Why Your Cockapoo Puppy Picks Everything Up - It’s Not Random.

“He just picks everything up.”

“She steals socks, shoes, anything she can find.”

“He won’t listen outside, he’s just too distracted.”

And at some point, someone will have told you, “that’s just cockapoos.” But here’s the part most people don’t realise: your cockapoo is a gundog.

Yes, really - your cockapoo is a gundog

Cockapoos are a cross between two gundog breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle.

Poodles were historically used as retrievers, particularly for waterfowl like ducks and geese. Toy and miniature poodles were bred down for size, not to strip out those working traits, so a lot of that genetic wiring is still very much there. Cocker Spaniels, meanwhile, are what’s known as hunting retrievers, and even if the cocker half of your cockapoo comes from show lines, quite a few of them didn’t get the memo that they’re not supposed to be working.

They were bred to work with people, use their nose, and pick things up and carry them. So when your puppy is grabbing everything they can reach, running off with your belongings, and completely distracted the second you step outside, that’s not random, and it’s not them being naughty. That’s instinct.

What that actually looks like in real life

Living with a gundog puppy often means they notice everything, they’re constantly drawn to scent, they pick things up a lot, and they struggle to switch off.

And if you’ve already done puppy classes, you might have noticed something odd: things work beautifully indoors, and then fall apart the moment you’re outside. That’s usually the missing piece.

Why your cockapoo keeps picking things up

Let’s focus on one of the most common frustrations, picking things up and not giving them back. With gundogs and their crosses, this is hardwired. It’s in their DNA to find things and carry them. You’re not going to stop that, and honestly, you don’t want to. What you can influence is what they pick up, and what they do with it.

When puppies start grabbing things, most people try to take it off them, tell them “no”, or stop the behaviour altogether. But that usually backfires, because now the item becomes more valuable and you become someone to avoid. That’s how you end up with stealing, running off, guarding, or swallowing things quickly.

So instead of stopping the behaviour, shape it. Give your puppy better options. Have plenty of toys available and rotate them so they stay interesting, use a variety of textures - soft, rubber, tug and retrieve toys - and when your puppy chooses a toy, notice it and engage with them. That moment matters far more than people realise, because the more rewarding it is, the more likely they are to choose their own toys over your belongings.

A quick note on stones (because this comes up a lot)

Stones are usually where people draw the line, and rightly so - it isn’t safe for puppies to be picking them up.

But this is also where things get tricky. The more we try to take stones out of their mouth, swap them for treats, or react quickly every single time, the more value we accidentally hand them. Now the stone isn’t just a stone. It’s something that gets your attention, turns into a game, or earns a reward.

So what actually helps? Instead of constantly managing stones, focus on what you do want in your puppy’s mouth. Build a strong habit of picking up toys, make those toys genuinely interesting, and engage with your puppy when they choose them. Because if your puppy is already carrying something appropriate, there’s far less room, and far less interest, for picking up stones.

The bigger picture

You’re not just trying to stop one behaviour. You’re shaping a pattern: pick things up and bring them to me. When that’s clear, consistent and rewarding, a lot of the “problem” behaviours start to fade out on their own.

So from a very young age, encourage your puppy to bring things to you. Not run away with them, not hide them, not swallow them. Just bring them to you. And when they do, praise them and reward it, every time. Because if this isn’t shaped early, that same instinct can turn into stealing and guarding, chasing and grabbing, or swallowing things quickly - none of which are behaviours you want to be working through later on.

And none of this means your dog will only ever bring you appropriate things. I’ve had crocs dropped into the bath while I was still in it, and lumps of wood carried upstairs from the wood burner. That’s part of living with a gundog. But I would always rather have a dog who brings me their treasures than one who runs off, hides them, or swallows them.

So why does this matter for training?

Because once you understand this, a lot of things start to make sense. Your cockapoo isn’t stubborn, isn’t ignoring you, and isn’t trying to be difficult. They’re simply doing what they were bred to do, and most puppy training doesn’t take that into account.

A lot of puppy classes focus on sit, down, and recall in a quiet space. Which is fine as a starting point. But it doesn’t prepare your puppy for real environments, for scent and distraction, or for making good decisions outside. That’s why things can feel like they fall apart the moment you leave the class.

Where to go from here

This is exactly what we cover in our puppy classes - helping puppies learn to stay connected to you in the real world, not just in a training room.

If you’re reading this thinking “that’s exactly my puppy”, you’re not alone. You’re very welcome to join a class, or book a 1-2-1 puppy visit if you’d prefer something more tailored to your dog.

To book your spot in puppy classes, click here.

To book a 1-2-1 puppy visit, click here