Cockapoo vs English Cocker Spaniel

A Cockapoo
Photo: Graham Morazán
An English Cocker Spaniel
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Side by side

Cockapoo
English Cocker Spaniel
Adult weight
5.4–9.5 kg (12–21 lb) (registry figure)1
13–14.5 kg (29–32 lb)2
Height
Males 25.4–38.1 cm; females 25.4–38.1 cm (registry figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Non-sporting (AKC)
Retrievers & water dogs5
Coat
No sourced figure
Coat with feathering5
Shedding
No sourced figure
Sheds through the year
Grooming
No sourced figure
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
No sourced figure
Plenty
Health
Mouth melanoma (more likely); Gum disease (more likely)6,7
Dry eye (far more likely); Ear discharge (far more likely)8,9
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Size
The English Cocker Spaniel is much larger: about 14 kg (30 lb) as an adult, against 7.5 kg (16 lb) for the Cockapoo.
Temperament
They differ most on handler demand (Cockapoo: suits a first-time owner; English Cocker Spaniel: needs steady training) and on sensitivity (Cockapoo: average; English Cocker Spaniel: needs a calm, predictable home).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Cockapoo
Non-sporting · Small

In temperament the Cockapoo is usually friendly, playful and affectionate, and owners often describe it as combining the spaniel's eagerness to please with the Poodle's quick mind.

English Cocker Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is cheerful and affectionate, and it is often called the merry cocker, a nod to its lively nature and busy tail. It is keen to please and closely attached to its people.

The Cockapoo page →The English Cocker Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Cockapoo
English Cocker Spaniel
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Cockapoo
English Cocker Spaniel
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Cockapoo
English Cocker Spaniel
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The English Cocker Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 14 kg against the Cockapoo's 7.5 kg.
Cockapoo
English Cocker Spaniel
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More comparisons

Compare the Cockapoo with
English Cocker Spaniel vs English Springer SpanielAmerican Cocker Spaniel vs English Cocker SpanielCavalier King Charles Spaniel vs English Cocker SpanielEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Field SpanielEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Welsh Springer SpanielAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·