Cockapoo Dog Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Ok, we’ll admit it, at times, its tough for us to say the name “Cockapoo” without smiling.  The problem is, this adorable little “designer dog” only goes by names that are super cute!

So…

Whether you choose to call these little guys Cockapoos, Spoodles, or even Cockerdoodles chances are you’re not going to be able to do it without a least a “smirk”.

And that’s ok…

Because, when you consider just how cute these little guys are, it only makes sense to smile… at least a little bit!  But remember, in addition to being super cute, these little guys also represent a new trend in “responsible” dog breeding which is hoping to infuse new genetic material in some of our least healthy dog breeds.

So…

In addition to being really cute, these guys have a “legitimate” purpose within the dog breeding community.  You see, Cockapoo’s aren’t actually a “recognized” dog breed on their own.

Instead…

These little guys represent the “union” of two different dog breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle.  And all truth be told, this inter-breeding is actually a good idea on humanity’s part. By introducing new genetic material to the most over-bred dog breeds (like this puppy’s parents) we not only end up with something adorable, but also reduce many of the risks of the genetic diseases that we bred into them in the first place.

Which is why…

These new Designer dogs are serving a dual purpose… So next time you see a pair of tiny eyes peering at you from a handbag remember they are a beneficial step in evolution before you laugh…

Even if…

The proud owner of those of these dogs may not even be aware of it!

But this doesn’t mean…

That adopting a Cockapoo is going to be the “right” decision for everyone!  This is why in this article, we wanted to take a moment and discuss some of the pros and cons of owning a Cockapoo might be so that you’ll be better prepared to determine for yourself if it makes sense to make one of these little guys your next family pet.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Cockapoo Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  United States

Original Purpose:  Companion

Height: 10 to 15 inches tall

Weight:  12 to 24 pounds

Life Span:  14 to 18 years

Dog Breed Classification:  Currently not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC)

Origin of the Cockapoo

As we’ve already stated, the Cockapoo is yet one more example of a growing trend that we are now seeing whereby responsible dog breeders are choosing to interbreed some of our most “unhealthy” dog breeds with one another in an effort to reduce the risk of many genetic diseases while capturing the “best” features of these breeds that we all know and love.

Other examples of popular Hybrid Breeds include:

• The WestiePoo…without a word of a lie, this is a West Highland White Terrier crossed with a Poodle.
• The YorkiePoo (who made up these names??) which is a Yorkshire Terrier crossed with a Dwarf Poodle.
• The CavaPoo, the crossed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle.
• The BasaDor, which is a crossed Labrador Retriever and Basset Hound.
• The GoldenDoodle – the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
• SchnOodle – the Miniature Schnauzer and the Dwarf Poodle.
• The LhasaPoo – the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle.
• The SchnOrgi – is a miniature Schnauzer/ Welsh Corgi.
• The Siberian Boston is a Siberian Husky crossed with a Boston Terrier.
• The BrusselRanian is a crossed Brussles Griffon and Pomeranian.
• The Mini Australian ShepTerrier is a cross between a Mine Australian Shepherd and an Australian Terrier.
• The ridiculously named Doodleman Pinscher is a Poodle crossed with a Dobermann Pinscher…
• The Frenchton – the Boston Terrier with a French Bulldog.
• The Bull Terrier – the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier.
• The perfectly named Care-Tzu is a cross-bred Cairn Terrier and a Shih Tzu.
• And finally; the Yorkie-ton is a Yorkshire Terrier crossed with the fluffy cloud that is the Coton De Tulear.

And in the case…

Of the “Cockapoo”, breeders chose to interbreed a Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle.  Or in the case of a Miniature Cockapoo, the choose to mix a Cocker Spaniel with a Miniature Poodle.

Now “technically”…

One could refer to these dogs as “mutts” but given the fact that these dogs are now specifically sought after and due to their distinctive lineage and noble purpose (protecting their ancestral breeds), you’re never going to hear anyone here at IndulgeYourPet refer to them as such.

Even if…

These “hybrid dogs” or “designer dogs” aren’t “officially” recognized by the American Kennel Club (or any kennel club) as of yet.  We here at IndulgeYourPet believe that it’s only a matter of time before they are, which is why we love talking about them now!

So, what makes up a Cockapoo puppy?

He has two pedigree parents that have a long and convoluted history, so we will give you the short version, if you’d like the longer version, feel free to check out our individual article on each of the Cockapoo’s parent “breed”.

The Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel, originated from Spain sometime during the 14^th Century.  During this time, these “scrappy” little guys were used as hunting dogs, named for the Woodcocks that they were used to hunt. Shortly after that they were brought to Britain, and then a strand of that same bloodline eventually made its way to America. Thus, the reason why you’ll find that the breed has now been divided into two different categories, the English Cocker Spaniels and the American Cocker Spaniels.

The Poodle

The Poodle on the other hand originally came from France, where it worked as a water dog – hence the recognizable wiry coat. Mentioned predominantly throughout 17^th Century texts and engravings; the exact origins of this cutesy fur-ball remain somewhat disputed with Germany claiming ownership – although Germany has since conceded that it probably came from France. Also, a hunting dog, the Poodle has since been bred by the nobility and dog lovers alike, all over the globe.

Similarly, to the Cocker Spaniel, the Poodle has turned into a companion breed over the years. All this means to the average pet buyer is that he is more comfortable in your living room than he is retrieving fallen water birds nowadays.

Cockapoo Characteristics

Whenever you take two totally different dog breeds and decide to breed them together, it’s always going to be difficult to know what the puppies are going to look like.  They could look more like Cocker Spaniels, or they could take on more of a Poodle appearance.  It’s all kind of a crap shoot!

Then combine this with…

That fact that you may choose to breed the Cocker Spaniel with either of the three poodle types: The Toy Poodle, the Miniature Poodle or the Standard Poodle in which case, all bets are off with regards to what “kind” of puppy you may get.

That said however…

Cockapoo’s are “generally” small, and they tend to be (but are not exclusively) shaggy coated with big ears and a dopey looking tail and grin. They can come in just about every color due to their heritage, and their size, weight and coat texture varies even within a single litter! A lot of them are predominantly white with other colors marked in but even that can change from one litter to the next.

One thing that you can count on is…

He will be adorable… These are just about the most photogenic dogs we have ever seen.

And what about a Cockapoo’s temperament?

Since both parents are pure bred companion dogs you can pretty much guarantee his devotion. He can either be fun and bubbly like the Cocker, or demure and thoughtful like the Poodle in him. He might be part Miniature Poodle (which makes a Miniature Cockapoo!) or part Toy Poodle – in which case he might have a touch of SDS (Small Dog Syndrome) but he is famously good with children and seriously enamored with his family.

His exercise level requirements…

Will depend on his dominant parentage but with daily walks you really can’t go amiss. The Cockapoo temperament is famously fun loving, just be careful he doesn’t get hurt if the children are big and he is small. He will play all day or he will sleep all day, so if you want easy going this is a good breed for you.

The good news is…

That because the both the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle (regardless of type) are both notoriously easy dogs to train.  So, provided that you get an early start, you Cockapoo should become a well-mannered dog who will probably be able to perform a wide variety of tricks for you!

As for grooming your Cockapoo…

Their grooming requirements will generally be determined by which parent’s traits are dominate in your puppy.  That said however, you Cockapoo won’t require even a fraction of the amount of time it would take to groom either a Cocker Spaniel or a Poodle so aside from weekly brushing and the occasional baths, you really shouldn’t have much to worry about this breed.

Will he be healthy?

Your Cockapoo will (hopefully) miss all of the genetic diseases his parents were prone to.  Because remember, for the most part, these dogs were created in an effort to avoid many of the inheritable diseases that the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle have developed over the centuries.

Fortunately…

Many of these diseases are linked to “recessive” genes which means that when combined with a healthy “dominate” gene, many of these diseases won’t manifest themselves.

That said however…

Cockapoos do still tend to have a “low” risk for developing:

• Cataracts,
• Entropion,
• Progressive retinal atrophy.
• Ear infections,
• Luxating patella
• And intervertebral disease.

Now the good news…

Is that not of these conditions are necessarily life threatening so even if you little guy does develop one of these conditions, chances are, he will be able to be treated successfully.

The bad news is…

That these treatments can be pretty expensive, particularly if you’re on the hook for 100% of the expenses.

This is why…

We here at IndulgeYourPet always like to recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and consider purchasing a pet insurance policy for their new loved one.

And while we understand that…

A pet insurance policy isn’t necessarily going to be the “right” fit for everyone, it’s amazing how many dog owners there are who don’t even know that these types of policies exist, not to mention how many have no idea what a policy like this might cost.

This is why…

We here at IndulgeYourPet also chose to write our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that our readers can get a quick idea about what some of the pros and cons are of owning such a policy and see if getting one might be a good idea.