The Cockapoo is a fun, energetic and loveable pooch. It is a cross dog breed of the sweet Cocker Spaniel with the curly Poodle – when you mix the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, you get something quite special.
These charming and clown-like pups come in all sorts of colours and sizes. They tend to be very active, very intelligent due to their Poodle genes and have a very loving nature. The Cockapoo lives between 14 and 18 years, weighs between 12 and 24 lbs and are around 12 to 15 inches tall.
They have big floppy ears, a coat that can be soft or coarse in nature depending on the type of Cockapoo you have, and little button noses that make your heart melt.
Cockapoos are popular in many countries including America, England, Canada and even Australia. This dog breed could be a good therapy dog because they have such a gentle nature.
For many years, I lived with a Cockapoo called Nelly. Even now, at 9 years old, she still has her puppy-like personality. She is definitely one of the most incredible dogs I’ve ever been around because she has such a loving nature. She may love other people too but she never forgets me.
It is always a shock when you compare your own Cockapoo puppy to someone else’s, so before you invite an adorable Cockapoo puppy into your home make sure that you have a look at the different types.
It is important to note that everything discussed in this article is from my experience with my own Cockapoo, research on the internet and meeting other Cockapoo owners. All Cockapoos come with different temperaments and personalities, so it is not a one size fits all.
Nelly loves rolling around on the grass in the sun!
The Cockapoo originated in the US during the 1960s. The Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle originated in the UK. From my experience with the Cockapoo, Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, they have all seem happy and loving dogs.
I’m going to share with you 11 things you should know about the fun-loving Cockapoo!
Contents
1. Cockapoos are very intelligent
From my experience with Nelly and meeting other Cockapoos, I’ve learnt that they are very intelligent doggies, like the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. Teaching Nelly a trick took some time but once she grasped it, she would always remember it even as a Cockapoo puppy.
I taught Nelly tricks like:
- Paw
- High-five
- Figure of eight
- Spin
I’ve also met another Cockapoo owner who taught his pooch to collect the post from the front door! Admittedly, this was initially to stop his pup from chewing up the post but a trick is a trick, right?
Nonetheless, like most dogs, the Cockapoo does not forget something or someone that makes them happy. Whether that’s their best friend, their favourite toy or a treat once they’ve done their business in the garden.
Due to them being intelligent as a dog breed, like the parent Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, this means they could potentially be easy to train. This makes the puppy phase easier and any further training better still. If you’re into agility, it might be worth training your Cockapoo pup! This way you both get even more quality time together too.
2. They need lots of exercise
Unlike some other small dogs, Cockapoos need lots of mental stimulation and exercise because of how active and energetic they are. They tend to enjoy as much exercise as you can give them, whether that’s a run in the park, a walk around the block, playing fetch in the garden or taking them for a jog.
When I lived with Nelly, she needed at least two walks a day to keep her happy. She would be happiest when going for a good run in the woods or the park and even enjoyed going through the snow.
Nelly is very good at heeling if there’s a treat around!
3. They need regular grooming
All dogs need grooming on a regular basis. This includes going to the groomers and being brushed at home. As Cockapoos can come in such a range of textures, it’s important to make sure that they are brushed at home on a regular basis.
Nelly has quite soft, wavy fur but I’ve seen other cockapoos with coarser, curlier fur. If their fur is not brushed, it can become knotted and matted, causing irritation for them. This also means that when they get groomed, more fur would need to be taken off than usual.
You can usually tell if a dog is uncomfortable with their fur if they start to nibble it. This could be a sign of something stuck in their fur or that it’s simply too knotted.
Nelly never really liked being brushed, but have a treat in front of her or some peanut butter and she would happily go through the discomfort of it all!
4. They adore human interaction
The main thing I’ve noticed about any Cockapoo that I have met is how much they adore people, like the Cocker Spaniel. Even Cockapoos who I do not know seem to really enjoy just meeting new people.
From owning Nelly the Cockapoo puppy, I can tell you that she followed me around everywhere because she loved to be close to me. From my experience, Cockapoos become attached to their closest humans and anyone who give them their undivided attention.
Nelly would often get jealous. This was something that could perhaps spark problems when around other people or other dogs in an enclosed area. Nelly would sometimes softly growl if someone else came near when she was on my lap. However, this was not all the time but was definitely a sign of jealousy and wanting to mark her territory.
Due to the nature of Cockapoos, they can often suffer from separation anxiety. I haven’t experienced this with Nelly but I have met others who have said that their pup has not dealt well with being alone.
Cockapoos just love humans and any attention that they can get! That’s one of the main reasons why I love the Cockapoo and Cocker Spaniel so much because they tend to be incredibly affectionate.
Nelly wanted to come on holiday to France with us!
5. They can be expensive to buy
There’s no denying that the Cockapoo seems to be a popular choice of dog breed. Adopt a Pet reported that a breeder charges between $1,100 and $2,000. That’s a hefty price to pay so make sure that you check out the breeder beforehand to ensure they have bred the puppies in the proper way. Ask to see the parent Cocker Spaniel and Poodle if possible.
When choosing your Cockapoo, make sure that you ask the breeder plenty of questions about their puppies.
You might want to ask questions like:
- How long have you been breeding?
- Have the puppies had the necessary vaccinations?
- From what age can the puppy be taken home?
- Can I meet the parent Cocker Spaniel and Poodle?
- Has the puppy had any other treatments or health checks?
If the cost is a concern, you could always adopt a Cockapoo. This would be significantly cheaper and you would be giving an orphaned dog a loving home. Adopting a dog can be a very rewarding experience for both the owner and dog.
6. They’re known for being family pets
Due to Cockapoos having a loving nature and the fact that they adore humans, similar to their parent Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, they can make great family pets. Cockapoos do love exploring, so taking them on family trips out can be an incredibly satisfying experience.
There are plenty of Cockapoos out there who have become best friends with their unrelated siblings. However, do be aware that all dogs are different which means that not all Cockapoos could be great with kids.
One example of this would be my experience with Nelly. When my sister had children, I found that Nelly was actually incredibly wary and snappy towards them. This could have been because they were quite small but she definitely did not like them going near her.
Even when Nelly was beside me and one of my nephews would move (not towards her), she would be growling. I supervised this at all times and the day that she properly barked at one of them meant that I took her out of the room immediately.
Nelly could be a very jealous Cockapoo, so a small human trying to take away my attention could have been frustrating for her! However, not all Cockapoos are like this. Just make sure that you supervise your Cockapoo around children to ensure that nothing bad happens.
7. They never really grow up
Cockapoos are young at heart, no matter what their real age is. With some dog breeds, you might notice how they calm down a lot with age as they are living a peaceful life. The Cockapoo however, typically has a spring in their step for a much longer period.
Nelly has always been an excitable dog. She loves to play, run, cuddle and jump. She still seems like a puppy despite her age. This, for me, made having a Cockapoo a lovely experience because it meant that she was always active and enjoyed the same amount of company, exercise and affection. Dogs are adorable, particularly when they are in their puppy phase so having a dog that stays this happy for so long was a bonus!
8. They’re less likely to cause an allergic reaction
Dogs that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction are called hypoallergenic dogs. This means that they produce or retain less dander than other dogs. Dogs that do not shed very much, like the typical Cockapoo, releases less dander into the environment.
If you’re particularly worried about having an allergic reaction to a Cockapoo, make sure that you try to spend some quality time with one before bringing one into your home. Although they are seemingly hypoallergenic, this does not necessarily mean that they are ruled out from causing allergic reactions.
This adorable Cockapoo has grown so much since being a puppy but has the same playfulness and enthusiasm!
9. They are seen as healthy dogs
Cockapoos are generally very healthy dogs that are not prone to too many health problems.
They have said that there have been cases of luxating patella. This means that their knees cannot be properly extended due to dislocation, causing pain and irritation. However, this is not necessarily going to happen to every Cockapoo.
Recently, my Nelly stopped eating and seemed generally not herself. She would be happy to see those she loves and would still drink water but refused to eat for a week. Due to not eating, this also meant that she was not doing her doggy-doos.
After a few trips to the vet, they found out that she has Addison’s Disease which is a hormonal issue. However, now she is on medication she is back to her old self. She continues to smile and ask for plenty of belly rubs!
She did have me worried for a while though because in her nine years in this world, she has not really had any health problems! This just goes to show how these things can develop later on in life and it’s important to make sure that your pup is their normal self.
10. They can suffer from separation anxiety
As a lot of dogs, Cockapoos can suffer from separation anxiety. I spoke a little bit about this earlier on in the article but feel it is important to expand on.
Separation anxiety is when a dog (or person) experiences high levels of anxiety due to being away from home or someone close to them. As Cockapoos tend to love humans so much, they can often suffer from this when their humans go out.
Separation anxiety can result in:
- Barking, whining or crying for long periods of time
- Destroying furniture
- Urinating
- Panting
- Salivating
- Pacing
No dog should be left alone all day but it is important that sometimes you are able to leave your dog for a little while, knowing that they will be okay. If you think your pup is suffering from this, or are worried that they might, make sure you read up on how to deal with it.
Nelly always loves a treat, she will lick her lips to let you know she’s expecting it.
11. They know when you need comforting
One thing I always noticed about Nelly was that she could tell when I was sad, angry, frustrated or devastated. Dogs are very good at sensing the emotions of humans, so it is possible for them to mimic that emotion.
However, if I ever felt sad when I was at home, Nelly would be the first one to know about it. She would come up to me, climb onto my lap and lick my face as if to say: ‘Cheer up! I love you!’
Having had several different breeds of dog, Nelly the Cockapoo has been the most comforting of them all. You can tell she genuinely cares about how you are feeling. The odd time I’d try to fake an emotion and I’m pretty sure she knew when I was lying because she simply would not react!
If you’re after a dog that has the biggest heart, will love you forever and genuinely wants to please humans, consider a Cockapoo mixed breed. Just remember – all dogs are different.
