The Cockapoo is an adorable breed! If your fur baby is a Cockapoo or if you plan to have one, then learning about the breed is a must.
In this blog post, we will give you a complete and straightforward guide on how to care for a Cockapoo puppy.
How To Care For A Cockapoo Puppy
So your little furry bundle of joy has finally arrived. A Cockapoo puppy is a charming mix of two adorable breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. The sight of such a cute little pup will melt your heart. But taking care of this tiny creature entails quite a responsibility.
To make sure that your fur baby not only feels welcome in your home but will also grow up safe and healthy, here are some things you need to take into consideration.
Puppy Proof Your Home
Making sure that no harm befalls your pup starts with puppy-proofing your home, and this is best done before the latest addition to your family arrives.
Because puppies are adventurous and curious by nature, they tend to get into trouble without meaning to. Eliminating potential causes of danger around your house will go a long way in safeguarding your precious baby.
Here are some steps you can follow:
Install Baby Gates
Keep your pup away from stairs or other potentially hazardous areas of your home by installing baby gates. Falling down a flight of stairs can injure your baby Cockapoo’s delicate body while getting into your supply of household cleaners can be fatal even to a full-grown dog.
Get Down To Your Puppy’s Level
It’s easy to miss potential hazards when you’re way up there. To see what your puppy may encounter as they ran around your home, you need to stoop to their level. Better yet, crawl around a bit, so you get a puppy’s perspective of the area.
Look for things your Cockapoo pup can chew, such as electric cords, and places they can squeeze in (and can’t squeeze out of) so you’ll be able to eliminate the possibility of an accident.
Keep A Lid On It
Your trashcans are veritable sources of things that can harm your puppy. For example, your bathroom trash bin likely contains cotton swabs, razors, discarded pills or tablets, and grooming aids, which, when ingested by your Cockapoo can lead to an emergency trip to the vet.
Make Sure Your Indoor Plants Are Non-toxic To Dogs
Puppies love to chew, and plants are fair game to them. If you love indoor plants, get those that are not toxic to dogs as you may find your Cockapoo making a snack or teething aid out of them.
Food And Health
Like human babies, puppies’ tummies tend to get upset easily, so pay particular attention to what you feed your new pet.
How To Feed Your Puppy
Breeders usually give you a couple of weeks’ worth of the food your pup had been getting. It’s a good idea to keep giving this to your fur baby to avoid stomach upsets caused by sudden diet changes. If you want to switch brands, do it slowly. Mix it with the old brand for about a week to see if the new food agrees with them.
Gradually increase the portion of the new food while decreasing the old one for one week until you’re feeding your pet the new brand entirely.
What To Feed Your Puppy
Cockapoos tend to be allergic to soy, corn and wheat, which are commonly used as fillers. So be careful if you intend to feed your Cockapoo pup commercial pet food. Choose those that list meat, not only as the first ingredient but also as the predominant one.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) indicates that a high-quality puppy food should contain at least 22.5% protein for optimum muscle development.
How Much Should You Feed Your Puppy
Puppies who are around eight weeks old can start eating a regular diet. Feed your Cockapoo pup four times a day. They need frequent feeding because their tiny stomachs can’t hold much food yet, so they get hungry pretty quickly.
One-fourth or one-half cup of puppy food should tide them till the next meal. Follow these feeding guidelines and schedule until your Cockapoo reaches three months when you can lessen the feeding to three times a day.
Cockapoo Health
In general, Cockapoos are healthy dogs. However, like with other breeds, they’re prone to some medical issues.
Some of the common health problems associated with Cockapoos are:
Luxating patella: This is the kneecap’s tendency to become wobbly and eventually slip out of its socket. Pain and inflammation are common symptoms of this condition.
Hip dysplasia: This is a condition where the ball and socket of the hip joints grind or rub against each other instead of gliding smoothly. Over time, it can become painful and debilitating and may require surgery to manage the issue.
Progressive retinal atrophy: This is another health problem common to Cockapoos, wherein the retina deteriorates with the passing years, leading to vision difficulties and even blindness.
Skin allergies: Cockapoos are prone to allergies and tend to suffer from itchiness, irritations and inflammations. Common triggers are food (such as soy, wheat and corn), pollen, flea bites, and preparations your dog comes in contact with (such as powder or soap).
To avoid these medical conditions, make sure you get your pup only from responsible breeders as proper breeding is the key to having healthy puppies.
Crating
Many seasoned Cockapoo owners swear by the benefits of crate-training your pup. Not only does a crate give your fur baby a safe place to sleep in, but it also helps prevent them from making a mess around the house.
If you intend to crate-train your Cockapoo, select a crate that will give your pet ample room to stretch and move round in comfortably. A 36-inch one usually works for this purpose.
The crate should be a warm, welcoming place for your puppy, a haven they’ll want to go to for sleep and rest. As such, don’t use the crate as a form of punishment for those times when your Cockapoo misbehaves.
Make The Crate Fun And Inviting
Introduce your Cockapoo to the crate slowly. Place it in a spot where you and other family members usually stay. Putting in a couple of their favorite toys plus a towel or blanket that has their scent is one of the common ways of enticing your pup to sample the crate.
If your Cockapoo starts showing interest in the crate, give them added incentive to go in and stay inside by giving them treats. Putting a blanket over the crate helps make it feel more like a den for them.
Never force your puppy to go inside and don’t keep them shut in for long periods. Be patient and gentle with your pet during the training process as this gives you better chances of success.
Exercise
Coming from a breed that displays a moderate activity level, your Cockapoo pup does not require a lot of exercise. However, it’s a good idea to give them some outlet for their excess energy. Regular exercise also contributes to their proper development and good health.
Experts recommend around five minutes of exercise multiplied by your pup’s age (in months). For example, a two-month-old Cockapoo would do well with ten minutes of exercise.
Training
Cockapoos are intelligent dogs. They’re part Cocker Spaniel, part Poodle, both of which are known for being smart breed. As such, they’re easy to train.
Socializing is essential during the puppy stage and is a good foundation for training so let your pup meet other dogs and people as soon as you get your vet’s go signal that your fur baby’s immune system is strong enough.
A consistent reward-based approach works better with this breed compared to using punishments and threats to accomplish your goal.
Treats
Treats play an important role if you use a reward-based training approach. Cockapoos, like most dogs, love food, so using treats will likely elicit a positive response.
Like with their pet feed, choose treats that don’t contain a lot of artificial ingredients. In fact, going natural is the best option. Pig ears, dried tendons, and beef jerky, are some of the treats you can give to your Cockapoo.
If you’re the DIY type, you can make your own treats. Liver cakes and dried liver are some of the goodies that your pet will likely enjoy.
Keep in mind that dog treats add to your puppy’s caloric intake, which can lead to excessive weight gain. To prevent obesity, include the calories that come from snacks and treats in your pet’s overall requirement and reduce the food you give them in their regular meal according to how many treats they got for the day.
Grooming
It’s important to get your Cockapoo pup used to being brushed and groomed while they’re young. Otherwise, they might show resistance when you start grooming them when they’re older.
You don’t need to trim their fur during the first six months. Still, some maintenance is required. A slicker brush or comb comes in handy in keeping your pup’s coat sleek and shiny. Ten minutes of thorough brushing is recommended to prevent tangles and matting.
Remember to clean your pup’s ears, too, to prevent wax build-up. Just make sure to use a light touch so as not to harm your fur baby.
In bathing your Cockapoo, use a mild cleaner that’s free from soap and detergents. You can bathe them anytime just as long as they don’t get chilled.
For more Cockapoo grooming tips and tricks, you can refer to How To Groom A Cockapoo At Home [Step-By-Step].
Check out the best shampoo for your pup, too. You can try Burt’s Bees Natural Shampoo for Dogs for your puppy or adult Cockapoo!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are other commonly asked questions about caring for Cockapoos.
Can A Cockapoo Be Left Alone?
Yes, Cockapoo pups can be left alone but only for short periods of say two to three hours and provided they are in a crate or a safe area in your home.
Leaving them on their own for longer than that may derail your toilet-training efforts because puppies need to pee more frequently than adult dogs.
What About Separation Anxiety?
All dogs, and not just Cockapoos, can develop separation anxiety. This is a condition where a dog gets stressed when their owner isn’t around. Symptoms of separation anxiety include whining, barking or howling and destructive behavior such as chewing the furniture.
There’s no definite reason why some dogs get stressed when their owners leave while others don’t seem to mind being left on their own. It’s probably just that dogs have different personalities.
If your Cockapoo doesn’t like being left alone, one way to manage the issue is to make your arrival and departure as low-key as possible. That is, avoid showing excitement when you get home or when you leave the house.
You can try placing an item of clothing that has your scent in your pup’s crate as some sort of substitute for your presence. In extreme cases of anxiety, your vet may recommend some medication.
Are Cockapoos Low Maintenance?
Cockapoos require regular grooming. Although they may not shed as heavily as other breeds, their coat needs brushing to prevent tangles and matting, also to ensure that your dog is free from ticks and other parasites.
This breed’s floppy ears are prone to infection, so they need constant attention. And like most dogs, Cockapoos should be fed, trained and exercised.
In short, Cockapoos require the level of maintenance most dogs need.
When Should I Spay My Cockapoo?
Spaying means the removal of a female dog’s uterus and ovaries. It is a consideration if you don’t intend to breed your Cockapoo. Some of the advantages of spaying include the following:
- It prevents unwanted pregnancies
- No more messy periods for your pet
- Spaying reduces the risks of certain cancers and other reproductive health issues such as Pyrometra (infection of the uterus)
But at what age should you have you Cockapoo spayed?
There are no hard and fast rules, and different vets give varying recommendations. Some experts suggest that puppies should undergo the procedure as early as possible, when they’re around eight weeks old. Other vets prefer to spay pups who are six to nine months old. There are even those who view spaying at 10-24 months more beneficial.
Since there is no definite answer, consulting your vet is the best recourse.
Hope you enjoyed this post about how to care for a Cockapoo puppy.
If you enjoyed this post, then you may also enjoy the following.
- How Much Do Cockapoos Weigh? Full Breakdown
- How Much Food Does A Cockapoo Puppy Need?
- How To Groom A Cockapoo At Home [Step-By-Step]
- What Is The Best Shampoo For A Cockapoo? [Top 10 Shampoos]
- 10 Best Treats for Cockapoos You Don’t Want to Miss
Thanks for reading! You can get many more tips and tricks for your Cockapoos here.
