Do Cockapoos Bark A Lot? Spoodle Barking Guide

Cockapoos are super adorable cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. It is not a huge surprise they deliver the cuteness! But are there downside?

Do Cockapoos bark a lot? Yes – you should expect a Cockapoo to be a fairly vocal dog. Luckily, they are very intelligent and can be trained to overcome their Cockapoo barking problem.

Cockapoos combine the friendly and outgoing personality of the Cocker Spaniel with the low shedding and wickedly smart (and friendly) Poodle.

Cockapoos (Spoodles) are growing in popularity year on year. They have cemented their place in the top 10 most popular Poodle Mix breeds up to 2020.

If you are considering breeds before actually getting a puppy, you might be wondering do Cockapoos bark a lot? How do you deal with a Cockapoo barking problem?

Do Cockapoos Bark A Lot?

People often worry about getting a smaller dog. There is a stereotype (sometimes well earned) that smaller dogs are yappy and bark a lot.

While it is true that many smaller breeds are vocal, much of whether a dog will bark excessively comes down temperament, training and the environment in which the dog or puppy is living.

If you live in an apartment or open plan house with neighbours nearby, it is fairly important for everyone’s comfort to try and select a dog that is less likely to bark excessively.

The temperament of a Cockapoo is inherited from both of its parents. Although Cocker Spaniels and Poodles may occasionally be problematic barkers, neither breed has a strong inclination to bark excessively.

Cockapoos are often a low barking dog. It is not reasonable to expect a dog never to bark. Cockapoos have no particular predisposition to barking a lot. Cockapoos are suitable for apartment living, close quarters, or in a house with a child that sleeps lightly.

Training and environmental factors will influence how much your Cockapoo barks more than the genetic makeup of your dog. Read on to find out what you can do to prevent problematic barking from occurring, and how you can address any problems that do arise.

Why Do Cockapoos Bark So Much?

Why do dogs bark? There are a few reasons that dogs bark. Your Cockapoo will be barking for each and all of these reasons.

• To communicate danger
• To get attention
• To startle or intimidate threats (seriously, even your super cute Cockapoo has a protective streak)
• Boredom

Cockapoo Communicating via Barking

It is a massive oversimplification to claim that Cockapoos can only communicate via barking.

Dogs communicate via actions, looks, and physical postures. Did you know that your dog doing a bowing stretch can mean that it wants to play? A tail that is down indicates curiosity, and a tail that is back through the legs indicates a bad feeling (typically shame or fear)?

Barking is the vocal communication tool of choice for dogs (growling or whining are two others that hopefully you don’t encounter too often).

Your Cockapoo WILL bark. It is a fact of life with any intelligent dog. Your Cockapoo will bark to communicate.

Reasonable times your Cockapoo will bark include

• When your Cockapoo is anxious
• When your Cockapoo is SCARED
• When your Cockapoo is in distress (pain or confusion)
• When people ring the doorbell
• When your Cockapoo plays with other dogs

Sure it would be nice for some if their dog never barked, but that is not a realistic goal. You can train past almost all other types of problem Cockapoo barking.

I asked some Cockapoo owners in a Facebook group for their feedback on Cockapoo barking. 

Ashleigh says “I have two Cockapoos and they do not bark a lot. So I don’t think that Cockapoos bark a lot. With that all said, both dogs will sit by the window if we let them and bark like crazy at people passing in the street. 

If they see a dog it is double crazy. We solved this by not allowing them to look out the front windows easily. It was simple in our house. 

They also bark if some unexpected houseguest comes into the house for a while but that doesn’t go on for too long. Really cute guard dogs I guess!”

Ashley (different person to Ashleigh above!) had a different experience. 

“Our Cockapoo doesn’t  bark but my MIL (mother in law) adopted the littermate of our girl. Their boy is really rowdy and barks all the time. They were a little less strong with their training and he does spend more time away from them outdoors, but it is really interesting to see the difference compared with our girl. 

When they are both together he does not bark as much so maybe he is bored or lonely?”

Pat G had a short sharp and positive answer “He only barks to go outside to toilet, otherwise nothing.”

What To Do If Your Cockapoo Barks Too Much?

If you have a Cockapoo and it is barking too much there are steps you can take to control the barking.

It is important to identify the cause of the barking, then use positive reinforcement to reduce the excessive or problem barking behavior. A Cockapoo dog is very open to training, they are an intelligent breed. They want treats, and they are eager to please.

Steps to control problem Cockatoo barking

• Identify any territory issues – even a small fun-loving Cockapoo can be protective of their territory.
  • Create a quiet zone for when you are out of the house
  • When barking at noises or strangers occurs then encourage calm and reward once calm
  • Close a curtain or blind to prevent the dog seeing outside
• Separation anxiety or boredom
  • Take active measures to reduce separation anxiety
  • Use the quiet space of crate while you are away
  • Tire your dog out with exercise, and also tire your Cockapoo out mentally
  • Indoor Dog Games and Activities can be cheap easy distraction for your Cockapoo
  • Give them a puzzle or brain challenge!
• Health issues
  • Sometimes your dog might be barking to actually get your attention
  • Make sure your dog doesn’t have a sore limb or skin problems
  • Conditions that are irritating the dog that they cannot alleviate may result in problem barking

All training to overcome a barking problem needs to be positive. All dogs will learn at their own pace. Be patient! Your Cockapoo will improve with training, even if it is at a glacial pace.

Cockapoo Barking Conclusions

There is no deadset rule that your Cockapoo will or won’t bark a lot. Many Cockapoo owners report that their dog does not have problematic barking. 

Even if your Cockapoo does develop some undesirable tendencies, they are an intelligent breed that enjoy being trained. Positive reinforcement with treats yields excellent results.