Cockapoo

Cockapoo
A two year-old Cockapoo
Alternative names
Cockapoo, Cockerpoo, Spoodle (AU)
Country of origin
United States
Classification and breed standards
Not recognized by any major kennel club

A Cockapoo (also called a Spoodle or Cockerpoo) is a hybrid dog, bred by crossing an American Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle (in most cases the Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle), or by breeding Cockapoo to Cockapoo. Like its parent breeds, the Cockapoo tends to be a smaller dog.

History

Cockapoos have been known to the United States since around the 1940's but were first popular in the 1960's. Recently the breed has become more popular, and many Cockapoos are now the result of breeding Cockapoo to Cockapoo rather than of a direct cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.

Cockapoos have also become very popular in other countries. In Australia and Sweden, they are usually called Spoodles, and can be the result of mating either the American Cocker Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle, or of breeding successive generations of Spoodles.

Health

Cockapoos tend to have far fewer genetic problems than their parent breeds due to hybrid vigor.

However, both Poodles and Cocker Spaniels can suffer from luxating patellas (loose knees) and progressive retinal atrophy. This makes Cockapoos prone to these problems as well. They can also be prone to ear infections.

Characteristics

Twelve week old Cockapoo puppy.

Breeders usually try to retain the small build of the American Cocker Spaniel, while retaining the wavy quality of the Poodle's coat.

Strictly speaking, the Cockapoo cannot be described as a purebred because it does not 'breed true'. In breeders' terms, 'breeding true' means that the pups of two mated specimens will have more consistently predictable characteristics, and will resemble their parents, rather than exhibiting random characteristics of the dog breeds in their ancestries.

There are currently three Cockapoo clubs in America that are working towards developing the Cockapoo by breeding successive generations, and establishing the Cockapoo as a recognized breed.

External links

• The American Cockapoo Club
• American Cockapoo Club Breed Standard
• Cockapoo Club of America

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