How Much to Feed a Cockapoo: Dog Food Portions for Toy, Mini and Maxi Sizes
How much to feed a Cockapoo depends on size, because the cross comes in toy, miniature and maxi sizes. A neutered adult needs roughly 235 calories a day at 6 lbs and about 795 at 30 lbs. Weigh your dog, find the row in the chart below, and adjust by body condition. Our Cockapoo dog food guide covers the breed's full profile.
How many calories does a Cockapoo need per day?
A neutered adult Cockapoo needs about 235 to 795 calories per day across the 6 to 30 lb range. Veterinarians estimate this from the resting energy requirement (70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75), multiplied by 1.6 for a neutered adult or 1.8 for an intact adult1.
Whether your breeder called your dog a toy, a miniature or a maxi, the scale is the better guide, since the labels aren't fixed weights. The estimate is only a starting point1, and your dog's shape over the next few weeks tells you whether to adjust.
What does a Cockapoo feeding chart look like?
A Cockapoo feeding chart turns body weight into daily calories and then into packs of fresh food. These starting estimates for neutered adults use two chicken-free meals that suit the breed.
Adult weight (neutered) | Calories per day | Fisherman's Best Friend Supper (504 kcal/pack) | Kangaroo (435 kcal/pack) |
6 lb (2.7 kg) | ~235 kcal | ~0.47 pack | ~0.55 pack |
10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~350 kcal | ~0.69 pack | ~0.80 pack |
15 lb (6.8 kg) | ~470 kcal | ~0.94 pack | ~1.08 packs |
20 lb (9.1 kg) | ~585 kcal | ~1.16 packs | ~1.35 packs |
25 lb (11.3 kg) | ~690 kcal | ~1.37 packs | ~1.59 packs |
30 lb (13.6 kg) | ~795 kcal | ~1.57 packs | ~1.82 packs |
Split the daily amount into two meals for most adults. To skip the maths, answer a few questions about your pup, and we'll portion the Meal Plan to your Cockapoo's weight, age and activity.
Why do Cockapoos gain weight after neutering?
Cockapoos can gain weight after neutering because neutered dogs need less energy than intact ones. A meta-analysis of 29 studies found that maintenance energy needs were lower in neutered dogs than in sexually intact dogs2.
That's why the chart uses the 1.6 neutered multiplier rather than 1.8 for an intact dog1. After neutering, weigh your Cockapoo every couple of weeks for the first few months and trim the portion slightly if the weight creeps up. Count treats too, since they add up quickly in a small to medium dog.
How does Cockapoo puppy feeding work?
Cockapoo puppy feeding uses more calories per pound than adult feeding, spread across more meals. The Merck Veterinary Manual estimates puppies under 4 months at 3 × the resting energy requirement and puppies over 4 months at 2 ×, based on current weight1.
Our meals are formulated to AAFCO adult maintenance profiles, so check with your vet or our nutrition team before feeding them to a puppy. Your vet can also tell you how many meals a day your puppy needs and when to move to two.
Are Cockapoos prone to ear infections and food allergies?
Cockapoos are prone to ear infections, and allergies are one of the things a vet checks when ears keep flaring up. A UK study of 22,333 dogs found Cockapoos had 2.22 times the odds of outer ear infection compared with crossbred dogs3.
The researchers suggested the risk may have more to do with the poodle or spaniel side common to popular designer crosses, and found poodle types overall had 1.91 times the odds3. Ear shape, hair in the ear canal and moisture all play a part, so food is only one piece.
How do you handle suspected Cockapoo food allergies?
You handle suspected Cockapoo food allergies with a vet-guided elimination diet: one complete meal with a protein your dog hasn't eaten before, and nothing else, for several weeks. A review of the evidence found that beef, dairy, chicken and wheat are the food allergens most often behind skin reactions in dogs4.
Signs worth raising with your vet include itchy ears that keep coming back, licked paws and red skin. Keep treats out of the trial, since many contain chicken or beef.
What is the best Cockapoo diet for itchy ears and skin?
The best Cockapoo diet for itchy ears and skin is a complete and balanced meal built on a protein your dog tolerates, chosen with your vet. These two chicken-free meals are tagged Allergy-Friendly and Skin & Coat on our site.
- Fisherman's Best Friend Supper pairs wild Alaskan pollock with butternut squash, brown and white rice and cranberries. It's a low fat recipe with no chicken, beef or pork, at 504 kcal per pack.
- Kangaroo uses kangaroo as its sole animal protein, with sweet potato and peas and no grains, at 435 kcal per pack.
Classic Pork Stew is a third chicken-free option, a richer stew at 742 kcal per pack, for active adult Cockapoos.
How do gently-cooked meals keep Cockapoo portions accurate?
Gently-cooked meals keep Cockapoo portions accurate because every pack has a known calorie count and every recipe is complete on its own. Every Tom&Sawyer meal is made with 100% human grade ingredients in a human grade inspected facility, gently-cooked to a safe internal temperature without cooking out nutrients, and lab tested by animal nutritionists to AAFCO nutrient profiles.
A Full Plan makes our meals your Cockapoo's complete diet, portioned to the gram for their calorie needs. A Partial Plan mixes our meals with their current food. You can cancel anytime, and each order comes with our 14 day satisfaction guarantee.
Ready to work out how much to feed a Cockapoo?
Working out how much to feed a Cockapoo starts with the scale, not the size label. Weigh your dog, use the chart as a starting point, and recheck their shape every few weeks.
Build your pup's Meal Plan with our meal quiz. Tell us about your Cockapoo, and we'll recommend meals and portion them to the gram.
Please consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet, especially if your pet has a medical condition.
Resources
- Sanderson, S. L. (2024). Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
- Bermingham, E. N., Thomas, D. G., Cave, N. J., Morris, P. J., Butterwick, R. F., & German, A. J. (2014). Energy requirements of adult dogs: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109681. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196927/
- O'Neill, D. G., Volk, A. V., Soares, T., Church, D. B., Brodbelt, D. C., & Pegram, C. (2021). Frequency and predisposing factors for canine otitis externa in the UK: a primary veterinary care epidemiological view. Canine Medicine and Genetics, 8, 7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8422687/
- Mueller, R. S., Olivry, T., & Prélaud, P. (2016). Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research, 12, 9. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-016-0633-8