Even though the Cockapoo is a trending designer dog breed, they have actually been around for a long time. This beautiful, fun, and sociable doodle became a breed in the United States during the 1950s and has been gaining momentum ever since.
A Cockapoo is the perfect blend of a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel. They are great for families, have wonderful temperaments, are hypoallergenic, and don’t shed much fur. So, how much does a Cockapoo cost to add to your family?
There are several factors that can play into what you will pay for a Cockapoo and we are going to explore many of those reasons. We want to give you a clear picture of not just the one-time cost of purchasing the dog but the other costs involved in taking care of a Cockapoo.
What is the price of a Cockapoo?
When people ask about the price of a dog they are typically only concerned about the initial purchase price. There is not a set price across the board when it comes to purchasing a Cockapoo and many breeders will charge a range of prices.
In general, you can realistically expect to spend anywhere between $450 and $2600 on a Cockapoo. You are going to be looking at a range of prices depending on the various factors. If you can adopt a Cockapoo or rescue one, they will be a lot cheaper. However, if you purchase a Cockapoo from a breed, you can expect to pay between $1,500 and $2,600 depending on the size, colors, or breeder reputation. The average price of a Cockapoo from a breeder would be around $2,000.
How to Get a Cockapoo
One of the major factors that will determine the purchase price of Cockapoo is going to be where you get the dog. There are two main ways to buy a Cockapoo as a pet.
Those ways are through adopting from a rescue or buying one a Cockapoo through a breeder. There is a large price difference in these ways of acquiring a Cockapoo.
Adopting a Cockapoo
Adoption or rescuing a Cockapoo is a lot cheaper than purchasing from a breeder. The adoption fee will thousands of dollars less than buying a Cockapoo from a reputable breeder. However, keep in mind that dogs from a rescue may have health, behavior problems, or be older that will likely cost more in the long run.
There are Cockapoo rescues across the country that care for, rehabilitate, and rehome Cockapoos. It is also possible to find them in Poodle Rescues for around $450 to $700 for the adoption fee depending on age and health conditions. We will say that it is very difficult to adopt a Cockapoo. Not only are these dogs in high demand, but they also aren’t put in rescues very often. If a Cockapoo does end up in a rescue, they are likely adopted within a couple of days.
Read our article on the Best Cockapoo Rescues for more information.
Buying a Cockapoo from a Breeder
The other option that prospective Cockapoo owners have is to go directly to a reputable breeder. While this isn’t always the ideal choice for everyone, there are some guarantees offered when you buy from a reputable breeder.
In general, going to a breeder will cost you more money when you purchase a Cockapoo. This will be the higher end of the range landing, likely, in the $2,000 range.
You do want to make sure that when you are buying from a breeder that you do your research and find a reputable breeder in your area or one that is within driving distance.
Taking the time to find a great breeder will help reduce future health bills from genetic issues. Remember that Cockapoos will live for over 10 years, and you don’t want to purchase a puppy from a backyard breeder or puppy mill due to potential health issues. If you buy from a reputable breeder, it is also likely that the Cockapoo will have a better temperament.
While buying from a breeder is a more expensive upfront cost, if you find the right breeder, it will cost less in the long run. You’ll save money on potential health issues and many reputable Cockapoo breeders offer a health warranty.
Factors Affecting the Price of a Cockapoo
There are several factors that affect the cost of a Cockapoo. While this might not always be the case from breeder to breeder it is likely that a least a few of these factors play a part in the overall price of a Cockapoo
Coat Color
Because of the coat color variations in both the Poodle and the Cocker Spaniel, there is the potential for rare colors to come up in the litters. Typically the rarer the colors and markings are the more expensive the puppies will be. This can land a puppy on the higher end of the price range if they are multi-colored Cockapoos. Typically anything that is a merle or parti-colored will be more expensive than a solid-colored dog.
There are some breeders that don’t charge more based on color and simply charge a flat rate for their Cockapoo puppies regardless of coat color. However, this isn’t usual and Cockapoo puppies that are multiple colors are in higher demand.
Health Certifications
Another aspect that will affect the price of a Cockapoo puppy is what kind of health certifications and guarantees the breeder is offering with their puppies.
If the breeder has gone to the extra effort to have health and genetic testing done on the parents then the Cockapoo puppies are going to cost more. However, this helps to guarantee that you won’t get a puppy suffering from known genetic diseases.
It is to the benefit of the Cockapoo breeder to have health testing done on the parent Cockapoos. This way they can guarantee that if hip problems come up that both parents were clear. Moreover, if there are conditions that are common within the Cockapoo breed, both parent dogs likely tested negative for these issues.
The future health of your Cockapoo puppy can be greatly determined by what testing is done on the parents before they have puppies. However, this testing does cost money and that cost is usually passed on somewhat in the cost of the Cockapoo puppy.
Veterinarian Checks
It is very typical for Cockapoo puppies to be checked by a veterinarian within days of their birth. This will typically be just for looking at the puppies umbilical cords, mouths, taking their dew claws off, and to make sure they are growing well. The puppies will also be checked again before they go to their new homes and given their vaccines and deworming.
These costs are often taken into consideration when the Cockapoo puppies are priced. Not only will you have to pay for the Cockapoo puppies’ veterinarian care and checkups, but also you will have to pay for the mom’s health and wellness checks during pregnancy and nursing.
All of these events are part of the expense of running a reputable Cockapoo breeding operation and are passed on to the buyers by way of the purchase price.
Where You Live
There are areas of the country in which Cockapoo puppies, in general, might be more expensive. Typically, this has to do with a supply and demand issue. If you live in a part of the country where there is only one Cockapoo breeder for hundreds of miles then the puppies could be more expensive if there is a high demand.
On the other side of that they could be less expensive if there is no demand or low demand. The popularity of the breed in your area will also play a part in the price.
In addition, if you live in a high cost of living area like California, then you can expect to pay more for your puppy than someone living in the midwest. Breeding operations usually need a decent portion of land for the parent dogs to run on. These costs are always passed on in the purchase price of a Cockapoo.
Who You Purchase From
Breeder reputation is the last piece of the Cockapoo pricing puzzle. It really does matter who you buy from. If you buy from a reputable breeder it is likely that your puppy will be higher priced.
However, if you buy from a breeder that is only after money and offers no guarantees, certifications, or veterinarian checks then you might pay less at first but you will pay more later with health issues. In general, if you find a Cockapoo puppy for less than $1,200 than it is likely coming from a puppy mill or backyard breeder.
Also, keep in mind that individual breeders have a right to price their puppies however they want so there could be Cockapoo puppies prices outside of the range we are giving.
What is Included in the Cost of a Cockapoo?
What is included in the price of the Cockapoo puppy matters. What we are going to list is typical from a breeder and this is often included in the price of a Cockapoo, but it does vary from breeder to breeder.
- First Vaccines
- Microchip
- Health Guarantee for 72 hours
- Parental Health Certification
- Some breeders send a little bit of food, a blanket with Mom’s scent, and sometimes their favorite toy
While you may find a breeder that offers more like lifetime support or spay or neutering before they go home, make sure you ask questions about those benefits.
Other Costs to Anticipate for a Cockapoo
When it comes to buying or adopting a Cockapoo the initial cost is not the only thing you will need to spend money on. Cockapoo puppies need vaccines at certain ages so you will need to contact your veterinarian for pricing.
There are also things like crates, toys, collar and leash, food, food bowl and water bowl, and puppy training if you choose to take training courses. Also, don’t forget that both the Poodle and Cocker Spaniel are breeds that need frequent trips to the groomer as well as being brushed at home daily. Typically Cockapoo owners groom their dogs every 6 to 12 weeks which costs roughly $100 from a professional groomer.
This is a long-term commitment for grooming because the dog fur can mat and that will be painful. Make sure that you budget for monthly grooming and a high-quality brush.
The last cost you need to anticipate is flea and heartworm control. Both of these products are important for the overall long term health of your dog. There are many great options on the market, but make sure you ask the breeder and your veterinarian what they recommend and what they use on their dogs.
Flea and heartworm control is not cheap and you will be tempted to buy a less expensive version to save money. This will cost money in the long run because often dogs have bad reactions to medications or will get bites from bugs.
Conclusion for How Much Does a Cockapoo Cost?
There are many variables that go into the short-term and long-term cost of a Cockapoo. Make sure you budget and can afford to care for the dog for the duration of its life before you purchase a Cockapoo puppy or adopt an adult. The price of a Cockapoo will vary from breeder to breeder, but you can expect to pay around $2,000 to buy one of these designer doodles.
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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