Everything you need to know about Cockapoos

Summary

Cute and clownish Cockapoos are the most popular crossbreed in the UK, and are generally considered to be good family pets. Cockapoos need grooming 2-3 times a week and at least an hour of exercise a day, and can be more prone to ear infections, hip dysplasia, and pancreatitis. New owners should be aware that the high demand for these dogs means some irresponsible breeders are taking advantage of unknowing owners and selling low-welfare puppies.

Key stats

• Height: 25 to 40cm

• Weight: 3 to 11kg

• Size: Small to large

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years

• Coat: Medium, smooth, curly

• Exercise: 30 to 60 mins daily

• Grooming: Weekly

• Temper: Smart, playful, sweet

Breed history

Cockapoos are a crossbreed of dog created by breeding Poodles and Cocker Spaniels together. They have boomed in popularity in the last few years.

However, this crossbreed has actually been around since the 60s and is sometimes called the first "designer dog".

Appearance

Cockapoos can be small, medium, or large dogs depending on what size Poodle is in their ancestry. Their appearance can also look more like a Cocker or Poodle depending on their genetics.

Usually, they're medium-sized dogs with a "teddy bear" face, curly fur, and long floppy ears. They also come in dozens of different colours.

What colours can Cockapoos be?

Cockapoos can be any of these colours, and might have some white or tan markings:

• Black

• Brown

• Red

• Sable

• Liver

• Cafe au lait

• Apricot

• Cream

• Lemon

• Gold

• White

• Silver

• Blue

• Blue roan

• Red roan

• Lemon roan

• Liver roan

Temperament

The typical Cockapoo temperament is excitable, full of energy, and extremely affectionate.

They have the outgoing and hardworking traits of a Cocker Spaniel combined with the intelligence and loyalty of a Poodle. Their smarts and eagerness to please make this breed easy to train too.

Because Cockapoos are intelligent and active dogs, owners must provide their dog with plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy.

Their affectionate nature means they can be prone to separation anxiety. Napo covers behavioural treatments, so you can get help to stop your dog from feeling anxious when you're not there.

However a Cockapoo is a crossbreed, so their temperament can vary depending on their genetics. A good breeder will only breed dogs with good health and great temperaments.

How much exercise do Cockapoos need?

How much exercise a Cockapoo needs depends on their size.

Toy Cockapoos only need 30-60 minutes of exercise per day, but bigger dogs need one hour per day as a minimum.

How to groom a Cockapoo

Because Cockapoos can have curly or smooth coats, how you care for their fur will depend on the kind of coat they have.

Smooth-coated Cockapoos will need to be brushed 2-3 times a week and bathed every few weeks.

Curly coated Cockapoos need to be combed 2-3 times a week to prevent matting. They should also have a haircut every 3 months because their fur grows continuously and does not shed.

Regardless of coat, all Cockapoos need to have their ears cleaned every 1-3 months, and their claws must be trimmed 1-2 times a month.

Common Cockapoo health problems

Because of their shared genetics, Cockapoos can inherit any problems Cocker Spaniels or Poodles are prone to. Some of the common Cockapoo health problems include:

Ear infections

Cockapoos long and floppy ears let less airflow in, so moisture, dirt, and bacteria can get trapped and infected.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a painful condition where the ball and socket joint of the hip don't fit together properly. Weight loss, physiotherapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs can help some dogs, but many require corrective surgery.

Epilepsy

Cockapoos may develop epilepsy if it is inherited from their Poodle ancestors.

Allergies

Touted as an anti-allergenic dog, Cockapoos are prone to allergies themselves. Their parent breeds can develop skin allergies - which may need treatment and testing to identify the cause.