The Cockapoo is one of the most popular mixed breeds at the moment. A combination of the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, it’s generally known as a low-shedding, friendly and affectionate dog that’s perfect for families. Cockapoo characteristics are generally perfect for families and those looking for a companion dog. Whilst they do need daily exercise, their exercise requirements are generally less than bigger, more energetic dogs, so long as they have regular mental stimulation and at least some regular exercise.
As with any mixed breed though, it’s impossible to predict what a puppy will look like and how it will behave. But the size of the Cockapoo can often be predicted by the variety of Poodle used as a parent. This could be toy, miniature or standard Poodle. In most cases, a Miniature Poodle will be used, but that’s not always the case.
What do F1, F1B and F2 Cockapoo mean?
When you’re first thinking of getting a Cockapoo to join your family, you’ll probably notice that there are various letters and numbers used to describe a litter of puppies. These letters and numbers are what breeders use to portray the genetic make-up of the puppies. These letters and numbers will give you an idea as to the percentage of Poodle and the percentage of Cocker Spaniel genes in the puppies.
Whilst it’s important that you understand what these mean, there’s still no way of determining which genes will be prevalent.
It’s also important to note that sometimes breeders will play around a little with the possible combinations, so make sure you ask the breeder exactly what type of parent dogs have been used.
Cockapoo Generations – The Different Types of Cockapoo
Cockapoo generations are generally broken down into F1, F1B, F1BB, F2, F2B, F2BB and F3 or Multi-Generation Cockapoos. You can use these letters and numbers to get an idea of the coat type of a Cockapoo, but it’s definitely not an exact science.
Let’s take a look at what the letters and numbers mean.
What does the “F” mean?
The “F” stands for Filial Hybrid. This just means that Cockapoos are mixed breed dogs – a hybrid of two different breeds.
What do the numbers mean?
The numbers tell you what generation the cockapoo is. F1 Cockapoos are first generation dogs bred from two pure breed parents – one pure breed Poodle and one pure breed Cocker Spaniel.
F1 – first generation
F2 – second generation
F3 – third generation
What does the “B” mean?
The “B” stands for backcross. In the case of the Cockapoo, this will mean that a Cockapoo is bred back with a purebred Poodle. This will result in puppies that have more of the Poodle gene than the Cocker Spaniel gene.
F1 Cockapoo
F1 Cockapoos are the most straightforward generation to understand. An F1 puppy is a first generation mixture of the two parent breeds and has two purebred parents – one Poodle and one Cocker Spaniel. This means that the puppy will be 50% Poodle and 50% Cocker Spaniel.
F1 Cockapoos could have curly coats like their Poodle parent, or they could have straighter coats from the Cocker Spaniel. Or, they could be somewhere in between, it’s impossible to predict.
A First Generation Cockapoo will shed less than a Cocker Spaniel, but they could still shed making them a bit of a risk for owners with pet allergies.
The F1 is the best option for owners concerned about potential health issues as it has the most diverse combination of genes making it less susceptible to various health conditions because of its genetic makeup.
F1B Cockapoo
An F1B Cockapoo is usually born through breeding an F1 Cockapoo back with a Poodle. This results in puppies that are 75% Poodle and 25% Cocker Spaniel.
Occasionally, an F1B Cockapoo could be the result of breeding between an F1 Cockapoo and a Cocker Spaniel, but this is much rarer. Most breeders will use a Poodle as they tend to have a more hypoallergenic coat. The Poodle is much less likely to shed its coat making it a better choice than the F1 for anyone with pet allergies.
F1BB Cockapoo
The F1BB Cockapoo has the highest possible percentage of Poodle genes at 87.5%. This makes the F1BB the best option for allergy sufferers and it widely recognised as the most hypoallergenic mixe of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. Remember though, even with F1BB Cockapoos, it is still impossible to predict the type of coat your puppy will have. But an F1BB does give you the best likelihood of a non-shedding puppy.
The F1BB Cockapoo has one F1B Cockapoo parent and a Poodle parent. As the F1BB has by far the most Poodle genes, its likely to have more of the Poodle appearance and characteristics.
F1BBs are likely to have curlier coats which generally require far more maintenance in order to avoid matted hair. You may find that an F1BB needs daily brushing as well as regular grooming by a professional dog groomer.
F2 Cockapoo
F2 Cockapoos are created by breeding two F1 Cockapoos giving the litter of puppies 50% of the Poodle DNA and 50% of the Cocker Spaniel DNA.
F2 Cockapoos are very similar in their make-up to F1 Cockapoos, but it’s far more difficult to predict what they will look like and whether they will have a straight coat or a wavy coat. Breeders tend not to want to breed F2 Cockapoos as it’s impossible to predict whether they will have a hypoallergenic coat making them less popular with families concerned about pet allergies.
F2B Cockapoo
An F2B Cockapoo is the combination of a 2nd generation Cockapoo bred back to a Poodle. The litter of puppies will have 62.5% of the Poodle genes making them likely to have curly coats that are less likely to shed.
F2B Cockapoos are referred to as Multigeneration Cockapoos. This term can be used to describe any combination after F2.
F2BB Cockapoo
The F2BB is created by breeding an F2B Cockapoo back to a Poodle. These puppies will have 81.25% of the Poodle DNA making them likely to have a wavy or curly coat. This means they’re likely to be non-shedding and hypoallergenic.
Curly coats are more high maintenance so that’s something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of getting a Cavapoo with a higher percentage of the Poodle genes.
F3 Cockapoo
The F3 is a third generation Cockapoo, and is often also referred to as a Multigeneration Cockapoo. These puppies are incredibly hard to predict in terms of their looks, hair type and temperament, so they are rarely bred.
Multi-Generation Cockapoo
The term Mult-Generation Cockapoo, or Multi-Gen Cockapoo is used to describe any generation after F2 Cockapoos.
Multi-Generation Cockapoos:
- F2B
- F2BB
- F3
If a breeder refers to a litter as Multi-Gen, then it’s a good idea to ask exactly what generation they’re referring to so that you get an idea of the DNA mixture.
Cockapoo Generations DNA Chart
| Generation | Usual Pairing | Estimated DNA % | ||
| 1st Parent | 2nd Parent | Poodle | Cocker Spaniel | |
| F1 Cockapoo | Cocker Spaniel | Poodle | 50% | 50% |
| F1B Cockapoo | F1 Cockapoo | Poodle | 75% | 25% |
| F1BB Cockapoo | F1B Cockapoo | Poodle | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| F2 Cockapoo | F1 Cockapoo | F1 Cockapoo | 50% | 50% |
| F2B Cockapoo | F2 Cockapoo | Poodle | 62.5% | 37.5% |
| F2BB Cockapoo | F2B Cockapoo | Poodle | 81.25% | 18.75% |
| F3 Cockapoo | F2 Cockapoo | F2 Cockapoo | 50% | 50% |
| Multigeneration Cockapoo | Differs | Differs | Differs | Differs |
Which Generation is Best?
If you’re looking for an affectionate and loyal companion, then a Cockapoo could well be the right mixed breed dog for you. But all of these different generations can be a little confusing and daunting, and you might be wondering which generation is best.
The truth is that it really depends on your particular circumstances. If anyone in your family has pet allergies, then you will probably want to look for a Cockapoo with a higher percentage of Poodle DNA in order to give you the best chance at having a hypoallergenic dog. In this case, an F1BB Cockapoo or an F2BB Cockapoo is your best bet.
Don’t forget to consider the size of the dog too. A Cockapoo’s size is usually determined by the Poodle parent. In most cases, a Miniature Poodle will be used, which will create a medium-sized dog. But sometimes, breeders use a Toy Poodle which will then mean that the puppies are likely to be Toy Cockapoos. Sometimes, a Standard Poodle may be used which will result in larger puppies. These are known as Maxi-Cockapoos which can weigh up to 65 pounds. If you don’t want a big dog, then make sure you check with the breeder which type of Poodle has been used as a parent.
If you’re concerned about potential health issues, then F1 Cockapoos are less likely to suffer from genetic health conditions than other generations. First generation Cockapoos also tend to have that classic Cockapoo look of wavy hair and floppy ears that makes them so popular.
You will need to make the decision about what works best for you and your family, but whichever generation you choose, the loving nature of these mixed breed dogs means that you’re sure to find that friend for life.
You might also like to take a look at the Cavapoo which is generally slightly smaller than the Cockapoo but has a lot of the same characteristics.
