How Much Should You Feed A Cockapoo?

Cockapoo isn't just fun to say, it's also the name of a fun, energetic, and lovable mixed breed. They're known for having the outgoing, loving personality of a cocker spaniel and the intelligence as well as the fantastic fur of the poodle, giving them the dual benefit of both minimal shedding and having minimal dander. When it comes to feeding a cockapoo though, finding a balance between too much and too little food can be a challenge.

Although this designer dog isn't technically a real breed yet, it is a mix of two very well-established American Kennel Club breeds: the poodle and the cocker spaniel. Because they can vary so drastically in size due to the variance in poodle sizes, the question of how much to feed a cockapoo isn't an easy one to answer right away. While petMD says there's no hard and fast rule about how much you should feed your dog per day, there are some general guidelines to figuring out a baseline based on her weight. From there, you can adjust the amount based on the dog's activity level and age.

When determining how much food to give your adult cockapoo, the first thing to consider is how big he is. Cockapoos fall into one of four size categories when fully grown. According to Information About Dogs, a teacup cockapoo will weigh 6 pounds or less, a toy cockapoo should be between 7 and 12 pounds, a mini cockapoo will be somewhere between 13 and 18 pounds, and a maxi cockapoo should be above 19 pounds.

For teacup dogs, start with about 1/2 a cup per day. For toys under 10 pounds, increase the amount to 3/4 cup per day. For toys above 10 pounds and minis under 15 pounds, you may feed the dog 1 cup per day. For all other minis, increase the amount to 1 and 1/3 cup per day. For maxi cockapoos, you should feed your pup 1 3/4 cups of food per day. Most dogs will prefer to eat twice a day, though some dogs may prefer to graze and eat a little at a time throughout the day.

Of course, those numbers are averages for adult dogs regardless of individual energy level and food quality. How much an individual dog needs to eat will also vary based on the dog's age and metabolism. Cockapoos tend to be pretty high-energy dogs, so many will need more food per day than the amounts listed above. That being said, if you have a particularly lazy, relaxed pooch, you might need to feed him less food.

The food itself should also be taken into account. A dog will need to eat more food if the food is filled with air and fillers and is low in nutrients. If the food is high quality and dense, your pup might not need to eat as much. If you're not sure about the right kind of food for your cockapoo, ask your veterinarian.

Age should also be taken into account when deciding how much to feed your cockapoo. Puppy food should always be given to puppies and young dogs because it has additional nutrients for a young pup's growing body. Puppies may eat two to three times as much as a cockapoo who is full grown and the same weight, so let him eat as much or as little as he wants. Just be sure to feed your puppy at least three if not four times a day, according to Dr. Kristy Conn. Seniors should also have special food developed for dogs of their age, but they will likely eat less and be less active than younger pups.

In order to know if your dog is getting too much or too little food, you should carefully monitor the dog's weight, appearance, and how much she is eating in a day. Start out with the weight-based estimates and add or subtract according to your dog's energy level and age. Then, check your dog two weeks later to make sure she is not losing or gaining too much weight or body fat in order to maintain a healthy weight.

A healthy cockapoo should have an hourglass figure when viewed from above, with the abdomen looking narrower than the chest or hips. The belly should be further away from the ground than the chest when standing. Your cockapoo's ribs should not be visible but should be easily felt when applying light pressure on her sides.