3 Things To Know When Buying An F1 Cockapoo Puppy

Buying a puppy is always a rewarding experience, but it is also one that often demands quite a bit of research. If you aren't familiar with the world of dog breeders, however, some of the terms you come across during your research may seem confusing at best. If you have recently seen F1 cockapoo puppies advertised for sale and are curious to learn more, take a look below at just three things you should know about before you buy. 

Numbers and Generations

The "1" in the designation F1 means that the puppy is a first-generation crossbreed. In the case of a cockapoo, this means that the puppy is the result of a purebred cocker spaniel with a purebred poodle. If you see a puppy for sale that is designated as F2, this means that the dog is the result of two first-generation cockapoo parents, and is thus considered to be part of the second generation.

Letters and "Backcrossing"

Backcrossing is a popular practice that allows breeders to more predictably isolate one trait of a species. This is crucial to know if you come across a cockapoo puppy for sale that is considered an F1b. Here, the lowercase "b" indicates that the puppy is the result of a first-generation cockapoo that was bred with either a purebred cocker spaniel or a purebred poodle. If you are interested in the specific traits of one purebred species (such as the coat of a poodle, which tends to shed far less than that of a cocker spaniel), then you may want to be on the lookout for an F1b cockapoo puppy. If, on the other hand, you prefer to choose between puppies that exhibit a greater variety of traits, then you'll want to limit your search to F1 puppies only.

Heterosis

Heterosis is the technical term for something usually referred to as "hybrid vigor." Essentially, hybrid vigor is the tendency of hybrid offspring to exhibit greater genetic qualities and overall health than either purebred parent. This is one reason why many crossbred dogs live longer than purebreds. Conversely, hybrid vigor tends to decrease with each generation, meaning that F2 and F3 cockapoo puppies may be at a slightly greater risk of inheriting certain recessive traits that affect their health. While every puppy is different, it is helpful to know that F1 cockapoo puppies on the whole take full advantage of heterosis.

Contact a local breeder or shelter to learn more and buy an F1 cockapoo puppy. 

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