COCKAPOO

The Cockapoo is a hybrid dog that is sometimes also referred to as a cockerpoo or spoodle.  It is very often referred to as a designer dog.  The Cockapoo is bred by crossing an American or English Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle.  Most often, the breed of Poodle that is used for the development of the Cockapoo is the Miniature Poodle, or Toy Poodle.

Cockapoos have been apparent in the United States since approximately 1950.  The popularity of this breed continues to grow, and many Cockapoos are now the result of breeding cockapoo to cockapoo instead of it being the direct cross between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle.   

Cockapoos have also become popular in other countries including Sweden and Australia.  In these countries, they are often referred to as Spoodles, and can be the result of mating either the American or the English Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle, or breeding successive generations of spoodles.

Even though majorities of Cockapoos are healthy, there are those that suffer from the same health problems that are common to their parent breeds.

It is possible for both Cocker Spaniels and Poodles to suffer from luxating patelles, which means loose knees.  It is required that the Orthopedic Foundation checks for this problem for Animals (OFA) before the dogs are bred. 

Cocker Spaniels and Poodles can also suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, which is an eye disorder.  It is necessary for a Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) to undertake an examination or DNA test before breeding. 

As with many breeds that have floppy ears, Cockapoos can be susceptible to ear infections.  For this reason, it is essential that the ears of this breed are kept dry and clean at all times.

Even though Cockapoos can suffer from various health problems, they are an overall healthy and happy breed.  As with many other smaller dog breeds, they are generally rather long-lived, and it is common for Cockapoos to live to be 15 years of age or more.

The Cockapoo has become an extremely popular breed because of the combination of the friendly, loving character of the Cocker Spaniel together with the low-shedding, low dander qualities of the Poodle.  The Poodle also offers intelligence and a tendency to be rather active, which results in a loving, intelligent, active, and sprightly dog that sheds very little hair.

Cockapoos cannot be called a purebred because it does not âbreed trueâ.  âBreeding trueâ in breedersâ terms, means that the puppies will have more constant expected characteristics, and will bear a resemblance to both of their parents, rather than displaying the varying characteristics of the dog breeds they descend from.

However, it is possible for the Cockapoo to inherit the characteristics of either or both of its parent breeds.  Whilst it is possible for some Cockapoos to appear more like the Cocker Spaniel, others will display more Poodle traits, which will create a variation in the temperament and appearance of the Cockapoo.

The weight and size of a Cockerpoo will depend entirely upon the type of dogs that their parents were.  Breeders will, more often than not, use Miniature Poodles as the Poodle parent.  The Miniature Poodle has an average height of 10 to 15 inches and a typical weight of between 15 to 17 pounds.

There are currently three Cockapoo clubs in the United States that are working towards establishing the Cockapoo as a recognized breed.