It is safe to say that cockapoo is one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S right now. And because of the high demand for cross breed cockapoo dogs are known to be on the rise.
So, can you breed a cockapoo with a poodle? Absolutely yes, you definitely have the option to breed a cockapoo with a poodle in a process called backcrossing. You should keep in mind that cockapoo is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle and it’s said to be the first designer dog in history, dating back to the 1960s.
There are several things that you need to take into consideration when it comes to breeding cockapoo. It is very important to understand the different categories of breeders and choose the one that work best for you.
How to Breed For Cockapoo Puppies
These days crossbreeding cockapoo with poodles is very popular. A lot of people favorite is cockapoo mix with poodle.
However, in order to get the right crossbreed, you have to make sure that you get a cockapoo and poodle with the right traits. Many people in the U.S tend to look for cockapoo and poodle crossbreed because when combine they have a superb behavioral characteristics and appearance as well.
I highly recommend breeding a cockapoo and poodle together as it is definitely worth the try. When crossbreed you’ll gain the reward of having a dog that is extremely intelligent, doesn’t shed much and has friendly temperament.
Initial Check
One of the first and most important step when crossbreeding a cockapoo and a poodle is to ensure that both parents are healthy. We don’t think it would be a good idea to have a crossbreed with a lower genetic value than the parents.
This is the main reason why you should make sure that the parent breeds are healthy as this will ensure you have a healthy crossbreed. What you can do is to take both parents to a vet in your area for a full check-up as this will ensure you get healthy puppies.
Care and Maintenance
It’s best to know that cockapoo are very sociable and always seem to need a substantial amount of human interaction which helps to keep them calm and relax. Without having human attention, they become disobedient and unpredictable.
Most breeders will charge a fee to breed a cockapoo with a poodle. Not only that but there are several other fees that you will need to take into consideration when it comes to breeding a cockapoo with a poodle and these include:
- Vet costs
- Cost of buying premium dog foods
- Vaccination costs
Apart from that there are also several other factors when breeding poodles. As mentioned earlier, you need to consider the health of the parent that you are planning on using.
It is safe to say that using healthy parent is definitely the way to go as it will ensure a more successful crossbreed. With that said, you want to make sure that your puppies are in far better shape than their parents.
The average litter size tends to vary depending on the type. Larger poodles will have a higher chance of having a larger litter.
Here are the average litter sizes for poodles according to type:
- Standard poodles: six puppies
- Miniature poodles: five puppies
- Toy poodles: one puppy
When is The Right Time to Breed For Cockapoo Puppies
When it comes to breeding you have to know about cockapoo heat cycle which only occur twice per year. So for the best results, you should consider breeding puppies during the first cycle.
You can expect the first heat cycle to take place when the dog is between six months and a year. One of the easiest ways to tell if your female cockapoo is in heat is to look out for a clear discharge that sometimes follows with some form of bleeding.
If you notice any bleeding, you don’t have to worry since it is very normal. However, you should consider taking your dog to the vet if the bleeding becomes excessive. What you can do is test the readiness of the cockapoo ten days after you notice the bleeding. And the best way to do this is to gently scratch her back exactly right infront of the tail.
If your female dog is ready to mate she will lift her tail during the test. Now it is time to bring the poodle over once you are sure the cockapoo is ready.
Gently hold onto your cockapoo head to prevent her from biting the poodle while mating. At times you may find that your female cockapoo becomes very defensive when mating. You should give them time to mate without any interruption and once they are done they will walk their separate ways. Avoid trying to break up their session during mating as it may interfere with the process and aggravate the dogs.
Not only that but it can even affect the mating procedure the next time. These dogs breed puppies usually need a lot of care. So it is best to have a vet on site before and after the birth. Also, you need to prepare your home for the puppies by simply following your vet’s guide.
One of the first requirements is that the puppies need to have plenty of room space for play and sleep. With that being said, they will need a toilet area and lots of toys to have fun with. If it is a case where you want to use a female poodle for breeding, the dog as to be at least two years old. However, the breeding procedure is pretty much the same as if you were using a cockapoo.
Physical Characteristics of the Cockapoo-Poodle Breed
As you can tell when crossbreed you can expect the puppies to take the features of both parents; the poodle and the cockapoo. At times you may notice that their features lean one of the two more.
It can be a case where some puppies have shaggier coat while others have tight curls which is similar to their poodle parent. However, there is a high chance that your dog will have eye catching, soft coats that requires regular grooming.
With that being said, the crossbreed may have mustache. Not only that, but the crossbreed may even weigh 10 to 35 pounds and have a life expectancy of between 10 and 17 years.
List of Cockapoo Mix Breeder Categories
You should keep in mind that there are many different types of breeders and each breeders will help you when it comes to breeding a cockapoo with a poodle. So all you need to do is choose your preference.
Home Breeder
Home breeder are known to be very common and these types of breeders are the type that has many different dogs that they safe keep as family pets. However, it may be a case where the breeder may decide to breed his/her dogs only once.
If it reaches a point where a home breeder decides to breed with his dogs more than once, then he should be categorized as a hobby breeder. Home breeder is well known to only breed puppies in his home environment.
If you are concerned that you want to breed a cockapoo with a poodle using a home breeder, you need to tick off a few stuff, these include:
- The mother dog
- Where exactly the mother dog lives
- Where the puppies will be reared
What usually happens is that the puppies will grow and become familiar with the environment, which some dogs owner really appreciate. You may find that these puppies often have a difficult time getting used to a environment such as a kennel.
The drawback with this, is that some home breeder isn’t a huge fan of using a litter which means that he may not be well experienced in puppy breeding. However, this problem can be easily solved by simply contacting the home breeder and find out what he loves about breeding dogs.
For the best result, you should work with a home breeder that as an experienced mentor that will help to make up for his lack of experience. The home breeder that you choose to work with should demonstrate to you that he will do everything in his power to make sure that the puppies arrived safely.
Lastly, make sure that you are genuinely comfortable with the pets and family where the puppies will be staying at until it is time for you to have them.
Hobby Breeder
On the other hand, hubby breeders are known to have multiple dogs and has bred crossbreeds many different times. These types of breeders are allowed to have up to four litters per year.
You may find that many hobby breeder doesn’t have their stud dogs. However, they usually show photos of the dogs they currently have for breeding and the dogs health certificates.
Hobby breeder usually keep their dogs either in their home or in a kennel outside. Make sure to properly check all dogs to ensure that they are super healthy. In addition to that, you should ask the breeder for a history of the breeding to be on the safe side.
Licensed Breeders
Base on the name, these breeders are expected to have a certification which shows that they are licensed. This type of breeder is known to have annual inspections from relevant local, state or federal agencies.
Because these breeders are certified, they are allowed to have more than four litters per year. With that said, there facilities are expected to meet the specific standards.