Caring for Your Cockapoo Puppy

Cockapoo Puppy Advice

If you’ve made the decision to welcome a cockapoo puppy into your family then first of all, congratulations! You’ve made a great choice. Adult cockapoos are known for their loyalty and friendliness, making them fantastic pets whether you live alone, are in a couple or have a big family. 

However, before you get to enjoy all of the benefits of owning an adult cockapoo, you need to raise a well trained, socialised puppy. 

Most people love the puppy phase, and rightfully so – with their teddy bear-like appearance, cockapoo puppies are some of the cutest around. But bringing up a puppy is a big responsibility, and there is a lot of information to take in. Read on for top tips for caring for your new pal. 

The First Night

When you first bring your cockapoo puppy home, you’re bound to be excited and want to show him off to family and friends. However, it’s important to remember how overwhelming this experience can be for a little pup. On the first day you bring your bundle of fun home, make sure that the house is quiet and free from visitors. Try to avoid fussing or overcrowding the puppy, and instead give him time to settle into his new home. 

The first night is also the time to start building healthy habits for your cockapoo puppy. This means starting as you mean to go on – so if you plan for your dog to sleep downstairs once it’s an adult, you’ll need to have your puppy sleep downstairs too. This is the perfect time to start your puppy’s crate training.

Feeding your cockapoo puppy

Just like babies, puppies have special nutritional needs while they’re growing. They need food designed to help them grow, and are usually fed more frequently than adult dogs – sometimes up to four times a day. 

It is usually best to keep feeding your cockapoo puppy the food that their breeder or first owner has been using, as switching this suddenly could lead to an unsettled stomach. If you wish to change the brand or type of puppy food, do this gradually over a period of a week or so. 

There is a range of puppy food available on the market, including wet and dry options. One is not necessarily better than the other, and often the choice depends on what best suits your lifestyle as well as your dog. For information on what to feed your adult dog, read all about cockapoo’s dietary needs. 

Socialising

It’s important for all breeds to be well socialised, and cockapoo puppies are no exception. Once your puppy has had a few days getting used to their new home and family members, you can begin to introduce visitors to meet him. While friends and family are bound to be excited to see your new addition, try to keep visits calm and don’t put all of the focus on the puppy immediately. This can be a good way to prevent dogs getting overly excited or vocal when the door knocks. 

And of course, it’s not just about humans. Once your cockapoo has had all of his relevant injections, puppy classes can be a great way to start socialising with other dogs. While learning basic training, your puppy will also learn to play with others in a setting that is safe and fun. 

You can also consider introducing your cockapoo puppy to dogs belonging to friends or family. As long as these dogs are friendly and well-behaved, it can be good for your puppy to have an older dog to learn from. Just make sure you introduce them in a neutral ground to avoid the older dog acting territorially and potentially frightening your pup. 

Grooming

As mentioned, the puppy stage is when you want to embed healthy habits. While cockapoos are often selected due to their minimal shedding, their coats do still need grooming. This includes regular brushing to avoid their fur becoming matted, as well as trips to the groomers for a trim. It’s best to get them used to this as puppies, so buy a soft brush specifically designed for puppies and make this a normal part of their routine as early as possible.