Best toys for a cockapoo
Cockapoos inherit a curious, food-and-fun-motivated brain from the poodle side and a friendly, energetic body from the cocker spaniel side, which makes them one of the harder crossbreeds to bore. The best toys for a cockapoo tend to do two things at once: hold up to genuinely enthusiastic chewing and carrying, and give that quick brain something to solve rather than just something to chase.
Why a cockapoo gets through toys fast
Cockapoos are often described as "soft-mouthed" retrievers of small objects, which is true for carrying things around gently, but that same energy turns into determined chewing and shredding once the novelty of carrying wears off. A cockapoo left with only a squeaky plush toy will often have it in pieces within a session, not out of aggression but simply out of the same enthusiasm that makes the breed so trainable.
Toys built for genuine chewing — rubber, dense rope, or reinforced fabric — last considerably longer than soft plush with a cockapoo, and are worth the extra cost if your dog is a determined chewer rather than a gentle carrier.
The puzzle-and-food angle matters more than most breeds
Because cockapoos are bred from two breeds that both rank highly for trainability, plain repetitive fetch toys satisfy the body but not the brain, and a bored cockapoo is more likely to find its own entertainment in furniture or shoes. Treat-dispensing puzzle toys and slow-feeder style toys give the same dog a job to do, and many owners find behaviour settles noticeably once a cockapoo has something to work at rather than just something to carry.
Rotating two or three toys rather than leaving everything out at once also helps — a toy that has been put away for a week gets treated as new again, which stretches the usefulness of a smaller toy collection considerably.
What to watch for with a curly, low-shedding coat
A cockapoo's curly or wavy coat catches debris more easily than a smooth coat, so toys that shed fluff, or rope toys that fray into loose strands, can end up tangled into the coat around the mouth and paws. Smoother rubber toys and well-made rope toys with a tight weave cause fewer matting problems than cheaper, loosely woven alternatives.
Size matters too: cockapoos range from toy to standard depending on their poodle parent, so a toy sized for a large dog can be genuinely too big for a smaller cockapoo to enjoy properly, and vice versa for a bigger dog with a small toy that disappears too easily.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover
A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.
From£23.99
Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball
A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.
£15.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Remote-Controlled Jumping Ball Dog Toy
A self-rolling, light-up ball that jumps and rolls to keep dogs entertained. A paw-shaped remote sets three activity gears, so both small and large dogs can chase and play. Rechargeable and tough against chewing.
From£19.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs
A large inflatable ball too big for a dog to pick up, with a bite-resistant double-layer shell that slow-deflates if punctured, for high-drive chasing and nudging.
£23.99
Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs
A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.
£29.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
The crocodile from Red Dingo's Durables line: solid hardware, hard-wearing materials and a five-year manufacturer guarantee, which is rare enough to be the reason to buy.
£20.49
Plush Strawberry Snuffle Mat
An interactive foraging mat with removable plush strawberries that hide treats and kibble. Encourages natural snuffling and slows feeding, providing mental enrichment for dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs alike.
From£13.99
Tuffy Junior Zoo Hippo
A junior-sized Tuffy hippo built in bonded layers with webbed, multi-row stitched seams, light enough for smaller dogs and puppies, that floats and is machine washable.
£18.99
No-Stuffing Crinkle Plush Dog Toy
A cuddly stuffing-free plush lion with built-in crinkle and dual squeakers to keep small and medium dogs entertained. Less mess if chewed open, and the soft body is machine washable for easy cleaning.
£10.99
Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw
Meet the Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw — one of the toughest dog toys we stock. Tuffy build their toys in multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching and protective webbing on the seams, so they stand up to serious chewers far better than an ordinary plush. They float, and they’re machine washable (air dry).
£13.99
Chase Buddy Boredom Busting Dog Toy
A sturdy chase toy for dogs left alone for short spells, redirecting the energy that turns into barking, pacing and chewed skirting boards into active play.
£23.99
Common questions
- Are cockapoos hard on toys?
- Many are, particularly younger dogs still working through the chewing stage, so durability is usually a bigger factor in choosing toys for a cockapoo than it might be for a naturally gentler breed. Rubber and dense rope toys tend to outlast soft plush by a wide margin with a determined chewer.
- Do cockapoos need puzzle toys?
- They benefit a lot from them, because the breed is bred from two highly trainable, food-motivated parent breeds and tends to get bored on physical exercise alone. A treat-dispensing puzzle toy gives a cockapoo's brain something to do, which often shows up as calmer behaviour around the house.
- What size toy is right for a cockapoo?
- It depends on which poodle size is in the cross, since cockapoos range from toy to standard sized dogs. A toy sized for a small dog can be swallowed too easily by a larger cockapoo, and a toy sized for a large dog may simply be too big and heavy for a smaller one to play with comfortably.
- Why does my cockapoo destroy soft toys so quickly?
- It is usually enthusiasm rather than a behaviour problem — cockapoos carry things eagerly and that carrying often tips into determined chewing once the initial interest fades. Rotating toys, offering a proper chew alongside soft toys, and choosing tougher fabrics all help a soft toy last longer.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.