The British Cockapoo
Society
The Club for owners, enthusiasts and ALL recipients of Hearing Dogs
WHERE COCKAPOOS COME FIRST!
Society
The Club for owners, enthusiasts and ALL recipients of Hearing Dogs
WHERE COCKAPOOS COME FIRST!
THINKING OF GETTING A COCKAPOO?
There is something adorable about puppies, whether pedigree, crossbreed or the good old mongrel, but there is something especially endearing about Cockapoo pups.
It is no surprise that this crossbreed is becoming more and more popular.
Taking on a puppy means a lifetime commitment for you and your family, regardless of the breed type, but with Cockapoo's there are some specific things you need to think of as well as the normal, housetraining and obedience requirements.
Here we run through a few things for you to consider -
Before taking in a new four legged family member, have a think about your own lifestyle.
Do you go out a lot?
Do you work away from home?
How many hours a day are you out of the house?
Do you have house space for a dog?
If you are in rented accommodation does your landlord allow pets?
Do you have a safe, enclosed garden?
Are you prepared to devote hours to train a puppy?
Do you have time to attend puppy classes?
Can you afford day to day expenses, plus insurance, vet treatment and grooming costs?
That seems a lot of questions but it is just a few of the things that you need to think about before getting a dog.
As well as the considerations above, there are things more specific to having a Cockapoo.
TEMPERAMENT
Cockapoo's are renowned for their friendly personality. By and large, they love people and get on well with other dogs.
While obviously there can be exceptions to the rule, they usually love company, and enjoy the time spent with their owner, often choosing one of the family as 'the' special person to be with.
This love of family can result in some Cockapoo's becoming upset when separated from their owner, even just when they go to the shops or work, and while this doesn't always develop into full blown separation anxiety, they can certainly show signs of upset when being left for any time.
This can be alleviated by starting off building up the puppy's confidence in being on its own at a very early age, and the Socialise Your Puppy course can help with this.
ACTIVITY NEEDS
Being a mix of two intelligent breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, they love learning and training sessions. It is an important part of their life with you.
Mental exercise can give a dog as much fun and enjoyment as a long walk, and tire it out just as much too, so teaching it tricks, obedience or doing activities such as flyball or agility is great for them. There are also puzzles, games and toys which are available in lots of outlets which will help your dog stay entertained.
That being said though, it is important to remember that dogs need rest and sleep just as much as exercise, and a well exercised dog, mentally and physically, will happily settle on the settee or in its crate during the day.
GENERAL CARE
Cockapoo's are a mixed breed, and so can inherit traits from either the Cocker Spaniel or Poodle to varying degrees. Some may have the tight, curly coat of the Poodle while others will inherit the straighter coat of the Spaniel.
Some Cockapoo's may moult (quite noticeably) while others will not, however in all cases their coat will need careful attention.
Most Cockapoo owners keep their dogs fur trimmed short, a few let it grow long, but in either case they will need regular, if not daily, brushing and combing to keep matts and tangles at bay.
Some Cockapoo's love nothing more than rolling in fox or horse poo, or wallowing in muddy puddles, so giving dog baths may become a regular feature of your life with your dog!
Trips to the groomers will have to be done every few weeks if you are keeping your dog trimmed short, so it is a good idea to take your pup to your local groomer for a visit, and let it get used to being handled and brushed right from an early age.
Overall, Cockapoo's are friendly, fun, intelligent and responsive dogs that can be a great addition to any family, as long as you have the time and willingness to help it settle in.
It is no surprise that this crossbreed is becoming more and more popular.
Taking on a puppy means a lifetime commitment for you and your family, regardless of the breed type, but with Cockapoo's there are some specific things you need to think of as well as the normal, housetraining and obedience requirements.
Here we run through a few things for you to consider -
Before taking in a new four legged family member, have a think about your own lifestyle.
Do you go out a lot?
Do you work away from home?
How many hours a day are you out of the house?
Do you have house space for a dog?
If you are in rented accommodation does your landlord allow pets?
Do you have a safe, enclosed garden?
Are you prepared to devote hours to train a puppy?
Do you have time to attend puppy classes?
Can you afford day to day expenses, plus insurance, vet treatment and grooming costs?
That seems a lot of questions but it is just a few of the things that you need to think about before getting a dog.
As well as the considerations above, there are things more specific to having a Cockapoo.
TEMPERAMENT
Cockapoo's are renowned for their friendly personality. By and large, they love people and get on well with other dogs.
While obviously there can be exceptions to the rule, they usually love company, and enjoy the time spent with their owner, often choosing one of the family as 'the' special person to be with.
This love of family can result in some Cockapoo's becoming upset when separated from their owner, even just when they go to the shops or work, and while this doesn't always develop into full blown separation anxiety, they can certainly show signs of upset when being left for any time.
This can be alleviated by starting off building up the puppy's confidence in being on its own at a very early age, and the Socialise Your Puppy course can help with this.
ACTIVITY NEEDS
Being a mix of two intelligent breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, they love learning and training sessions. It is an important part of their life with you.
Mental exercise can give a dog as much fun and enjoyment as a long walk, and tire it out just as much too, so teaching it tricks, obedience or doing activities such as flyball or agility is great for them. There are also puzzles, games and toys which are available in lots of outlets which will help your dog stay entertained.
That being said though, it is important to remember that dogs need rest and sleep just as much as exercise, and a well exercised dog, mentally and physically, will happily settle on the settee or in its crate during the day.
GENERAL CARE
Cockapoo's are a mixed breed, and so can inherit traits from either the Cocker Spaniel or Poodle to varying degrees. Some may have the tight, curly coat of the Poodle while others will inherit the straighter coat of the Spaniel.
Some Cockapoo's may moult (quite noticeably) while others will not, however in all cases their coat will need careful attention.
Most Cockapoo owners keep their dogs fur trimmed short, a few let it grow long, but in either case they will need regular, if not daily, brushing and combing to keep matts and tangles at bay.
Some Cockapoo's love nothing more than rolling in fox or horse poo, or wallowing in muddy puddles, so giving dog baths may become a regular feature of your life with your dog!
Trips to the groomers will have to be done every few weeks if you are keeping your dog trimmed short, so it is a good idea to take your pup to your local groomer for a visit, and let it get used to being handled and brushed right from an early age.
Overall, Cockapoo's are friendly, fun, intelligent and responsive dogs that can be a great addition to any family, as long as you have the time and willingness to help it settle in.