Puppy and You Dog Training

31/07/2025

“So here it is, our final breed profile (for now). I’ve been running this series daily since the 18th January, and while I know I haven’t covered every breed, crossbreed, doodle, or designer fluffball out there, I’m taking a well-earned break.
This last one might ruffle a few feathers, or fur, but hey, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Breed Profile: The Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel x Poodle)

1. Breed Name and General Overview

The Cockapoo is a popular designer crossbreed, combining the Cocker Spaniel (either American or English) and the Poodle (usually Miniature or Toy). Known for their teddy-bear appearance, friendly nature, and supposed low-shedding coat, they’ve skyrocketed in popularity over the past two decades. Medium in size, often with a soft, wavy coat and expressive eyes, the Cockapoo’s appeal lies in its charm and family-friendly image—but there’s more under the fluff.

Nickname(s): Cockapoodle, Spoodle (in Australia), or more often than not, “our little fur baby.”

Size: Typically between 10–15 inches tall, weighing anywhere from 6kg to 11kg depending on parentage.

2. Origins of the Breed

The Cockapoo isn’t a breed with a fixed origin or standardised purpose. It’s one of the earliest designer dogs, dating back to the 1960s in the United States. The aim was to combine the low-shedding coat and intelligence of the Poodle with the affectionate, people-pleasing temperament of the Cocker Spaniel. However, as a crossbreed, results vary—wildly.

Unlike pedigree breeds, there’s no formal breed standard, no consistent health testing across breeders, and no guarantee of which parent traits will shine through. Every Cockapoo is a genetic roll of the dice.

3. Breed Traits and Characteristics
• Physical Traits: Curly or wavy coat, floppy ears, round eyes, medium-length muzzle. Coat colours range from cream, chocolate, black, red, apricot, merle, parti-colour, to phantom (and everything in between).
• Temperament: Lively, affectionate, often clingy. Many are friendly and social, but some inherit the more anxious or reactive tendencies of their Cocker or Poodle lines.
• Energy Levels: Moderate to high. They’re often underestimated. These are active, intelligent dogs with energy to burn and noses to use.

4. Ease of Training

Cockapoos can be very trainable, especially when motivated by food or praise. The Poodle’s intelligence often shines through, but the Cocker Spaniel’s emotional sensitivity can make some Cockapoos highly reactive or needy.

Challenges include:
• Separation anxiety.
• Overexcitement or hyperactivity.
• Over-sensitivity to corrections.
• Attention-seeking behaviour that becomes exhausting.

Best suited to:
Owners who are prepared to train with consistency, patience, and calm structure—not indulgence.

5. Suitability for Pet Homes

Cockapoos can be great companions for:
• Active families,
• Individuals with time to dedicate to training and grooming,
• Households where the dog isn’t left alone too often.

However, they are not ideal for every first-time dog owner—despite what the internet says.

They do not thrive on chaos, nor do they suit homes with inconsistent boundaries. And despite their cuddly appearance, they’re not always keen on children hugging or fussing over them without proper introductions.

6. Intelligence and Cognitive Ability

The Cockapoo can be exceptionally smart. With the Poodle brain working overtime and the Cocker Spaniel’s work ethic, this crossbreed often learns new cues quickly—but they’re also very good at manipulating their owners and testing boundaries.

Caveat: Intelligence doesn’t equal emotional stability. A clever, anxious Cockapoo can outthink you and out-worry you at the same time.

7. Biological Needs and Fulfilment

Despite their looks, these dogs are not lapdogs by nature. Both parent breeds are from working stock: gundogs and water retrievers. They need:
• Mental stimulation (puzzle feeders, nosework, obedience).
• Regular, purposeful exercise (not just pottering round the garden).
• Clarity and leadership—not babying or mollycoddling.

Letting them make all the choices leads to neurotic behaviours. Give them a job, give them guidance, and they’ll thrive.

8. Health Considerations

Here’s where the truth needs to be told: crossing two breeds does not eliminate genetic issues. In fact, you can double up on them.

Common concerns:
• Ear infections (floppy ears + hair + moisture = bacteria heaven).
• Hip dysplasia and luxating patellas.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).
• Allergies and skin conditions.
• Separation anxiety and compulsive behaviours.

Coat myth-busting: Not all Cockapoos are hypoallergenic. Many shed, especially first-generation crosses. Their coats can matt easily and require regular professional grooming—every 6–8 weeks is not uncommon.

9. Living Conditions

Cockapoos can adapt to most environments if their exercise, enrichment, and training needs are met. They’re often seen in flats or small homes, but this only works if you’re committed to walking and stimulating them daily.

They need:
• A calm, structured home.
• A place to rest and decompress.
• Clear rules and routine—not free rein of the sofa and cupboards.

10. Final Thoughts

The Cockapoo is adorable—but don’t let the fluff fool you. This is not a plug-and-play family dog. They require time, structure, boundaries, training, and regular grooming. When treated like a dog (not a doll), with firm but fair leadership, they can be fabulous companions.

But without that clarity, they often become anxious, over-attached, hyper, and reactive—especially during adolescence.

If you want one because it looks cute and “doesn’t shed”… keep walking. If you’re ready to train, guide, and lead your Cockapoo, you might just have yourself a cracking wee dog.

Just a little sidenote on Cockapoos, they are in our top five of dogs that come to us with problems either because of bad breeding and/or being babied. 🤔

28/07/2025

Are you looking for ways to safely
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21/07/2025

Why Your Dog’s Zoomies Aren’t Solved by a 10-Mile Hike: The Real Key to Balanced Behaviour

You walk them for miles. You take them to daycare. You throw the ball until your arm’s falling off. And yet, your dog still chews the skirting board, barks at invisible things, or pings around the house like a pinball machine on Red Bull.

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone and you’re not necessarily doing anything wrong. But you might be doing too much of one thing and not enough of something else.

Let’s unpack this, shall we?

Dogs Aren’t Tired, They’re Wired

There’s a common myth in the dog world: “A tired dog is a good dog.” And like many myths, it contains a grain of truth, but also a whacking great misunderstanding.

Think of your dog as a professional athlete. If you take a sprinter and have them train flat-out every single day, without recovery, they’ll end up injured, burnt out, and grumpy. The same applies to your dog. When you constantly ramp up physical activity in an effort to “wear them out,” all you’re doing is building stamina. And guess what? That just means they’ll need even more exercise to reach the same level of fatigue.

Eventually, you’ll run out of hours in the day or energy in your own legs and your dog will still be bouncing off the walls.

Overtired = Over the Top

Dogs get overtired. Not “had a lovely run and now ready for a nap” tired, but overtired like a toddler who missed their nap and is now shrieking at the cat because the wind changed direction.

Here are a few red flags:
• They can’t settle, even when it’s quiet.
• They’re jumpier or more sensitive than usual.
• Training goes out the window, they just can’t concentrate.
• They’re gnawing your furniture like it’s made of chicken.
• They pant, pace, and just can’t seem to switch off.

An overtired dog is often mistaken for a dog that needs more exercise, when in fact, they desperately need a break, both physically and mentally.

Exercise Is Only One Slice of the Pie

Don’t get me wrong, walks, runs, and playtime are important. But they’re just one piece of the behavioural puzzle. The other vital elements are mental stimulation and rest. Without those, all that physical activity just tips them into overstimulation territory.

Mental work is underrated. Dogs were bred to think, herding, guarding, scenting, hunting and when they’re not given anything to work out, they’ll invent their own “fun” (read: bark at leaves, dig to Australia, rearrange your cushions with their teeth).

Engaging the brain is exhausting, in a good way. Fifteen minutes of solid thinking, like problem-solving or scent work, can tire a dog out more than a hour walk. It’s like Sudoku for spaniels or brain yoga for bulldogs.

Train the Brain, Not Just the Body

Want a dog that settles calmly in the evening instead of bouncing around like a furry pinball? Teach them to pause.

Impulse control training, like long ‘stays’, calm ‘downs’, or the almighty ‘place’ command, helps your dog learn that being still and quiet can be just as rewarding as chasing a tennis ball. It’s the dog equivalent of mindfulness.

You’re not just draining energy. You’re teaching them how to manage it.

Add to that some puzzle toys, scent games, or trick training, and you’ve got a recipe for a mentally satisfied, behaviourally balanced dog. And no, I’m not talking about turning your living room into an agility course. A cardboard box full of scrunched-up newspaper and treats can do wonders.

Rest: The Most Underrated Dog Training Tool

Now for the bit most owners overlook: rest.

Dogs need a lot of sleep. Most adult dogs need around 12–14 hours a day, and that’s not including their “I’m just chilling here with one eye open” downtime. Puppies and older dogs need even more.

Without proper rest, your dog becomes overtired and overstimulated and suddenly the naughty behaviours you thought exercise would fix start cropping up again.

Make sure your dog has a safe, quiet space, a crate, a mat, or a comfy corner, where they can properly switch off. And no, snoozing under the dining table while the kids do handstands doesn’t count.

Build rest into their routine deliberately. After training or walks, guide them to their rest spot. Reinforce calm behaviour. Treat relaxation as a skill, not just a luxury.

Balance Is Everything: A Sample Routine

Let’s put it all together. A well-behaved dog isn’t the result of being walked into the ground, it’s about balance. Here’s what a more well-rounded day might look like:
• Morning: 20-minute walk + 10-minute scent game + enforced rest.
• Midday: Light training (impulse control or trick work) + puzzle toy.
• Afternoon: Short play session or another walk + cool down + rest.
• Evening: Calm activities (lick mat, chew, massage) + wind-down time.

Mix it up based on your dog’s age, breed, and energy levels, but always include rest and mental work alongside physical activity.

The Bottom Line: Stop Trying to Outrun the Problem

More exercise isn’t always better. Sometimes, it’s like pouring petrol on a fire, especially if you’re ignoring the mental and emotional needs of your dog.

Instead, aim for balance. Work the body, stimulate the brain, and protect rest like it’s sacred. This triad, physical activity, mental engagement, and rest, is the real holy grail of dog behaviour.

Your dog doesn’t need longer walks. They need better structure.

And a nap.

Possibly after some nosework and a game of “find the biscuit under the flowerpot.”

Because calm doesn’t come from exhaustion, it comes from balance. And once you get that right, you’ll have a dog who’s not just tired, but content.

And that, my friend, is the real goal.

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20/07/2025

A great way to socialise your puppy and keep the children entertained during the summer holidays! 🐾

Price is per puppy for one session.

Enquire through the website puppyandyoudogtraining.co.uk
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Limited spaces available.

18/07/2025

I love this. I also groom my own girls so that I can take my time and allow them to have their own experience 🐾

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the ABK Behaviour conference, which was all about raising resilient dogs. The amount of information that was shared was enough to write an entire book and if I’m honest, it transformed my entire mindset.

One thing that really stood out for me, which seemed consistent across all of the speakers was the need for adaptations. The need to approach each dog as an individual and how the way we deal with different issues very much “depends” on dogs (if you know you know!).

As humans, we like to have control over our dogs. We expect them to behave a particular way at all times with very little leniency and are often disappointed when things don’t go to plan. We reach out to professionals asking for them to fix the problem, and put training plans in place to change the way our dog processes something - to make them more resilient. But, and here’s the big one… what if instead of changing our dogs, we changed the environment they’re living in. Now I don’t for one second mean rehoming a dog, (though there are occasions that may need to happen); but what I do mean is to take a look around and see if we have truly set our individual dog up for success - or are we trying to fit them into a society made mould.

In terms of grooming, the culture is very much get the dog in, bath them, dry them, style them and get them out again. Makes sense right? But what about that dog who doesn’t want to be bathed? What about the dog who has a fear of loud noises? Perhaps they struggle with strangers or other dogs? We could try to desensitise in hope we can make it tolerable, or maybe we could step out of our comfort zone and take lead from the dog.

Movement is so important to a dog, so giving them freedom to walk around can be game changing. I have dogs who struggled when tethered to a table, but as soon as they were able to run around the groom room when they needed to, suddenly they were allowing me to complete a full groom with no issues.

I have dogs who would try to bite the dryer, who are now either left to dry naturally or bathed at home the day before a groom - suddenly they’re accepting a full clip off with no concerns.

Dogs who are allowed to opt out and say “not today thanks”, often become the dogs who come running back in next time and begin to trust you.

Instead of focusing on changing our dogs, ask yourself how can I change their environment so they’re able to strive.

14/07/2025

New six week Puppy Course starting this Saturday at 10am PE11 4EZ.

Very limited spaces so please get in touch if you are interested 🐾

puppyandyoudogtraining.co.uk

13/07/2025

***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.

I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.

I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.

Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.

I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.

You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!

If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.

I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.

So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

06/07/2025

AI just for fun! 😂