Everything you Want to Know about the Cockapoo

Source © Shutterstock

Someone once said that anything mixed with a poodle is a smart, easy-to-train and very loving dog. With the exception of a few dog owners who might have the one exception to the rule, most people who have a poodle-mix tend to agree.  As it happens, all dog breeds are very intelligent in their own right. Some are better designed for certain activities than others, but that doesn’t mean they are any less intelligent than other breeds. The cockapoo, aside from the fact that his has one of the most unfortunate names in the dog breed industry, is no exception to this rule. The cockapoo is a dog that has very much to offer, and it’s funny that so many people love this dog. When our parents were growing up, the cockapoo would have been considered a ‘mutt’ and it would have been a dog no one could sell if they tried. Purebred dogs were all that people wanted for many years, and now the dogs most popular in the world are just the mix of two different breeds both famous for their own personality traits and looks.

This is a breed that is beautiful, friendly, smart and affectionate; it’s a great family dog that loves kids and adults and does very well in almost any environment. Whether you have a ton of space in your yard or you live in an apartment, chances are good that your cockapoo is going to adapt just fine. For that reason, many people make the decision to purchase or adopt this designer dog breed, so we’ve made the decision to go ahead and let you in on a few facts about this particular breed before you get one of your own.

Cockapoos Come in Many Sizes

Because poodles are dogs that come in many sizes, the size of the cocker spaniel poodle mix is going to vary greatly depending on the size of the dogs bred together to create a litter of puppies. For example, a toy poodle is much smaller than a standard poodle, which means that this particular breed is going to be much smaller. A standard poodle mixed with a cocker spaniel is going to be slightly larger. While it’s probably never going to be a big dog, it could be a very small one or a regular sized dog. You just don’t know unless you are familiar with the parentage.

Good Health

Another one of the characteristics of the cockapoo that people love so much is its ability to live a long, healthy life. While this breed has just as much of a chance of developing cancer or any other health issues as any other dog, it’s no more prone to them because of its breed. It’s a healthy breed with a lot going for it. Provided both parents are healthy, chances of the dog developing any hereditary issues are slim to none, which is another reason people choose this dog. Dogs are more than just a monetary investment; they are a commitment families have to make together and the families that choose to raise a dog do want one that will be around for a long time.

The biggest health issue to consider when purchasing a cockapoo that was bred with a toy parent comes from the parent. Small dogs tend to have an issue with certain health ailments that are specific to small dogs and these puppies could inherit those. Of course, this is not an indication that your dog will become sick or injured; it’s just a bigger cause for concern.

Personality Traits – The Best of Both Worlds

What people love most about the cockapoo is the fact that this is a breed that inherits the best of the best from each side of its lineage. For example, this dog is exceptionally intelligent like its poodle ancestors and very eager to please and easy to train like its cocker spaniel side. This makes it a pretty ideal dog for just about any family. This dog makes a great pet for kids as much as it does for adults, and it isn’t going to miss having kids around if you don’t have them. It’s also not going to mind having kids around if you do have those.

There is no reason to assume your cockapoo puppy will not develop a peachy attitude and personality, but your ability to train, raise and deal with the dog will play a big role in how its personality develops. If the dog is well socialized and handled, it will likely be a joy to live with. If you are not home often, the dog is locked up most of the time, it’s not socialized and not moderately exercised, it could pose problems for its development. You can’t rely on its heritage to provide it with a good personality; you have to foster than and encourage that on your own.

The Coat of the Cockapoo

Finally we come to the one thing that people love most about this mixed breed dog. It has a beautiful coat that might be a bit more poodle than cocker spaniel or vice versa. However, it’s hypoallergenic. What does this mean? This means that you get to have your dog in the house without worrying about shedding. You also get to have your dog on the furniture without worrying that it will smell like a dog. According to thenest.com, this breed does not have much dander and no undercoat so that ‘dog’ smell so many animals have is almost unnoticeable.

The cockapoo, however, will need some frequent grooming. This dog tends to need a haircut pretty often or else it can look like a bit of a mess in desperate need of some grooming. Additionally, the coat can become quite dirty if it is not kept relatively short and clean. Letting the dog go too long without a trim might result in so many knots and so much matted hair that your groomer will shave him; and that’s not a good look for this breed.

Photo by Getty Images