Cockapoos: A Guide to Chewing Bully Sticks

Cockapoos are charming crossbred dogs that combine the gentle, sporting nature of Cocker Spaniels with the intelligence and athleticism of Poodles. These friendly dogs inherit moderate jaw strength from both parent breeds but also possess soft-mouth tendencies.

Balanced Bite Mechanics from Sporting Heritage
Cockapoos typically inherit mesocephalic skull characteristics from both parent breeds, resulting in well-proportioned, moderately long muzzles with balanced jaw mechanics. This skull design provides several advantages: efficient breathing for their active lifestyles, well-proportioned jaw leverage, and the soft-mouth precision that both parent breeds were bred to maintain when retrieving game birds.

The bite force of Cockapoos typically ranges around 150 P.S.I., reflecting the moderate strength inherited from both Cocker Spaniels and Poodles. Their dental alignment usually features the excellent scissor-bite pattern where upper teeth slightly overlap lower teeth, promoting efficient chewing.

In Short—Which EverChew Holder?
Cockapoos under around 16-120 should be alright with the Small Dog Original SafetyChew holder for miniature varieties under 20 pounds, or the green Medium EverChew Plus holder for standard-sized Cockapoos. Their moderate bite force and gentle chewing style work well with the elastomer's flexibility, which protects their soft-mouth training and dental structure. SuperChewers, or larger doggos may require the SuperChew nylon-tough holder.

Understanding Bully Stick Benefits and Why Holders Are Essential
Cockapoos are natural chewers who inherit strong oral fixation tendencies from both their Cocker Spaniel and Poodle ancestry. Their chewing behavior serves multiple important purposes: dental health maintenance, mental stimulation, stress relief, and maintaining the soft-mouth precision that both parent breeds were bred for. Their intelligence and sensitivity mean they particularly benefit from chewing activities since that provides mental engagement.

Bully sticks are pure protein treats (similar to beef jerky) that provide an ideal chewing texture for Cockapoo needs and sporting heritage. Their firm but gradually softening consistency allows these gentle chewers to work systematically with their precise bite, effectively scraping away plaque and tartar while providing satisfying resistance that doesn't compromise their soft-mouth training. This is particularly beneficial for Cockapoos, whose Cocker Spaniel heritage can include dental challenges like crowded teeth, and whose Poodle ancestry may contribute narrow palates that can trap food particles.

However, Cockapoos' gentle nature and moderate bite force can create specific risks with bully stick stubs. Their soft-mouth training may actually make them more likely to attempt swallowing inappropriately sized pieces rather than chewing them tiny, and their sensitive personalities may make them gulp items quickly when stressed or anxious about losing their chew. The SafetChew holder (any of the three) prevents this gulping.

Life Stage Considerations and Soft-Mouth Preservation
Puppy Phase (8 weeks - 8 months): Cockapoo puppies experience moderate chewing during teething, typically peaking between 3-6 months. Their developing soft-mouth instincts mean they often prefer gentler textures than many breeds, making appropriate chew selection particularly important for maintaining their naturally gentle approach.

Adult Phase (8+ months): Adult Cockapoos continue gentle to moderate chewing throughout their lives, often using it as their primary stress-relief mechanism and mental stimulation outlet. Their intelligence and sensitivity mean they particularly benefit from consistent, appropriate chewing opportunities that provide mental engagement without overstimulation.

Senior Phase: Older Cockapoos particularly appreciate the low-impact dental exercise that bully sticks provide, as their gentle chewing style remains effective even as overall jaw strength may diminish with age. Their continued intelligence makes mental stimulation through appropriate chewing valuable throughout their senior years.

Soft-Mouth Training and Chewing Behavior
Cockapoos often inherit the soft-mouth training instincts of both parent breeds, meaning they naturally tend to hold and carry items gently rather than crushing or destroying them. This characteristic can actually increase risks with small chews, since they may attempt to swallow pieces that a more aggressive chewer would break down further.

Selection Guidelines
Choose the Small Dog holder if your Cockapoo:

·         Weighs under 16 pounds

·         Shows particularly gentle or soft-mouth chewing behavior

·         Is elderly or has sensitive teeth

Choose the Medium EverChew Plus if your Cockapoo:

·         Weighs 16+ pounds

·         Demonstrates typical moderate chewing for the breed

·         Hasn’t torn up every toy

Pick the Nylon SuperChew if your Cockapoo:

·         Is unusually large for the breed (over 40 pounds)