Cockapoo puppy

[Whywhywhy1]

So we’re thinking of getting a cockapoo. We’re going to look at a little tomorrow and I’m very excited. I’ve tried to do lots of research but just wanted some advise from others. The puppy would be 9 weeks when we get it. How have others found the first few weeks/months?I will be home with the puppy and out two children (6 and 8) as it is the summer holidays. Is there any advise you would give me?
Thanks all

Litter that should say!! 🙈

I don't have one myself, but friends do - theirs is now a very calm and loving dog, but for about the first year was very jumpy (as in jumped a lot) and very bitey. Took a long time to socialise her, but as I say, now a lovely dog.

Thank you for your post

We have one. Shes wonderful. So loving and affectionate.
First year she was very bouncy and hyperactive but she has calmed down and has been so good with the kids from day one.
Enjoy the puppy phase. It goes so quickly. Important to socialise the pup once they’ve had their jabs. Ours prefers humans to other dogs.
I’d love another.

Thanks Queenie. How did you find the sleep deprivation with the puppy?

I have a Cockapoo. She's brilliant. Was no problem sleeping and was toilet trained within week. Biting was a problem until week 25. I left her at home from day 1 started with 10 mins and increased and she's always fine being left when we go out.

Okay, thanks MrsPerfect. At what age did you bring your puppy home?

Why a cockapoo? They're almost exclusively bred by puppy farmers and dodgy backyard breeders. That can lead to anything from a puppy dying in an expensive fashion shortly after coming home to lifelong behavioural problems due to negative experiences in the first few weeks of life (the first 16 weeks are the critical socialisation period). At the very least, you're condemning the parent dogs to living in grim conditions and being bred to the point of exhaustion before being 'disposed' of.

As an owner of a cross (not cockapoo) I can assure you that the myth of getting the 'best of both breeds' simply isn't true - you get a random mix of the two and it can equally easily be the worst of both breeds. There are increasing reports of serious resource guarding issues emerging in cockapoos, which comes from the cocker side of the family - it can be a very serious issue (e.g. your child walks a bit close to the dog when it's eating, and the dog bites to guard the food).

Reputable breeders of poodles do exist, and if you let their fur grow out (a 'teddy bear' cut I think it's called) then they look almost indistinguishable from cockapoos. You also have a much better idea of what you're getting, as it's not a random mish-mash of two breeds.

I do understand these concerns Avacado and they are very valid but the breeder I am going to is very reputable and nothing like a backyard breeder or puppy farm. I mostly certainly would not be getting a dog from such places.

I recommend crate training. It really helps with house training and also gives you a place to put the puppy if you just need it contained while getting in with housework etc. And be firm about leaving it at night! If you go to it when it cries you are rewarding it! It will settle quicker if you start from day one. Firm and consistent and you will have a well behaved dog.

I have a 4 yr old cockapoo and my brother has the sister from the litter
They are lovely. From a reputable breeder that has been recommended. We met both parents.
House training was no problem at all, went through the night very quickly, no sleeping disturbed.
He was a bit bitey, but that stopped at about 6 months
Mine was crate trained, and only allowed downstairs, and not on couches and beds, which has served us well, now he will only get up if invited.
Only issue I have with him is his attachment to me, he has major separation anxiety, which I think is because he does most things with me, but he constantly has to know where I am and never leaves my side. His sister is left during the day and is absolutely fine. They are both v affectionate and chilled, great with the kids and other dogs.

My sister rehomed a cockapoo and she’s different, bit hyper, but she’s still only young, and she’s getting better. Few toilet accidents too. Bit unsure about her previous owner though.
Best advice I could give is get them used to as many different things as possible. People, dogs, noises, cars, buses, off lead (when their recall is good enough) and on lead walks.

What happens after the summer holidays , are you still at home most of the day ? Make sure when you go to see the puppies that you see proof of all the relevant health tests that the mum and dad should have had for their breed .

Both cockers and poodles are high energy breeds and a lot of the resource guarding seems to occur in under employed cockerpoos who then choose to go self employed. The happiest most content cockerpoos I meet have a job obedience/fly ball/agility.
I say all of this as a cockerpoo owner as well as a vet. Mine is still bonkers at 9 years old, first in the queue for running last for brains.

There's an ongoing thread on the Doghouse about cockapoo breeders so I won't repeat what is being said there but it is worth checking out, especially for signs of what to look for from a puppy farmer - for instance there is a link to bad experiences people have had with Raffles Cockapoos - who on the face of it look very reputable.
Don't forget with a puppy, you can't exercise it very much for the first year, ten minutes for each month of it's life is the guideline I think. So be prepared for a quiet sedentary summer holiday!
Secondly I'd add training from the start - spaniel poodle crosses can be highly strung dogs that need a lot of attention and of course there is the risk of introducing cocker rage syndrome. Puppy socialisation classes may well be a good idea, for teaching good habits to your children too.
Finally I would add in grooming - many people think that poodle crosses don't need grooming but the opposite is true, they need a lot more attention, so if you can link up with a good local groomer and get your new puppy on a Puppy Package, that will set the groundwork for a positive future relationship!
I'd also add don't worry if you find the first few months really hard, there are plenty of experiences on the Doghouse board to reassure you that you're not alone - just think forward to the next ten years of having the dog in the family and hopefully they will all be easier than this summer!! Having dogs changed my childhood and my family in the best way possible. Good luck and congratulations.

Oops - my ten minutes was double what is recommended! Here's a KC link.
So basically this summer you would be wanting to do no more than fifteen minutes exercise a day really. Perhaps worth investing in a carrier if you are planning on days out for the summer, as you won't be able to leave puppy in the car, or take them into lots of venues.
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/general-advice-about-caring-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/puppy-and-dog-walking/

Ours was just over 8 weeks when we brought her home. No sleep deprivation and she toilet trained very quickly.
She cried quite a lot at first when we left her to go out but we only did so for very short periods of time at first.
We started to leave the radio on and she seemed to like that as she then didn’t cry.

If I were you I'd be planning on getting the puppy towards the end of the holidays, as it wouldn't be much fun being stuck at home for six weeks with a tiny puppy that you can't leave alone, or walk, or take places, or leave in the car. The routine of school term might be much better, for puppy and your family.

We have one who is now just over a year - he’s calming down now!

He’s a lovely dog.

Banana he’s gorgeous!

@Ihaventgottimeforthis

If I were you I'd be planning on getting the puppy towards the end of the holidays, as it wouldn't be much fun being stuck at home for six weeks with a tiny puppy that you can't leave alone, or walk, or take places, or leave in the car. The routine of school term might be much better, for puppy and your family.

That’s incorrect. In order to properly socialise your puppy you should be taking it everywhere with you.

When they haven’t had all their vaccinations and can’t go down on the floor outside, you should be carrying the puppy around everywhere to get used to noise, transport, people etc.

I’ve always done this with all of ours including a greyhound X who got to be quite heavy but we persevered in carrying him around!

there is no such thing as a cockapoo...its a cross breed, i really dont know why people give these names and pay big money for a dog that is not a pedigree....its a big con by puppy farmers

I'm doing some paid pet care and I walk a cockapoo. She's around 18 months old and very exuberant. She's very strong and solidly built. Very friendly and willing to please. Submissive when encountering other dogs, even very small dogs. She seems very switched on and learns quickly.

Thank you for all your comments

We have honey who is 10 months now. We have had lots of challenges mainly due to her boundless energy and excitement. I did loads of research and felt I was prepared. How wrong I was ! Biting was a huge issue and stopped around 7 months but it has come back the last 2 weeks. She has now started adolescence which I am told can last up to 2 years. She is jumping onto furniture, biting, digging up lawn, stealing things, obsessed with human food and trying to get it, jumps up people literally and springboards off them, recall is now non existent. We are exhausted. I have taken her to puppy training, follow on training and now have a behaviourist. She is a handfull but we did have 2 months between being a puppy and teenager where she was starting to be a joy. Currently praying that teenage years are short lived. If I had my time again I would not get a cockapoo however I understand some pups are much better behaved. For your info we went to a reputable breeder and both parent dogs were very good natured.

I can't recommend this breed enough and would have a whole houseful if I could! I have one spoodle shnoodle and one cockapoo. Both were 8 weeks old when I collected them from breeders. My SS (which is a cockapoo crossed with a shnoodle) I brought with me to the UK from Australia when he was 2 (now 7). Our C we bought from a breeder in Wales and we met the poodle mother and litter (he is now 2).
They are the most wonderful breed. Incredibly loyal, limited shedding and good with children (the reason I got my SS in the first place). I also collected SS in school holidays and loved it! A little sleep deprivation for the first couple of weeks but both settled in relatively quickly. Toilet training was also fast for both, within a couple of weeks with only a few accidents after that. Like babies, they have bursts of energy then collapse and sleep! Remember to feed up to 3 times a day in the beginning. At the moment we are also minding a friend's cockapoo. They are amazing. Spending a little time away from them each day is good, but leave lots of toys, a way for them to toilet and something that smells like you. Both of my pups (both males) are so cuddly but both different. One loves water, one not; one is ball obsessed, one not. I run with both my pups (only after 2 yrs old) and they love it, but equally they are happy to walk around the block or chill). I am a believer that dogs reflect their owners so love and enjoy every minute! I'm jealous!!!! 😊