co*ckapoos are often considered one of the first designer breeds, as their history goes back to the 1960s. Two of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, the co*cker Spaniel and the Poodle, were bred together, and the rest is history!
One of the many amazing traits of co*ckapoos is how diverse their coat colors can be. There are at least seven main colors that can comprise their coat. The coat can be a completely solid singular color or one of dozens of different potential combinations. There are so many different looks a co*ckapoo can have, all while still maintaining its loving, easygoing, and fun-loving temperament and personality!
Because of their poodle parent, they are considered hypoallergenic and low shedding.
Breed History
co*cker Spaniels are believed to have originated in Spain, where they were then introduced to England. From there, they took off in popularity, making their way to the United States. The English co*cker Spaniel, one of the parent breeds for the co*ckapoo, has long been an incredibly popular dog in the United States. In fact, it was ranked number one with the American Kennel Club from the 1930s to the 1950s and again in the 1980s! Lady from Walt Disney’s Lady and the Tramp was actually a co*cker Spaniel!
While the Poodle is the national dog of France, some may be surprised to know that the Poodle actually originated in Germany. Like the co*cker Spaniel, they have only increased in popularity with two other variations deriving from the original Standard Poodle. Standard Poodles were bred down in size to become the Miniature Poodle, and from there, they got even smaller with the Toy Poodle. All of which are exactly the same in features except for size!
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There are three different types of co*ckapoos. The first is what made the co*ckapoo come into being in the first place. And that is the F1 or the first cross co*ckapoo! The F1 co*ckapoo is made when a purebred co*cker Spaniel and a purebred Poodle (toy, miniature, or standard) are bred together. An F2 co*ckapoo is made when two F1 co*ckapoos are bred together. And finally, an F3 co*ckapoo is made when two F2 co*ckapoos are bred together. The F type really doesn’t play as much of a factor in the looks of the dog as much as the genetics of the parent dogs.
co*ckapoo Coat Colors
As we mentioned, a co*ckapoo’s coat can be very different from one to the next. There solid colors you may see are:
- Apricot
- Beige
- Black
- Brown
- Cream
- Tan
- Red
- White
There’s also the phantom, merle, sable, tuxedo, and parti-colored coats that consist of more than one color.
Apricot
Apricot is one of the most common colors seen in co*ckapoos. It is sometimes mistaken for a red co*ckapoo, but it is a much lighter shade and typically has a bit of an orange hint to it, hence the apricot name. Though some can be so light in color that they nearly look cream or white.
Beige
Often also called a champagne-colored co*ckapoo, co*ckapoos with this coloring are a bit harder to find than most. Like many of the different co*ckapoo colors, their ears also seem to get a little bit darker in color towards the bottoms and tips. Beige co*ckapoos are often born a darker color and then fade into a lighter color as they get older, depending on their genetic makeup.
Brown
Brown is another standard color for co*ckapoos, but it can vary between a light caramel color to a rich chocolate brown or even a dark, nearly black brown. Similar to apricot-colored co*ckapoos, some brown co*ckapoos can be so dark that they are mistaken for a black co*ckapoo or so light that they are mistaken for a tan or beige co*ckapoo.
Cream
The cream-colored co*ckapoo, similar to the white, is a popular one for fans of the breed. They can be a little bit harder to find. They often have a slight tinge of a light tan or buff color on the muzzle and ears.
Merle
The merle coat of a co*ckapoo combines lighter and darker patches, spots, and patterns of the same color. Merles are, without a doubt, one of the rarest of the co*ckapoos to find. Dogs with merle coats actually have their distinctive look because of a merle gene. While the merle gene results in a striking coat color, it also has been associated with various health problems. Breeding intentionally for the merle coat can result in puppies with serious health issues. It should only be done by experts with extensive knowledge of the process. For example, if two merle dogs of any breed are bred together, the puppies will almost certainly be born blind, deaf, or with any other possible health issues.
Red
Red is one of the standard colors for co*ckapoos. They may not be as red as Clifford, the Big Red Dog, but still red nonetheless! The red gene can come from both the poodle and the co*cker side. The color can also vary from a rich copper color to more of an auburn shade and anything in between.
Parti-Colored
Another name for parti-colored co*ckapoos would be bi- or tri-colored co*ckapoos. Typically, though, with the parti-colored co*ckapoo, we see colors in threes. There is usually one color that is more dominant and then two additional colors that cover the rest of the fur. Often the dominant color will be white, cream, or apricot.
Phantom
A phantom co*ckapoo usually has red, chocolate, or almost black colored fur as its dominant color. In certain areas like the tail, legs, chest, paws, chin, and eyebrows, the dog will have a lighter color fur like a lighter brown, for example. Interestingly, if you move away some of the darker-colored dominant fur, you’ll be able to see some lighter fur hiding closer to the skin.
Sable
A sable co*ckapoo is typically born with a red coat, and the tips of the fur are a darker shade. This contrast in coloring is more noticeable when they are puppies but nevertheless provides a stunning ombre effect.
Tan
Tan is one of the standard colors for co*ckapoos and can come in several different variations of lighter and darker tan. Like some of the other colors, tan co*ckapoos may start out as a darker color but eventually fade into a lighter tan color.
Tuxedo
A tuxedo co*ckapoo looks like it’s wearing a tuxedo! They usually have dark black fur and then a white patch on their chest hence the name tuxedo. However, some may show off a red tuxedo with a white patch on their chest!
White
White is another one of the standard co*ckapoo colors. It can be an entirely solid pure white color, or it could look more like a light champagne color. There are some cases where it is not always a solid color and will have either gold or cream accentuating the muzzle and ears.
Black
Obviously co*ckapoos with a black coat are solid, and are actually one of the most common coats you will see.
Common FAQsAbout Spaniel Poodle Mixes
How can you tell if your co*ckapoo will be curly?
There is no foolproof way to tell if a co*ckapoo puppy will grow to have a curly coat at a young age. It is not until their adult coat starts to come in at around the six to eight-month mark that owners will find out if their puppy will have curly hair. However, there are ways to increase the odds of getting a curly-haired adult. Some breeders will breed with a larger gene pool from the Poodle side of the equation to increase the odds of curls over straight or wavy fur.
Do co*ckapoo puppies’ coats change color?
co*ckapoo puppies’ coats can and do change color as they continue to grow. The wide range of colors and possibilities is one of the things that is so exciting about the breed. You never know exactly what you are going to get until you’ve already fallen in love with the dog!
For some co*ckapoos, as they grow, the color may fade due to a factor commonly referred to as the poodle fading genes. Certain genes, like the graying gene (the G Locus) and the silver (v) gene, can cause a dog’s fur to fade to a lighter color. For example, a rich chocolate-colored coat may fade to a more medium light brown. This change usually happens within the first two years of life but sometimes can take up to three years. Fading can happen all over the body, or the dog may retain some of the original color it had when it was a puppy. Not all dogs will have this, though, and some will retain their original color.
What is the most common co*ckapoo color?
The most commonly seen co*ckapoo color is black, with the other solid colors coming in close behind. Both the co*cker Spaniel and the Poodle are known to have solid black coats, so it is easy to see why this would be a common color. Black is also a dominant gene, so it is more likely to occur as opposed to other colors.
Why is my black co*ckapoo going gray?
There are a couple of reasons why a black co*ckapoo’s coat may fade to a more gray color. Though it doesn’t happen for all co*ckapoos, those with the fading gene will likely experience their coat fading from black to gray as they grow up. The process is usually complete between two and three years of age. The other reason it may happen is simply because of old age. Dogs can visually age just like humans do.
Final Thoughts
co*ckapoos have a wide range of colors and coat patterns. From solid blacks, whites, and reds, to parti-colored, phantom, and merle, there are limitless options for a co*ckapoos coat. While there is no way to perfectly and accurately predict what color a co*ckapoo puppy will grow into, that can just be part of the fun of owning the breed!
