Breed profile · small · merry · social

Cockapoo training guide

Reviewed by Sarah Mitchell, CPDT-KA · Updated July 1, 2026

A Cocker Spaniel–Poodle cross that blends spaniel merriness with poodle brains. Cockapoos are enthusiastic, people-loving learners with more energy than their teddy-bear looks suggest — under-exercised ones invent loud hobbies.

Cockapoos inherited working genes from both parent breeds — the cuddly look writes checks the energy budget has to cash. Most Cockapoo behavior problems (barking, jumping, velcro anxiety) improve dramatically with more sniffing walks and mental work. Their excitement spills into greetings: teach calm hellos early, because everyone will want to pet the teddy bear and every greeting trains something.

Trait profile

Energy4/5

Trainability4/5

Barkiness3/5

merry
social
eager

Common challenges for Cockapoos

Top guides for Cockapoos

Fix it in your CockapooHow to Stop Separation Anxiety in a CockapooSeparation anxiety is panic, not spite — and the only evidence-based fix is gradual desensitization: leave for durations your dog can handle calmly (sometimes seconds at first) and expand slowly, never pushing past their threshold. Suspend all longer absences during training using daycare, sitters, or friends. It's slow, but it works.

Fix it in your CockapooHow to Stop Jumping Up in a CockapooJumping is paid attention — even pushing the dog off is a payment. Remove all attention for jumping (turn away, go still), and pay lavishly for four-paws-on-floor or a sit. Manage greetings with a leash or gate while you retrain, and brief your guests: the humans are half the training problem.

Fix it in your CockapooHow to Stop Barking at Visitors in a CockapooStop the rehearsal first: block the window view and muffle the doorbell, then pair the bell sound with treats at low volume until your dog stays calm. Over 2–3 weeks, teach a 'go to mat' response so an incompatible calm behavior replaces the barking.

Train your CockapooHow to Teach a Cockapoo to Recall (Come)Pick a fresh word ('here!'), pair it with your dog's favorite reward every single time, and never use it to end fun or to punish. Practice on a long line, starting close with no distractions and adding distance and difficulty gradually. Pay every recall like it's the lottery.

Train your CockapooHow to Teach a Cockapoo to SitHold a treat just above your dog's nose and move it slowly back over their head — as the nose follows, the rear drops. The moment they sit, mark ('yes!') and treat. After a few reps, add the word 'sit' right before the lure, then fade the lure to a hand signal.

Train your CockapooHow to Teach a Cockapoo to StayStart with your dog in a sit, say 'stay,' wait one second, then reward before they move. Slowly add duration, then distance, then distractions — always returning to reward at the dog's side, never calling them out of the stay. Build one variable at a time.

Fix it in your CockapooHow to Stop Leash Pulling in a CockapooPulling works — every step forward while the leash is tight pays it. Reverse the economics: stop dead the moment the leash tightens, and pay heavily (treats, forward movement, sniff breaks) whenever the leash is loose. A front-clip harness reduces pulling power while you retrain.

Train your CockapooHow to Teach a Cockapoo to Go to MatPut a mat down, and reward any interest in it — a look, a step, a paw. Shape toward all four paws on, then a down, then duration. Add the cue 'mat' once the dog charges over reliably. The mat becomes a paycheck zone, which is exactly why it fixes doorbell chaos and dinner begging.

Common challenges for Cockapoos

Top guides for Cockapoos

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