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Are you trying to figure out what a cockapoo golden retriever mix looks like? Or maybe you’re wanting to determine if a golden cockapoo will be the perfect dog for you? I personally own a golden retriever cockapoo so I’m here to tell you everything you could need to know.
Cockapoo Golden Retriever Mix
First and foremost I have owned a cockapoo golden retriever mix for 9 years so I do feel confident that I am an expert when it comes to sharing this information. However as with any mixed breed dog you never know exactly what you’ll get so this information is all based on my own experience owning this particular mix.
There are a variety of terms to use when referring to a cockapoo golden retriever mix. Some refer to this mix as a cockapoo golden retriever or a golden cockapoo or a golden retriever cockapoo. You can interchange the terms and refer to this mixed breed as you see fit.
This post is an overview of the cockapoo golden retriever mix.
What is a Cockapoo Golden Retriever Mix?
A cockapoo golden retriever mix has genetics from the golden retriever, cocker spaniel, and poodle. The genetic ratio can vary depending on what combination of the three breeds that the parents are. It could be that a golden retriever breeds with a cockapoo (in my dogs case) or it could be a golden retriever – cocker spaniel breeding with a poodle, the combination list could go on and on. My dogs specific mix has 50% golden retriever, 25% cocker spaniel, and 25% poodle.
Size
Like any mixed breed the cockapoo golden retriever can vary in size but you can generally expect a medium sized dog anywhere from 20 – 35 lbs. My golden retriever cockapoo is right around 25 lbs.
When it comes to length and height each golden retriever cockapoo will vary but generally you can expect anywhere from height to be 17 to 21 inches (measured from toes to base of shoulder blades). As you can see in the photo below, when my dog is seated her head comes up to about my knee.
Temperament
You can expect golden retriever cockapoos to have a temperament similar to their respective breeds. They have the friendly nature of a golden retriever and are sure to be the first one to greet you when you come home. They are quite active like the cocker spaniel so they will need frequent walks and playtime. They are also very intelligent just like poodles who are notoriously smart. Left to their own devices they may find something destructive to do if not given proper mental stimulation. My dog isn’t a big chewer and has never chewed up anything of importance but instead opts for occasionally getting into the garbage when not given enough mental stimulation.
If adopting a golden retriever cockapoo (or any dog that needs mental challenges) you should consider puzzles or lick mats. If your dog is food-driven, these will be a life saver for busy weeks!
Coat & Color
As you might expect a golden retriever cockapoo mix will likely have have a golden coat although depending on the parents it could have other colors in its coat. My particular dog has a deep golden color throughout her back and a lighter golden color throughout her chest and belly.
A golden cockapoo can have curly or straight hair. This is probably one of the biggest variations you’ll find in different golden retriever cockapoos. My dog has what I would call wavy hair or a slight curl. The hair on her chest is the curliest and mimics that of a goldendoodle.
Grooming
Regular grooming is important to keep a cockapoo golden retrievers coat looking its best. It’s important to pay special attention to any place the hair is longer like the the belly, chest, legs, backside, and tail. It is VERY easy for these places to get snarls so pay close attention.
Bathing your golden retriever cockapoo every couple of weeks will help keep their coat and skin feeling clean. A golden cockapoo has hair that can grow long so a thorough grooming every 6 months to a year will be necessary.
Does A Cockapoo Golden Retriever Mix Shed?
One of the most common questions I receive is does a golden retriever cockapoo shed? Yes but not quite as much as you might think. Golden retrievers were notoriously breed with poodles (creating the goldendoodle) in part to prevent shedding. While I do think the small poodle portion helps reduce shedding – my golden retriever cockapoo mix does still shed a fair amount.
Brushing helps tremendously when it comes to keeping a golden retriever cockapoos coat looking it’s best. The brushing will also help ALOT with shedding so it’s important to invest in a good brush like the FURminator. I swear by it for my dogs hair!
>>This is the best dog brush for golden retrievers!
Health
A golden retriever cockapoo is suseptable to health concerns that purebred golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, and poodles can all face. When breeds are mixed it can sometimes help prevent some of those health concerns but ultimately health depends on each dog individually.
My dog just turned 13 and thankfully she appears to be in great health every time we go to the vet. As with other seniors there are some signs of arthritis but that happens to most breeds as they age.
Where To Adopt
I cannot in good faith recommend any breeders. If you are going to adopt from a breeder it is important to ensure the dogs being bred are treated with love. There are unfortunately many dog breeders who have unethical practices. That means you could be supporting a breeder who puts dogs in terrible conditions, you could receive a very sick puppy, or you could even be duped and end up with a completely different breed.
I personally found my cockapoo golden retriever mix on Craigslist but I recommend you also proceed with caution when using Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. I felt a bit more comfortable using these resources because I was not looking for a puppy (my golden cockapoo was 4 when I adopted her). But simply from a safety perspective is it best to vet anyone who is putting their dog up for adoption through those services.
THE GOODS NEWS IS… there are plenty of dogs in rescues and shelters who do need a good home. If you are serious about wanting to adopt a cockapoo golden retriever mix then check out PETFINDER where you are able to search based on breed. I have seen a few other cockapoo golden retriever mixes out there so keep periodically searching even if you don’t find one right away.
