Cockapoo Pros and Cons – Complete Owners Guide
The goal of breeders with Cockapoos was to end up with two specific results. One was to create a breed of dog that created fewer allergic reactions for people with allergies. Plus, to create a dog with a stable temperament.
Cockapoo History
The Cockapoo is a mixture between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel. Your Cockapoo is one of the oldest kinds of mixed-breed dogs, and they are growing in popularity.
Cockapoos aren’t considered to be a pure breed but are the offspring of a purebred Cocker Spaniel and a purebred Poodle.
This breed is also known as a Cockerpoo, a Cock-a-poo, and a Cockapoo Doodle.
The appearance of what your Cockapoo will look like is hard to tell. The size and weight of your pup will depend on what kind of poodle the parent was.
The adult offspring of a miniature toy poodle can weigh about 5 pounds. But the offspring of a standard poodle can weigh as much as 65 pounds, are about 15 inches tall are known as maxi Cockapoos.
Some breeders breed teacup cockapoos which only weigh about 2 pounds and are only about 10 inches tall. But the usual size of a Cockapoo is around 15 pounds and about 14 inches in height.
Pros Of Cockapoo Ownership
Temperament
You will find that your Cockapoo is energetic with a friendly, outgoing personality. This breed loves being around people, other pets, and other dogs.
Your dog will get along with children and older people as well. The more family and friends you have, the happier your dog will be.
Also, this breed loves evening cuddles and playing fetch with its owners. These dogs tend to inherit the loving, sweet nature of both parents.
Energy level
These dogs are incredibly active and require regular exercise. They need to be walked daily or have a rousing game of fetch to work off the excess energy.
If you’re a relatively active person who loves to jog or walk, this dog is a perfect fit. These dogs are pretty bouncy, but they are just as happy to curl up in your lap.
Training
Because Cockapoos are intelligent and clever, they are easy to train. This breed is much more manageable when it comes to training than many other breeds.
When you teach your pup, use the rewards method instead of punishment. When you put in the patience, time, and effort, your dog will become the companion you want him to become.
Breed standards
Even though these dogs are designer dogs, there is a breed standard. The Cockapoo Club of America was formed in 1999. It was developed to create a more breed consistency.
In addition, the organization pushed the idea of having multi-generational Cockapoos bred to one another instead of creating more first-generation puppies.
The American Cockapoo Club was formed in 2004 to take this trend further along. They won’t mix generations and won’t breed a Cockapoo with a spaniel or poodle.
To make these dogs as close to a registered dog breed as possible, some registries track up to the sixth-generation breeding’s.
Barking
Many cockapoos aren’t barkers but are relatively quiet.
Your pup could bark when someone is at the door but will run away if the person comes too close.
Your dog may become more vocal if left alone too long or suffer separation anxiety if not properly trained.
Lifespan
Cockapoos can live for 12-15 years.
Family pet
These dogs are excellent family pets and companion pets.
They can adapt to apartment living as well as a house with a big backyard. Although the Maxi Cockapoo might not be as well-suited for an apartment as much as their smaller counterparts.
Cons Of Cockapoo Ownership
Health problems
Cockapoos have several health issues, with cataracts being the most common as they get older. Your dog’s eyes could have a cloudy appearance which can interfere with his vision.
Plus, this breed can also have slipped stifles, which are issues with the knee joints. Hip dysplasia and liver disease can be an issue because of the traits of the cocker spaniel parent.
Ear infections can frequently occur because of the spaniel ears. You will need to check your dog’s ears often for moisture and trapped debris. Cleaning your dog’s ears at least once a week with ear care products is vital to avoid ear infections.
Signs of an ear infection will include an unpleasant odor coming from your dog’s ear, constant head shaking, itching, and redness or swelling.
To remove tartar buildup brushing your dog’s teeth two to three times per week is also necessary. If your dog is a senior dog, he may need daily brushing.
High maintenance
Cockapoos need more grooming maintenance than other dog breeds with a straight coat.
You will need to brush him regularly, trim the coat and toenails, and bathe to prevent skin irritations and mats from developing.
Some can have cocker spaniels’ personalities
Some dogs will have more of the spaniel parent traits than the poodle. If your dog has more cocker spaniel traits, he can have high anxiety levels.
Also, if your dog has more spaniel straits, he could be overly submissive, with some becoming fear-biters because they are so small. Again, this is an excellent reason to only work with certified breeders.
Coat and Grooming Needs
Your dog can have a wavy, straight, or curly coat, and it can be long, medium, or short. Different coats can need different types of care.
For example, a curly coat will require more grooming maintenance, while a short coat needs less care but sheds more.
Cockapoos don’t shed much even in the spring or winter. But you will need to brush your dog’s coat at least once a day to prevent mats and knots from forming. There will be times that the hair will need to be trimmed or clipped too.
Your dog will grow a single coat in a combination of colors that poodles and cocker spaniels come in. The colors are black, red, tan, sable, white, beige, cream, black and white, and merle.
If your pup likes to run around outside, you may want to keep his coat clipped to about 2-3 inches in length.
Also, you might have to trim around your dog’s eyes so he can see better. He won’t need a bath most of the time since there generally is a lack of odor with this breed.
Why are Cockapoos So Expensive?
There is not a set price for a Cockapoo, and many breeders charge different fees. Realistically, you can spend from $450 and $2600 on your pup. The difference in price range depends on a variety of factors.
If you adopt a Cockapoo or rescue one, the price will be lower. The average breeder price is around $2000.
One of the significant factors of cost is where you acquire the dog. There are two main ways to buy your Cockapoo. One way is adopting through a rescue or animal shelter, and the other is buying from a breeder. There is a good deal of price difference between the two.
Adopting a Cockapoo
It’s a lot less expensive to rescue or adopt a Cockapoo. Adopting will cost thousands of dollars less than buying from a breeder.
But a dog from a rescue or animal shelter may have a behavior problem, health problems, or be older, which will cost you more in the long run.
The Cockapoo rescues across the country rehabilitate, care for, and rehome Cockapoos. Sometimes Poodle rescues will have some too for around $400 to $700 for the adoption fee. The amount of the price depends on the age of the dog and its health conditions.
But it can be difficult to adopt a Cockapoo because they aren’t put in rescues very frequently. However, these dogs are in high demand, and if they end up in a rescue or shelter, they are adopted within a few days.
Purchasing a Cockapoo from a breeder
The other option when searching for a Cockapoo is to go directly to a reputable breeder. Not everyone will think this is an ideal choice, but some guarantees are offered when you buy from one.
Obviously, buying the dog will cost more, most likely in the $2,000 range.
When you do purchase your pet from a breeder, make sure you do your research. Find a reputable breeder that is in your area or at least within driving distance. When you take the time to find a good breeder, it will help to reduce future health bills from any genetic issues.
Remember that your pup will live for over 10 years. Therefore, you don’t want to purchase your dog from a puppy mill or a backyard breeder because of potential health issues.
However, suppose you do purchase your pet from a reputable breeder? In that case, it’s most likely that your dog will have a better temperament.
When you buy from a reputable breeder, it does cost more money upfront. But if you find a good breeder, it will cost you less money in the long run. You will save money on any potential health issues, and most good breeders will offer a health warranty.
Factors that can affect the price
There are several different factors that can affect the cost of your Cockapoo. It’s not always the same from breeder to breeder, but at least some of these reasons will factor in the price.
- Coat color: The rarer the color is, the more expensive the puppies end up costing. There is such a coat variation in both the Poodle and Cocker Spaniel the chance of a rare coat color can show up. If the puppy is multicolored, merle or part-colored will cost more than a solid color puppy.
- Health certifications: The type of health certification and guarantee the breeder offers will affect the cost of your puppy. If the breeder has made extra effort to have genetic and health testing on the parents, the price will be higher. This certification helps to guarantee that any problems that come up with your dog aren’t because of the parents. Instead, the future health of your pup can be determined by what kind of tests were performed on the parents before the puppies were born. But this does cost money, and the cost is recouped in the price of the puppy.
- Vet checks: Your puppy will be checked typically checked by a vet within a few days after birth. This will involve checking the mouths and puppies’ umbilical cords. The dewclaws will be removed and, as assessment is done, to make sure they are growing well. The puppies will be checked once more before being bought and given vaccines and dewormer.
- Where you live: Some areas of the country that Cockapoo puppies are more expensive. Suppose you live in a section of the country where there is only one reputable Cockapoo breeder. In that case, it’s supply and demand. So puppies will be more expensive than in an area where there are more breeders. But the puppies could also be less costly if there isn’t a demand or a low demand for them. Plus, if you live in a section of the country where the cost of living is high, your price will be higher. Breeding operations need a good size piece of land for the parent dogs to run on. These costs are then passed on to the customer.
- Who you purchase your pup from: If you find a Cockapoo puppy for less than $1,200, you are most likely buying from a backyard breeder or puppy mill. These breeders are only after the money, don’t offer guarantees, vet checks, or certifications. You may pay less at first, but you’ll end up paying more because of possible health issues.
Conclusion
Cockapoos are friendly, family-loving dogs that love everyone. You may have some issues to manage with yours, but that can be with any breed or crossbreed.
If you have the time, patience, and will play with your, then having one of these dogs is a rewarding and fun experience.
For more information, click this link here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX0jLtDFFFM
References:
https://greengarageblog.org/14-big-pros-and-cons-of-owning-a-cockapoo
https://welovedoodles.com/cockapoos-pros-and-cons/
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/cockapoo
