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

I’ve got a working cocker and she’s an amazing family dog. She does go hyper on her walks but is basically a cat in the evenings (she’s 3 now). We do have a dog walker that takes her on an hour long off lead run through woodland etc twice a week which I think helps with behaviour- she’s obviously walked off lead daily but I don’t always have time to vary the route during the week.

My friend paid £1000 for a cockapoo. He was very cute and then turned possessive and aggressive. He would bite (proper nasty bite) when she tried to do things like put him on his lead. He was very guarded over his food.

It was straightforward to train him out of it. I helped. To be honest I did not appreciate how nasty he was to her until I witnessed it. I was in the room next door, heard him growl then her scream and ran in to fund him attacking her. He was about 6 months old and not small. I ran over and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. He yelled and screamed at me in indignation. I did not let go until he had quietened down and then very slowly and carefully let go. He acted like nothing had happened and was all calm.

After that my friend did the same thing whenever he was aggressive and he soon calmed and us a well behaved adult.

He likes me but I still think he's an untrustworthy little shit and I would never let DD play with him.

I have a cocker who is amazing and so affectionate. I don't know poodle negative traits but potential cocker negative traits are OCD, anxiety, gathering of your stuff and scattering it about the house and food obsessed.

Hope this adds to a rounded picture for you OP.

We have a cockapoo who was a rescue, we had him at around 12 weeks and he's amazing. He can be needy, and we work hard at training so he doesn't do the excited bite-jump thing many cockapoos are known for. He's smart as a whip and was easily trained, doesn't resource guard and so far has shown no sign of any kind of anxiety.

His character is brilliant; he's a very sociable creature and he has lots of walks, attention and fuss, so I'd guess that any negative traits will be overridden by this. Puppy classes and ongoing training mean he's unlikely to ever really be a problem, and he adores our DC and the cats.

I genuinely think with most dogs if you work hard enough and spend time training them when they're small you can negate most problems and issues. I know a couple who have a cockapoo the same age as ours who is terribly reactive and anxious; she picks him up on walks when other dogs approach, which means he's never learned to 'dog' and makes him even more anxious. If you treat a dog like a baby you're setting yourself up for a miserable existence.

I have two cockapoos. They are sweet and loving. They can be lively. One is very bright, the other as thick as they come, but in the main they both just want to be loved. They were from a reputable breeder, recommended by our vet and we saw both parents.

I’d get a new vet if they’re recommending cockerpoo ‘breeders’.

My friend has a cockapoo - most gorgeous dog I've ever known. He's so loving, friendly and sweet natured. Very intelligent too. He's quite bouncy... and as a puppy was full on - but funny and adorable with it. He does like a lot of attention, is very sociable, wants to be around people and anytime I'm round he follows me everywhere. He's a wonderful dog, but do be prepared for a very bouncy, excitable dog - particularly in the puppy years - they have lots of energy. Oh and also be prepared for things to go missing - particularly socks. My friend's dog brings you gifts - but it will be anything he finds - from a piece of mail that's just come in to someone's pants that he's retrieved from the laundry basket!

What is all this snobbishness about cross-breeds and mongrels??!! If you talk like that then all dogs are cross-breeds/mongrels - the only pure-breed is the wolf - and it's man that has cross-bred them to make today's 'pure-breeds'. Some people do talk absolute nonsense!

I think cockapoos are lovely OP and I'm sure in the not too distant future they will be given 'pure-breed' status - not that that makes a damn bit of difference.

@soola I definitely agree with you that a puppy needs socialisation and should be taken different places, I just think that'll be easier to do in school term rather than going to beaches all day long, theme parks, shopping malls, iBounce - you get the idea. IMO having a puppy along for typical summer holiday activities would be stressful for the puppy and restrictive for the family, especially if we have a heatwave.

A fair few Cockers I've known have been possessive of their owner and sometimes downright aggressive; likewise Poodles, so I'm surprised Cockerpoos are popular, although they are very cute to look at.

I have a cockerpoo and for us she is perfect. At home she is happy to lounge around but bounces up quickly when we take her for a walk. She has 2 off lead walks a day and sometimes a lead walk between. She’s never destructive but that’s probably because she’s exercised well.
Her coat is difficult to deal with, she needs brushing everyday. She also needs regular 6 weekly grooming, even then I was trimming her face and bum in between so I decided to just so the whole thing myself which is actually much harder than it looks!
I love my cockerpoo so much and she really is great.

God almighty there is so much ignorance, mis-information and downright bullshit on this thread, it’s scary. There’s no wonder puppy farmers are still making millions, in spite of new laws. There’s also no wonder that dog rescue centres are full to bursting 😢.

@Alfiesellar no, 7 weeks is not the best time to get a puppy 🤦‍♀️ and you shouldn’t be running a 4 month old puppy 2 miles. Also, cross breeding with a toy poodle isn’t guaranteed to make it smaller. Do some research on dog genetics. In fact, do some research on dog ownership in general.

Hello I’m sorry to upset you as you seem to know it all ! If you want real advice own one ! I have had several breeds of dogs in my life and know how to treat and deal with a puppy thank you ! My puppy is now 5.5 months old and the happiest wee man ever but without his exercise he was NEEDING he was unsettled ! If you want to learn about dogs pm me wise guy

Contrary to popular belief 7 weeks is the best and least harmful time for the dog to leave mum and rest bond with the owner so wise up ya neap

@Alfiesellar I would love to read some sources of that? I know a lot of (non-idiot) breeders and not one would ever suggest taking a 7 week old pup away from its mother and littermates.

I have a cockerpoo. He's beautiful and daft. Wonderful with kids, he's never been the slightest bit aggressive. He's honestly the loveliest dog I've ever had. We have him groomed six weekly, longer in winter. I've never had an issue with his coat being matted but we bath him once a week.

Thank you all. Can I just ask at what ages you brought your puppies home? How did toilet training and sleep go?

Lemonlady22 I think if you had a brain at all that all dogs are mongrels apart from the wolf so wise up ! My wee Cockerpoo is an angel so please don’t assume all MONGRELS are bad ! Like yourself !! Most Monterey’s have far higher intelligence

Eight weeks is normal for leaving the mother. I think seven weeks is too early. Toilet training and sleep is very individual for the dog. I have had puppies who have toilet trained 100% in three weeks, and other puppies who haven't been 100% before 6 months old. I have never had a problem with sleep. my puppies have slept in a crate from day one with a towel over the top to make it dark. The first few weeks, I have had to get up at night to comfort them/let them have a pee, but that is that.

We have a cav x poodle, she’s amazing. I saw all health certificates for both parents and the diseases they were checked for. I also spoke with the vets who my breeder uses.

I wouldn’t change her for the world. Such a well behaved dog. Fantastic with everyone/animals.

They do require careful grooming. Daily brushing/detangling. Some poodle crosses do moult!

We bought her home at roughly 9.5 weeks. Never had any issues with her. apart from when she sits on the end of the bed and I can’t pull the covers up

@Alfiesellar compared to you, yes I do “know it all” when it comes to dogs thankfully. There is absolutely no reason to take a seven week old puppy away from its mother and littermates unless the mother is unable to look after them.

@Whywhywhy1 do some research into the best age to get the puppy. There are different schools of thought of the advantages of anywhere from 8-12 weeks. A lot depends on the breed, generally the smaller the breed the longer they stay with mum.

Giving a crossbreed a cutesy name doesn’t take away from the fact it’s still a crossbreed. There’s nothing inherently wrong with crossbreeds, but it’s not snobbery to be against puppy farming and backyard breeding. It’s also not snobbery to call two crossbreeds bred together a mongrel. It’s not a fucking spoodle schnoodle, it’s a mutt!

Sadly, having rescued two ex-breeding dogs, I no longer believe there’s any such thing as a “reputable breeder”.

My dog was a dream as a puppy,he slept through from the start.I like to think it was my reward for having such a nightmare sleeper in ds

@gingersausage I'm not quite sure what your logic is - 'pure-breed' dogs can also be products of puppy-farming or backyard breeding and as I said up-thread all dogs are really 'mutts' - the only pure-breeds are wolves.

6 weeks is the absolute minimum a puppy should be with its mother, any earlier and you risk having a puppy who will have problems interacting with other dogs. Under non-urgent circumstances though 8-10 weeks is the usual time for picking up a puppy. This gives enough time until week 14 when the socialization window closes. Puppies that have jot been socialized until later risk being fearful and reactive in some situations.

We have a cockerpoo, (or expensive mongrel, depending on your viewpoint). She's about 6 months old now.
Night time crying was no problem, she is happy to go to bed and stay asleep. She doesn't nip or bite any more although she does like a play fight with youngest DC and can get a bit bitey then, due to DC getting her wound up and excited.
Toilet training has not been brilliant. But she is a nice dog, very friendly, enjoys learning and walks very nicely to heel, good recall etc. She barks a bit more than my cocker spaniel, but she's a fairly relaxed dog thankfully and spends quite a lot of time lying on the kitchen floor.

My cockerpoo is a little sod

We rescued him when he was 2 and he is 6 nearly 7. He is very clever but also stubborn and will pick and choose if he wants to do what he is told.
He is nightmare with food no matter what we do, and oh my god the barking, i can not leave the back door open or he will just constantly bark.

Plus side he is very good with our kids, loves cuddles and when at home he will just sleep, if he wants to play he will bring his teddy to you.

The food issues and barking may be a result of his first 2 years i really dont no.