Cockapoo -- American Cocker Spaniel X Poodle

		Cockapoo
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A. <> France -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as			Cockapoodle Cock-a-Poo

A brief presentation of the Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is the adorable, happy and affectionate result of a cross-breeding between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. He's almost single-handedly responsible for the current craze for specific crossbreed dogs, which shows no signs of slowing down, as he was the first hybrid intentionally created in the USA over 50 years ago. At his best, he combines the energy and vitality of the Cocker Spaniel with the intelligence and devotion of the Poodle. Like any hybrid, we can never be sure that negative traits won't also be passed on, but it's generally a reliable cross, long enough for us to know what to expect, with some degree of certainty.
Cockapoos are companion dogs and need to be with their families as much as possible. They live to make friends with everyone, organizing walks in the park, very sociable, but for the same reason, they are not guard dogs and very rarely show a hint of aggression. As they are very gentle by nature, some can be overwhelmed by young children, but once a child is old enough to know how to approach and handle the dog properly, they will get on very well. The Cockapoo's soft coat hardly sheds at all, but it takes a lot of work to keep it in perfect condition. Although crossing two pedigrees improves the health of their offspring to some extent, some of the health problems seen in the breeds of both parents can also occur in the Cockapoo, and the same precautions should always be taken when choosing a hybrid as a purebred puppy. With good care and a little luck, most Cockapoos can expect to live to between 14 and 16 years of age.

History of the Cockapoo

It seems that the Cockapoo was first bred in the USA in the 1950s (through accidental mating), but it was in the following decade that its popularity grew. From the outset, it seemed to many breeders an ideal cross, with complementary behavioral traits from both parents, as well as the odorless, low-fall coat that could be inherited from the Poodle. As this is not a true breed, at least at this stage, early generation crosses can produce puppies that look more like either parent, but Cockapoos tend to be slightly more uniform than their hybrids. Although any toy, miniature or standard Poodle can produce a puppy that is technically a Cockapoo, it is the toy and miniature that are almost always used for breeding with an American Cocker Spaniel. As this is a long-standing crossbreed, many countries are currently striving to have the Cockapoo recognized as a dog in its own right. Several have even gone so far as to establish a breed standard. As multigenerational breeding increases, the Cockapoo will probably become more standard in its characteristics, and Kennel Club recognition seems likely in the future.

	A little of the American Cocker Spaniel
	American and English Cocker Spaniels were considered to belong to the same breed until recently, but in reality the two had clearly diverged some 100 years ago. The American Cocker Spaniel is a much smaller, lighter dog, bred with the ring and its role as an animal in mind. As a result, it has lost much of the hunting ability of its ancestors, although it is still considered a sporting breed in the USA. Well-bred American Cocker Spaniels should be happy and gentle, and most are, but it's unfortunate that the breed suffered from its own popularity in the 20th century, and that a whole host of behavioral and health problems were introduced and perpetuated by irresponsible breeding.

	Standard of the American Cocker Spaniel
	A little of the Poodle
	The Poodle is an often underestimated breed of dog. It is intelligent, athletic, obedient and cheerful. The Poodle has an unusual coat, which tends to make the breed appear less than serious. The Poodle's curly coat is constantly growing and, without maintenance, can become a long, corded coat. Over the centuries, Poodle owners have experimented with grooming styles, resulting in the sophisticated decorative clips for which the Poodle is renowned.

	Standard of the Poodle

Appearance of the Cockapoo

Although the Cockapoo can clearly come in a variety of sizes, it is generally a medium to small dog, light in stature, weighing between 5 and 10 kg and around 20 to 30 cm in height. It has a moderately long, soft, fluffy coat that can take three forms, depending on whether it's inherited more from one parent than the other, with a fairly straight Cocker type, a tight, curly Poodle coat, or an intermediate, wavy form that represents a mixture of the two. As coat type only becomes apparent in puppies over six weeks of age, and all three types can be found in a litter, future owners may wish to wait until after this time to choose their puppy. The breed comes in several coat colors, both solid and patterned. These comprise: black, white, cream, apricot, red, chocolate, silver, roan, merle. Most will have the physical characteristics of both parents, with a moderately domed skull, an obvious stop and a slightly tapered muzzle. The eyes are generally brown, although merle dogs can have extremely clear or blue eyes. Ears are generally medium-sized, wedge-shaped, standing up at the base and folding forward. The body shape is proportional to the size of the dog, lean to strong, and not excessively broad, while the limbs are reasonably well muscled, though very finely boned.

Temperament of the Cockapoo

A well-balanced Cockapoo is a faultless, cheerful and friendly dog, who wants to be friends with everyone he meets. It has always been conceived as a companion breed and, like both its parents, it is affectionate and very devoted to its owners, ready to work hard to please them. However, it's important to be aware of the potential for nervousness in the Cocker Spaniel, which can linger, especially if breeders don't pay attention to their parent, so these positive traits should never be taken for granted. Happy, sociable dogs are more the result of their upbringing than their genes and, like all dogs, the Cockapoo needs early positive social experiences. It's a good choice of dog for families, as it will easily attach to more than one person, but can be sensitive to abuse from younger children.

Needs and activities of the Cockapoo

While these little dogs can meet their energy needs by playing around the house, exploring their yard if they have one, or hopping around, they still need a regular walk. This activity will be a welcome treat for your little Cockapoo, it's a chance for them to make more friends and have fun with all the bigger dogs in the park. They're a little dog with a big appetite for life, so they'll be the first to start a game and the last to finish it. If you give them the opportunity to explore new places, it will keep them alert and mentally recharged. It's best to keep them on a leash, as they'll want to introduce themselves to every person or dog they meet.

Maintenance of the Cockapoo

The Cockapoo's coat is generally left natural, but some people like to trim it to a length of 5 to 8 centimeters. The long hair around the eyes should be trimmed so they can see clearly and prevent eye infections. Grooming time is a fantastic opportunity to get more interested in your Cockapoo and he'll enjoy it. Gentle brushing of the coat, perhaps rubbing with a damp cloth and a wipe inside the ears will help your dog stay in tip-top condition. Ears can be an area where it gets red, or even smells bad. If this is the case, they need to consult your vet to clean the ears properly and may need medication for the infection. But apart from that, all they need is to have their teeth brushed two or three times a week and their nails trimmed.