Cockapoo Growth and Lifespan Details

When a cute little Cockapoo puppy enters your life, it can be impossible to imagine him as a fully grown Cockapoo.

Yet, you will enjoy watching him grow and learn as the years pass. You may then start to wonder how big he will get and how many years you can look to enjoy by his side.

There are no simple answers to these questions, but some general details can help you get a better idea of what the future holds for him.

Forrest – Image kindly provided by his owner

Cockapoo Lifespan (How Long do Cockapoos Live?)

If you are considering a cockapoo, then you will no wonder what is the cockapoo’s lifespan and how long your cockapoo will live. Smaller dogs have a longer life expectancy, which is reflected in the cockapoo’s life expectancy.

To find the average lifespan of a cockapoo, the best way is to look at the dog’s heritage. First of all, a poodle. A poodle’s lifespan depends on its size, with smaller poodles outlasting their larger cousins. Standard poodles have a lifespan of 11.5 to 12 years, while toys or miniature poodles live for 14 to 14.5 years.

A cocker spaniel will live about 11 to 12 years, so you can assume that a cockapoo’s lifespan will be about 13 years. Of course, this is just a cockapoo’s average lifespan. With good care, premium food, regular vet visits and regular exercise, your pooch may live longer than 13 years.

So, how does the lifespan of a cockapoo look compared to some other dog breeds? Well, a Great Dane lives for around 5-7 years. It’s a shame for such a beautiful dog, but that is how it is with bigger dogs. We don’t know why bigger dogs don’t live as long; it is something that experts don’t even know—just one of those things.

Compared to other designer dogs, cockapoo life expectancy is pretty good. For instance, Jugs (Pug crossed with Jack Russell) live between 12 and 15 years. Pugs have breathing problems that are, to an extent, bred out when crossed with Jack Russells, who have much longer noses. Jack Russells live to 17 or 18 years, giving them more longevity. Morkies (Maltese crossed with Yorkies), on the other hand, live between 10 and 13 years. So, you will find your cockapoo has an average lifespan for a designer dog.

You can extend your dog’s life by feeding it food specifically designed for the breed. Standard dog food often doesn’t have adequate protein, so by giving them food that is prepared for them; you will help them live a healthy life.

While these breeds are essentially crossed-breed dogs, the resulting puppies are usually healthier than their parent purebreds. Your cockapoo, if looked after properly with healthy food and regular exercise will live a long and happy life. Just take care of your cockapoo and enjoy her life with you for as long as possible. Don’t let worrying about the average cockapoo’s life expectancy take away your happiness with your lovely dog.

Life Stages of Cockapoos

Cockapoos, like other dogs, animals and even humans, go through different and specific life stages as they grow older. The life stages of a cockapoo are:

• Puppyhood (from 0 to 18 months)
• Adolescence (from 6 to 18 months)
• Adulthood (from 1 to 3 years)
• Seniority (from 6 to 10 years)

When is a Cockapoo no longer a puppy?

It may be easy to tell simply by their behaviour. The cute puppy stuck by your side will find his feet and feel more confident and bold. It’s great he feels like that and shows he’s maturing correctly. But, is he not quite as well-behaved as he was before? Don’t worry, it’s supposed to happen, and it’s normal!

Knowing the various stages of puppy development might be helpful to show that these experiences are average and can be dealt with appropriately. At around 6-8 months old, your Cockapoo’s Independence grows. He might not want to come when called, so increase recall training. Their playful biting may worsen, and you’ll notice adult teeth continue to come through. A good way of dealing with your now-maturing Cockapoo is to provide chew toys for teething. This is because you will notice your Cockapoo wanting to chew on things you don’t want him to. As previously mentioned, keep working on recall training. (We have an article on recall training that can be found here.  Also, keep your Cockapoo on the lead when out until their recall is good.

Getting closer to 7-12 months, your Cockapoo is no longer a puppy. Their behaviour can be ‘difficult’ at times but don’t give up, and remember; you’re the boss. Your Cockapoo has now reached sexual maturity, and males will start cocking their legs to urinate.

They may also start barking more and being more confident around new things. Just remain patient and continue with training. Reward your Cockapoo’s good behaviour and remind them when they’re pushing boundaries you don’t want. Socialisation as a puppy should have given the basis for getting through this stage but carry on making all new experiences fun and rewarding for your Cockapoo.

Cockapoo sizes

While it’s true that all cockapoos progress from puppyhood through to adulthood and onto seniority, from one dog to the next, they will age at very different rates. As is the case with many other dog breeds, the size of a cockapoo can have an impact on its life expectancy. Generally speaking, smaller dogs live longer than medium to larger-sized dogs.

The interesting thing is that with cockapoos because there are four main sizes of this popular dog breed, the life expectancy varies accordingly. The four main cockapoo sizes are:

• Teacup toy cockapoo
• Toy cockapoo
• Miniature cockapoo
• Standard cockapoo

As the largest type of cockapoo, the standard, often called maxi, will not live as long as the smaller sizes, such as the teacup toy or toy variations of the breed.

Cockapoo Height 

The maximum height that a Cockapoo can reach varies greatly from one dog to the next. Since this type of dog is a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, how it will look will depend upon the exact mixture of each breed that he contains.

In general terms, he will probably grow to between 10 and 15 inches in height. If you want an idea of how he will grow up, then you can ask the breeder and look at his parents, although this isn’t an exact science.

Cockapoo Weight

As in the previous points, the weight of a Cockapoo can also vary widely. You can expect him to grow up to maybe 30 pounds as a maximum, although many weigh a lot less than this.

Of course, your dog’s weight, when fully grown, will come down to his diet, lifestyle, and natural build. Giving him healthy food and plenty of exercises will help him stay in shape and be more active.

Cockapoos aren’t among the most demanding dogs in terms of exercise, but you don’t want them to live a completely sedentary lifestyle that sees them pile on the pounds and ends up affecting their health in the long run.

Cockapoo Health Issues

If you want to extend the life expectancy of your cockapoo or to extend, you need to be aware of certain health issues. Some issues that cockapoos are more prone to some of the same issues that can affect cocker spaniels and poodles, like:

• Knee and hip defects (patellar luxation, hip dysplasia)
• Eye disorders (cataracts, glaucoma)
• Ear infections

These specific issues can affect several different breeds and can affect their life expectancy if not treated or dealt with. You can make sure your dog is healthy by taking him or her along to regular checkups throughout their lifespan. If you notice anything strange or alarming behaviour or symptoms, then you should contact your vet immediately.

These symptoms to look out for include:

• Vomiting without a real cause
• Limping
• Lethargy
• Mood changed

Care Needs of Your Cockapoo

While it is important to take your dog to the vet regularly to extend your cockapoo’s lifespan. You also need to give special attention to addressing and accommodating its various needs within the confines of your home. The basic care needs of a cockapoo include:

• Proper feeding
• Proper grooming
• Meeting their mental and physical needs

Although to a greater or lesser extent, cockapoos have hypoallergenic properties (especially if they come from a highly reputable breeder), your dog’s coat will need to be brushed on regular occasions. This is to stop matting and tangling from developing.

You also need to make sure you feed your cockapoo a high-quality diet of nutritious food that provides all they need whatever stage they are in their life. (For instance, cockapoo puppies can eat a lot of higher-fat foods because they have greater nutritional needs).

Cockapoos can eat dry food, wet food or a combination of both.

As well as meeting your cockapoo’s needs about their grooming, diet and general health, you also need to keep them happy with regular and proper mental stimulation and exercise. Most cockapoos, on average, require a minimum of 15 minutes of physical activity every day, in addition to regular, consistent mental engagement using lots of different games and chew toys.

Summary

The physical variations between different cockapoos mean that they are available in a range of cuddly and cute sizes.

When it comes to cockapoo lifespan, the average life expectancy of cockapoos, like many other dog breeds, depends a lot on lifestyle, good health, mental stimulation and a nice measure of good fortune too. When it comes to their lifespan, a lot depends on luck and lifestyle. However, he gets every chance to spend many years with you if you look after him well and keep him as healthy as possible.

Curious about Cockapoo’s crate training? Click here.