Cockapoo: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Cockapoo is the result of a cross between the English or American Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, most often in miniature or toy size. The first deliberate crosses appeared in the United States in the 1950s, well before the craze for so-called « doodle » dogs. The cross subsequently enjoyed immense success in the United Kingdom, where it is now among the dogs most sought after by families. Clubs of enthusiasts are working to stabilize a type over several generations, but the Cockapoo is recognized neither by the FCI nor by the major breed clubs.

The Cockapoo is a small, well-proportioned dog, with a body slightly longer than it is tall. Its rounded head has dark, expressive eyes and long drooping ears inherited from the Cocker. The medium-length coat ranges from slightly wavy to distinctly curly depending on the Poodle's influence. All colours exist: apricot, cream, red, chocolate, black, merle or parti-coloured. The size depends on the Poodle used, from 5 to 7 kg for the smallest to around a dozen kilos for medium-sized dogs.

Cheerful, sociable and very people-oriented, the Cockapoo combines the enthusiasm of the Cocker with the quick wit of the Poodle. It generally gets along very well with children, other dogs and cats when it has been socialized early. Not very wary of strangers, it does not have the makings of a guard dog, but it readily signals arrivals.

On a daily basis, the Cockapoo likes to take part in everything that happens in the house. It needs one to two hours of outings and play per day, with scenting and retrieving sessions that it enjoys very much. It lives well in an apartment if this need is met, but does not cope well with being left alone for long hours and may then become destructive or bark excessively.

Intelligent and food-motivated, the Cockapoo learns quickly with positive methods: rewards, play and short sessions. It is sensitive to raised voices, which are best avoided. Recall and leash walking deserve regular work, as the Cocker's hunting instinct can resurface. Gradual learning of being alone from a very young age limits the risks of separation anxiety.

The price of a Cockapoo depends mainly on the breeder's reliability, the parents' health tests, the generation of the crossbreed and demand, which is very high in the United Kingdom. The lowest prices often hide a lack of testing and socialisation.

The Cockapoo is a rather robust dog when it comes from selected and tested parents. However, it can inherit conditions known in both of its parent breeds, particularly eye, joint and ear conditions. Its long hairy ears require special monitoring.

The Cockapoo needs a complete diet suited to a small active dog. The ration must take into account its actual size, which varies greatly from one individual to another, and its often pronounced appetite.

We speak of Cockapoo F1 for a first cross between a Cocker and a Poodle, of F1b when this cross is crossed again with a Poodle to obtain curlier fur, and of “multigeneration” when both parents are themselves Cockapoos. In the United Kingdom, the English type, more athletic, is also distinguished from the American type, more compact.