The Best Collar, Harness and Bed for a Cockapoo
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The best collar for a Cockapoo is a soft, smooth one carrying your name and address, worn mainly for ID, paired with a padded, adjustable harness for walks and a bed sized to your own dog's adult weight. Because Cockapoos vary so much in size and coat, measure your dog before buying anything. Below is what to look for, and how that famous coat changes the choice.
How big is a Cockapoo?
A Cockapoo is a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, so there is no breed standard and no single correct size. Battersea describes the Cockapoo as a medium dog of around 8kg to 15kg. The Cockapoo Club of GB notes that, in general, Toy and Miniature Poodles are used to breed Cockapoos, and that first-cross (F1) puppies can end up a little larger than their parents. Later generations bred back to a Poodle or a Cocker Spaniel (often labelled F1b) can lean more towards one parent in both size and coat.
In practice, two Cockapoos from different litters can need different sizes in everything. Treat any breed-based size suggestion as a starting point only, and reach for a soft tape measure. Our guide on how to measure your dog covers neck, chest and back length step by step.
Coat type, matting and what it means for kit
The Cockapoo Club of GB describes several coat types: a flat coat that looks much like a Cocker Spaniel's, loose waves and ringlets, and a tight, Poodle-type curl. It also notes that the easy puppy coat usually gives way to the adult coat soon after eight months, and that this is when many owners first meet mats. Wavy and ringlet coats can mat during their moult, and tight curls mat most readily, which is why many are kept in a shorter clip.
That has a few practical knock-on effects for collars and harnesses:
- Check under the collar and harness at every brush. Anywhere the coat is pressed or rubbed is easy to miss, so slide a comb under where the collar and straps sit.
- Give the neck a rest at home. If your dog is supervised indoors, taking the collar off makes brushing easier. Put it back on before you head out (see the ID section below).
- Re-check the fit after a groom. A full coat adds bulk around the neck and chest. A collar fitted on a freshly clipped dog can feel tight once the coat grows back, and a harness fitted on a fluffy dog can be loose after a clip.
- Favour kit that cleans easily. Battersea recommends daily brushing plus a professional groom every six to eight weeks, and a textured coat brings plenty of the park home with it.
The best collar for a Cockapoo
Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, a dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it, or on a plate or badge attached to it. A phone number is not legally required, but it is strongly advisable. So even if you walk on a harness, your Cockapoo still needs a collar with ID whenever you are out.
For a curly or wavy coat, look for:
- A smooth, soft band without rough edges that can catch the hair.
- Engraving on the clasp or buckle rather than a dangling tag, so there is less to tangle in the coat.
- A fit where you can slide two fingers under the collar.
The Kensington Collar has a plush band and a warm gold quick-release clasp engraved with your dog's name and your number, adjustable and offered in sizes S to XL. If you would like everything to match, The Marylebone Walking Set pairs a vegan leather collar and engraved quick-release buckle with a matching lead and a zip poop bag holder. Its size guide lists Medium (33 to 53cm neck) for Cockapoos, but as with any cross breed, measure first.
The best harness for a Cockapoo
Cockapoos need plenty of exercise: Battersea suggests around an hour of exercise a day, plus daily mental stimulation. A harness spreads the pull of the lead across the chest rather than the neck, which many owners prefer for an enthusiastic dog, and it lets the collar stay comfortably loose purely for ID. If you are still deciding, our guide to harness or collar sets out the pros and cons.
What to look for in a harness for a Cockapoo:
- Adjustable chest and girth straps, so you can let them out as the coat grows between grooms.
- A padded chest panel, which spreads pressure and is kinder to the coat underneath.
- Sizing by chest, not breed. Measure around the widest part of the chest, just behind the front legs.
The Pimlico Harness is a tweed step-in harness with a padded chest panel, adjustable chest and girth, metal hardware and a back lead clip, sized XS to L. Its chest ranges run from 36 to 48cm at XS up to 57 to 83cm at L, so a petite Cockapoo and a larger one may well land in different sizes. If you are between sizes, choose the larger.
The best bed for a Cockapoo
Size the bed by your dog's adult weight and the way it sleeps. A dog that curls up tightly needs less room than one that sprawls on its side. With most Cockapoos somewhere between 8kg and 15kg, the right bed usually sits between a medium and a large.
The Richmond Bed is handcrafted in the UK, with a forest green check, a deep-filled removable cushion, pocket sides, and is machine washable at 30°C, which is handy for a coat that collects mud. Going by its size guide:
| Your Cockapoo's adult weight | Richmond size | Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Around 6kg to 12kg | Large | 55 to 60cm |
| Around 12kg to 20kg | XL | 65 to 70cm |
If your dog sits near the 12kg mark, or likes to stretch right out, choose the XL. Wash the bed regularly through the heavier moulting periods, and brush your dog before washing day so less hair ends up in the machine.
Frequently asked questions
What size collar does a Cockapoo need?
It depends on the individual dog, because Cockapoos vary widely in size. Measure around the neck where the collar sits, add two fingers' width, and if your dog falls between sizes, choose the larger.
Should a Cockapoo wear a collar or a harness?
Many owners use both: a harness for walks, which takes pressure off the neck, and a collar for the ID that the law requires in public places.
How often should I groom a Cockapoo?
Battersea recommends daily brushing and a professional groom every six to eight weeks. When you brush, check under the collar and harness, as those areas are easy to miss.
What size bed does a Cockapoo need?
Most Cockapoos weigh around 8kg to 15kg, so a medium to large bed usually suits. Choose by your own dog's weight and sleeping position, and size up if in doubt.