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Dogs bark — it’s just a natural way for them to communicate. But if you’ve been thinking about bringing a dog home and you’re worried about what breeds tend to bark more than others, it’s a valid concern, particularly if you live in an apartment or have overly sensitive neighbors. If you’ve had your eye on the Cockapoo, you might be wondering if they are a barky breed.
Cockapoos aren’t known to bark excessively, but they do bark. The cause depends on the circumstances and your particular Cockapoo.
Here, we discuss what makes Cockapoos bark, along with methods that you can use to help reduce the barking.
A Little About Cockapoos
The Cockapoo is a small mixed breed that is a combination of the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle. Let’s look at both breeds, as the Cockapoo will inherit traits from both parents.
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels were originally bred as bird-hunting dogs and are the smallest breed found in the sporting dog group. There are two breeds of Cocker Spaniels: the English and the American. It’s traditionally the American Cocker Spaniel that is used for breeding Cockapoos.
Cocker Spaniels are playful and calm dogs that are quite loving and social. But they are also known to be barkers. Hunting dogs tend to bark more than other breeds, and Cocker Spaniels are also prone to separation anxiety because they form strong bonds with their owners.
Dogs with separation anxiety issues tend to bark frequently when they are left alone, particularly for long periods of time.
Poodle
The Poodle can be Standard, Miniature, or Toy, but it’s the Miniature Poodle that is typically used for breeding the Cockapoo. Poodles were bred as hunting dogs for waterfowl, so they are quite athletic and energetic, but they are also known to be highly intelligent.
Poodles do a moderate amount of barking that without the right training, can become problematic. But the good news is that they can easily be trained to stop barking on command due to being such clever dogs.
Why Do Cockapoos Bark?
All dogs bark as a means of communication. You can sometimes start to understand what your dog’s barks mean when you listen to the pitch of the bark and decipher your dog’s body language. The following are the main reasons that dogs bark.
1. Separation Anxiety
This is one of the most common reasons that Cockapoos bark. When these dogs are left alone for a long enough time, they will definitely bark. Cockapoos do better with owners who are home for most of the day. They are sensitive dogs and form strong bonds with their owners.
Beyond excessive barking, these dogs will resort to other destructive behaviors, such as making a mess or chewing up your possessions. The worse the separation anxiety is, the worse the behavior will be.
2. Boredom
Cockapoos are intelligent dogs, but if they aren’t getting enough mental stimulation, they might resort to barking just out of pure boredom. All dogs need to get the right amount of exercise and playtime every day.
3. Territorial
This is also a common reason that most dogs bark. Anyone or any animal that approaches their territory will set off the barking — it can be an alarm to alert you or as a way to warn off the intruder.
But your Cockapoo will sometimes bark at someone just innocently walking on the sidewalk in front of your home or if anyone dares to knock at your door or deliver your mail!
4. Distress
When some dogs are in distress, such as experiencing pain after an injury or feeling confused or uncertain about being in a new place, this can set off barking in some dogs. This is how they express their fear and anxiety.
5. Poorly Socialized
Dogs that haven’t been adequately socialized will have more reactive barking than dogs with the right training and socialization. Even if you’ve adopted an adult Cockapoo, you can still socialize them.
One of the best things that you can do is to take your dog to training classes to start the process. This will give them essential training and expose them to new dogs, people, and environments, which are essential aspects of socialization.
6. Looking for Attention
What better way to gain attention than by making noise? The Cockapoo might bark when they want to go outside or want a treat or play.
Attention-seeking behavior could also include excitement, like when you start throwing the ball for them. Waiting for you to throw it again can cause them to jump around and bark with excitement.
7. Barking With Other Dogs
This is sort of like when one person laughs, you can’t help but also laugh. When dogs start barking in the neighborhood, your dog will likely join them. To a certain degree, they are communicating with each other or are at least all reacting to the same thing.
Do Cockapoos Bark a Lot?
The Cockapoo comes from two breeds that are both prone to a certain amount of barking. That said, when these dogs bark, it’s usually for a reason.
The amount of barking from just about any dog depends on the breed, their socialization and training, and their own unique personality. Obviously, a Cockapoo left home alone is more likely to bark than the Cockapoo that has company, so it’s dependent on the circumstances.
So, yes, Cockapoos can definitely be barkers. But they can also be trained to be less reactive, and you can take steps to rectify the issue that might be causing the barking to begin with.
Causes of Excessive Barking & How to Stop It
You’ll need to identify what is causing the barking before you can take steps to stop it.
1. Separation Anxiety
You could consider crate training¹ your Cockapoo, which gives them a safe space while you’re away and make it as cozy as possible. Ensure that you spend as much time as possible with your dog and wear them out with playtime and walks before you leave. Also, provide your dog with toys that keep them busy throughout the day.
Consider asking a friend, family member, or neighbor to take your dog for a walk halfway through the day. If no one can, hire a dog walker. Breaking up your Cockapoo’s day can help with separation anxiety¹.
2. Territorial Problems
Some dogs love to sit at the window and bark at everyone walking by. If your Cockapoo enjoys doing this, close the curtains or blinds and set up a quiet space for them elsewhere in the house. When your dog starts barking randomly at people walking past, remove your dog from the window or door and place them in their quiet spot.
You can also teach your Cockapoo the quiet command¹, which can help stop your dog from barking on command. It will take time and patience to teach your dog this, but it will be worth it!
3. Barking for Attention
This is where you’ll need to ignore the barking, or if you’ve taught your dog the “quiet command,” you can use it at this time.
If you react to your dog barking when they are seeking your attention, it will just reinforce that barking works to get what they want. If your dog barks out of excitement when you get home, just walk away calmly, and don’t give your dog attention until they are also calm.
Likewise, if your dog is barking at something outside, don’t rush to the window to look. This reinforces the behavior that there’s something to be excited or nervous about outside.
Most of these techniques work best in conjunction with the “quiet command,” so seriously consider adding it to your dog’s training.
4. Reactive Barking
This is where another trainable moment can come in handy, particularly if you’ve tried other methods and nothing seems to work. The “pick up” command¹ can be quite effective when your dog barks when someone comes to visit or when you receive a delivery.
In a nutshell, you’ll be teaching your dog to pick something up, like a toy, on command. You can use this command when the doorbell rings (for example), and they will start to associate the doorbell with picking up the toy.
The added advantage is that the toy in your dog’s mouth makes it tricky to bark!
Conclusion
All dogs are prone to bouts of barking, some more than others. But what helps with this is proper training and how you react to the barking. Remember to keep everything calm and positive. Punishing a dog for barking also reinforces the behavior and will only make the dog fear their owner.
But Cockapoos are remarkable dogs that make wonderful family pets, and training them should be fairly easy. This breed is considered a “beginners’ dog” due to their intelligence and excellent temperament. So, the barking situation might not be so bad to begin with or at least easily rectified.
Featured Image Credit: MT.PHOTOSTOCK, Shutterstock
