Poodle vs. Cockapoo: Which Breed is Right for You?

Both poodles and cockapoos are simply irresistible! These dogs are loving, highly trainable pets that would make great pets for just about any family situation. However, there are some significant differences between the poodle and cockapoo breeds, and choosing which dog to take home can be a difficult decition.

The Poodle and Cockapoo are both great dogs for families with children due to their playful natures. Poodles are usually taller, wider range of colors, and require more exercise than the Cockapoo. While both breeds are considered hypoallergenic, some Cockapoos may shed more as a result of genes from their cocker spaniel parent.

When at the pet store comparing a cockapoo and a poodle side by side, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which dog is right for you and your lifestyle. Both are cute dogs you want to cuddle with all day! 

Please take a deep breath, stay calm, because here in this article, I will attempt to make this decision you’re about to make a little easier. Keep reading to find out which dog is the best fit for your family. 

Poodle Vs. Cockapoo Attributes at a Glance

This chart provides a quick comparison of the poodle and cockapoo breeds:

	Poodle	Cockapoo
Kids Friendly	Yes	Yes
Grooming	High maintenance	High maintenance
Hypoallergenic	Yes	No
Train-ability	Easy	Easy
Temperament	Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Intelligent, Instinctual, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Trainable	Trainable, Peaceful, Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, cheerful, Social, Instinctual, Playful
Coat Colors	Black. Sable, Silver, White, Black and White, Brown, Apricot, Red, Cream, Grey	Black, Brown, Silver, Tan, Red, White
Shedding	Low	Low
Life Span	12 – 19 Years	14-18 years
Energy Level	Medium-High	Medium
Breed Avg. Height/Weight	Teacup Poodle Height: 6-8 Inches Weight: 3-5 Pounds Toy Poodle Height: 10 inches Weight: 6-9 pounds Miniature Poodle Height: 11-15 inches Weight: 15-17 pounds Standard Poodle Height: 15-22 inches Weight: 45-70 pounds	Teacup Cockapoo Height: 7-9 Inches Weight: 4-6 Pounds Toy Cockapoo Height: 9-11 inches Weight: 10-12 pounds Miniature Cockapoo Height: 11 to 14 inches Weight: 15 to 18 pounds Standard Cockapoo Height: 15 to 20 inches Weight: 19-20 pounds

Which is Better: A Poodle or Cockapoo?

A Poodle or Cockapoo, which is better? Well, that depends on your personality and your family’s lifestyle. Both are beautiful dogs, albeit with a few quirks. Cockapoos are a poodle crossbreed bred resulting from the union of a cocker spaniel and a poodle, most commonly the miniature poodle. 

Generally, speaking cockapoos are slightly smaller than poodles. as a result, If you are looking for a small dog, a cockapoo may be the better choice. 

Coat Type

A Cockapoo’s coat type will vary depending on the characteristics inherited from both the poodle and the cocker spaniel parents. A Cockapoo’s coat can come in three main hair types:

1. Tight curly coat
2. Loose wavy/ringlet coat
3. Straight coat

A poodle’s coat will be thick and curly and will cover the entire dog from head to toe. As puppies, their hair will be straight but will turn to curls as they grow to adulthood.

Energy

The Cockapoo is moderately energetic. These dogs will require some attention and walk outdoors but cockapoos are not as highly active as poodles tend to be. Plan on spending around 15 minutes a day of good exercise.

Poodles need a good amount of playtime every day. Most poodles need about 60 minutes of quality exercise a day to be healthy.

These dog breeds have more similarities than they do differences. Ultimately choosing the right breed will come down to preference and who you are as an owner. 

How is a Poodle Different from a Cockapoo?

Here in this section, we will discuss the differences between a cockapoo and a poodle. For many, some of these differences helped decide which breed is right for them. While these dogs do share a lot in common, there are a few key differences that you will want to consider before making your purchase. So keep reading! 

1. Standard Poodles Weigh More Than Standard Cockapoos

Standard poodles aren’t fat, but they are a little heavier than your average standard or “Maxi’ Cockapoo. Both Poodles and Cockapoos come in four different sizes: Standard, Miniature, Toy, and Teacup. 

The sizes these pets come in will ultimately determine their weight, height, and how much they will grow over time. 

This chart shows the weight comparison between these different Poodle and cockapoo types:

Size	Cockapoo	Poodle
Teacup	2-6 pounds	3-5 pounds
Toy	12 pounds	6-9 pounds
Miniature	13-18 pounds	15-17 pounds
Standard	19-20 pounds	45-70 pounds

(Source:http://www.anniemany.com/2013/06/size-and-weight-of-poodle-dog.html)(Source:https://cockapoo.me/cockapoo-sizes/)

2. Hair

In terms of hair, The Cockapoo fur can have curls like a Poodle or a looser, shaggier coat. This diversity in hair comes from their parent Cocker Spaniel. 

Unlike the Cockapoo, Poodles only have curled hair. Even though Poodles only have one type of hair, they come in many colors, as discussed in the next section. 

Most often, you will find Poodles with solid-colored hair. Here are a few different colors of hair that you can expect to see from Poodles: 

• Black
• White 
• Red
• Apricot
• Cream 
• Blue
• Brown
• Sable 
• Black and White 
• Grey 
• Silver

For Cockapoo, you’ll often find them with the same hair color as a Poodle. However, some Cockapoos are particolored. You’ll often find these particolored Poodles with a white color base with patches of other colors. 

3. Height

In terms of height, a standard Poodle is about 14 to 18 inches. The standard Cockapoo is approximately 15-18 inches. 

At this point, you might think that the Poodle will always be larger than the Cockapoo, and on average, this is the case; however, there are instances where a standard Cockapoo can sometimes be found larger than your Standard Poodle. 

As for Miniature and standard Cockapoos, their growth spurt is a lot more noticeable. Around the fourth and sixth-month mark, they’ll grow quite quickly. 

4. Exercise

The Poodle and Cockapoo are both energetic dogs. Just like Poodles, Cockapoos enjoy performing tasks and keeping their minds stimulated. However, compared to your standard Poodle, the Cockapoo is a little more laid back. 

It is recommended on average to allow your Cockapoo to exercise about 15mins a day. While the Poodle being very energetic, can run around and exercise for about 30 to 40mins. 

Similarities Between a Poodle and a Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is a descendant of the Poodle. While we did list some differences that the Cockapoo inherited from its Cocker Spaniel side because the Cockapoo was crossbred with the Poodle, they share many common traits. 

Similarities between poodles and cockapoos Include:

1. Both Are Low-Shedding Breeds

There is a saying prevalent among Poodle owners, and it’s that:  “Dogs have fur, and Poodles have hair.” This saying means that compared to other dogs, Poodles don’t shed as much. 

Are you tired of cleaning up fur and having to replace your vacuum every few months? Now there are vacuums designed to clean up dog fur, but they can get a little pricey. Hence, when people find out that Poodles don’t shed like other dog breeds, they get excited. 

Poodles have a single, curly coat that behaves like human hair. It does require some love and attention, but the Poodles shedding aspect makes it worth the grooming effort.

Of course, this remarkable trait applies to Cockapoo as well. A dog breed mixed with a Poodle will shed less than other dog breeds because of the Poodle’s coat’s nature.  

2. Poodles and Cockapoos Are Both Intelligent

As if the hair feature was not enough, these two dog breeds are known as the most intelligent dogs on earth. They pick on things quickly and easily trained. They are the second most intelligent dog breed who has obedience, excellent tracking abilities, great performers, and exceptional assistant dogs. 

Cockapoos get their intelligence from Poodles, making them very easy to train and good at obeying commands.

3. Similar Energy Level

Cockapoos and Poodles are dogs that enjoy being active. You can take these dogs on walks around the neighborhood, but they also need to run around for a little bit. Ideally, you will want to have a secure and fenced-out area for these dogs to play. 

If you’re one of those who don’t have yards, then taking these dogs to the park is also a great idea. It’s essential to take these dogs out regularly to exercise. 

Otherwise, they may burn off that pent-up energy inside your own home in ways that you won’t appreciate. These dog breeds are very intelligent, agile, and curious. If you leave them off-leash, you will find them socializing with other people, pets, and maybe running across busy streets. 

4. Both Come in Toy Sizes

If you ever googled up these two crossbreeds or visited them at your local pet store, then you might have noticed that these dogs look like teddy bears, don’t they? They look like cuddly stuffed animals and have soft fur to maximize the cuddle experience. Who doesn’t love a curly fluff ball?  

The toy size Cockapoo can be found at 9 to 10 inches. A toy Poodle can be 10 inches or less. An important thing to note is that any Poodle more than 10 inches at the highest point of the shoulders cannot compete in the AKC show ring as a Toy Poodle.

5. Similar Life Expectancy 

Several factors determine how long a dog’s lifespan is. Even so, the average lifespan of a Cockapoo and a Poodle similar at 12-19 years. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the breed that is better for you will come down to a matter of preference and who you are as a dog owner. If you want a dog that is a baby doll, small, low maintenance and has multi-colored fur, then a Cockapoo is best for you. 

However, if you want a dog breed full of energy to go on hiking trips with, about average dog size, and still adorable, perhaps the standard Poodle is the best choice. Of course, the easier but more expensive option is to get both!