FAQs – About Cockapoos

Q: What are Cockapoos?
A: Cockapoos were created by crossing the Poodle and Cocker Spaniel breeds. A Cockapoo is any dog that has only Poodle AND Cocker Spaniel in its pedigree/lineage, in any combination. The classic Cockapoo look is most consistently seen in first generation Cockapoos (F1), where one parent is a Poodle, and the other a Cocker Spaniel. We breed multi-generation Cockapoos, pairing dogs who range from F1b-F4, as of 2020.

Q: What is a “first generation” Cockapoo?
A: A first generation Cockapoo (F1) is a dog or puppy resulting from the breeding of a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle.

Q: What is a “second generation” Cockapoo?
A: A second generation Cockapoo (F2) is a dog or puppy resulting from the breeding of an F1 or F1b Cockapoo to another generation of Cockapoo.
Even if an F1 is bred to an F2 or higher generation, the puppies will still be F2 when accurately recorded, since their closest purebred ancestor is only two generations away.

Q: Do you breed first generation Cockapoos?
A: No. As of 2020, all of our parent dogs are Cockapoos themselves, so our puppies are second-fifth generation, depending on the two parents.

Q: How are the generations determined?
A: The generation count shows how far any individual Cockapoo is from a purebred parent in any of its parental lines.

Q: Is a male or female dog better?
A: Choosing a male or female for your family depends entirely on individual preferences, but as a general rule, gender really only matters if you plan to breed your dog – we require a spay/neuter agreement in our contract for all pet homes.

Q: What colors do you/Cockapoos have?
A: Cockapoos can be found in all the colors and patterns that their parent breeds have. However, we mostly have lighter colors in our puppies – from buff, apricot/caramel, and red, in both solid and parti markings. Occasionally we will have black or merle puppies. As of 2020, we do not have any chocolate/brown dogs in our breeding program.

Q: Do Cockapoos require much grooming?
A: You must keep your dog brushed on a regular basis or the hair will become matted, especially as it gets longer. The hair varies from dog to dog, but brushing frequently will insure that your dog always looks well groomed, and allows you to monitor their overall physical state as well. As your puppy matures to an adult, and throughout their life, he/she will require clipping/grooming – approximately every two months, but this varies depending both on the individual coat, and the desired style or length.

Q: Do Cockapoos shed much?
A: Because they have Poodle in their lineage, most Cockapoos have little-to-no shedding; however, some Cockapoos do lose more hair than others. Most people with pet allergies are not bothered by Cockapoos, but if allergies may be a problem, you should try to interact with a Cockapoo before you make the final decision to purchase one.

Q: Should Cockapoo tails be docked?
A: The American Cockapoo Club standard allows for either docked or natural tails in a Cockapoo. We choose NOT to dock the tails of our puppies because we believe it is unnecessary, and possibly even detrimental to their natural canine communication abilities. Besides that, we greatly enjoy seeing their happy tails wagging when they great us!

Q: What are Cockapoos like in temperament?
A: Cockapoos are highly trainable with a keen intelligence. They are curious and eager to perform. They usually do well with one-person owners as well as families with young children. They are very people-oriented, outgoing and happy dogs. Cockapoos are a very loving and playful breed. In our experience, the mix of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle has brought out the best of the two breeds. They are “people” dogs and don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time. They can do well in a country environment and also in an apartment, as long as they are given lots of attention. They LOVE people!

Q: Are Cockapoos good with children?
A: Most Cockapoos do extremely well with children and have an easy-going personality. They want to be around people and are very affectionate and intelligent pets. However, training is VERY important, especially in a home with children. Read training books and/or watch training videos before bringing a new puppy into your home!