A dog breed with the name “Cockapoo” seems a bit unusual, but in actuality, the Cockapoo dog could be the kind of dog pet you are looking for. So are you curious to find out more about this canine? If that is the case, then read the following topics below.
Cockapoo Origin
This dog breed is one of the various designer dogs (aka not a purebred type) that goes back as far as the 1960s. So unlike most dog breeds, the Cockapoo dog is a modern canine breed. The dog is a hybrid offspring of a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. In fact, the creation of this breed was entirely accidental.
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This canine is highly prized as a family pet and has a lower rate of being surrendered by their owners to a dog shelter. Some Coockapo breeders use either multigenerational bloodline crossing or simple Cocker/Poodle cross to make purebred Cockapoo puppies.
As a testament to the dog’s popularity as a pet, various celebrities like Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Minka Kelly, Ashely Judd and others have a Cockapoo puppy or a Cockapoo adult dog by their side.
The Cockapoo other names like Cock-a-poo, Cockapoodle, Spoodle, Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mix, Cocker Spaniel-Poodle, Cocker Poodle, Cockerpoo, and Cock-a-doodle. The word “cock” tends to repeat a lot that an uninformed person can mistake the dog’s name for a rooster. Even the last example fits a rooster more than a dog.
Cockapoo’s Temperament
The character of a dog breed often determines its attractiveness of being a pet and the Cockapoo possess a confident personality.
The Cockapoo breed shows affection to adults, kids, and other pets. The dog has a zest for life, happy, possesses a sweet disposition and is quite intelligent, which makes training the canine easy. Expect a lot snuggling from this canine, and it likes physical activities like running, walking, fetch, or just playing around.
Since a Cockapoo has an attachment to its owner and family, it is unwise to leave the dog alone by itself for an extended period of time. The breed suffers from separation anxiety should this situation happen.
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Cockapoo Health Issues
Dog breeds of any type always have the specter of illness and physical health issues lingering around. An adult Cockapoo dog or puppy Cockapoo can be affected by the disease during their lifetime. Therefore it is essential to know what kind of health problems this dog breed will experience.
- Ear infections – The dog’s floppy ears tend to trap debris, moisture, and If the owner allows those foreign objects to remain by not cleaning the ears, then bacteria will accumulate, which in turn leads to an ear infection. The problem is easy to solve through regular cleaning and some check-up with the veterinarian should be more than enough.
- Cataracts – A dog approaching old age will have physical problems, and cataracts are some of the most common. The canine’s eye lens becomes opaque, which in turn causes poor vision. Cataracts are easy to spot since they appear as a cloudy covering in the dog’s eyes. Surgery is the only way to remove cataracts to improve the pet’s vision.
- Allergies – A Cockapoo dog having allergies is not unusual or is a specific problem with the breed. Every dog breed can experience allergies. An allergy in a dog occurs due to several causes:
- Some foods or ingredients that make up a canine’s diet.
- Contact various materials like chemicals, dog shampoo, bedding, or flea powders.
- Various natural causes like allergens in the dust, pollen, and
Once you have identified the causes of allergy, you will need to put your pet on dietary, environmental and medication restrictions.
- Patellar luxation – When a canine’s knee joint slides out of place in its bone socket, it can cause pain. This bone displacement is patellar luxation, which can cause limping or, worse, cripple a dog. However, with proper care, canines can have a relatively healthy
- Hip dysplasia – Almost similar to patellar luxation due to a bone joint or part that is not correctly in place. In this case, it’s the thigh bone not fitting in snugly with the dog’s hip joint. Sighs of hip dysplasia are discomfort, lameness and the dog in obvious pain, though the canine may not outwardly show these signs. Arthritis also develops in the long run. This physical problem is hereditary, and there’s no cure for it though one can mitigate the effects.
Despite these problems, don’t let yourself be discouraged from getting a Cockapoo dog as a pet. Some issues are easy to prevent or mitigate, while some may need a veterinarian’s expertise.
Cockapoo Dog Colors
This canine breed comes in various colors that are pleasing to one’s eye. Some colors like black are common that a breeder will get black Cockapoo puppies from multiple-colored parents. Here is a list of colors:
- Beige
- Black
- White
- Tan
- Cream
- Red
- Sable
- Brown
- Chocolate
- Silver
- Merle
The Cockapoo breed also has different coat patterns that have freckles or spots. The coat will often have colors and patterns that look faded and thin. Other colors often have markings and spots mixed in an otherwise solid color.
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Cockapoo’s Overall Stats
Height: 25 – 38 cm
Weight: 5.4 – 11 kg
Lifespan: 14 to 18 years
The height and weight of this dog breed often differ from each type of category:
- The Toy Cockapoo dog has a height of 10 inches, and its weight is 12 pounds.
- A Cockapoo miniature dog is 11 to 14 inches high and weighs 13 to 18 pounds.
- Teacup Toy is 10n inches in height and has only 6 pounds maximum weight due to it being the smallest type in its category.
- A Standard or Maxi Cockapoo is the biggest dog type of them all. The canine is 15 inches tall and weighs 19 pounds.
Are Cockapoo Dogs Hypoallergenic?
A hypoallergenic dog possesses a coat that does not cause allergies in humans. Most people tend to choose canine breeds that have hypoallergenic since they won’t cause allergy problems. Being hypoallergenic is a must in some dog breeds.
The Cockapoo is not a true hypoallergenic breed despite its Poodle ancestry. The dog’s Cocker Spaniel bloodline does not have a hypoallergenic coat, but canine less allergic, so a person can still get this dog with little to their allergies. The truth is that there are no pure, hypoallergenic dog breeds, only varying levels of being hypoallergenic. Also, avoid getting a dog from that breeder claims that his or her Cockapoo puppies are genuinely hypoallergenic.
Cockapoodle Grooming Tips
A dog needs grooming, much like it needs food, water, and a good home. Canine breeds that have long hair coats need some grooming to keep their hair smooth and neat. It is not only the coat that you need to take care of but also the other parts of the Cockapoo.
Daily brushing of the coat should prevent matting and tangled hair. If you feel that the canine’s hair is too long, then you must trim it up to two to three inches in length. Make sure to trim the hair around the dog’s eye to allow visibility. Bathing is a good idea, but do it only when the necessity calls for it.
The ear of the dog needs a thorough checking and cleaning every week. An ear infection occurs if you neglect the upkeep of the ears. Uses a cotton swab with a cleaning solution (one that your veterinarian recommends) to wipe the ears. Avoid sticking the cotton swab in the ear canal lest you damage it. Don’t forget to check red coloration or bad smell and see if your pet scratches its ears frequently.
Keeping the dog’s teeth healthy prevents bad breath and gum disease hence the importance of brushing those teeth. You can either choose to clean the canine’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week or do it daily. Just make sure to be thorough in cleaning the teeth to remove those bacteria and tartar buildup.
Dog toenails need trimming as well to prevent them from growing too long. There are blood vessels in the toenails, and if your pet breaks his or her toenails, there will be bleeding. Usually, the toenails will wear down naturally, but some nail clipping can help. You only need to do nail clipping once or twice a month. If you’re not sure that your canine needs its toenails cut, listen to the sounds that your pet does when it’s moving around. If you hear clicking sounds, then the toenails need trimming.
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Recognized Cockapoo Rescue Clubs
If you want to adopt a dog instead of buying one, then a Cockapoo rescue club is where you can find one. You can find in these places Cockapoos that were abandoned or surrendered by their owners.
Poo-Mix Rescue – This group consists of volunteers dedicated and helpful in carrying out their job throughout the USA and Canada. Poo-Mix Rescue or PMR is a virtual rescue operation since they don’t physical rescue facilities and shelters. PMR instead assists persons and shelters that searches for homes for poodle-mix breeds like the Cockapoo. The site doesn’t accept a personal request, so contacting the shelters for the dogs’ info in the alternative.
American Cockapoo Club – This group maintains a registry list for Cockapoos to have traceable backgrounds for future puppies. The ACC also has a Code of Ethics for breeders affiliated with them to ensure the well-being, maintain the health standard and prevent abuse of their animals. Breeders who abide by the ACC’s Code of Ethics are on their Breeder List.
Cockapoo Rescue Great Britain – A group of British breeders, owners and enthusiasts formed this organization to help Cockapoos by promoting their welfare and health. Cockapoo Rescue GB rehabilitates and finds homes for abandoned dogs in the United Kingdom. The group provides foster homes and respite care until they can find a permanent home for abandoned/surrendered Cockapoos.
How to Find Good Cockapoo Breeders
There are a lot of Cockapoo breeders, but only a few breed non-defective Cockapoos. The main reason for getting a dog from a reliable breeder is that Cockapoo puppies from these kinds of breeders not defective. These puppies are expensive, but there are even more expenses when it comes to paying the vet bills due to treating a defective Cockapoo puppy.
First off, an excellent way to find reliable breeders is to peruse the American Cockapoo Club and check which breeders follow the Cockapoo Club of America’s (CCA) guidelines. The Cockapoo Club of America’s guidelines ensures good breeder ethics, which are necessary for having high-quality puppies. Also, reliable breeders often have referrals from current and past customers who bought a pup from them.
Reputable breeders will let you meet and spend some time with the puppy’s parents, whether you made a request or not. The breeders will also show you the required health certifications to show that the puppy does not have any pre-existing health issues. The breeder must have proof of the pup’s vaccinations and show that the puppy has no hereditary defects from its lineage.
Also, check the breeder’s kennel where he or she raises the puppies. A kennel and its operation must have the “safety and dog health first” operations. The breeding operations also include genetic testing for checking if the bloodlines are ideal for mixing to reduce inheritable defects.
A Cockapoo puppy’s price is usually at $1000, but puppies with rare colorations show quality stock cost $3000. If you only want a regular puppy, then you better off paying $1000 unless you want a pup for dog show purposes.
Finally, avoid buying from pet stores or puppy mills no matter how attractive the low prices. You will have more significant expenses if your pet store or puppy mill pet has many health problems.
How to take care of your Cockapoo Puppies
Cockapoo puppies are delicate animals, and great care must be done to prevent harm or problems from affecting them. Here are some tips on caring for your new puppy pet:
- Please acquaint yourself with your new puppy for the first 72 hours after bringing it home. Make the pup get used to your presence.
- Though your puppy has deworming and vaccinations, it is best to keep it away from strange dogs until its vaccination processes are done.
- Puppies tend to potty after eating, playtime, and before going to sleep since you know when a puppy potty, it would be an excellent time to teach it potty training and avoid messes.
- There must be lots of toys for Cockapoo pups to play unless you want it chewing on other stuff like footwear or socks.
- A pup needs food 2 to 3 times a day and plenty of freshwaters. If your pet is not taking enough food or water, then better consult a vet since there must be something wrong with it.
- You can housebreak your pup just about anywhere expect areas that are too big. House training is a lot easier if the area is small since you won’t have to worry about any accidents.
- Using a puppy crate for house training is recommended. If the pup whines about being in a crate, tell it to be quiet. After your pet finishes whining, you remove it from the crate.
- Make your pup get used to specific routines when it comes to potty. For example, if the two of you go out, take the puppy into an area that it should go potty. You can also train your pet to respond to verbal commands like “go potty.” Don’t forget to praise the pup for its efforts.
Foods for Cockapoo dogs
A balanced and healthy diet will be of great benefit to your dog. You can either choose dry of wet types of food for the dog’s meal.
Dry food – This type of food is easy to store and serve your pet. In fact, you can just leave dry food out for your dog to eat at its own pace with spoilage. You can store dry foods in containers with a tight lid to keep it fresh and prevent insects as well as rodents from getting to it. Dry food or dry kibbles can act as a dental health supplement.
Dry kibbles lack enough moisture for a dog, so be sure to give it lots of water. Also, dry food has less animal-based proteins that are essential to a canine’s development.
Wet food – An excellent source of hydration for dogs since it combines meals and water in one. If your Cockapoo dislikes or is reluctant to drink enough water via ordinary means, wet food can serve as a substitute. A canine can eat wet foods without adding more calories to its meals, and it contains minerals, vitamins, and proteins. Dogs with smaller mouths, missing teeth, and poorly aligned jaws can easily consume wet food.
The problem with wet food is that its shelf life is short and the only way to prevent spoilage is to cover and refrigerate it. Then there’s the expensive price tag of wet foods, unlike dry foods.
The daily amount of food needed is ¼ to ¾ cup per day and divided into two meals. The ¼ to ¾ cup per day is the regular standard, though the amount of food may differ from one Cockapoo to another.
Factors like age, size, build, metabolism, maturity and activity level will determine how much food a canine can eat. Also, don’t overfeed your pet and have it do some exercises to prevent overweight.
Conclusion
So are you now convinced that a Cockapoo dog is the pet that you could have been looking for? After the dog’s soulful eyes and sweet, cheeky personality is more than enough to make a person love it. Indeed this dog will make your life (and your family) brighter as well as happier. Even your other canine pets will make friends with this dog breed. So don’t delay and get or adopt one of these dogs.
