While many people are aware that purebred dogs have specific standards they must meet to be considered good examples of the breed, they may not be aware that mixed breed dogs also have standards to meet. This is because breeds like cockapoos and cavapoos are highly popular and fall under Pedigree Club registration requirements.
At Perfect Pooches, we are professional dog breeders who offer a wide range of breeds for sale from our base in East Sussex. From cockapoos, to cavapoos, and more, our puppies are well loved, affectionate, and healthy. We have highlighted some of the breed standards that are expected of our cockapoos – one of our most popular breeds!
What is a Cockapoo?
Cockapoos are lively, energetic, and intelligent dogs that are the combination of a poodle and a cocker spaniel. They have a range of fur colours and textures and are well known for being excellent family dogs due to their loving and friendly nature. Some key advantages to owning a cockapoo include:
Adaptable: Due to their medium size, cockapoos are fairly adaptable to change and can live in large houses and small flats as long as their daily exercise needs are met.
Easy to Train: As the combination of two intelligent, working breeds, cockapoos are easy to train when consistent and respond well to reward conditioning.
Loving Personality: One of the key reasons cockapoos have become a common pet option is to do with their loving and affectionate personalities, making them loyal companions.
Cheeky Breed: Being loving isn’t the only perk of cockapoos personalities – they are also very cheeky and are known to act in funny, quirky ways in certain situations.
With that covered, let us take a look at some of the physical breed standards that are expected of cockapoos. At Perfect Pooches, all our cockapoos can trace their lineage through the Pedigree or Kennel Club, and so meet all of these standards in various ways.
Size Requirements
The size of an individual cockapoo is influenced by one of the parents – typically the poodle parent who can come in a range of sizes, but breed standards specify that adult cockapoos should be between 10-15 inches at the shoulder. Ten inches is usually indicative of a toy breed, while fifteen inches is the standard size. Weight isn’t usually a consideration when checking breed standards for a cockapoo as the weights are dependent on a few factors, including the ones mentioned above. Ideally, a cockapoo should weigh between 12 (toy) to 21 (standard) pounds.
Head and Expression
Cockapoos have large, well-set eyes that are typically dark brown if the dog also has a brown nose – lighter noses may have green or hazel eye colours – and should not have a droopy appearance. Commonly, cockapoo eyes are thought to be keen, endearing, and soulful. Their skull is rounded and has no tendencies towards being flat and the ears hang fairly close to the head. In terms of grooming, their vision should be unobstructed by fur and trimmed back, additionally ears should be kept short to reduce tangling or matting.
Coat Types
Cockapoos come in a wide range of colours, including solid colours, phantom, sable, brindle, tri colour, and merle. They have three different textures when it comes to their coats, which can be tight and curly, a medium curl, and a flat curl. For competitions or shows, most prefer cockapoos to have a medium curl, however this is once again dictated by the parents and it’s not uncommon to see puppies from the same litter have different coat types to one another. They will ideally be clipped all over with a ‘teddy bear’ cut but, again, this is more for shows and events.
Tail Requirements
Cockapoos tails should be inline with their back and left long – docking has been illegal in the UK for many years now and while it was once the breed standard for their cocker spaniel parents, this is no longer the case. The tail should typically be held high and curled rather than straight and it’s important to keep the fur in this area trimmed – both to meet the breed standards and for hygiene. It’s much easier for cockapoos to keep themselves clean if their fur is shorter and not matted in areas that should be kept sanitary.
To find out more, contact the team at Perfect Pooches now!
At Perfect Pooches, we are proud to provide high-quality, well bred cockapoos. Whether you’re looking for a show dog or a family pet, we’ve got exactly what you need! For more information for dog owners, our blog is full of useful information – including everything you need to know about the breed, why you should microchip your dog, and more! Check it out now! Or for more detailed information on Cockapoos in particular, such as their temperament, common health conditions, and activities to keep them entertained, we have articles focused purely on this.