6 Things Nobody Tells You About Getting a Cockapoo

When getting a cockapoo, especially if you are going to be a first-time doggie parent, you probably have a lot of ideas in your head as to what it will be like. You’ve seen dogs in your neighbourhood playing with their owners and being best buddies with everyone, you’ve seen on television how much fun it is to have a dog to spend your life with.

Although it’s indeed a life-changing experience, there are a lot of things you may not realise. A lot of these things many dog owners wish they had known before they welcomed their beloved canine pal into their lives.

So that you have a good idea of what you are getting yourself in for, we are going to discuss six things you may not already know about getting a cockapoo. 

Cockapoos Take Up a Lot of Your Time

While dogs, in general, are very sociable animals, cockapoos as a breed are especially so. Even if you have a lazy cockapoo, there is still a lot of different things you need to do with them. They need to be walked every day and need regular and consistent training. The training not only helps them to learn obedience but helps with their mental and physical wellbeing as it keeps them active.

If you don’t think you can give a dog the attention and time they need, it may be that a cockapoo is not for you. Instead, you could get a cat or a fish.

Dogs Need Companionship

Following nicely from the first point, just as humans, for the most part, need companionship, dogs, and cockapoos particularly, need it too. They can develop severe separation anxiety if you don’t get the balance right of spending time with them and spending time without them. There will be times when you love having a dog and it’s the most beautiful thing when they want to become your second skin and other times when you’re trying to do something, that it can be a bit of a pain.

Cockapoos are Expensive

We’re not even just talking about the cost to buy a cockapoo here. What we are thinking about is the various ongoing costs of owning a dog, like vet bills. With vet bills, there are some treatments and procedures you have time to plan and save for, but there are also those bills that come along through an accidental injury or if your dog gets sick and needs medication or even surgery.

That’s not the only costs, obviously, as you need to pay for food, training, and grooming. Then there’s the various toys, treats, bedding and leashes you will have to invest in during the lifetime of your new four-legged friend.

Depending on what your home and garden are like, there may also be home improvements you need to make so that it’s more dog-friendly, such as a tall fence to stop your cockapoo from escaping.

Ultimately, what you need to take away from all this is that when you bring a dog into your home, you are committing to looking after the animal for around 12 to 15 years, and maybe even more if you are fortunate. It is going to be expensive. As lovers of dogs and cockapoos, we are not trying to dissuade you from deciding to get one, we just think you need to be aware of what you’re getting yourself into.

Training Can be a Frustrating Experience

If you’ve been spending a lot of time watching the amazing things dogs and their owners do together, on YouTube, Britain’s Got Talent or TikTok, you could be forgiven for thinking training a dog would be easy. It all looks like fun and games, but trust me, it’s not that simple. All dogs have unique personalities and although cockapoos are known to be very intelligent and trainable, there are some naughty lads and lassies that could test the patience of an angel!

As the owner of the dog, though, the responsibility of training and how well behaved your dog is down to you. Training takes a considerable amount of time, patience and, crucially, consistency. Eventually, your dog will learn, but you need to stick in there and not become unmotivated if your cockapoo is not showing signs of getting there.

Stay focused and the end result will be worth it – a friendly and fun dog that wants to be obedient to you.

Dog Food Can Be Overwhelming

If you’re new to dogs, you may be under the impression that you can just give your dog any old brand and they will chomp away at it and gobble it all down leaving you a nice clean (ish) bowl afterwards. Wrong. For one thing, there is a staggering variety of different dog foods available. Are you going to give your dog exclusively dry kibble or wet food, fresh meat, or a mixture of some of these?

Then there are the different brands to choose from. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and out of your depth. That’s what most new dog owners feel like, trust me. All is not lost, because there are plenty of guides out there, including an in-depth look at cockapoo food on this site.

If you are getting your cockapoo from a breeder, it is worth considering what they feeding the dog on before you get him or her, as even if you are planning on changing at some point, you need to do it slowly and progressively.

You could also talk to your vet, as they will be able to advise and recommend the types of food you should be feeding a cockapoo as well as reputable brands.

Your Life Needs to Change to Accommodate a Dog

Your life will change when you get a dog. That is not an exaggeration. You will spend a lot of time with your dog, which you and he/she will love. However, it’s important to note that this may mean you go on holiday less or go out for drinks or whatever else you do with your friends, less. 

The love and companionship you get as a trade-off though is completely worth it.

All is not lost, either, as although things need to change, it doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun or do things with friends and relatives. It may just mean you need to adjust your plans and activities to accommodate your pooch.

There is also the possibility that you will make new friends because of your dog. You meet all sorts of people when walking dogs, as many people won’t be able to resist stopping you to stroke and love your cockapoo. When you go to the same parks and same open spaces to walk your dog, you will run into the same people and may strike up friendships that way.