About The Cockapoo

An adorable dog with the personality of a big clown, the Cockapoo is the first of the "designer dogs" he is not a "pure" dog breed, and the Cockapoo dates back to the 1960s so there is solid long history around the Cockapoo, unlike the mass of cross breeds now appearing over the last year or so.

The Cockapoo is completely people-oriented, they are intelligent and very easy to train, very loving and forgive quickly and are so affectionate that you'll never feel alone. You might even have to shut the bathroom door for a minute of privacy as they do follow you around everywhere. He's happy running around showing off his tricks to everyone, cuddling up on the sofa, or as a therapy dog, or just hanging out with his family.  He's become a highly prized family dog.

The last time we read some statistics, the Cockapoo was one of Britain’s most popular family dog, and when you own one, you will soon see why.

The Cockapoo is a hybrid dog, he's the offspring of the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel known as the Cockapoo, he's an utterly adorable little dog with a face that could melt a heart of stone.

He's affectionate and accepts everyone, from the elderly to children and all other pets, from cats, to house rabbits!  He's also of an easy size, being small enough to cuddle and big enough to romp with bigger dogs.

Cockapoos have an infectious zest for life that spreads to everyone around them, that essential joie de vivre that makes every day a celebration.

So why the Cockapoo instead of a Cocker Spaniel or a Poodle?  

It's that, in some ways, the Cockapoo represents two ideals: first, what the Cocker Spaniel is, a sweet and stable temperament and second, the Poodle's full of personality non-molting coat. Furthermore, Cockapoos don't require the level of grooming that Poodles do.

When the cross works as intended, you get the intelligence and spirit of the Poodle with the sturdiness and field spirit of the Cocker. Of course, when the cross doesn't work, you can get a submissive, urinating fear-biter — but that can happen in any mixed breed, and in any purebred with unhappy genes.

Of course, there's a world of difference between an intentional breeding of carefully selected Cocker Spaniels and Poodles versus a Poodle mix who's just called a Cockapoo because no one has any clue what his background really is.

The true Cockapoo is bred with the goal of a healthy, hypoallergenic dog with a good temperament.

Average Lifespan – 12-16 years

•   The Cockapoo is not known to be a barker. Some, however, will bark when they see someone approaching their house, or when they're left alone for long periods at a time.

•   The Cockapoo should be a non-shedding dog with low or no doggy odor to the skin and coat. He will require his hair trimming when he reaches about 6 months old. Cockapoos are usually good for people with allergies since they produce low amounts of dander and hair.

•   Cockapoos were developed to be companion dog and are usually friendly and extraordinarily happy. They can do well with other dogs, pets & children.

•   The Cockapoo is so intelligent that he's easy to train with positive reinforcement.

•   Cockapoos have a moderate energy level but still need daily exercise. Expect to give him at least 15 minutes per day and offer a variety of activities, such as games of fetch, walks, and good runs.

•   To get a healthy Cockapoo, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill, or pet store.

•   Designer dogs, also called hybrids, aren't true breeds — they're crosses of two specific breeds. If you're interested in buying a Cockapoo puppy, understand that his looks, size, and temperament aren't as predictable as those of purebreds, since you don't know which characteristics from each breed will show up in any given dog.

History

When it comes to designer dogs, the Cockapoo is an old hybrid, popular since the 1960s. The first breeding may have been accidental, but the happy result was  pups who were intelligent, almost odorless, had the low-shedding Poodle coat, and showed the easy-going and loving nature of the Cocker Spaniel. These pups were well received, and the Cockapoo line began.

Once the Cockapoo became better known, he grew in popularity. There are Cockapoo clubs, but they're unaffiliated because of their differing philosophies. This leads to conflicting advice, and by the time you have done your research you are left utterly confused.

Breeding philosophies aside, the Cockapoo's popularity hasn't just held steady — it has increased over the decades. With the help of responsible breeders and national organizations and clubs, the Cockapoo, in one form or another, could be on his way to becoming much more than a "designer breed.", known now as one of Britains most popular family dogs. 

Size

The Cockapoo is bred commonly in three different sizes.

•   The Toy Cockapoo can reach 10" in height. These are bred from the toy poodle. This size is like a Shitzu size dog.

•   The Mid Size Cockapoo ranges between 12 and 15"to the shoulder.  This is bred from the Miniature Poodle. This size is typically cocker spaniel size. 

•   The Standard Cockapoo is  at least 18" & over inches in height, this is breed from a standard poodle. This size is like a labrador/golden retriever size or taller.

At Raffles we only breed the mid size Cockapoo, from the miniature poodle and the English Show Cocker spaniel.

Personality

Intelligent and easy to please, the Cockapoo was established as a true companion dog. He's friendly and happy, happy, happy. He has an outgoing nature and usually gets along with everyone.

He has the intelligence of the Poodle but also the sweet disposition of his Cocker Spaniel ancestry. Please understand, if the parents don't have the loving quality that is expected in a Cockapoo, then their offspring won't either.

Like every dog, the Cockapoo needs early socialization, exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences when they're young. Socialization helps ensure that your Cockapoo puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog.

He prefers, always, to be with his family and can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for too long. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train a Cockapoo, he can achieve exceptional high levels of obedience with time and patience.

Health

The notion of hybrid vigor is worth understanding if you're looking for a Cockapoo. Hybrid vigor isn't necessarily characteristic of mixed breeds; it occurs when new blood is brought in from outside the usual breeding circle, it's the opposite of inbreeding.

However, there is a general misconception that hybrid vigor automatically applies to mixed breeds. If the genetic pool for the mixed breed remains the same over time, the offspring won't have hybrid vigor.  If a purebred breeder brings in a dog from an unrelated line, those puppies will have hybrid vigor, even though they're purebred.

Not all Cockapoos will get any or all of these diseases, but it's important to be aware of them if you're considering this breed.

Ear Infections: These afflictions may plague the Cockapoo because of his floppy Cocker ears, which can trap moisture, dirt, and debris. The Cockapoo's ears should be regularly checked and cleaned. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate ear care products.

Care

Most Cockapoos have a moderate level of energy, but that doesn't mean they'll laze around all day. They enjoy a good walk — and need it to keep them from becoming overweight. The best type of exercise, though, is a good play session in the backyard. Expect him to need at least 15 minutes of exercise every day.

The Cockapoo is an adaptable breed. He can live in an apartment, though the smaller varieties seem to do better there than do Standard Cockapoos. None of them should live outdoors or in kennels, since they've been bred to be companion dogs. They thrive when with their family and can suffer from separation anxiety when left for long periods of time

Crate training benefits every dog and is a kind way to ensure that your Cockapoo doesn't have accidents in the house or get into things he shouldn't. A crate is also a place where he can retreat for a nap. Crate training at a young age will also help your Cockapoo accept confinement if he ever needs to be boarded or hospitalised.

A Cockapoo cannot be in a crate all day long. It's not a jail, and he shouldn't spend more than a few hours at a time in it except when he's sleeping at night (although he would much prefer your bed).

Cockapoos are people dogs, and they aren't meant to spend their lives locked up in a crate or kennel. You will have a very sad dog on your hands and a Cockapoo or a Cavapoo is not for you.

Feeding

Recommended daily amount: This depends on what type of food you are feeding, we wean our pups onto Ooddles - The Catch which is a 70/30 recipe, grain free, hypoallergenic high quality all natural food. Oodles Dog food has been formulated especially for crossbreeds and is an outstanding food. 70/30 means, 70% meat, and 30% veggie, botanicals, vitamins and minerals. To read more about Ooddles please visit www.ooddleskitchen.co.uk.

NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go towards nourishing your dog and the less of it you'll need in your dog's bowl. Feeding Ooddles means you never have to worry about if your feeding the best for your pup/dog.

Keep your Cockapoo in good shape by measuring his food and feeding him twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time. If you're unsure whether he is over weight give him the eye test and the hands-on test.

First, look down at him. You should be able to see a waist. Then place your hands on his back, thumbs along the spine, with the fingers spread downward. You should be able to feel but not see his ribs without having to press hard.

Keeping an eye on your dogs weight is also recommended, the pounds can soon pile on!