What Size Dog Bowl for a Cockapoo?
Your cockapoo has a lot on their plate, including cuddling, playing, and general troublemaking. But chief among their concerns is their food bowl. How full is it right now? Can you fill it up more?
Food is paramount for every dog, but every breed and size has individual needs. Your cockapoo knows how much they want to eat, but how much should they eat? While capacity is a significant consideration, choosing a bowl is also about what aspects make your cockapoo most comfortable.
Whether you’re bringing home a cockapoo for the first time or rethinking how much your cockapoo should be eating, here’s our answer to what size dog bowl for cockapoo.
What Size Dog Bowl for Cockapoo: Weight
The first and foremost when deciding dog bowl size is knowing how much your dog should eat. While dogs may act hungry for several reasons, often, it’s an impulse rather than a need to feed.
Much like when we humans watch the cooking channel and wish we could get our forks and knives, your dog sees all the food in your kitchen (whether it’s safe for consumption or not) as an open buffet. The same is true for a too-large bowl. It’s an invitation for an all-you-can-eat feast.
As a hybrid, the weight of a cockapoo can vary, especially when comparing toy and standard cockapoos. If your cockapoo is an adult, you can base their food needs on the weight they should be for their size. For growing puppies, it can be a little trickier to guess, but there are general guidelines.
Typically, it would be best if you fed cockapoo puppies 3-4 times a day for a total of a quarter to half a cup of puppy food. An adult cockapoo generally eats more but within a range of a quarter to three-quarters of a cup of dog food.
Most of the size variation comes from the poodle parentage. If the parent is a toy poodle, your cockapoo will likely weigh between 6 to 12 pounds. Miniature cockapoos weigh between 12 to 18 pounds. A maxi or standard cockapoo weighs the most, above 19 pounds.
For maxi or standard cockapoos, the maximum healthy weight can fluctuate. Consult your vet if you’re concerned about weight, but there are plenty of healthy cockapoos between 25-30 pounds. We’ll be discussing height more in a later section, but a healthy weight will correspond to your cockapoo’s overall size.
If you’re not due for a vet appointment and want to weigh your dog, you can use a scale at home. Don’t worry about whether or not your cockapoo will sit long enough on a scale to glance at the number. The carrying method works as well.
How to weigh a cockapoo at home:
- Set up your scale on a flat surface and ensure the dialer number is zero.
- Weigh yourself first.
- Pick up your dog and step on the scale together.
- Subtract your weight from the combined weight to find out your cockapoo’s weight.
What Size Dog Bowl for Cockapoo: Height
Why does bowl height matter when picking out a dog bowl for your cockapoo? The depth of the bowl can impact how much they need to extend their neck to reach their food. While determined cockapoos won’t let a little discomfort get in the way of enjoying a meal, it’s better if they don’t need to hunch as much.
When humans can’t reach one side of a bowl, we have our hands to help us turn or pick up the bowl. But your cockapoo only has the arch of their neck with no handy utensils for gathering stubborn kibble.
Look at your cockapoo’s posture while they eat. If your dog is hunched too much or suffers from joint problems, such as arthritis, a bowl that isn’t high enough can be uncomfortable. You can also consult with your vet if they think your cockapoo needs an elevated bowl.
Teacup or toy cockapoos are likely fine with a bowl on the floor. However, if you choose an elevated bowl with adjustable height, the level can grow with your puppy. Adjustable levels are also more capable of accommodating more cockapoo sizes, from miniatures to standards.
If you’re unsure if you’re cockapoo puppy will need a raised bowl, consider these general height measurements (measured at the shoulder):
- Toy Cockapoo = 9 to 10 inches
- Miniature Cockapoo = 11 to 14 inches
- Standard Cockapoo = 15 to 18 inches
What Size Dog Bowl for Cockapoo: Materials
Material is a crucial component when finding the perfect bowl because not all materials are available in all sizes.
Stainless steel is the most durable material for a dog bowl. It would be best to avoid plastic, mainly because plastic doesn’t have the longevity of other materials. If you decide on plastic, check for a BPA-free bowl.
Stainless steel is lighter, which is nice if you need to pack it in a bag. Often, stainless steel is dishwasher safe. However, for smaller cockapoos, stainless steel bowls might be more challenging to find, as they tend to be available in larger sizes.
Bowls made of silicon or with rubber bases eliminate movement. If your cockapoo starts digging for the last pile of food, regular bowls can travel. Before you know it, your dog has nibbled from the kitchen to the living rooms, and there might be some spillage along the way.
Ceramic bowls are more durable than plastic and heavier than stainless steel, making it more difficult to displace the bowl. We still recommend a rubber base or mat, but the weight of the ceramic bowl is less likely to travel far.
Elevated bowls or raised bowls are ideal because it limits how much your cockapoo needs to hunch. Another side benefit of elevated bowls is that the stand prevents bowls from sliding around. While you might not find smaller sizes easily, standard and larger sizes are abundant.
Elevated bowls are available in stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic.
Another option for cockapoo is slow-feeder dog bowls. It helps prevent choking, and it provides mental stimulation. A raised pattern inside the bowl creates a puzzle for your cockapoo to navigate. It’s like dinner and a show for dogs.
Slow feeder bowls are fantastic for intelligent breeds like cockapoos. You can find slow feeders in BPA plastic, silicone, or stainless steel.
If you like routine, an automatic dog feeder bowl can help your cockapoo maintain a feeding schedule. Automatic feeders are handy if you need to leave your dog alone while working or want to ensure your dog is ready to poop on their walk. It can also help owners keep track of how much food they’ve given their cockapoo.
For cockapoos that are always begging for more, you’ll know they’ve eaten their fill. For households where it’s tricky to remember if anyone gave the dog dinner or two dinners, an automatic timed dispenser can eliminate some chore confusion.
Again, sizes vary. Automatic feeders for small and large dogs are readily available.
Conclusion
Next time you’re in the market for a new bowl, remember that weight, height, and materials are critical factors for answering: what size dog bowl for cockapoo?
Your cockapoo deserves the best bowl out there. Or at least one that makes your best buddy happy.
