When choosing a dog, life expectancy is one of the most important factors that owners should think about. The cockapoo is often found in the top 10 dog breeds that live the longest. How long do cockapoos live actually? Let’s find out.
How long do cockapoo live on average?
Learning about the lifespan of the cockapoo’s parent breeds is a great way to figure out and understand his lifespan. For the poodle, his size is an evident factor in his lifespan. The toy poodle and miniature poodle can live for 14–14.5 years, whilst the standard poodle lives about 11.5–12 years. Meanwhile, the cocker spaniel commonly has an approximate lifespan of 11–12 years. Thus, on average, the mini cockapoo and the standard cockapoo’s life expectancy is about 14–18 years.
Keep in mind that aside from the breed’s size, various factors can affect the cockapoo’s lifespan. It includes his energy levels, diet, health, and overall lifestyle.
What is the oldest cockapoo?
There is no officially recorded oldest cockapoo. However, some cockapoos are known to have reached the ripe age of twenty-two!
What are the cockapoo life stages?
Knowing the various life stages of the cockapoo will help you understand what your dog needs as he grows. This way, you can provide him with a healthy and happy lifestyle befitting his age. Below is a rough guideline of the cockapoo’s life stages:
Stage 1: Puppyhood
First 6 to 18 months
A cockapoo is considered on his puppy stage when he’s a newborn until he reaches sexual maturity. Small breeds commonly start puberty earlier than large breeds. During puppyhood stage, it is the best time for you to start giving him:
- Early training and socialisation
- Introduce dental care, specifically tooth brushing
- House-training
- Initial vaccinations
- Routine health check-ups and test
Stage 2: Adolescence
Between 6 and 18 months after birth
When a cockapoo reaches adolescence, it is a sign that he can reproduce. During this stage, the dog will begin to show new behaviours. For a female, she may have a strong urge to roam. Sometimes, she may also exhibit aggressiveness towards the same sex.
Meanwhile, male adults may develop marking and roaming behaviours. HTytends to be more aggressive as well because of the high testosterone levels brought on by puberty. All of these can be inhibited through proper training.
This also means that your dog is going through hormonal changes, which can be a slightly rough time for him. His baby teeth will start falling off to make way for permanent ones. Providing him with chew toys will alleviate the irritation on his jaws.
Growth spurts commonly happen during this life stage and it may cause him some pain. Strenuous activities must be avoided as it can strain his joints and muscles.
Stage 3: Adulthood
Between 12 months and 3 years
One way to know if a cockapoo has reached adulthood is through checking his height. If it is close to the typical height for their breed that is about six months of age, then he’s already a grown-up.
A standard cockapoo will have a height of about 15 inches and weigh over 19 pounds. A miniature cockapoo can grow up around 11–14 inches in height. His weight should be around 13–18 pounds. Both standard and miniature cockapoos will reach their full size within six months.
Once a cockapoo has reached maturity, he is more calm compared to when he was in puberty. He tends to be very active too since adulthood is the stage where he is in the best shape and full of vigour. It is crucial to pay close attention to his exercise and nutritional needs. This is because, for young adult dogs, their body is continuing to develop.
Activities should not be too taxing during exercise since his musculoskeletal system is still undergoing development. As for nutrition, his daily meals should contain enough calories to meet his energy needs. He should be fed according to his size and energy level. This is to maintain and repair his body tissues.
Stage 4: Seniority
Between 6 and 10 years of age
A cockapoo that has reached his golden years will have many behavioural changes. He will be more sluggish and unable to perform some tasks that he once found easy to do. Various health issues may start popping up during this stage, such as extreme joint discomfort and weak immunity.
Once he reaches old age, different changes in his nutrition, exercise, and high-quality diet are needed. Consulting the vet will help you learn what adjustments are needed in your senior cockapoo’s lifestyle.
Read: Puppy Development Stages
What health problems do cockapoos have?
One way of ensuring that a cockapoo lives a healthy and long life is through knowing the health problems he may encounter. Below is a list of the most common diseases that cockapoos are vulnerable to:
- Ear infections
He is prone to various ear problems due to his droopy, furry ears. It can easily build up dirt and wax which cause infections. Regularly checking and cleaning his ears is a good way to prevent this. - Patellar luxation
This is also known as slipped stifles, which occur when the knee joints become dislocated or moved from their normal location. This is a common problem found in small breeds. - Liver diseases
One of the cockapoo’s parent breeds, the cocker spaniel, is prone to liver diseases. Thus, it can be passed down to the cockapoo. He may experience copper toxicosis or chronic active hepatitis. - Cataracts and arthritis
This commonly occurs to ageing Cockapoos. Cataracts can be removed through surgery. Arthritis can be alleviated through changes in diet and proper exercise. - Hip dysplasia
This is a medical condition where the hip socket doesn’t fit the ball of the upper thighbone. This can result in lameness on one or both hind legs.
Make sure that that your cockapoo has undergone regular check-ups, early health screening, and health testing. This way, the vet will be able to detect health issues during their early stages, and provide early treatment and prevent the disease from progressing further.
