About
Cockapoos are one of the UK’s most popular crossbreeds, a cross between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel. Depending on the breed of the parents dogs, a Cockapoo is normally sorted into one of three categories.
An F1 Cockapoo has a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel as a parent. F1b indicates a Cockapoo where one parent is a Cockapoo and the other is one of the initial breeds. An F2 Cockapoo has two Cockapoo parents.
Regardless of their parentage, Cockapoos all make fantastic pets for new and existing dog owners!
Health
Cockapoo’s are generally a healthy breed and benefit somewhat from being a crossbreed. They inherit some potential health problems from their parent breeds but have a lower chance of all inherited issues because of their mixed lineage.
Cataracts
Symptoms: cloudy eyes, changes to eye colour, not wanting to run or jump
One of several issues with a Cockapoo’s eyes than can be inherited from their parents. Regularly checking your dog’s eyes and having a vet do the same can catch issues early.
Ear Infections
Symptoms: scratching at ears, red or scabby ears
A Cockapoo’s large floppy ears are adorable but can cause issues if not properly maintained. If not groomed well, infections can be common with floppy-eared dogs and Cockapoo’s are no exception.
Luxating Patella
Symptoms: keeping one or more legs raised when walking (hopping), dragging feet when walking
An issue where the kneecap in one or more legs moves out of it’s proper position and make walking with that leg difficult.
Appearance
Cockapoos can vary massively in size depending on the size of their parents.
As a cross between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel, two breeds that also have a wide range of sizes, Cockapoos be as small as 20cm or reach up to 45cm tall.
Their weight can range between 2.7kg – 9kg.
Cockapoos come in a wide range of colours, all the way from white and cream to brown and black! You’ll find Cockapoos with single coat colours and some with a mixture of colours.
A common marking you might see on Cockapoos is the “Tuxedo” coat, a white chest on a different coloured coat.
Behaviour
The temperament of Poodles and Cocker Spaniels is good and with a Cockapoo we get the best of both worlds.
Cockapoos are very affectionate and can be comfortable in many situations. Strangers, children, other dogs, there’s not much that will set a Cockapoo off.
Like most dogs, Cockapoos will need a decent amount of exercise but they aren’t massively active dogs that need hours and hours a day. You can be sure that after a long walk, they will want nothing more than a cuddle on the sofa.
