The cockapoo, also known as a cockerpoo (both

portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

s of ''cocker spaniel'' and ''poodle'') or a spoodle, is a

dog crossbreed Dog crossbreeds (sometimes called designer dogs) are dogs which have been Artificial selection, intentionally bred from two or more recognized dog breeds. They are not Mongrel#Crossbreed vs. mongrel, dogs with no purebred ancestors, but are not ...

bred from the Cocker Spaniel and the

Poodle The Poodle, called the in German () and the in French, is a breed of water dog. The breed is divided into four varieties based on size, the Standard Poodle, Medium Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle, although the Medium Poodle is no ...

, most commonly the

Miniature Poodle The Poodle, called the in German () and the in French, is a breed of water dog. The breed is divided into four varieties based on size, the Standard Poodle, Medium Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle, although the Medium Poodle is no ...

History

The cockapoo was first bred as a designer dog in the United States with the aim of producing a healthy companion dog that, it is claimed by its supporters, does not inherit many of the health defects common in the two parent breeds due to

hybrid vigor Heterosis, hybrid vigor, or outbreeding enhancement is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a Hybrid (biology), hybrid offspring. An offspring is heterotic if its trait (biology), traits are enhanced as a result of m ...

. If both parents are healthy this can be true and the crossbreed is typically more genetically diverse than purebred dogs; however, "hybrid vigor" indicates an increased probability of health rather than a definite one for any specific animal. Cocker Spaniels and Poodles have been deliberately crossed in the United States since the 1960s. In 2022, cockapoos were one of the most expensive dog varieties in the United Kingdom, costing an average of . Between 2019 and 2020, the average price in the UK rose by 168 percent, a result of increased demand caused by a national

lockdown A lockdown () is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely. The term is used for a prison protocol that us ...

in response to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

Dimensions and appearance

As with most animal crossbreeds, there is a great deal of variability in the cockapoo's dimensions and appearance. All colors or combinations of colors can be found, though most commonly they are white and brown. The coat can also be straight, wavy, or curled. Individual dogs that weigh less than are labelled toy cockapoos, dogs that weigh between miniature cockapoos and dogs weighing over standard cockapoos. Cockapoos can vary in temperament and in need for exercise.

Crossbreeding

In order to promote the crossbreed in the United States, a dedicated club has been formed, the Cockapoo Club of America. Cockapoos are available in F1, F2, and F2B, which is dependent on the parent dogs. An F1 cockapoo is bred from a purebred poodle and a cocker spaniel. This can also be called a first-generation cockapoo. When two F1 cockapoos are bred together this creates an F2 cockapoo, and there are many other combinations breeding back towards the original poodle or cocker spaniel breed.

Temperament

Cockapoos are known for their affectionate nature and lively personalities, inheriting intelligence from both parents' breeds – the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. This intelligence makes them generally easy to train, as they are eager learners and quick at mastering new tricks. It’s encouraged that owners enroll their cockapoos in puppy training classes for proper obedience and socialization. Cockapoos are energetic and require attention, exercise, and training to prevent boredom and potential recklessness. It's important to note that, due to their sociable nature, if left alone for too long cockapoos have been known to develop separation anxiety.

Health

Crossbreeds like cockapoos are generally healthy, and are known to have fewer predisposed health conditions compared to some purebred dogs. However, owners should be aware of common health concerns such as allergies, glaucoma, hip dysplasia, and progressive retinal issues.

References

External links

* {{YouTube, id=Fe-sa9mHcxI, title=Cockapoo Puppies and Dogs: Temperament, Lifespan & more * Cockapoo Generations Explained - https://doodledogs.club/cockapoo-dog-breed-information-and-personality-traits-f1-f2-f1b-chart/ Dog crossbreeds