Cockapoo Dog Breed: Cocker Poodle Mix

Poodles have a bit of a reputation for being aloof with strangers. And Cockers are known for their warmer, more overtly friendly nature. The two breeds were crossed in the 1950s, in an attempt to combine the Cocker’s personality with the Poodle’s tight, low shedding coat. The mix really took off in popularity in the 1960s. Making it one of the oldest ‘designer mixes’ around.

How Big Do Cockapoos Get?

Full grown Cockapoo size varies widely depending on the size of the parents, and on random chance.

	Poodle	Cocker Spaniel	Cockapoo
Size:	Standard, mini or toy	Medium	Mini, small, or medium
Height:	Stnd: 15-24 inches Mini: 10-15 inches Toy: <10 inches	US: 13-16 inches UK: 15-17 inches	10-20 inches
Weight:	Stnd: 40-70lbs Mini: 10-15lbs Toy: 4-6lbs	US: 20-30 lbs UK: 26-34 lbs	6-30 lbs

Cockapoo weight could potentially vary from 4 to 70lbs! At the tiny end of the scale, the teacup Cockapoo will weigh less than 6 pounds. The toy Poodle Cocker Spaniel hybrid will weigh less than 12 pounds at adulthood, and a mini Cockapoo will weigh in at anywhere from 13 to 18 pounds. A full grown miniature Cockapoo is the medium size and the one you are most likely to see at the dog park.

At the other end of the scale, a maxi Poodle and Cocker Spaniel mix, with a standard Poodle parent, will weigh 19 pounds or greater. The vast majority of Cockapoos weigh a more moderate 15-30 lbs

Appearance

Cocker Spaniel Poodle mixes tend to have a broader head the average Poodle. Their fur varies between loose and very tight curls.

Both Cocker Spaniels and Poodles come in a wide range of colors so there is plenty of choice for the would be cockerpoo owner.

Are Cockapoos Hypoallergenic?

The “designer dog” craze was started by a man named Wally Conron. He began crossing breeds in an effort to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog, for a blind woman whose husband was highly allergic to dogs. But Conlon couldn’t find a single purebred dog that fit the bill. So, he crossed a Labrador Retriever with a Poodle.

This is where the “Labradoodle” was born. However, even this dog wasn’t truly hypoallergenic. This is because allergies are caused by pet dander. And all pets, regardless of breed, produce some dander.

Certain dog breeds shed that dander less readily, however. This particularly applies to dogs with very curly coats. And this may be beneficial to owners with allergies to dander. Dogs that shed less fall into this category partly because loose hair remains trapped in the curls rather than floating around your home.

Do They Shed?

All dogs shed to some degree. The Poodle’s tight coat is low shedding. But the Cocker Spaniel’s is not. A Poodle and Cocker Spaniel hybrid dog can have either coat type, or something in between. And unfortunately, you cannot predict which coat they will inherit. So they may be less likely to trigger allergies. But they might not.

Remember that the tighter the curl, the less the dog is likely to shed, and if you have allergies, do spend some time with Cockapoos to see how they affect you, before you bring one into your home.

Cockapoo Temperament

The typical Cockapoo personality can be hard to predict. It can be any combination of the parent breeds’ temperaments. It is important to make sure that both parents are friendly, when you buy a Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix.

In general, Poodles are friendly, if a little ‘standoffish’ with strangers. And Cocker Spaniels are loving and very loyal. Both breeds are clever and active.

As a result, the Cockapoo’s personality, is usually a happy, fun-loving, energetic, and sociable.

Cockapoo Barking

Any dog has the capacity to bark. And may bark more if they discover barking is in some way rewarding. But some individuals of this particular breed maybe a little more prone to barking than average. Like any dog prone to barking, it’s important not to reward a Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix when they are making a noise. And to make use of resources like this one if you need to train your pup not to bark.

Training and Exercising

The good news here is that these dogs are as a whole are people-centric and eager to please. Your Poodle Cocker Spaniel mix will likely want to be where you are, doing whatever you are doing. These dogs are social and people-oriented. So, the closer your bond is, the easier Cockapoo training will become.

Throughout training, positive reinforcement will be your key to success. Poodle and Cocker Spaniel mix dogs are particularly sensitive to punishment, so avoid this at all costs.

Staying Active

The Cocker Spaniel Poodle cross is an active, intelligent dog. They need daily exercise, and regular training to stimulate their minds, too. Exercise doesn’t have to mean a walk, it can be training or retrieving practice for example. The important thing is to keep your Poodle Spaniel mix busy.

Remember that young puppies have much lower exercise needs than adult dogs. A good rule of thumb is 5 minutes of structured exercise, such as walks, per month of their age, per day. At the end up the day they will still want to cuddle up on your lap, as long as they’ve spend enough energy!

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Health and Care

The health problems your Poodle Cocker Spaniel mix may suffer will depend on whether their Poodle parent was a Toy, Mini, or Standard size. And on whether their spaniel parent was an American Cocker (known just as a Cocker in the USA) or an English Cocker (known just as a Cocker everywhere except the USA!).

Heart Valve Disease

Cocker Spaniels are liable to develop leaky heart valves as they grown older. This allows blood to flow ‘backwards’ in the heart, which make the heart less efficient. In the early stages medications will help extend life. But in the later stages the dog develops heart failure, a leading cause of Cocker Spaniel death. Sadly operations to repair heart valves are not yet commonly performed on dogs.

Von Willebrand’s disease>

All Poodles are at risk of von Willebrand’s disease. A blood clotting disorder that causes excessive bleeding. There is a DNA test for von Willebrand’s, which all breeding Poodles should have.

Epilepsy

Cocker spaniels are prone to epilepsy and seizures. These can often be treated with medication. It’s possible that this risk is passed onto their Cockapoo puppies.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, is an inherited condition. Both Poodles and Cockers are prone to this disease, which causes blindness. There is a test readily available, that will show if your puppy’s parents carry the PRA gene and can pass the disease on to their puppies.

Hip Dysplasia

Cocker spaniels and standard poodles are prone to hip dysplasia. A condition where the hip socket doesn’t form properly, and the joint doesn’t develop in the correct shape. Hip dysplasia causes pain. It affects the movement and function of the hip joint. Some cases are improved by surgery. Without surgery it can severely limit your pup’s quality of life.

Your puppy’s Cocker and standard Poodle parents should have their hips ‘scored’ by a veterinarian. Hip dysplasia is caused by multiple factors so it’s worth reading up on how to exercise your young Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix safely, too.

Patella Luxation

Toy and Miniature Poodles are among a number of smaller breeds that can suffer from Patella Luxation. This is a kneecap that ‘pops’ out of joint easily. It may require surgery.

General Health of Cross Breeds

A Poodle Cocker Spaniel cross puppy can inherit heath conditions from either parent, or from both. Where a condition is only common in one of the parent breeds, the puppy’s risk should be somewhere in between the two parents’ risks.

So the problem will be less likely than it is for the ‘at risk’ breed, but still more common than average. Exactly how likely each problem is, depends on a number of unpredictable factors. You can follow these links to find out more about health risks for your puppy’s parents:

• Miniature Poodle
• Toy Poodle
• Standard Poodle
• American Cocker
• English Cocker

Both parents should have all the usual health checks and tests before being bred. Even when breeding for cross breed puppies. Only use breeders who test both parents for all the diseases relevant to their respective breeds.

General Care

Cocker Spaniels have long ears, and need help keeping these clean to reduce ear infections. Most Poodle and Cocker Spaniel crosses will need similar maintenance to keep their ears in tip top health. You’ll also need to trim your pup’s nails on a regular basic, with clippers or a nail grinder.

Coat Care

Regular grooming is essential to keep the Cocker Spaniel Poodle coat in good condition. The best way to keep this simple is to establish a daily routine of brushing for five minutes. Remember to pay particular attention to the areas around the ears, anywhere their harness sits, and their ‘trousers’.

What is the Cockapoo Life Expectancy?

The life expectancy of a mixed breed dog is largely determined by the average lifespan of the parent breeds. The average lifespan of a Cocker Spaniel is 11.5 years, while the Miniature Poodle can live up to 14 years or more. The average life expectancy of a Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix is about 13 years. Mixes that include mini Poodles or English Cockers tend to live a little longer than those between American Cockers and Standard Poodles.

You can help your Cocker Spaniel and Poodle hybrid to have the best chance to a long healthy life, by making sure they eat a suitable diet, aren’t overweight, and get plenty of regular exercise.

Do Cockapoos Make Good Family Pets?

A well-bred, well-raised Cocker Spaniel Poodle can make a wonderful addition to most families. It’s important to meet the parents before choosing your puppy. This is because nice dogs generally produce nice puppies. Once your pup comes home, socialisation is key. Make sure you have lots of visitors, and introduce your puppy to lots of different sights and sounds. This will maximise your chance of having a friendly, confident, adult dog.

Cockapoos are intelligent dogs, and older children will love helping to train them.

They are social dogs, and will be happiest when there is lots of company. This means they aren’t ideal for people who out of the home for a lot of the day.

Rescuing a Cocker Spaniel Poodle dog

Rescuing a dog can be tremendously satisfying. You are giving a relinquished dog a loving forever home – what could feel better? Plus, your costs will likely be quite a bit lower, even with adoption fees and possible spay/neuter fees. Of course, there are also some trade-offs in pursuing a rescue Cockapoo.

There are relatively few rescue centers that specialise in Cocker Spaniel Poodle hybrids. However, it’s worth contacting your local rescues, to see if they have any Cockapoo dogs in. And specialist Cocker Spaniel and Poodle rescues will often take in mix breed pups too.

Finding a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel Mix Puppy

If you’re buying a puppy it’s always important to make sure you use a reputable breeder. The breeder should be happy for you to meet and spend time with both the parents, and be able to provide results for all the relevant health tests for both breeds. They may be able to provide references from previous customers.

How Much Is A Cockapoo?

Cockapoo price varies between $1000 to $3000, depending on demand in your area. Cheaper puppies without the relevant health checks can seem very tempting, but will often end up costing more in the long run. Both in vets bills, and in heart ache.

Don’t forget to factor in ongoing costs like kibble and good quality pet health insurance, when budgeting for your new friend.