Do Cockapoos Shed? [Non Shedding Cockapoo Guide]

Whether you have allergies or love keeping a clean house, finding a dog breed that doesn’t shed much is likely a high priority for you. So, as you’re researching your options, you might be wondering—do Cockapoos shed?

Cockapoos do shed, but it’s typically less than most breeds. Additionally, genes play a role in determining how much a Cockapoo will shed. Therefore, you’ll have a better idea of how much hair to expect around your house if you adopt an adult Cockapoo versus purchasing a puppy.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential information you need to know regarding shedding before you bring home a loveable Cockapoo.

How Genes Play a Role in Cockapoo Shedding?

Since Cockapoos are a result of a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle pairing, they have tight, curly hair. That helps more hair stay on their body and less on your floor. 

Nevertheless, of these two breeds, Poodles shed less than Cocker Spaniels. Therefore, if your Cockapoo ends up inheriting stronger Poodle genes, you can expect him to shed less than if it were the other way around. 

To complicate things further, certain Cocker Spaniels shed more than others. As a result, you could adopt two Cockapoos with different lineages, and they might have different shedding behaviors. 

However, the important thing to remember is that overall, Cockapoos shed less than breeds like the Bernese Mountain Dog and Pomeranian. As we’ll see next, your Cockapoo’s generation also comes into play.

Multigenerational Cockapoos

The information I covered up to now involves first-generation Cockapoos. However, you might be wondering—what are shedding patterns like for multigenerational Cockapoos?

The good news is that it’s easier to know how much a multigenerational Cockapoo will shed since these Cockapoos breed with each other, helping to standardize the type of coat. Even a second-generation Cockapoo typically sheds less than a first-generation.

When you get beyond the second-generation level of Cockapoos, you can be almost certain that you’ll receive a dog that sheds less than most other breeds.

Harnessing the Help of a Breeder

Breeders can offer a lot of insight into your Cockapoo, as they usually keep detailed records of parent and grandparent lineages. Therefore, if you purchase a puppy from a breeder, they should be able to give you an indication of how much you can expect your Cockapoo to shed.

Nevertheless, their opinion will be just that—an opinion. We all know that people can have vastly different features compared to their parents, and Cockapoos are no different, especially if you’re purchasing a first-generation puppy.

As a result, you should be cautious of a breeder that promises that your first-generation Cockapoo won’t shed much or at all.

When Will I Know If My Cockapoo Puppy Will Shed?

Your Cockapoo will need to be a minimum of six weeks old for you to get a feel for whether he’ll shed a lot. During that time, he’ll still have his puppy coat, but you’ll be able to start to see how his hair is growing in.

By the time your Cockapoo reaches eight weeks old, you’ll be able to tell whether he has wavier hair like a Cocker Spaniel or the tight curls of a Poodle. If it’s the former, you can expect your Cockapoo to shed more frequently once he gets older. 

The Shedding Exception 

There’s nothing like the feel of soft puppy hair, wouldn’t you say? But, unfortunately, puppies don’t carry that beautiful coat into adulthood. Therefore, regardless of whether your Cockapoo sheds as an adult, it’ll eventually start to shed its puppy coat permanently.

Your Cockapoo will lose all its puppy fur by around its eight-month birthday. During this intense shedding process, it’s important to brush its coat regularly to help keep its hair glossy and your floors cleaner. 

The Weather Factor

Cockapoos usually don’t have strong shedding responses according to the season. Nevertheless, they’ll likely shed slightly more in warmer months with longer daylight compared to shorter months. 

Therefore, if you bring home your Cockapoo during the summer and he’s shedding more than you had hoped, there’s a possibility that the shedding could subside some once it gets cooler.

Abnormal Shedding in Cockapoos

If you’ve had your Cockapoo for a while and he suddenly begins shedding a lot when he never used to, set your frustrations aside for a moment—he could be suffering from a health problem.

There are two common conditions that cause a Cockapoo to shed more: Cushing’s Disease and hypothyroidism. 

If your dog is suffering from one of these ailments, they likely aren’t shedding in a normal way. In some cases, your Cockapoo’s fur may feel like it’s changed texture. You also may notice hair thinning unevenly over its body or chunks of hair uprooting in patches. 

If you notice any of these abnormal shedding behaviors in your Cockapoo, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Do Cockapoos Have Hypoallergenic Features?

By bringing a Cockapoo home, you can feel pretty sure that the person in your family with allergies won’t have an asthma attack. However, like all dogs, Cockapoos have dandruff and shed—they just have less dandruff and shed less often than many other dog breeds.

Long story short? Cockapoos are hypoallergenic. Nevertheless, if you have someone in your family with dog allergies, it’s best for them to spend time around the dog before you bring them home to avoid the heartbreaking experience of having to give him up.

Grooming Recommendations to Reduce Cockapoo Shedding

It’s important to regularly groom your Cockapoo regardless of its shedding habits. However, if your Cockapoo is a relatively big shedder, frequent grooming will reduce the amount of hair around your house. 

Because of its curly or wavy nature, it’s easy for Cockapoo hair to mat. Therefore, you should make it a practice to brush your dog as follows:

• At least twice per week if they have wavy hair 

• At least three times per week if they have curly hair

Furthermore, bathing your Cockapoo will help uproot loose hair and hair that got trapped in tightly wound curls. Make sure to choose a shampoo made for dogs because human soap and detergents can irritate your dog’s skin.

Another important aspect to consider when grooming a Cockapoo is cutting their hair. It’s often easiest to bring your dog to a groomer for this, as it can become a messy endeavor if you don’t have a suitable space.

Although clipping your Cockapoo’s hair won’t prevent him from shedding, it’ll make it easier to clean up the hair that he does shed.

Are You Ready to Welcome Home a Cockapoo?

Although some Cockapoos shed more than others, as a whole, this breed sheds a lot less than many other dogs. If you purchase a puppy, you’ll have to wait and see if your Cockapoo inherits the tight curls of its Poodle parent. If it has wavier hair, it inherited more Cocker Spaniel, so you can expect it to shed more as an adult.

The only way to know with certainty how much your Cockapoo will shed is to wait to buy or adopt one until it’s at least eight weeks old. By keeping your Cockapoo well-groomed, you’ll reduce the amount of hair in your home regardless of how prone your pup is to shedding.