Breeds / Small
Cockapoo puppies
The Cockapoo is curious, outgoing and eager to please, generally quiet and calm indoors once its exercise needs are met. A couple of walks a day plus games and enrichment suit it, and some individuals develop separation anxiety.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle
- Adult weight 6.8 to 10 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 15 to 22 lb
- Adult height 25 to 46 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
A cross, not a breed. The Cockapoo is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary between individuals and can favour either parent, and a first cross of two purebred parents is less predictable in coat than a later generation bred back to a Poodle. Toy, miniature and standard Cockapoos exist depending on which Poodle variety was used, which is why the height range here is so wide.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Cockapoo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test in both parent breeds
- Hereditary cataracts and glaucoma, found on an eye examination and intraocular pressure testing
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip scoring radiographs
- Chronic ear infections in the pendulous, hairy ear canal, found on otoscopic examination
- Von Willebrand disease from the Cocker Spaniel side, detectable by DNA test and a clotting factor assay
- Obesity, monitored by regular weighing and body condition scoring
From Cockapoo breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/cockapoo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Cockapoo puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Cockapoo.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.8 to 10 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
Previous: Chow Chow · Next: Coton de Tulear
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.