Reasons to get a cockapoo puppy (and reasons not to)

We’ve been the proud owners of Hetty the cockapoo for over a year now. Getting a puppy was both one of the best things and one of the hardest things we’ve ever done.

From my limited experience of one dog for one year (and reading stuff on the internet and talking to lots of owners), cockapoos are both a right handful and very affectionate, bordering on needy, dogs. So, based on that limited experience, here are my reasons to get a cockapoo puppy (and reasons not to)…

You want an affectionate dog

A cockapoo isn’t aloof and independent. A cockapoo will love its family more than life itself and will express its love through tail wagging, jumping, licking and excitable barking and howling. If your kids no longer come to greet you at the door when you come in from work, your cockapoo definitely will.

You want to leave the room in peace

The flipside of your affectionate dog is that you can’t get a moment’s peace. You could (with a bit of a struggle) leave the room and shut the door on your cockapoo, but you will definitely hear them whining while you are in the toilet.

You want a medium sized dog

Some people want a tiny dog, some people want a massive one, but a cockapoo is nicely in between. They are small enough to sit on your lap and be picked up and carried if you need to, but big enough that they can cope with a long walk.

You want an energetic dog

If you want a dog which can walk for miles, go running with you and chase balls around the park, get a cockapoo. If you haven’t got the time or energy for two or three walks a day, don’t get a cockapoo! Choose a breed which is less energetic or get an older rescue dog.

You want a well behaved dog

Cockapoos do what cockapoos want to do. They’re not going to walk to heel, they’re not going to sit when told to and they’re not going to give you your shoe back without a very long chase around the garden. I still shudder at the memory of the well behaved labrador walking on the lead at puppy class, while Hetty just ran around the room. If you want a well behaved dog, definitely steer clear of cockapoos.

You want an intelligent dog

Cockapoos are highly intelligent dogs. They understand lots of words, they always know where they are going when they are out walking and will recognise anyone they have met more than once before. Unfortunately, they won’t always (often) channel their intelligence into good behaviour and just because they understand words doesn’t mean they are going to do as they are asked/ told.

You want an ‘allergy free’ dog

I have read in several places that dogs which don’t shed their fur are ‘allergy free’. This is nonsense. Two weeks after we got Hetty, my daughter’s eyes started running. Two weeks later, we realised she was allergic to our lovely puppy. Luckily she takes an antihistimane every day and she is fine.

You don’t want dog hair everywhere

If you don’t want dog hair everywhere, a cockapoo is a great dog to get. They don’t shed at all. But there is a downside…

You don’t want the hassle of grooming

One of the reasons cockapoos are so popular is that they look like cute teddy bears. Their fur grows and grows. But it can get matted. They need brushing every day and sometimes even that isn’t enough to stop them getting matted. You could cut it yourself or you could commit to paying £40 every two months for the groomer for the rest of their life.

This post is just a bit of fun, but remember that getting a dog is a huge decision and a huge commitment and getting a puppy is just that bit harder. Cockapoos are lovely dogs, but they can also be hard work. But we wouldn’t be without Hetty for the world and I can see that we will cockapoo owners for many years to come, for as long as we have the energy to keep up with them!

If you are thinking of getting a dog, take the time to read up on the different breeds and consider how they would fit into your family – in terms of your time with work/ kids etc, the space you have in your house and how much they will cost (big dogs are very expensive to feed!).

Thank you to Suzanne at Inside, Outside and Beyond for the inspiration for this post, after her post on 8 reasons not to get a miniature dachsund.