How Good Is A Cockapoo’s Sense Of Smell?

If you know Cockapoos, undoubtedly, you already know they are a cross (hybrid) of the Cocker Spaniel (American or English) and the Poodle (typically the Toy or Miniature, rarely the Standard).

I mention the parent dogs because we need to look more closely at the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle to understand how good a Cockapoo’s sense of smell is.

Cockapoos Sense Of Smell

Before we discuss the parent dogs, let’s answer the Cockapoo question.

It is natural for all dogs to have a keen sense of smell. A dog’s primary sense is smell and is the one a dog relies on and uses the most,  more than any other sense.

Dogs must first sniff them out to become familiar with humans or other dogs.

Cockapoos, too have an excellent sense of smell, similar to other breeds. Play a treasure hunt game to make the most of your Cockapoo’s powerful sense of smell. My Cockapoo, Luna, loves to play this game. I hide something, typically a treat, because that always motivates her, and I let her run around until she finds it.

Luna demonstrates her superb sense of smell in other ways. When I’m trying to sneak a biscuit, I try to be as quiet as possible, but even though she’s sleeping upstairs, I hear her racing downstairs to claim her share of the snack as soon as I open the packet.

Here are some interesting statistics to appreciate a Cockapoo’s sense of smell and understand just how acute it is. A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times better than a human’s. It’s difficult for us to appreciate what that means, so let’s rephrase and talk about it visually to get a better idea. If a human can see something one mile away, a dog would see it clearly from 10,000 miles away.

Poodle Sense Of Smell

There’s a widespread misconception that Poodles are merely show dogs, even though the breed has a long history of being sturdy working dogs. Poodles have long been used as military hunting and service dogs.

Since the 15th Century, this water-loving breed has been employed for pointing, flushing, hawking, and falconry.

Poodles were used in Europe as truffle-sniffing dogs in the 17th Century and were highly regarded because of their strong sense of smell.

For hundreds of years, Poodles have found employment in several worldwide militaries. The US military categorized the Poodle in 1942 as one of their 32 ‘War Dog’ breeds.

Cocker Spaniel Sense of Smell

The sense of smell in a Cocker Spaniel is exceptional. They can detect an odour a long way off. Unfortunately, the Cocker also needs to investigate the smell, so it’s typically less hassle to keep the dog on a lead when out walking. Their incredible sense of smell is the main reason why the security services employ Cocker Spaniels in drug detection.

Cocker Spaniels have a long history of working alongside hunters and retrieving shot birds. Breeders gave this little Spaniel the name “Cocker” because the dog was used for flushing woodcock from the fields and hedgerows.

How Good Is A Cockapoo’s Sense Of Smell?

So, with parents like the Cockapoos, there’s little surprise they have a decent sense of smell. This is probably why Luna can hear me opening a packet of biscuits downstairs when she is asleep upstairs unless she has the kitchen cupboard wired with a silent alarm.

If you’re considering improving your Cockapoo’s sense of smell, the treasure hunt game I mentioned earlier is an excellent way to get the best out of your Cockapoo’s sense of smell. In addition, it will also help with mental stimulation, allow the dog to use their natural flushing abilities, and help develop their tracking skills. There’s a lot to be said for a simple treasure hunt game.

Final Thoughts

Cockapoos possess a great sense of smell; however, you might need to help train them to hone their skills perfectly. As a Cockapoo owner, I know they need decent exercise, but they also want plenty of mental stimulation. Honing their sense of smell is a great way to achieve both.