Submit your questions via the form below and I will be sure to respond as soon as I can. Please be aware: I have taken the time to fill this website with information regarding Atlas Puppies and Cockapoos in general! I am happy to answer questions, but please take the time to view our website ahead of time; we get many applicants, keep up with Atlas families across the USA, and respond to general questions. I will post responses to questions on this page, somewhat of a FAQ. With each response, I will attempt to post links that will help to guide you and others! Happy reading!

Q: How much are your puppies?

A: The price for our Cockapoos is $2,200 for all puppies, regardless of color or sex. For more information on why our pricing is set to this point, view the breakdown here.

Q: Do you work with or register your Cockapoos with the ACC (American Cockapoo Club)?

A: No, I do not register my litters or my business with the ACC; there are multiple reasons why. First I’d like to say, I do not blame breeders for using the ACC to promote themselves; small business advertising is tough. Additionally, I am happy that there is some organization that is attempting to oversee Cockapoo breeders and create a directory of responsible breeders. With all of that said, there are practices I disagree with and/or points that raise an eyebrow to their credibility.

First and foremost, they refer to Cockapoos as a breed when in fact, they are not. As much as I love Cockapoos, and acknowledging their long history as designer dogs/hybrids, I must admit that they are just that: a hybrid. If they are trying to push the Cockapoo as a breed, state that and use the term correctly in the meantime. It is simply a matter of semantics, but I do wonder why the go-to authority on Cockapoos doesn’t use the correct terminology.

Furthermore, their website is disappointing and lacking in information for those that own Cockapoos. Information regarding their history as a designer breed, history of the Cocker Spaniel & Poodle lineages, genetics, potential health issues, coat type/inheritance (smooth-coat inheritance), maxi Cockapoos (use of standard poodles), and grooming: all absent from their website, found here.

They do supply basic information applicable to any puppy when it comes to crate training or puppy developmental stages, but nothing regarding specific grooming for cockapoos, exercise requirements, etc.

From breeders that I have met and spoken with regarding the ACC, there is little to no enforcement of the Code of Ethics each registered breeder must abide by. Many have never had an in-home visit from an ACC representative, or anything more than an email confirmation. I am truly curious as to how they enforce or monitor the living conditions of Cockapoos across the US and Canada.

And finally, they register “kennels”. While there are great registered kennels out there, the definition of “kennel” varies greatly by state. In Virginia for example, a business is not considered to be a commercial breeder and therefore a “kennel” unless they have over 30 breeding females at one given time. That sounds like a puppy mill to me, and I would never purchase a puppy from a location that houses that many dogs (I highly doubt they are well socialized and loved).

With all of that said, I am sure the ACC and many, many Cockapoo breeders on their registry love and respect Cockapoos and take breeding seriously. It is the other breeders on that list who are not properly vetted that concern me. I do not want to have the same “seal of approval” as someone who does not practice the same policies as I do, or care for their dogs & puppies the same way. I do not want a client having a bad experience with one breeder from the ACC, and seeing me on the same list.

If at anytime an ACC representative would like to email me, or if families have questions or concerns, I am always willing to listen. Until then, I will maintain safe, humane conditions for my pups, and work with qualified breeders who I have personally vetted.

Q: Do you groom your own Cockapoos ? or take them to a groomer?

A: I tend to groom my own girls, unless I’m feeling particularly rich that month. With multiple dogs, and a budding career as a dog breeder, I see it as my responsibility to tend to their hygienic and grooming needs. Furthermore, given that my girls and I do so much hiking, they need baths often and tend to do better with a shorter cut. For more information on baths & grooming, visit the Cockapoo Grooming page.

Q: Why do some Cockapoos have short tails while others have long tails? What do you prefer?

A: Personally, I love having two Cockapoos with long, wagging tails, and I do not dock my puppies as it is not a “breed requirement” (Cockapoos are not a breed). Additionally, I will not dock individual puppies upon request. However, I grew up in a house of Cocker Spaniels, a breed in which the standard is a docked tail. Admittedly this procedure is quick, but undoubtedly painful and requires time to heal. It is done when the are puppies are young (within the first few days of birth), and assumes that they will never remember the pain (I would make the comparison much like circumcision in some countries). I do not think breeders who dock their Cockapoos are cruel, it is just a preference in presentation.

Q: How often do you have litters?

A: As a hobby breeder, I currently operate with just Kona and Maxine as my breeding females. Safe breeding practices lay out a few different patterns that one should follow when choosing to impregnate or skip a bitch when in heat. To spread our supply of puppies even throughout, we alternate which female has a litter, while the other one skips. Meaning, we generally have 2-3 litters in a year depending on if our females cycle together or separate their cycles by a few months (Mother Nature is quirky sometimes). For more information on our waitlist and upcoming puppies, click here.

Q: Do you have a male? If not, how do you impregnate your females?

A: Currently, no, we do not have a male in the Atlas Puppies family. We can’t wait until the day that we can add a new member to the family, but currently we are at capacity! In addition to our two breeding females, Maxine and Kona , we also share our home with my first dog, Roxy. She’s a beautiful 11 year Golden Retriever, retired from my family’s Goldendoodle & Cockapoo breeding business. Roxy is my first dog and “matriarch” of the dog family; she’s trained both Kona and Max and leads by fantastic example.

Currently, we utilize stud services when the time comes to mate our females. Although it does cost up front to mate them, it is a necessary cost until I can responsibly expand my business (and I’m not wishing Roxy out of here any time soon). Ideally, I would like to keep one of Kona or Maxine’s males and females in the future. By keeping their future pups, I ensure their quality genetics, maintain champion bloodlines, and keep their moms in my heart for generations to come! For example, Maxine is our third generation breeding female. Her grandfather, Sammy, and her grandmother Gracie, were our first two Cocker Spaniels. Therefore, I would love to keep one of her pups! Learn more about how we select our males here!

Q: Do you ship or deliver your pups?

A: I am always happy to discuss delivering puppies to a family’s home or to meet them at an agreed halfway point. Price of delivery depends upon other families requesting delivery within the same litter, as well as the distance. Generally, delivery is .75/mile round trip. However, if multiple families are located within the same general area (like the North East for example), and all agree on delivery, I try to give a lower price.

I will never ship a puppy alone on a plane or bus; it is a traumatic experience and incredibly unsanitary for a developing puppy. If flying, you will need to research the proper protocols for your pup depending on your airline. I am more than willing to meet people at an airport with a pup, so long as they have provided proof that the puppy will accompany them only as a carry-on, never as cargo. (More about our location and delivery here)