Cockapoos have a reputation for not shedding hair – but is it true?
The beauty of a hybrid dog is that undesirable traits can be ‘breed out’ or at least minimised by selecting a parent breed whose desirable qualities the breeder wants to genetically carry through to the offspring.
It’s not known for what purpose a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle were originally cross bred (all though the benefits are clear), but one plus is the poodle’s tight curled hair has always appealed to those who don’t want to be hovering up too much hair in their home.
Puppy fur to Adult Cockapoo Coat
There is an age when all Cockapoos will definitely shed hair – when they loose their puppy fur and their adult coat comes in. This natural process of moulting is unavoidable but regular daily or twice daily grooming will mean less hair on your sofa! The adult coat generally ‘comes in’ at around 8 months of age.
Fyi, remember, if the moult is not groomed out, your Cockapoo’s lovely coat will start to matt and even grow into dreadlocks.
Wavy or curly coat
Moulting aside, Cockapoos still have a reputation for non shedding because of the poodle lineage. But what if the puppy inherits its coat from the Cocker? Results will vary.
Some First Cross ‘F1’ Cockapoos take after the Cocker Spaniel so offspring will have wavy hair that can grow up to 15cm long.
So if you are intent on having a low shedding Cockapoo you need to choose a puppy whose coat follows the poodle heritage.
Will the breeder know?
Breeders know a lot of things but they won’t be able to tell before 6 weeks what kind of coat an F1 Cockapoo puppy will have. And if the puppy does take after the Cocker, dog owners will tell you some Cocker Spaniels shed like crazy while some shed hardly at all. Some Cockers can get up from their bed and hardly leave any hairs while another Cocker when you stroke their back you come away with a palm full of hair.
Summary
To be honest it is a bit of myth that Cockapoos don’t shed – all dogs shed to some degree. The poodle factor has garnered the Cockapoo with the reputation as a non to light shedder but the truth is they will be light shedders at best.
When choosing a puppy, wait until 8 weeks (as you always should) before taking a puppy home from its mother. By that time it should become clear what sort of coat (wavy or curls) the dog has inherited. If the puppy’s coat is inherited from the Cocker side of the family just keep her coat short and groom often to lessen the shedding.
Finally, remember also that Poodle parents come in sizes: Teacup, Toy, Miniature and Standard. The smaller the dog the fewer the hairs shed.
Related Article: Are Cockapoo’s Hypoallergenic
Want to know more about the Cockapoo? Your First Cockapoo is a good place to start.
