Nowadays, cockapoos are rapidly gaining popularity. These Khvostyk can be found in most Ukrainian cities and that’s great. Their genome is quite diverse. Coat color, size, character traits depend on the parents (cocker spaniel and poodle), which are crossed to give birth to puppies. So let’s learn more about these unique dogs and how to properly care for them.
The story of the origin of the cockapoo
Cockapoos began to be bred in the 1950s in the United States of America. Breeders sought to combine a cocker spaniel and a poodle to get an extremely intelligent, sociable, gentle dog with a hypoallergenic coat that almost does not shed. And they certainly succeeded. Cockapoos quickly gained popularity and the era of breeding designer breeds began. Like most hybrids, cockapoos are not designated as a separate breed, but they have their own clubs and associations that support their standards and promote their interests (Cockapoo Club of America, Cockapoo Club of Great Britain).
Appearance of the cockapoo
Cockapoos have a very attractive appearance and are different from each other, as they can inherit the traits of both the cocker spaniel and the poodle. The size of the dog will depend on which poodle will be used for crossbreeding. This allows you to create cockapoos of various sizes, from small to medium. The weight can vary from 5 to 30 kg, and the height at the withers – from 25 to 45 cm.
The coat of a cockapoo can be curly, wavy or straighter. If your baby’s coat is curly or wavy, then his poodle genes prevail and the coat will hardly shed and is considered hypoallergenic. If it is more direct, then you can say about the superiority of the cocker spaniel’s genes and you cannot avoid seasonal shedding. Regardless of the type of wool, the color can be unique. There are no color standards, so your dog can be any color combined with various undertones.
Cockapoo ears can be called a feature of the breed. They are long, covered with thick wool, and this is all thanks to the cocker spaniel.
The character of the cockapoo
Cockapoos are very social and love communication. They quickly find a common language with children and get along well with other pets. Thanks to the intelligence inherited from the poodle, cockapoos are easy to train, quickly learn new commands and can participate in various competitions. They are active, playful, love walks and active games, are devoted to their owners and want to spend as much time with them as possible. This makes them great partners for active people.
Cockapoo nutrition
A balanced diet plays an important role in maintaining the health of the cockapoo. It is necessary to choose high-quality feed and control the amount of food to avoid obesity. On the advice of a veterinarian, you can add vitamins and other nutritional supplements to your pet’s diet.
Cockapoo physical activity
Cockapoos need regular exercise. They love active outdoor games and will be happy to spend time in nature. Daily walks will help them stay healthy, and early socialization will help them grow into confident and friendly dogs.
Cockapoo health
Cockapoos are generally healthy dogs, but they can inherit some genetic diseases from their parent breeds: hip dysplasia, eye problems including cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, ear infections due to long ears, allergies that can manifest as itchy skin or problems with digestion. Regular visits to the veterinarian will help to timely detect and prevent treatment of possible diseases.
Cockapoo grooming
Cockapoo grooming is an important component of its care and includes a number of procedures that must be performed regularly and responsibly, because the dog’s health depends on it. In particular, if regularity is not observed or there is no grooming at all, the cockapoo may have problems with its teeth, it will suffer from infectious diseases of the ears, the wool will form a continuous dense dirty shell, under which the skin will not receive sufficient air circulation and inflammation, dermatitis will appear, dandruff. All this can be easily avoided if you follow the following procedures consistently:
- Check the paws after each walk for small debris and dirt between the pads and trim the nails regularly.
- Brush your cockapoo’s teeth daily, or at least a few times a week, using a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs.
- Inspect the ears weekly and clean them as needed. In pet stores, you can buy special means for cleaning ears in the form of sprays, lotions, wipes. Choose the most convenient option for you.
- Keep the area around the eyes clean, clean the fur from mucus. If tear tracks appear, contact your veterinarian to determine the cause.
- Brush your cockapoo’s coat several times a week, and in some cases daily, especially if the coat is curly or wavy and prone to tangles. Pay special attention to the places where puss most often form: behind the ears, on the stomach and on the paws.
- Bathe your cockapoo about once a month or as needed (for example, if your pet gets dirty). Use a shampoo designed for dogs with sensitive skin or a hypoallergenic shampoo to avoid irritation.
- We recommend regular trimming of the cockapoo’s coat, especially if it is curly or wavy. Grooming can include trimming the hair on the entire body, as well as the formation of certain hairstyles, such as ponytails, braids on the head, long or short ears, flare pants, pom pom tail, etc. If you do not have experience in dog grooming, it is better to contact a groomer.
Although many aspects of cockapoo care can be done at home, regular visits to the grooming salon are also essential. A professional can provide more thorough care of the coat, haircut and ear cleaning, which will help maintain the health and appearance of your dog at a high level. To learn more about grooming, cockapoo haircuts and prices in Kyiv, go to the dog haircut and grooming page.
And remember that proper care, love and attention will make a cockapoo a loyal and happy member of the family for many years.
