A Little About Cockapoos
You may have heard of Cockapoos, and more than likely you will have seen one of them. They are a crossbreed, often referred to as a ‘designer dog.’ They are also one of the cutest dogs you will see around!
Cockapoos have been bred to be loving and affectionate and this is exactly how you can expect your Cockapoo to behave.
They are bright-eyed and scruffy-coated bags of fur who get on well with literally everyone. They even get on with cats.
The breed comes from crossing a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle and each pup, even from the same litter, can look different, although the characteristics are much the same.
The coat colour and type will depend on how much of the dominant gene the pup inherits.
Normally a Cockapoo weighs less than 30 pounds and have a varied colour coat which can be either curly or wavy.
Do Cockapoos Shed?
Do Cockapoos shed? Yes Cockapoos do shed. However, Cockapoos shed far less than many other breeds. The amount of shedding also depends on the type of coat that each Cockapoo has inherited from the parents.
A point to remember is that a puppy Cockapoo must get rid of their puppy coat before the adult coat comes through and this does cause a large amount of shedding around that time.
All dogs shed at some time or another, regardless of what ‘experts’ and other professionals say.
There are some breeds that shed less than others and the Poodle is one of them. So, any dog which is bred with a Poodle will produce offspring that sheds less than the original parents.
Poodles shed far less than any other breed and even though Spaniels shed a lot, when combined, the puppies will often take the dominant gene from the Poodle and shed less.
Because the Poodle hair is short and wiry, the shed hair is often caught up in the curls, so your floor does not become a carpet of shed hair. The loose hair stays gathered in the coat until it is brushed out.
This also means that if your pooch sleeps on the bed alongside you, there will be less hair on the pillow, and less on your cushions if they share the sofa with you.
The downside of this breed is that you simply cannot predict how much Poodle gene will appear and how much of the Spaniel will be there.
Each pup is different, and it is almost impossible to predict the type of coat that will ultimately develop.
Any breeder who swears that the litter is hypoallergenic does not understand the breed and you may want to avoid buying a pup from them.
Short History of the Cockapoo
The Cockapoo is one of the oldest hybrid breeds of dog. They were first bred in the USA in the 1950’s.
Overall, Cockapoos are among the healthiest dog breeds. They are also very hardy and have less hereditary issues than purebred Spaniels. It is very common that a Cockapoo lives well into the teens.
In 1998 the Cockapoo Club of America was founded by Mary D Foley to introduce the perfect family pet to the nation – and she succeeded!
Always happy to help, Cockapoos make great working dogs so are often used as hearing dogs for deaf people.
Cockapoos are smart and very intelligent and, along with their delightful nature, make excellent pets. The breed is considered as ‘people dogs’ and thrive on being with their owners.
They do suffer from separation anxiety so if you must be away for long periods of time, you may want to consider a second one for company.
What is a Cockapoo Coat Like?
Depending on the genes which the pups inherit, the coat can vary from tight curls to long wavy strands – and everything in between.
Typically, there will be an area of tight Poodle curls, and another area of Spaniel wavy fur. Whatever the style, you will find that it is always soft to the touch.
The Cockapoo coat can come in any variation of colours. Normally the coat is any combination of white, chocolate, cream, tan and black.
A good groomer can clip the Cockapoo in either a Poodle or a Spaniel style.
They can also be kept in the puppy style where the body is trimmed and kept fluffy and the leg hairs slightly longer and fuller. Tails can be left long haired and fluffy.
Whether you choose to groom your Cockapoo yourself or use a groomer, they must be groomed regularly to prevent knots and matting.
This happens in areas such as behind the ears and under the armpits. The knots must be removed otherwise they will cause discomfort for the dog.
Without regular and proper grooming, the hair will simply become a mess of tangles and need to be shaved off completely.
How Much do Cockapoos Shed?
Again, this question cannot be answered in a simple way because each pup is different from its sibling.
All dogs will shed to a certain degree, but the Cockapoo breed sheds less because of the Poodle influence.
If your Cockapoo pup has more Poodle gene, they will shed less than if they have more Spaniel influence.
What is good to know is that the Cockapoo does not shed a huge amount. Unlike Labradors and German Shepherds, you will not find a blanket of shed hair in the house every morning.
After a good brushing, your Cockapoo should produce not much more than one full brush of hair.
You won’t find heaps of hair under the couch or stuck to a blanket and neither will you be swamped with hair when you groom your pooch.
When do Cockapoos Shed the Most
Your young Cockapoo will start to shed his puppy fur at about eight months of age. This is when the adult coat will begin to grow.
The adult coat is thicker and more durable than the fine puppy coat.
To make space for the adult coat, the puppy coat needs to fall out and at this age you can expect to find more hair than normal when you brush your pup.
This shedding time is also called ‘moulting.’ Once all the puppy hair has gone your dog will shed less than most other breeds.
Seasonally, the Cockapoo may also shed a little. This is because the changes in the temperature will make the dog shed more to keep cool and then to grow a warmer coat in time for the winter months.
If your dog is kept in a climate-controlled house, then you may see less shedding at season changes simply because he does not go out that much.
It is as the weather gets cold that you may see more indoor Cockapoos sporting their winter jumpers when they go for walks.
How to Combat Cockapoo Shedding
The best way to combat any shedding is to brush your Cockapoo. Regular grooming will get them into the habit of being handled at any stage of their life, as well as keep any hair off your floors and furniture.
Instead of finding hair in the house, you will gather it up in the brush to easily dispose of.
Because the Cockapoo is a very healthy breed there are very few dietary issues which will influence the amount of shedding.
Naturally a healthy diet will mean a healthy skin and hair. Plenty of water is also recommended to keep dogs hydrated. Dryness of skin will mean more hair loss.
Regular brushing will also mean less knots and tangles in the hair. There is a tendency to mat in areas where the hair is thicker such as behind the ears and around the tummy area.
Additionally, the fine hair on the legs can mat if not brushed regularly.
If your Cockapoo has long, fine hair on the legs you may also prefer to keep it a little shorter to prevent knotting, particularly if you go for walks in the countryside where there may be long grass.
Equipment Help to Combat Cockapoo Shedding
A good grooming basket should include a comb, brush and nail clippers. A slicker brush will be essential when the adult hair starts to grow.
For the first six months or so of the pup’s life the grooming session should be no longer than 10 minutes to get the pup used to being handled and brushed.
As they age, you can have longer grooming sessions where you pay attention to the finer details of the coat.
Straight coats will need to be brushed 2-3 times a week and bathed about every 2-3 months depending on how grubby they become.
You may need to trim the hair from around the eyes and ears with thinning scissors so make sure that you have a pair of these in your basket.
The scissors will also work well to trim the hair under the chin and keep it from getting soggy every time your dog drinks water.
Wavy hair means more brushing as there is a tendency for more knots and mats to develop.
If the matting gets uncontrollable you may need to trim the mats out with a pair of scissors.
As the seasons change the undercoat needs to be brushed out and this takes a little more time because if left it will knot.
Before you start to brush out the knots you should coat the hair in conditioner. This will prevent the hair from breaking when brushed dry.
If hair breaks it will take on an ‘Afro’ style and frizz, causing more knots.
A detangler comb is useful for wavy hair, followed by a slicker brush to remove the loosened undercoat.
Are Cockapoos Considered to be Hypoallergenic?
Cockapoos are thought to be hypoallergenic because of the Poodle gene, however, while this breed is certainly well tolerated by many people with allergies they can still cause irritations in some people.
Allergies are not caused by the coat of the dog, but rather the dander or dead hair cells which are dropped.
While Cockapoos do shed less than most other breeds, they cannot be classed as hypoallergenic.
Truthfully, there are no dogs which are hypoallergenic as every dog sheds some hair. Even hairless dogs shed skin particles.
If you suffer from allergies, then a Cockapoo has less hair shedding than most other breeds, but they do still shed some hair.
Any breeder who tells you that his Cockapoos are hypoallergenic does not know much about the breed. While they shed less, they are not hypoallergenic.
Do Some Cockapoos Shed More Than Others?
Yes, some Cockapoos shed more than others. Unfortunately, this will only become obvious when the dog reaches adulthood and the second coat has grown.
It is almost impossible to predict the type of fur from looking at the Cockapoo pup.
The type of coat and the amount of shedding depends largely on the gene which is passed on from the parents. More Poodle gene will mean less shedding, while more Spaniel gene will mean more shedding.
Cockapoos with more Poodle curls will shed less than the longer wavy type of hair. Most Cockapoos have a little of both types of hair.
You may find Poodle curls on top of the head and on the tummy, while the Spaniel waves may be found on the ears and tail.
Depending on the gene, you will end up with a pup who has lots of tight curls or long, wavy hair.
Health Reasons for Increased Shedding in Cockapoos
There are very few health conditions that affect the coat of the Cockapoo as the breed is known to be one of the healthiest.
Yet, there are some things that will affect the shedding.
- Dehydration will mean the skin is dryer and the hair may fall out more than usual.
- Medication may cause hair to shed more.
- Parasite infestation will leave small bald patches where the dog has scratched or licked.
- Inferior food may cause the Cockapoo to shed more than normal. Make sure that you give your pooch a well-balanced diet and offer plenty of fresh water.
Final Thoughts: Do Cockapoos Shed?
If you need a dog who sheds as little as possible, then this may be the perfect breed for you while no breed is truly hypoallergenic, the Cockapoo comes very close to it.
Added to the fact that there is very little hair to sweep up, this breed is simply one of the most adorable ones you can have.
Loyal, little companions who adore their humans, there is really nothing not to love about the Cockapoo!