General Appearance, Carriage
The cockapoo has a sturdy, squarely built appearance. The length
from the body measured from the breastbone to the rump is approximately
the same to slightly longer than the height from the highest
point of the shoulder to the ground. He stands up well at the shoulder
on straight forelegs with a top line that is level to slightly sloping
toward moderately bent hindquarters. He is a dog capable of great speed
and endurance combined with agility.
The body must be of sufficient length to permit a straight and free
stride.
The dog never appears low and long.
Size
Size can be determined by either parent's recent background. While the ideal cocker spaniel is 13 1/2 to 15 1/2 inches at the withers (the highest point of the shoulders from the ground) poodles may range from perhaps 6 inches to 30 inches. Note AKC standards of the poodle are 10 inches under = toy, 10+ to 15 = miniature and 15+ = standard. The terms tiny toy or teacup are not recognized but commonly used to describe the smallest of the poodles as is the term toy cocker for a very small cocker spaniel. Thus a cockapoo could be from perhaps 6 inches at the shoulder to 30 inches at the shoulder with a nice average of 10 to 16 inches reflecting the typical parents.
The NACR Administration, Owners Advisory Panel and Breeders
Advisory Panel have collaborated to standardize sizes as follows:
** Be sure you and your breeder understand what size you have in mind
as terminology is very subjective. A large dog to one person may
be a medium to another.
Head, Expression
The eyes are dark. The darker the better on dogs with dark noses. Dogs with light colored noses may have lighter eyes. The occasional odd eyed (two different colors ) is seen and not to be faulted. The eyes may be oval to round in shape but never protruding while looking directly ahead. Set far enough apart to create an alert intelligent expression yet soft and appealing.
The ears hanging closely to the head, are set at or below eye level and are well feathered but never erect or carried up over the head.
The skull is moderately rounded but not exaggerated without any tendency towards flatness. To be in correct balance the length of the muzzle from stop to top of nose is never more than 1/2 the distance from the tip of the nose to the crown of the head.
Teeth should meet in a scissors bite.
Neck, Top line, Body
The neck rises strongly from the shoulders and arches slightly as
it tapers to join the head. Carried high and with dignity the neck is
never
pendulous ( no throatiness - skin tight ). The top line is level to
slightly
sloping toward the hindquarters, never roached. The chest is deep
and
moderately wide with well sprung ribs, its lowest point no higher than
the
elbow. The Tail is set on line with the back and carried on line with
the
top line or higher when the dog is in motion the tail action is merry.
Tail
may be docked as the parent breeds or left long at personal preference.
The tail should be well feathered and full coated when left long.
Forequarters
The shoulders are well laid back forming an angle with the upper
arm of approximately 90 degrees permitting easy movement and forward
reach.
When viewed from the side with the forelegs vertical the elbow is
directly
below the highest point of the shoulder blade. Forelegs are parallel,
straight, with strong pasterns. Legs set close to the body.
Dewclaws are removed. Feet should be in balanced proportion with
the dog. However, the feet should be compact, with arched
toes and turn neither in nor out.
Hindquarters
When viewed from behind the legs are parallel when in motion and
at
rest. Moderately angled at the stifle and clear defined thighs.
When
standing the rear toes should be behind the point of the rump.
Coat
The entire coat of the cockapoo is slightly to heavily waved but
never harsh, kinky or wiry. Moderately soft to silky the hair on
the chest, abdomen and legs is well feathered to fully thickly wavy and
may be longer than
the body hair
on most specimens.
Color and Markings
Any solid color, Parti color (two or more solid colors one of
which must be white)
Tri color (parti color with tan markings over each eye, on the sides
of the muzzle/cheeks, on the underside of the ears, on all feet and/or
legs and
optionally on the chest). The nose and rims of eyes should be one solid
color.
Brown colored dogs may have liver noses, eye rims, lips, dark toenails
and
dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, cream and white dogs have black
noses,
eye rims and lips, black or self colored toenails and very dark
eyes.
In apricots and reds the liver colored nose is acceptable.
In parti colored dogs the primary color other than white is used to
determine
the accepted color of nose.
Temperament
The cockapoo is a very people oriented, outgoing, and happy
dog. The clown like personality appeals to young and old alike.
The cockapoo has a keen intelligence any adult can appreciate coupled
with a forgiving nature that makes it unparalleled as a children's dog.
They are as much at home in an
apartment as they are on the biggest farm.
Note -as of February 2001, the standard as presented is considered
adopted by the participating NACR breeders.