The cockapoo, aka the cockapoodle, was one of the first designer dogs dreamed up as a mixed breed. They are part cocker spaniel, part poodle and all charm. “If there was ever a mixed breed to steal the show, it’s the cockapoo,” says Colleen Stinchcombe of Rover, which matches humans with the nation’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers.
“Although it wasn’t the first doodle breed, the cocker spaniel/poodle mix is certainly one of the most popular and for good reason — they’re fabulous pets,” Stinchcombe says. “It’s hard to know exactly where certain traits in dogs come from, but for whatever reason, this mix tends to create some of the friendliest dogs on the planet — and they have some of the best smiles, too.”
They are a small breed and only grow to be about 20 pounds, but they have an endless amount of love for their humans. “This is a dog that will happily greet you at the door, eagerly follow you around a room and happily curl up next to you on the couch or directly on your lap. Wherever you go, the cockapoo will follow,” Stinchcombe adds. “It’s this friendly, sociable personality that makes these dogs excellent therapy dogs [and] great for people who can be a bit nervous around dogs.”
