How Much Exercise Does a Cockapoo Need?

Like humans, every dog needs exercise but deciding what ‘a lot’ is is like asking you, our readers, who has the cutest cockapoo? There’s no correct answer to – how much exercise does a cockapoo need. All dogs should have 20 minutes of exercise a day, at the very least. But what if your dog needs more or maybe even less?

While there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to knowing your cockapoos exercise needs, a few things can help you make an informed decision about your cockapoo exercise needs. So let’s take a closer look at how much exercise a cockapoo needs.

How much exercise does a cockapoo need? When they are puppies, they need five minutes each month. So a 6-month-old Cockapoo Puppy would need 30 minutes of exercise. This can be done twice a day. Once over 12 months, the exercise can be upped, and longer walks can be taken.

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Your Dog’s Age and Weight

An excellent place to start is his age, weight and any physical ailments or disabilities. A good rule of thumb is 20 minutes, like we mentioned earlier, but if you have an older cockapoo or one battling with weight, those 20 minutes should be a slow walk around the neighbourhood. If he doesn’t suffer from any heart conditions, try and make sure he works up a little sweat or pants, whichever comes first. Walking, a slow jog or even playtime with another dog is a great way to get him exercising. Swimming is an excellent option if there are any joint problems.

When he’s tired, stop. It’s not boot camp, so there’s no need to overdo it.

High-Energy Cockapoo

Whether it’s excess energy, behavioural issues or because the two of you like hanging out, you can add other forms of cockapoo exercise to keep you and your furbaby fit. Throw a flying disc or ball until you’re both worn out, or sign up for agility training. It’s an excellent way for you to bond and challenge him physically and mentally. You’ll know if your cockapoo needs more exercise.

Spending time at a nearby park means your cockapoo can play with other dogs. Make sure his vaccinations are up to date, that the park is nice and clean, and that you practice good hygiene, like cleaning up after him and not sharing water bowls (the dogs, not you). Also, make sure you have a water source for him. There are great portable dog water bottle-bowl combos to keep him hydrated.

Walking, Running and Jogging

Perhaps the simplest way of getting some cockapoo exercise is to slip on his harness and head out to stretch your legs. This can be a stroll around the block, a jog to the park or even a run along a suitable path or trail.

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If you are feeling particularly active, this even involves a long, enjoyable hiking trip at the weekend. This will bring significant health benefits for both of you.

The minimum you should look to give him is a decent walk every day. Cockapoos can easily walk for long periods without getting too tired to try to take the time to do this well. If you get tired before he does, look for a place where you safely let him off the lead to run around on his own for a bit. If you want to read more about “how much walking does a cockapoo need” then we have written an article about that here.

A Game of Fetch

The classic game of fetch never loses its simple, timeless appeal for dogs. This is possibly the most straightforward approach to exercise for the human involved, as you only have to stand there or sit down while you throw the object that you want him to bring back to you.

Before you go ahead with this game, there are a few points to consider. It needs to be done in a safe and secure place so that he isn’t in danger when he runs off from you.

You will also want to choose a suitable object that isn’t too heavy or too sharp for him to carry. A lovely ball is always a good bet, while if he has a favourite toy then this could work perfectly as well.

Swimming

Most Cockapoos are good, natural swimmers who enjoy being in the water. He is almost certainly going to love getting the chance to get out into the water. Of course, you still need to take some precautions to keep him safe from harm while he does this. If you are worried, get them a life jacket for the first few times they enter the water.

For example, you don’t want him to swim in the sea where there are big waves or in a river with a strong current. By taking into account a few basic safety precautions, you will help him enjoy the water without any hassles.

This is a fantastic way for him to cool off on a hot day, but you need to be careful that he doesn’t get too tired, as swimming is pretty exhausting for a Cockapoo. You should start in shallow water, perhaps using a canine floatation device, before slowly letting him move into deeper areas as his confidence builds.

A Tug of War Game

Another great way of playing with your Cockapoo is to challenge him to a tug of war competition. This is especially good if he is the kind of dog who loves rough-and-tumble play.

Getting a special rope toy that he can hold between his teeth without hurting him. These toys are also designed without strong chemicals and won’t fall apart in his mouth.

While playing this game, it is essential to note that some dogs can become overly aggressive. This isn’t usually a problem with cockapoos, but if you notice him getting too excited and trying to take control, it is probably best to switch to another type of game.

Find the Treat

A more relaxed type of cockapoo exercise is to hide his treats around the house or garden for him to find. Some pooches can happily pass hours playing like this if you let them.

If you don’t want to give him too many treats, you could hide his favourite toy or even hide and get him to look for you. Some dogs will get the hang of this game quickly, while others will take time to understand it.

Either way, it is a great way of teaching him something new in a fun way that also gives him a little bit of cockapoo exercise.

Agility Training Course

Cockapoos are naturally agile, nimble dogs, so he will probably love going around an agility training course. This is a terrific way of giving him a good workout that also helps to train him to follow your orders. There are some great home agility kits available that are not that expensive.

If you are lucky, a dog agility training centre might be nearby. Otherwise, you could try setting up a homemade obstacle course in the garden for him to work his way around.

This is a popular event in dog shows, so if he turns out to be gifted at it, you might decide to take him along to a show to impress the world with his skills.

Dock Diving

If your Cockapoo is a big fan of swimming and playing fetch, dock diving or dock jumping could be the perfect activity for him. This is a popular sport, with our four-legged friends competing to see who can dive the highest or the furthest.

It is an incredibly good, fun event, but clearly, you don’t want your Cockapoo to dive head-first off the first pier you see. Instead, it would help if you started him off with an easy dive that he can easily take without fear.

This activity isn’t right for every dog, but it could brighten his life if he shows enthusiasm for it.

Alternative Cockapoo Exercise Methods

Whatever your excuse is for not being active with your dog, there’s a way to get around it. No place to walk in your area? Do you work night shifts? Do you work day shifts? Not enough time? Do cockapoos need a lot of exercise? Yes, and there are not many alternatives apart from you and your dog getting out and about. Dog day care is a good idea if you are busy in the day, it gets them out running with their mates.

Cockapoo Exercise Needs

The type of cockapoo you have will also determine how much exercise he or she needs. 

A cockapoo bred from a working cocker spaniel will “generally” require a lot more exercise than one bred with a show cocker. A friend of ours has 2 cockapoos, one is from a working cocker spaniel, and the other is a show cocker spaniel. Both LOVE to play, but the working cocker will play all day if he gets the chance.

How Much Exercise Does a Cockapoo Puppy Need?

Generally, a few short walks a day until their joints are fully developed. What might be more important is that your cockapoo puppy gets some play time in the garden. This way, they can rest whenever they need to and are not on your walk where they may need a break but will power through. Mental stimulation or chew toys will also help tire them out in the evenings.

A well-exercised dog makes for a much better companion. A dog that’s bored and stuck all day indoors will find ways to stay busy, which could very well include ripping sofas to shreds (There’s a spray to stop that).

Cockapoo Activity Level

The best way to look at this is to compare them to other dogs. If there were a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being very active (think of a sheepdog), I would put cockapoo exercise requirements at about a 7 to 7.5. A Shitzu would be about 2 or 3, but most spaniel breeds are on the higher end, as a cockapoo is a spaniel cross.

Final Thoughts on Cockapoo Exercise Needs

It’s now time for our final thoughts on how much exercise do cockapoos need. If 20 minutes of exercise a day seems too much for you to commit to, you might need to reconsider whether a pet is the best option. If you have spare time in the day and want a dog that will get you out and about, you should consider a cockapoo.