other breeds. But you should start early. It’s easier to train a younger dog than a mature one.
Although it’s easy to train, your motivation is key to speeding up the learning process. Also, you need to provide mental stimulation to keep them interested in training. Otherwise, they’ll get bored, and the process might take longer.
Remember that effective training involves many treats and praises. We like to achieve results with Wellness Soft Puppy Bites. Whatever you choose, ensure the treats are top-quality and healthy for your pup. Also, remember to shower your dog with praise during training sessions. That will encourage and motivate your pet to learn and please you.
How to Take Care of Your Cockapoo
Let’s look at everything you should know to grow a healthy dog.
Grooming
Grooming a Cockapoo isn’t as demanding as most dogs. Its hypoallergenic nature makes it easy to handle. Thanks to their Poodle genes, they hardly shed or leave dander.
It’s a suitable pet for people with allergies. But even though the breed doesn’t shed much, it still requires regular brushing. The essential item you’ll need for grooming your Cocker Poodle dog is a good brush. Consider buying a high-quality and durable one, like the Chris Christensen Dog Brush.
If you don’t brush your dog’s hair regularly, it will get tangled and matted, making it unpleasant, unkempt, and hard to groom. Also, you should take care of the Cockapoo haircut once every three months. Don’t make it shorter than 2–3 inches when you trim it.
Feeding
Consider your dog’s health, weight, and general well-being to find suitable food for its needs. We recommend that you feed it about 1/4 to 3/4 cup of dry food daily, divided into two meals. You can also consider the best wet food for dogs, especially Cockapoo puppies.
The portion size depends on the dog’s age, weight, metabolism, and activity. Ensure you’re always getting top-quality food for your pet. Also, keep in mind that over or underfeeding it can result in health issues like obesity or malnutrition. Don’t leave food in its bowl all the time. Control the portions and the time intervals between them.
Bathing
The Cockapoo doesn’t need regular baths. You should bathe it once every two months or only when necessary. Use quality products like TropiClean PerfectFur Curly & Wavy that are gentle on the skin and don’t strip its oil barrier.
Nail Trimming
Cut the nails of your Cockapoo when they grow up to 2–4 mm or every 2–3 months. You should do that with nail clippers specially made for dogs. Alternatively, you can find a pet groomer to do the job for you.
Ear Cleaning
Cockapoos have hanging ears, making them prone to ear infections. Check and clean your dog’s ears weekly to keep those away. Get the best dog ear cleaner and ensure you’re using safe products for this task.
Dental Care
All dogs, including the Cockapoo, are prone to dental problems. Good hygiene will support the oral health of your pet. Brush its teeth daily to prevent bad breath and tartar buildup. Poor dental hygiene can cause serious health issues for the dog in the long run.
What Are the Breed’s Health Concerns?
Proper hygiene, good food, regular vet visits, and knowing your dog’s history can go a long way in ensuring its health. Let’s explore the most common Cockapoo health issues.
Ear Problems
Cockapoos have floppy ears, making them susceptible to ear infections. Keep its ears clean to prevent infections, parasites, and allergies. If you notice your dog regularly shakes its head or tries to reach the ears with its paws, that could indicate a problem.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
They’re common for nearly all dogs, including the Cockapoo. For instance, your pet might start feeding on pieces of clothes, stones, or other strange objects. The symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment depends on the actual cause of the disorder.
Hip Dysplasia
The condition occurs when the dog’s thigh bone doesn’t fit well on the hip joint. If your pet has hip dysplasia, it’ll experience pain on one or both of its back legs.
Patellar Luxation
It usually affects small dogs, like the Cockapoo. The knee joint keeps sliding in and out, causing frequent dislocations.
The condition causes pain and may cripple your dog. To prevent such issues, you can find quality dog joint chews that help with this problem.
Allergies
Your Cocker Poodle dog can suffer allergies from food, pollen, dust, or chemicals around the house. You can prevent all of them, but it’s essential to try and keep your dog as happy and comfortable as possible.
Liver Disease
Cocker Spaniels are prone to two kinds of liver disease — copper toxicosis (poisoning) and Chronic Active Hepatitis. That’s why checking the parents’ history and conducting DNA tests for them could help you find out if your Cockapoo is prone to such issues.
Eye Issues
Several eye problems might affect your Cockapoo.
One is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), a hereditary disease that impacts the dog’s vision. Unfortunately, there’s no treatment for it.
The other possible eye problem is cataracts, causing blurry vision. The symptoms to look out for include:
- Pupil whiteness
- Vision loss
- Disorienting pain
Glaucoma is another issue that affects the breed, and it’s also hereditary. It can lead to total blindness if left untreated throughout the Cockapoo lifespan.
Dental Problems
Bacteria infection causes dental problems. Severe cases can transfer the issue to the liver, kidneys, or heart. Signs of canine dental problems include:
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of interest in toys
- Bad breath
- Dribbling
- Sore gums.
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Good dental and oral hygiene can help prevent such issues. Brush your dog’s teeth daily and invest in chew toys to keep the gums healthy and delay bacteria buildup.
Where to Adopt or Buy a Cockapoo
You can buy a dog directly from established breeders like Cockapoo of Excellence. The price usually varies between $900 to $2,500. But before you purchase, consider checking out your local pet shelters.
Cockapoo Pros and Cons
All breeds have pros and cons. Here’s what you need to know about Cockapoos’.
Pros:
- Great companions
- Minimal shedding and low maintenance
- Easily trainable
- Quiet and friendly towards other pets and children
Cons:
- Don’t like being alone
- Craves a lot of attention
- Prone to some serious health issues
Conclusion
Are cockapoos good dogs? They’re friendly and adorable — definitely an awesome breed. These dogs are the perfect addition to any family. Plus, they hardly shed, making them ideal for people with allergies.
If you decide to get a Cockapoo, you’ll subscribe to endless moments of fun and laughter and gain a true friend for a very long time.