Cockapoo rescue dogs and puppies for adoption and rehoming in the UK

A Cockapoo is a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, as Dogs Trust puts it, not a breed. It isn't on The Royal Kennel Club's Breeds A to Z, so there is no breed standard and no breed page setting out its size or temperament. The Royal Kennel Club's guide to crossbreeds calls these "designer dogs" and says crossbreeds often have a mix of their parents' traits, and that it is often "difficult to predict what the puppies will look like or what their temperament will be". Any one Cockapoo can take after the Cocker, the Poodle, or both.

Battersea is blunt about the reputation: Cockapoos are friendly and clever dogs, "but they're not the low-maintenance family dog they're sometimes pictured as". They need daily exercise, ongoing training and regular grooming, and many struggle with separation anxiety if left alone too often. Battersea says that if you can commit time to training and grooming, a Cockapoo can make a brilliant, affectionate companion for first-time and experienced owners alike.

Battersea also says that because Cockapoos mix two breeds, temperament can vary: some are calm and easy-going, others highly energetic, playful and always looking for attention. They're intelligent and quick to learn, but can become bored without consistent stimulation, and some develop guarding behaviour around chews or items they've taken. That is why the rescue's knowledge of the individual dog matters more than the label. Ask them how this Cockapoo behaves at home, on the lead and with visitors.

Battersea says Cockapoos need around an hour of exercise a day plus daily mental stimulation, and time each week for active play and games to give their energy a positive outlet. Many find it hard to switch off, which can show up as barking or destructive behaviour indoors.

The parent breeds point the same way. The Royal Kennel Club lists both the Cocker Spaniel and the Miniature Poodle as needing up to an hour a day, and Dogs Trust calls Cockers typically high-energy. Ask the rescue how much exercise this dog actually needs.

Battersea calls this the "low-maintenance" myth. It says shedding varies from very little to noticeable, and that Cockapoos need daily brushing plus a professional groom every six to eight weeks to prevent matting. The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide explains why coats are hard to predict: mixing two very different coats may produce a hybrid that "requires extensive grooming".

Dogs Trust describes Cockapoo coats as curly and low-shedding, and lists colours including black, white, tan, chocolate and cream, though Battersea's point is that shedding varies from dog to dog. With a rescue Cockapoo, ask when it was last groomed, whether it has been clipped short because of mats, and how it copes with brushing and handling.

Battersea says Cockapoos can have itchy, irritated or sore ears and skin, often linked to allergies that can be managed but not cured, and that ear infections are common. It says they're also more likely to have long-term digestive issues and food sensitivities, and can inherit progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an eye condition that causes gradual sight loss and can't be treated.

Because a Cockapoo inherits from both parents, The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide says breeders of a cross should consider carrying out all of the health tests for both breeds. For the parents, it asks Cocker breeders to DNA test for acral mutilation syndrome, prcd-PRA, adult-onset neuropathy and familial nephropathy, and Miniature Poodle breeders to DNA test for osteochondrodysplasia and prcd-PRA, with hip testing and eye testing for both (see the Cocker and Miniature Poodle pages).

A rescue Cockapoo's parents may never have been tested. Ask the rescue what vet checks the dog has had and whether any condition is already known, and talk to your own vet about anything you notice later.

Battersea says people can underestimate the time and training Cockapoos need, "which is why they're often given up". It also says Cockapoos are hugely popular, and that demand has fuelled puppy farming and poor breeding practices. Doodle Trust, a UK-wide Poodle-cross rescue, puts it more strongly: "many of the myths that made them popular are the same reasons so many end up abandoned".

Doodle Trust says it rescues and rehomes Cockapoos and other Poodle crosses throughout the UK, assessing each dog in a foster home first. The next section shows how many Cockapoos the rescues we list have today.

As of 14 November 2026, 18 Cockapoos are listed with rescues in the UK on LocalPetFinder: by their listed age, 3 puppies aged 12 months or under, 12 adults and 3 aged 7 or over.

2 of them are listed as a cross, as the rescue describes it: Cockapoo Cross and Cocker x Poodle Cockapoo. Breed labels on rescue listings are often a best guess from looks.

The rescues mark 7 as able to live with children and 10 with other dogs. Where a profile says nothing, it doesn't mean no: ask the rescue.

Battersea says many Cockapoos get on well with older, considerate children and pets such as cats, especially with early socialisation, but that not every Cockapoo suits a busy home, and some are more sensitive and need the option to retreat. Doodle Trust warns against getting a Poodle cross "for the kids", and says not all are suitable for homes with children. Go by the rescue's own assessment of this dog with children, cats and other dogs, which is often noted on the profile.

The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide explains the letters breeders use. An F1 puppy has two parents of different breeds (a Cocker and a Poodle). An F2 puppy has two F1 parents, and an F1b has one F1 parent bred back to one of the original breeds. Battersea says second-generation Cockapoos "can be harder to predict". A rescue rarely knows a dog's generation, so judge the dog in front of you.

The same guide warns that inbreeding "will be an important consideration if mating two 'Cockerpoo' crossbred dogs together", and that The Royal Kennel Club holds no pedigree data for crossbreeds, which can only be registered on its Activity Register.

Battersea says Cockapoos bond closely with their owners, that separation anxiety is common, and that many need gradual training to cope with being left. Doodle Trust says many Poodle crosses are "Velcro dogs who want to be with you, not left alone". If you are out at work, tell the rescue: they will know how this dog copes on its own.