Where Cocker Charm Meets Poodle Intelligence

3 Common Cockapoo Behaviour Problems (And How To Fix Them)

Remember: Cockapoos are one of the oldest designer crosses for good reason. When bred well, they combine the friendly, social nature of Cocker Spaniels with Poodle intelligence—but their unpredictability means you need to work with the dog you have, not the one you expected.

Where Do Cockapoos Come From?

The Cockapoo emerged in the 1960s United States as one of the oldest "designer dog" crosses, originally bred with genuine intention: combining Cocker Spaniel friendliness with Poodle intelligence and a low-shedding coat.

Unlike most modern doodle crosses that are purely profit-driven, early Cockapoos had thoughtful breeding behind them. However, modern breeding is predominantly done by backyard breeders, with most being F1 (first generation) crosses showing massive variation in size, coat type, and temperament.

What were they bred to do?

Cockapoos were created to be companion dogs with theoretically lower shedding. Understanding their parent breeds explains their behavior:

• American Cocker Spaniels were bred down from working gun dogs to be show dogs and companions, losing most working drive. They're friendly, social, and people-focused.
• English Cocker Spaniels retain more working drive, bred to flush game birds from cover. They're energetic and vocal workers.
• Poodles (depending on size) were originally water retrievers requiring high intelligence and handler focus.

Mixing these creates unpredictable combinations: some Cockapoos are couch potatoes, others have significant working drive requiring extensive mental stimulation. Owners cannot predict which they'll get until adolescence.

Key breeding traits:

Of all the doodles, Cockapoos have the narrowest behavioural variation (though it's still very large) when bred well. They typically show friendly, social temperament from both breeds, moderate to high energy depending on which parent they favour, and coats requiring extensive maintenance despite marketing claims. Matting is common, and shedding varies wildly.

The generation matters hugely: F1B (back-crossed to Poodle) have curlier, higher maintenance coats but may have more Poodle temperament traits like higher energy and sensitivity.

Why Do Cockapoos Have These Behaviour Problems?

Your Cockapoo isn't misbehaving—the enormous variation in this breed means you might have gotten very different genetics than you expected. Some are low-energy lap dogs, others are highly energetic vocal dogs who can run for hours and require extensive grooming.

The popularity has led to mass production. Most Cockapoos come from breeders prioritizing profit over health and temperament, resulting in anxious, reactive, or health-compromised dogs. Well-bred Cockapoos from health-tested parents are genuinely lovely family dogs, but these are rare and expensive.

Problem 1: Barking & Vocalisation

What's happening: Your Cockapoo barks at everything—every sound, every person passing the house, out of excitement, boredom, attention-seeking, or anxiety. They've learned that barking gets results.

Why it happens: Both parent breeds are genetically designed to use their voices. Cocker Spaniels were bred to flush birds and Poodles are alert dogs bred to warn of strangers and environmental changes. Combine these and you get dogs who bark constantly.

Many Cockapoos are inadvertently trained to bark because owners respond to it (even negative attention reinforces the behaviour). Their small-medium size means barking "isn't a big deal" so it's not addressed early, and their intelligence means they quickly learn barking gets results—door opens, you engage, they get let out of crate.

The fix: The most important point is that if you have a vocal dog you're managing it, not eliminating it. Set realistic expectations for yourself and your household. Decide what you're happy to accept and what you're not.

For alert barking (doorbell, knocks), teach "thank you" ritual: allow 2-3 barks (acknowledging their alert), then cue "quiet" and redirect to place, heavily reward. This satisfies their genetic need to alert while giving you control.

Never yell at barking—this is you "joining" the barking party from their perspective, making it worse. Never reward them for NOT doing something. For example, if someone walks by and they don't bark, do not reward. Eventually they'll decide the treats aren't valuable enough and you'll be in the same position again.

Struggling with excessive barking? Managing vocal breeds requires household consistency and clear communication. Join our free Skool community for "thank you" ritual training protocols and get support managing barking during weekly Q&As.

Problem 2: Ear Infections & Grooming Sensitivity

What's happening: Your Cockapoo has recurring ear infections, shakes their head constantly, scratches their ears, or has developed fear/aggression toward ear handling. They smell yeasty and resist grooming.

Why it happens: Both parent breeds have floppy ears that trap moisture and restrict airflow, creating perfect breeding grounds for bacteria and yeast. Cocker Spaniels are notorious for chronic ear infections. Poodles have hair that grows IN the ear canal requiring regular plucking (check with your groomer as this practice is acceptable in some countries but not others).

Once ears become painful, dogs develop handling sensitivity. Many owners don't realize ear infections are developing until they're severe, creating a cycle where ear handling = pain = resistance = worse infections.

The fix: Prevention is everything—weekly ear checks and cleaning starting at 8 weeks old before issues develop. Make ear handling the most rewarding thing ever: gently touch ear while feeding high-value treats continuously (cheese, chicken), look in ear while treats flow, eventually clean ear while treats happen.

Use proper technique: veterinary ear cleaner (never water or hydrogen peroxide), fill ear canal, massage base, let them shake, wipe out debris—never stick anything down the canal. Create "ear check" ritual: every Sunday after breakfast, you examine ears, they get special treat afterward—make it predictable and positive.

At first sign of issues (head shaking, scratching, smell, redness) see vet immediately—early intervention prevents chronic problems that lead to handling sensitivity. Never surprise them with ear handling—always cue first ("ears!"), give them chance to prepare, reward cooperation.

Finding ear infections frustrating? Prevention requires weekly maintenance many owners don't expect. Our Skool community has ear cleaning tutorials and you can troubleshoot specific ear issues with trainers during live weekly webinars.

Problem 3: Co-Dependency

What's happening: Your Cockapoo becomes distressed when left alone, follows you everywhere, can't settle unless touching you, shows signs of panic when separated, or develops destructive behaviours when alone.

Why it happens: Both breeds were designed to work very closely with their handler. Mix these breeds and you get dogs genetically designed for constant companionship who genuinely panic when alone.

Many Cockapoos are purchased during COVID or by people working from home, receiving 24/7 companionship as puppies, then suddenly expected to handle 8-hour absences—this is genetic predisposition meeting environmental failure.

The fix: Practice micro-absences from day one: leave room for 10 seconds, return before they react, completely ignore them for 5 minutes until they settle—gradually increase to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes over weeks.

Never make departures or arrivals emotional—no "I'm leaving" talks or excited "I'm home!" greetings. You're teaching them your comings and goings are non-events. Use crate training properly: crate should be their safe den, not punishment—feed all meals in crate, give special chews only in crate, practice during day when you're home so crate doesn't predict alone time.

Accept lifestyle limitation—some Cockapoos cannot handle long absences even with training. Doggy day-care, dog walkers, or work-from-home arrangements may be non-negotiable.

Struggling with separation anxiety? Co-dependency requires patient, systematic training from puppyhood. Join our Skool community for micro-absence protocols and get support during weekly Q&As.

Is a Cockapoo Right for a New Owner?

A Cockapoo might be perfect for you if you're looking for:

• A friendly, social family dog - When well-bred, they combine Cocker Spaniel friendliness with Poodle intelligence, making them excellent family companions.
• Moderate exercise needs - Most need about 1 hour daily, making them more manageable than high-drive working breeds.
• An intelligent, trainable companion - They're smart and eager to please, excelling at training when approached correctly.
• A dog for active families - They enjoy outdoor activities, swimming, and games while also being content to relax at home.

If you can commit to weekly ear maintenance, daily brushing, professional grooming every 6-8 weeks, managing vocalisation, accommodating co-dependency needs, and accepting the unpredictability of which parent breed traits they'll inherit, a well-bred Cockapoo can be a wonderful companion.

Get the Full Support System for Your Cockapoo

This guide gives you real solutions you can start using today. But raising a well-behaved Cockapoo is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix.

That's why we created our free Skool community—to give you continuous support every step of the way.

Inside the community, you'll get:

• Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about YOUR specific Cockapoo and get personalised advice from experienced trainers
• Full breed-specific courses covering everything from puppy raising to managing barking and separation anxiety
• A supportive community of other Cockapoo owners who understand exactly what you're going through
• Video demonstrations of ear cleaning and grooming conditioning so you can see techniques in action
• Troubleshooting help when things don't go to plan (because they won't always!)
• Updated resources as we add new courses and training blueprints

Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.

Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to build the best relationship with your Cockapoo.