Unlike we humans, dogs very rarely only produce one offspring. This is likely something that most of us are already aware of. However, in this article, we seek to discover how many puppies a Cockapoo will produce with each litter. Whether each litter changes, how many litters are safe, and if the breed and/or size of the bitch is a factor.
Cockapoos are considered to be medium-sized dogs and as such are likely to produce anywhere between four and seven puppies with each litter. You can expect the first litter to be the smallest with around two to four pups. A litter is considered to be large when there are eight or more puppies.
Along with litter sizes, we will look into the Cockapoo’s heat cycle, how long the pregnancy lasts, and the role of the sire. When you come to the end of our article you will know all that you will ever need to know.
Table of Contents
Biggest Cockapoo Litter
The average size of a Cockapoo litter produces around four to seven puppies. However, the first litter is often smaller at around two to four. Litters of over eight pups are usually classed as a large litter and Cockapoos have been known to have large litters.
The largest recorded litter of Cockapoos we can find stands at eleven.
Fun fact: The biggest ever litter, recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records was in November 2004. The mom was a Neapolitan Mastiff in the UK. She gave birth to 24 puppies, sadly one was stillborn.
How Many Litters Can a Cockapoo Have?
Female dogs generally reach sexual maturity at around 6 months of age and go through their first heat cycle. However, this can and does differ between breeds and each dog will find their own unique cycle.
Responsible breeders will never mate their bitch on her first cycle. Ideally, she should be two for her first litter. This gives the bitch time to mature physically and allows time for all the necessary health tests to be carried out. She should be no older than seven for her last litter when the chances of miscarriage, birthing problems, and unhealthy litters are greater.
Most dogs come into heat twice a year, but again this is variable. How many litters a Cockapoo has will depend on this cycle and its regularity, and also the health and impact of each pregnancy.
Female dogs can’t be bred as much as male ones can, and females shouldn’t have more than a maximum of four litters during their lifetime. How many litters your Cockapoo can safely have will depend on factors such as health, recovery time after giving birth, and of course your dog’s emotional state. The whelping process takes a lot out of the bitch, particularly for larger litters and it’s advisable to not breed from back-to-back cycles.
What the Experts Say
American Kennel Club (AKC)
The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers a step-by-step guide to responsible breeding which you can find here. Cockapoo puppies, being a mixed breed, will not be able to be registered with the AKC but breeding responsibly is generic making the guide perfectly applicable.
AKC will not allow for litters to be registered if the mon is under 8 months of age and the dad under 7 months. Similarly, both must be no older than 12 years in order to register the litter. This does not mean that it is ethical to breed an 8-month or 12-year-old bitch.
The Kennel Club (UK)
The UK Kennel Club also has in-depth guidance on how to breed your dog. From when the right time is to how many litters are ethical. You can read the full guidance here, whether you are a new breeder or researching in preparation for buying a dog.
The Kennel Club will only register four litters from each bitch and only from ages one year through 8 years. This gives you some idea of the parameters in which a dog should be bred but like the AKC they are outside of other recommendations.
How Often Can Males Breed in their Lifetime?
Male dogs technically become fertile as early as six months old but it’s best to wait until they reach 18 to 24 months before considering using them as a stud dog. Like the bitch, this is so they are not only fully mature but so the correct health tests can be carried out.
There are no limits to the number of times you can breed your stud. Providing the male is healthy they can breed up to old age if you wish although sperm quality can decline with age.
It is also worth bearing in mind the gene pool. Should a stud be used a disproportionate number of times, especially within the same locality, there is always the chance that interbreeding can occur further down the line. This in itself can cause health and deformity issues within a litter.
How Long is a Cockapoo in Season?
The average season for a Cockapoos is 3 to 4 weeks. However, this can differ and some Cockapoos have been known to be in season for up to 6 weeks. This shouldn’t necessarily be cause for concern but please do speak to your vet if you are all worried.
Each individual dog will normally fall into a regular pattern and you will begin to notice the tell-tale signs. Signs of being in season can include:
- Changes in appetite
- Restlessness
- Swelling of the vulva
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding
- Excessive licking / cleaning of the genital aera
- Increased urination
To learn more about the heat cycle you can read our sister article when do Bernedoodles go into heat?
How Long is a Cockapoo Pregnant For?
A dog’s gestation period is approximately 63 days or 9 weeks. This is the same for all dogs regardless of their breed or size.
There are some tell-tale signs your Cockapoo might be pregnant before you have it confirmed by your vet. These can include:
- Increase or decrease in appetite
- Lethargy
- Clingy behavior
- Swollen nipples
Your veterinarian will perform an ultrasound scan to confirm pregnancy. They may offer another scan closer to the Cockapoo’s due date of delivery. These are not always accurate in terms of the number of puppies. What they can do is offer reassurance and check for smaller or even singleton litters which can result in the pup(s) growing too big to deliver naturally.
Can you Breed two Cockapoos Together?
You can indeed breed two Cockapoos together. When two F1 (first generation) Cockapoos are bred together this is known as the F2 generation.
F3 occurs when an F2 is bred with another F2. From there they are known as multigenerational Cockapoos. There are also F1b Cockapoos which is an F1 Cockapoo bred with a Poodle and F1b Reverse Cockapoos which is the F1 bred with a Cocker Spaniel.
Determining a Doodles generation is generic so reading our Cavapoo generations explained – F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, F2bb, F3 article will bring you more understanding of how the Cockapoo is also categorized.
Breeding two F1 Cockapoos together will produce an F2. This will also give you the most variation across a litter and you are likely to encounter something known as the Grandfather Effect. This means one or more of the puppies might well resemble one of the Grandparents.
Genetically there is a 25% chance that each Cockapoo from an F2 litter will not inherit the furnishing gene (this is what gives our Doods the classic shaggy beard and mustache) and their appearance will be more like that of a Cocker Spaniel. This however doesn’t mean that you won’t get a full litter of flat-coated Cockapoos or a full litter of furnished ones. It really is the luck of the draw.
You can read more about the genetics behind this in our flat coated Goldendoodle guide.
Breeding a Cockapoo – Our Tips
Breeding dogs is a big decision for anyone to make. If it is something you are thinking about there is a lot to consider. However, there are many points worth noting when looking to buy a Doodle too to ensure that you are using a reputable breeder:
- Be sure you have the time and space to cater for lots of puppies. Remember litters can be variable, so don’t always assume there will only be two or three.
- The dogs you use to breed must be in good health, with regular health checks to ensure they are well.
- Have good knowledge of the advertising process when it comes to selling the puppies. Know what to look out for in any new potential dog owners and don’t be afraid to not pick them if it doesn’t feel right.
- Never underestimate the costs involved in the breeding process. Costs can include vet bills, any aftercare needed, bedding, stud fees, and any help you may need during the birth.
- Breeding dogs doesn’t always render a profit. Choosing to breed should not be about a means to make money.
- Be emotionally prepared for the whole ordeal, from pregnancy expectations through to the pups leaving go to their new home. None of it is easy. You’ll need time and patience while the pregnancy is in motion. You’ll need to be fully ready for the birth and aftercare. And perhaps the hardest part is saying goodbye to the pups you’ve devoted so much time and energy to raising.
- Don’t breed your bitch too early. Ideally, they should be at least two seasons in and around 2 years old. Starting too early can be traumatic for them and can lead to problems with the pregnancy and birth.
- Knowledge of your dog’s lineage is very important before you begin breeding. This includes the mum and the dad you will be using.
In Conclusion
To summarize, the number of puppies that a Cockapoo will produce is rather a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question. We can take an educated guess based on averages but even with ultrasound scans, you won’t have a definitive answer until the litter is born.
Each litter can and does differ both from breed to breed and the same bitch. There are many factors to consider including the size of the mom, the size of the stud, mom’s age, and how many pregnancies she may or may not have already had.
Either way, whether the Cockapoo in question produces two pups or ten you can guarantee that they will be a welcome and loving addition to any household.