DH wants a cockapoo/ labradoodle I don't :/

[Snoopydoop]

I'm really hesitant to get a poodle mix, they're as expensive as a pedigree puppy but obviously not!

I'd really love another Labrador, we've had them before. We tend to go hiking every weekend and need a dog who can keep up. I also want a fairly sturdy dog? One who's parents are health checked.

We do have a dog walker and on the days I'll be in work (3) the dog will be in day care with her. I do long days but my husband works normal office hours.

Am I being stupidly precious about a labradoodle or a cockapoo? I just don't want a dog that is going to be unwell with god knows what hereditary disease or leg problems.

Are their good 'doodle' breeders out there? It's me that will be doing most with the dog so should I be able to veto a breed?

Sorry if it's a bit confused. I don't know why he's set his heart on these breeds!

[PootLevato]

I’ve got a 7 year old cockapoo. As much as I love him I would never have another one. He is super high energy and needs to be tired out both mentally and physically. He’s much calmer now but that only started from about age 4 onwards. I will say that he’s never had any health issues.

Have you mentioned grooming costs to your husband? Any doodle mix is more than likely going to need grooming every 6-8 weeks and depending where you are probably £35-£45 a time.

[Snoopydoop]

Oh my word, I'm showing him that response! He thinks they'll be 'calm and not need much exercise '

Wow is it really that much? I guess you never think about the coat needing trimming

[villainousbroodmare]

Likely to be very highly strung with who knows what physical and personality features.
Would you consider a setter? Gorgeous, gentle, athletic and generally v healthy.

[PootLevato]

Ha! I’ve met plenty in my time, I’d say 80% are hyper! Mine needs 2 hours exercise a day and even then he’s ready to spring into action at any point. I’m sure that won’t be every cockapoo owners experience but it is mine. Mine has the sweetest nature but is hard work compared to every single one of my friends dogs.

Yup that much for grooming and really should be done that regularly as if you’re not brushing often they become matted.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Are their good 'doodle' breeders out there?

They aren't really breeders, are they? My theory is either get a proper breed, with an actual breeder, so you know what you are getting, or get a Whoknowswhat rescue, which is my preference.

[Snoopydoop]

I'd consider any dog that's not a tiny dog. I love labradors and have had 2 previously, one came as a rescue with a border terrier friend who I loved too! I just begrudge paying circa 1000 for a dog that's not a pedigree!

I love border terriers and Labradors, mil has a golden retriever that's absolutely mental so probably not one of those 😂

[Snoopydoop]

@MrsTerryPratchett no I agree completely. They're not breeders just people making a lot of money from dogs.

[FastWindow]

Cripes if you want a calm dog then a mix of cocker spaniel and poodle is a bonkers choice. Get a Shepherd mix. Alsatians get a bad press but they are just superb.

[FastWindow]

I've just realised I would have another Shepherd. I currently drive three cats, having owned five dogs ranging from pure GSD to rott/lab (amazing Cross, if you can find one) and have said for years that my last GSD - a white - would be my last. But I think I have another GSD in my life.

[BreakfastAtLitanies]

My partner has two cockapoos - they are very high energy dogs up until age 4/5 and even then they will require at least 2 hours of exercise a day, we find. Plus, the youngest one ended up being absolutely tiny, so they vary in size a lot and can be surprisingly small?! And they need a lot of grooming as their fur can get matted. Lovely dogs, granted, but very high maintenance!

[PointyMcSnootface]

I'm sure there will be some decent breeders of cockapoos/labradoodles out there but unfortunately the huge surge in popularity of poodle crosses means any that do exist are vastly outnumbered by puppy farms/BYBs/people breeding from their family pets without really knowing what they're doing.

Although it would still take time and effort doing the necessary research you'd have a much easier time finding a breeder of labradors (or many other breeds in fact) that is doing everything they can to ensure the puppies grow up healthy and sound, both physically and mentally.

[AlmaGeddon]

The labradoodle I know is hyper, has a curly tail and its bum hole is at knee level if you are on a hard chair and eye level on the sofa. I know it's not his fault but it's something I'm happy to live without!

[BiteyShark]

Print out a list of the genetic conditions and other tests recommended for each parent and ask him to find a breeder that does them for the cross breeds. Ask him to total up the grooming costs every so many weeks unless he plans to do it himself. Look at all the traits of both crosses and ask him to see if he would manage a dog with the cons of each (which is obviously more than the list would be if you just considered a pedigree). Do the same thing for the pedigrees that you want.

Personally I have nothing against crossbreeds and I can see why people are attracted to them but you both need to agree on the breed and practicalities of that breed/crossbreed so looking at the facts of all of them might help you both to come to a decision.

[Veterinari]

Why on earth would your DH think a mix of two high energy working breeds would be calm??
I really think you need to sit down together, review your lifestyle and choose a dog that will suit it. It sounds like he’s picking ‘breeds’ he knows nothing about because they’re cute regardless of potential health and behaviour implications.

Even a Labrador is going to need a lot of exercise - there’s a Reason a lot of them of overweight. Agree with you OP that an assured breeder who has done proper health checks or a reputable rescue is the best way to go, along with a breed that suits your lifestyle.

[WeAreSailing]

Only labradoodle dog I know is totally insane. 7 years old and no signs of calming down.
Will literally just race around the garden until it virtually has a heart attack and collapses in a heap.

[Miladymilord]

Just popping into say my black lab is the most gorgeous, calm, kind dog ever. He's a chunky one from show lines not a thin working one. Omg he's amazing.

[Treacletoots]

We have a cavapoo. She is an absolute dream. Obedient, kind and incredibly well behaved. We often go biking and she can run alongside us for about 7k at least so she has the stamina.

She was rehomed but the owner had papers that showed us she had come from a decent breeder and we had her family history for several generations.

I agree cockapoos can have a little.bit too much energy but our cavapoo seems to be just the right level.

[Secretsquirrel101]

I have a cockapoo, he’s so perfect for me as I have chronic fatigue and ehlers danlos syndrome, meaning some days I can barely leave the house let alone properly walk him (he takes himself on a run, we’re on a farm) but it doesn’t bother him, he’s happiest when he’s cuddling me and snoozing! I’ve never met a more laidback dog, ever. He must be an exception rather than the rule tho, reading this. He also doesn’t moult and I only take him to have his hair cut every 3 months or so, for £30. He’s so low maintenance.

[Secretsquirrel101]

Misseda bit!! While he’s happy to just snooze, he also comes checking stock with me and runs alongside the quad/horse so he has no trouble keeping up!

[Hoppinggreen]

I’ve got a Goldie and have had 3 before this one.
They are generally pretty calm dogs.
All the doodles I know are nuts (labra and cocker)

[weaselwords]

I do think that’s it’s going to be so so hard to find a decent breeder of poodle crosses. Like a PP says, they are the type of dog to be puppy farmed/byb/family pets bred together and let’s be honest, they aren’t bred to further the breed, it’s for money.

I’d go for a really good pedigree dog who was bred by someone who’s passionate about breeding good, healthy dogs with all the health checks and show champions in its lineage.

That said, I know poodle crosses are popular for a reason. They are cute looking and generally nice natured dogs. I’d just rather give £1000 to someone who cared about dogs.

[nicebitofquiche]

Why don't you go to your local dog shelter and see if you can adopt an unwanted dog instead of spending a lot of money on one that looks a specific way.You'd be making an unwanted animal very happy.

[PostNotInHaste]

Calm?! Mine is nominally a labradoodle but has something like an eighth bearded collie in her. She was an accidental litter after hthey found her Dad (a chocolate lab) could open doors. They had to DNA test the pups as there was another possible father,. Both parents were screened but I can’t remember now all the details, hip dysplasia and eye screening springs to mind.

No grooming costs as we chuck her in the shower and go at her with clippers and scissors. She has finally calmed down now she is 9 and has a spell off lead where she hares around like a puppy then goes on lead to pace herself to get through rest of the walk. At the start when she’s off lead and playing with other dogs people sometimes ask how old she is which is always funny as their faces look like

DD and partner dog sat for us recently and they were broken by the time we came back and have refused to do it again. Not helped by not being able to get her usual dog food for a few days so she had a dodgy stomach but she took up escaping from the garden. To be fair she started this before we went, awful moment when someone found her in the road. Never been interested in escaping since being a pup so what has brought this on I have no idea. Had to check with friend that she isn’t a nightmare when she stays with them as she usually does but apparently she is fine there I was relieved to hear.

She does have a bit of arthritis which very rarely plays up but generally you’d have no idea she has it. Been a fantastic family dog but she has been enough for a lifetime and my dog owning days are done when she goes which I can’t bear to think about but both DH and I have had the discussion and we will be done at that point.

[billybagpuss]

I’m loving my border retriever, pretty high energy, enjoys a good run, although still only 7 months so it’s not easy persuading her not to overdo it, and I think the retriever slightly calms the collie.

[fivedogstofeed]

Get him to read this....
Then start looking at labrador rescue sites :)