~MEET THE COCKAPOO~

Cockapoos are friendly and affectionate little comedians with a sweet temperament and a zest for life.  Many celebrities have adorned this furry friend.  Ashley Judd can be seen taking hers for a stroll down the red carpet now and again.  Bred to be a companion animal, they're great with kids, amazing with other animals, and may be the easiest breed to own, if it's your first family pet.  

 

The oldest of the so called "designer dog breeds", cockapoos are a cross between the American cocker spaniel and the poodle. This hybrid offspring of a purebred cocker spaniel and  purebred poodle originally were the result of veterinarians attempting to correct genetic defects that had developed in both breeds due to overbreeding and inbreeding poodles and cocker spaniels back in the 1950's.  Both breeds were very popular and resulted in a lot of improper breeding by friends and neighbors. With genetic testing, knowledge and skills, they created a popular hybrid. A beautiful blonde Cockapoo made its television debut on the Jackie Gleason "The Honeymooners" show in 1956. Knowledgeable breeders today are working towards breed recognition. At Angels we strive to breed Cockapoos that are free of any genetic defects.

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The appearance of their coat can be straight, wavy, curly  or any combination of the 3. Their coats may be long, medium, or short. Their coats are considered hair, not fur, and 

free of dander or shedding and hypoallergenic. Another characteristic that applies to most cockapoos is that they don't produce a strong doggy odors and only need to be bathed as needed. While their coats don't need to be cut like a poodle's, they do require regular brushing to prevent matting and remove debris that can get caught in their fur.

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Their coloring also widely varies. Cockapoo puppies can be any color that you'd see in a poodle or cocker spaniel, including black, white, red, brown, dark brown, black and white, apricot, blonde, and combinations.  Notable is that they may carry the fade gene from their poodle parent.  This refers to the animals coat color will tend to lighten with age.  For example, a dark brown may become lighter in color as they age.

Personality:

Cockapoos are desired by people for their adaptability to any environment and their laid back personality. They are equally happy when cuddling or playing out in the yard. They are highly intelligent, easy to train and want to please their family. They are  friendly and thrive on social interaction.  They get along well with any age adults and children although, like any other breed, should be supervised around young children and babies.  Cockapoos are known for non-aggressive behaviors.

Living With:

Cockapoos do well in apartments, although maxi cockapoos may be better suited for larger living spaces than their smaller counterparts. They don't bark a lot, although they will let you know when someone's at the door. They have a moderate amount of energy and may entertain you doing zoomies, but they're also happy to curl up in a lap or next to you on the sofa. They generally require about 30 minutes of exercise/play a day, which can be achieved by playing in the backyard or with a quick walk around the block. 

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Although their coats don't require regular cutting like a poodle's, they do need to be brushed regularly — and some cockapoo owners do like to keep the coat trimmed to a certain length. Their floppy ears may be prone to infections and should be cleaned and inspected on a weekly to monthly basis. Signs of an ear infection include an unpleasant odor coming from the ear, redness or swelling, itching, and constant head shaking.

While cockapoos tend to be healthy and hardy dogs, they can be prone to the same genetic predispositions to health conditions that affect either of their parent breeds, including patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, allergies and heart or liver disease. At Angel's, we have a long line and have worked tirelessly at successfully breeding without genetic defects.   And of course we are happy to answer any questions you have about the parents and their health, disposition and purebred status.

History:

No one is sure just when the hybrid began but the general consensus is that it was the mid to late 50's or early 60's when the hybrid first became recognized.  The first one on television appeared in episode 21 of "The Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason in 1956 entitled "A Dog's Life".  

But impressed by the sweet and intelligent nature of the puppies combined with their odorless, low-shed coat, enthusiasts began intentionally crossing poodles with cocker spaniels in an attempt to recreate these results. This crossbreed has only gained in popularity over the decades.

Cockapoos make excellent companion dogs and family pets. The American Kennel Club does not recognize cockapoos as a true breed, but considers them a mixed-breed dog. However, efforts are underway by cockapoo breeding organizations to get the cockapoo recognized as a true breed.