Cockapoo vs Goldendoodle: The Differences (With Pictures)

If you’re trying to decide among the many Poodle hybrids and have narrowed it down to the Cockapoo and the Goldendoodle, you’ve come to the right place! These two breeds are popular mixed breeds and inherit exceptional qualities from their parents.

That said, the essential part of dog ownership is finding an individual dog that will fit you and your family’s lifestyle. With this in mind, let’s go over each breed in more detail and examine their similarities and differences so you can make a well-informed decision about the perfect dog for you.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Cockapoo Overview

The Cockapoo is a mix of a Miniature Poodle and the American Cocker Spaniel. While there are different sizes of Poodles (Standard, Toy, and Miniature), the Miniature is most frequently used for the Cockapoo.

The Cocker Spaniel can be American or English, but it’s the American that is commonly used for breeding Cockapoos. That said, it’s possible to find Cockapoos that are a combination of differently-sized Poodles and English or American Cocker Spaniels.

Personality / Character

Cockapoos are highly active and intelligent dogs that are quite friendly and gentle. They make excellent dogs for beginners and families with or without other pets. When properly socialized, Cockapoos will make friends with just about any animal and any human they meet.

Cockapoos love attention and tend to follow their owners around. This means they can’t be left alone for long periods, as they are prone to separation anxiety.

Training

Cockapoos pick up training quite easily due to their intelligence and devotion to their owners. However, Cockapoos tend to have a short attention span because of their playful nature and Cocker Spaniel's parents.

They do best when trained in short, interesting sessions and with positive reinforcement. Plenty of praise and their favorite treats will make the training sessions fun and fairly easy with the Cockapoo, which is generally eager to please.

Exercise

Cockapoos need an average of 40 to 60 minutes of walking every day. These can be divided into two or three walks per day, but most Cockapoos only need about two 20-minute walks.

They can also get exercise through a vigorous play session in your backyard or neighborhood park. While they are active dogs, they don’t require marathon walks.

Health & Care

Part of keeping your Cockapoo in top health is providing them with high-quality food designed specifically for your dog’s current age, activity level, and weight. Avoid giving your dog table scraps or people food that isn’t good for dogs.

Grooming is a little more involved with the Cockapoo. They have long wavy or curly coats that will need frequent trimming, as their coats continuously grow. They’ll require brushing at least several times a week, and you might need to take them to a professional groomer for regular trimming.

Cockapoos can be a healthier breed than their parents because they are a mixed breed. However, both Poodles and Cocker Spaniels are prone to certain genetic health conditions that might be passed down to their offspring.

Suitable for:

If you’re looking for a super friendly dog that thrives on your attention and doesn’t need to run a marathon to get the right amount of exercise, the Cockapoo might be the right fit. They require extra grooming but are easy to train, so they’re great dogs for beginners and families.

However, if no one is home for most of the day, you might need to look for a more independent breed, as the Cockapoo will suffer from separation anxiety. This can eventually turn into damaged property and behavioral issues.

Goldendoodle Overview

The Goldendoodle is a combination of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. The size of this dog depends on what breed of Poodle was used in the breeding. A Standard Poodle will give you a full-sized Goldendoodle and a Miniature Poodle will lead to a more compact-sized dog.

Standard Goldendoodles can be as tall as 21 inches or more and can weigh up to 100 pounds, while the Miniature Goldendoodle might stand about 14 to 17 inches and weigh up to 35 pounds.

Personality / Character

If you’re looking for a loving and gentle dog, the Goldendoodle could be for you. They get their patience and friendly temperament from their Golden Retriever parent. They are wonderful with children, get along with just about everyone and every pet, and are incredibly affectionate.

Goldendoodles love being around their humans, and like the Cockapoo, they don’t do well when left alone for long periods, as they are prone to separation anxiety.

Training

Goldendoodles can be easy to train due to their intelligent parents (particularly the Poodle and for being quite eager to please. They are playful and are best trained with positive reinforcement and short, fun training sessions.

Exercise

As large dogs with energetic and active parents, Goldendoodles require a fair amount of exercise. At an absolute minimum, they need 30 minutes of walking every day, but they could do well with up to 2 hours. This can be stretched out over two or three daily walks.

Goldendoodles also love water and can make great companions for walks around water sources or on vigorous hikes.

Health & Care

Goldendoodles need food formulated for large dogs that provide a balanced and nutritious diet. Keep people's food to a minimum and don't go overboard with treats.

Grooming the Goldendoodle is similar to that of the Cockapoo. Due to their Poodle parent, this dog has a coat that will be wavy or curly and continuously grow, so it needs frequent trimming.

They also need to be brushed every day or several times a week depending on how curly their hair is (the curlier the coat, the more frequently they need brushing).

Suitable for:

Goldendoodles are amazing family dogs known to be gentle with young children and to love just about everyone they meet. They are best for an active single person or family, but they’ll still enjoy a nice cuddle on the couch at the end of the day.

They aren’t exactly low-maintenance dogs with respect to grooming, and they’ll need frequent brushing and trimming. This can be done by you or a professional groomer, but it’s something that you should be aware of. Goldendoodles also can’t be left alone for long periods, so they won’t be the right fit if you’re out of the house frequently.

Which Breed Is Right for You?

The differences between the Goldendoodle and Cockapoo are not huge. The Poodle parent gives them hypoallergenic coats that require the same amount of brushing and trimming.

The Goldendoodle is a large dog, so they would be better for a house with a backyard and an owner and family that are more active. The Cockapoo could work in small homes or apartments, but both breeds need to have someone home with them most of the time.

These dogs are easy to train and great for beginners to dog ownership, but the Cockapoo might be slightly more of a challenge because Cocker Spaniels tend to be easily distracted, a trait that can be inherited by the Cockapoo.

Overall, you definitely can’t go wrong with either breed. They are fabulous dogs that love everyone they meet and want to spend as much time with you as they can.

See also:

• Cocker Spaniel vs Cockapoo

• Cockapoo vs Mini Goldendoodle

Featured Image Credit: (L) MT. PHOTOSTOCK, Shutterstock | (R) cine-nomadic, Shutterstock