Cockapoo Dog Breed

Although the Cockapoo's parent breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, are formally placed in the sporting group of dogs, the Cockapoo is usually considered a non-sporting dog, and occasionally considered in a group shared with Doodle mixes (Labradoodles, Golden Doodles, etc.). As the Cockapoo is believed to be the first designer dog, the traits of their parent breeds are very rarely prompted to be used. This hybrid is best suited for indoor companionship for people and families who can be home with their Cockapoos most every day and all day, and are comfortable in small apartments and large houses alike.

Below are some Cockapoo facts to consider before adopting one of these cute hybrid dogs!

PROS

• Very friendly, loves to play constantly and is always looking for new friends
• Gets along well with other dogs and most other pets
• Sheds very little, if at all
• Tends to have far fewer health concerns than those of his parent breeds
• Loves water, as both parent breeds are historically hunting dogs that were trained to chase and retrieve game from water
• Can make a good watchdog

CONS

• May be difficult to house train
• If left alone for long periods of time, may develop separation anxiety and bad habits such as barking and destroying furniture
• Can be obstinate if not trained early and patiently
• Must be groomed frequently to prevent hair-matting and overly long coat (especially in hot climates and/or summer)
• Needs at least a fair amount of exercise every day to burn off all the energy
• May inherit a lot of both parent breeds' ailments such as skin allergies, eye diseases and ear infections

When mature, your Cockapoo may weigh anywhere from 3 pounds to 25 pounds or slightly more. Likewise, her height can range from less 5 inches to just over 15 inches. Although the smallest mature Cockapoo may seem a perfect fit for a small apartment, she will still run around a lot, want oodles of attention and "demand" be regularly walked.

Easily one of the best good-natured dogs alive, the Cockapoo will make friends everywhere. They play well with kids because they can endure a bit of rougher handling than most dogs, and they love to meet other peoples' pets. It should be known, however, that they do have a tendency towards separation anxiety. If frequently left alone and with little to do, they will quickly acquire bad habits and may exhibit aggressive behavior in the presence of strangers, children and other pets.

Your Cockapoo will want a lot of attention and will reward you with love and devotion. Long daily walks, frequent and regular brushing and constant attention should not be considered as chores if you get a Cockapoo; they are intuitive dogs that can sense a person's mood. As such, they are basically low-maintenance dogs with possibly hypoallergenic coats that don't shed much (if at all) but do grow constantly. You may need regular trips to the dog groomer for hair clipping — unless you have learned to properly do this task yourself.

The Cockapoo was a game-changer in the world of dog breeding, and the parent breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, are even more spectacular. (This seminal hybrid’s Cocker Spaniel parent is usually the American Cocker Spaniel, but the English Cocker Spaniel is also used and if so, does well enough; the difference between the two is that the American Cocker Spaniel was bred more for show than for hunting.) The Cockapoo was intentionally bred in the early 1950s; by the 1960s, it had become popular. The goal was to conceive an intelligent, family-friendly and all-around amicable dog that was also healthy, hypoallergenic and free of the significant maintenance that many dogs require.

The Cockapoo will inherit characteristics from both parent breeds, but not all Cockapoos will get the same ones and these traits will exist in varying ratios.

Basically, however, your Cockapoo will most likely have a square, sturdy and compact frame that can vary greatly in overall size due to what type Poodle was used as the parent; large, round brown eyes with a wistful look; medium to long ears that will look fine either way; and usually a scissor bite, which is an over- or under-bite. (Some will have teeth that align perfectly, however, and while this is not frowned upon by Cockapoo club registries, the scissor bite is apparently preferred.) The happy Cockapoo will carry his tail either curled or straight, and most clubs say it shouldn’t be docked. The fur can be coarse and curly or silky and smooth.

There are essentially four generational variations of the Cockapoo hybrid: F1, F1B, F2 and F3. Although variations subsequent to the F3 may eventually occur (most breed clubs and kennels tend to formally recognize a hybrid as a purebred once the breeding variation reaches F7, which is when the "hybrid vigor" of crossbred dogs is gone), there is presently very little demand for the F4 and beyond.

The F1 is produced by breeding a Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle, and the size variation that occurs with the F1 Cockapoo is determined by the breed and size variations of the two purebred dogs. As there are many breeds and dog group variations of Cocker Spaniel (American "show" or "working" Cocker Spaniels and English "show" or "working" Cocker Spaniels are the four Spaniel breed/variations most often used) and three size variations of Poodle (Toy, Miniature and Standard), there is room for a lot of variety in the F1 alone. An F1B Cockapoo is bred by crossing an F1 Cockapoo with either a Cocker Spaniel or a Poodle. The F1B is where it can get interesting and where the Cockapoo characteristics can be better controlled, for the type of breed with which the Cockapoo is "bred back" (the Cocker Spaniel or the Poodle) can determine greatly the size, coat style and other traits. (Likewise, an F2B Cockapoo is produced when an F2 Cockapoo is bred back with a Spaniel or Poodle, and so on down the line with F3B, etc.)

The F2 Cockapoo is produced by cross-breeding two F1 Cockapoos, the F3 comes from breeding two F2s, and so on.

Regarding coat types, a Cockapoo may develop one of these three styles: a soft, silky, ringlet-styled coat; a slightly less soft coat with tight curls; or a straight coat. The Cockapoo coat type may often be determined as early as when a pup is around six weeks old — but determining this is usually best done by an experienced breeder as well as one who knows whether the pup was an F1, F1B, etc. The ringlet coat tends to be very low-shedding, have little dander and be nearly allergen-free as well as be relatively low-maintenance. The tight curl coat will require a moderate amount of maintenance for while it too is low-shedding and practically free of dander and allergens, it will grow a lot and get thick if not trimmed regularly. The straight coat is also a low-shedding, almost allergen- and dander-free coat that will need a little more maintenance than the ringlet coat but less than the tight curl one.

Like the Poodle — which is recognized as a single breed but with three variations therein — the Cockapoo is recognized by breeders and dog lovers in three size variations: Toy, Miniature and Standard. Because the Cockapoo is usually produced to be small, Toys and Miniature Cockapoos are almost the only variations bred. Toy Cockapoos are 10" tall or less, and Mini Cockapoos are 11" - 14" tall. Cockapoos that are 15" or taller are Standard Cockapoos. (It should be noted that the American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize "Teacup" as a size; if the Poodle parent is 10" or less in height, then it's simply a Toy Poodle. As such, Teacup"Cockapoos do not come from "Teacup Poodles," although very small Cockapoos may often be called "Teacups" as a selling point.)

If there is a dog with the nearly perfect temperament, it may be the Cockapoo. Friendly to all, ready to play, highly intelligent, extremely energetic, an ability to adapt to small apartments, large ranches or anything between, easily trained and sometimes comical may well describe the typical Cockapoo. They are also excellent therapy dogs, as their remarkable intelligence allows them to understand your moods.

Their temperament is nearly perfect to a fault: they are well-known for having a separation anxiety that, if allowed to manifest, can result in destructive behavior, barking and intensive scratching. It should also be understood that Cockapoos are not to be left alone or idle; their boredom will lead to bad habits. Their adoration, trust and intelligence require attention, reciprocation and activity. Agility exercise, lots of walks, playing fetch and puzzle toys are recommended. Other pets are great too.

Of course, any given Cockapoo’s temperament relies on the characteristics inherited from its parents and in what proportions they are inherited.

As Cockapoos are happy, intelligent and hardy dogs, they tend to have a longer lifespan than most hybrid dogs. When properly cared for, your Cockapoo should live to be 14 to 18 years old. If carefully bred, the Cockapoo can be far healthier than most dogs, but they still have some health problems. Some of the things for which you should look out are parvo, eye problems, ear infections, liver disease, joint dysplasia and allergies. While some of these cannot be avoided due to a dog's age, others (such as the allergies and ear infections) can be mitigated or even prevented by managing your dog's diet and gently cleaning and drying the ears. Regular trips to your veterinarian are always a safe choice for any breed.

Some interesting facts about this mixed breed:

• The original "designer dog": The Cockapoo has been intentionally bred since the 1960s, and is probably the oldest example of breeders's dedication to mixing two purebreds on a constant basis.
• "Ugly Cockapoo" Christmas apparel: Clothing lines produce comically hideous holiday-themed sweaters and T-shirts with an "Ugly Cockapoo" logo on the front, complete with the dog's image on the front.
• The Cockapoo as a purebred? Efforts are being made to recognize this mixed breed as a purebred dog. The Cockapoo Club of America, for example, promotes intergenerational F2 breeding (Cockapoo x Cockapoo, in other words) rather than continued F1 breeding (Cocker Spaniel x Poodle). Since most national kennel clubs don't consider recognizing purebreds until F7 (seven generations of breeding) or more, the Cockapoo has some years left before reaching that plateau.
• Cockapoos are expensive: As one of the oldest and most well-known designer hybrids, the average Cockapoo price (from reputable breeders, that is!) starts at about $1,000. Potential owners should be wary of breeders who offer these dogs at a discount; such cut-rate breeders are known to use unethical and even cruel breeding methods.