Cockerpoo Puppy arriving in 10 days - help

[ShallallalAa]

Posting for traffic and advice thanking you all ever so much - we put our names down for a cockapoo puppy from a registered breeder months ago and the puppy will be ready for collection in 2 weeks. We are confident the breeder is reputable and have had personal recommendations for them which we trust. I work from home 80 percent of the time now so confident we can look after the puppy properly long term.
I have never owned a dog before but DP has always had dogs and I am feeling very out of my depth, especially with the arrival during lockdown.
We have visited the breeder and met the parents before the lockdown but we have not met the puppy before lockdown. We have been sent regular videos and all looks lovely and I trust that that the puppy is well and healthy.
DP will pick up puppy by physically distancing from the breeder at handover, taking all the precautions and the breeder is about 5 miles away - I think this would be classed as essential travel wouldnt it?
We are going to pick up essentials from Pets At Home in the next couple of days - crate, toys, bed, pads, food. Anything else? The puppy is on a raw meat diet I understand should we continue this?

What are your top puppy /cockerpoo puppy tips?

What will we do about puppy socialisation?

The puppy arrives microchipped (breeder does it) with first vaccines but we do the next ones - need to find a vet we like I am guessing?

I don't like the sound of crating though - is rhis really the only way?

Our house is quite small - where should the puppy have its own space ideally?

Should I get a shark pet hoover to deal with the hairs?

Thank you!!

I too have a gorgeous cockerpoo! She’s an F2 and is much more cocker, but absolutely lovely, soft as a brush. Our first few days together were very special, she was very quick to accept me as her new mum. I bought a shoulder bag for her so I could take her out with me rather than leave her at home. I think lockdown is the perfect time to get a pet.

ShallallalAa I certainly don’t think you are wrong to want a puppy, or a Cockapoo so don’t rule them out based on lots of people’s views on here.

I do think you have been sensible to pass on this one, but the right one for you (Cockapoo or otherwise) is out there.

With regards to a puppy and your 5 year old bringing you breakfast in bed, this is where I would consider using a crate then you always know when puppy isn’t in your sight that it’s safe and your kids are safe.

When you do decide to start looking again you’ll be better equipped to know what to ask any future breeders.

I don’t think I’ve EVER met an aggressive and crazy cockerpoo. Must be a one off. Without exception, I’ve found them to be really sweet, waggy, playful, obedient and loving. My retriever’s recall is put to shame by the cockerpoos we know! 😂

Firstly you should not be picking up puppies. Multiple charities and KC websites have said that this is irresponsible both for yourselves and your puppy. It will be very hard to socialise as you can't introduce her to dogs other people etc hence why you shouldn't be doing it. Also vets are sometimes not offering puppy jabs dependent on area as it is not classed as an emergency or essential. Your pup however can go in your own garden at this time. You can still get them used go walking on a lead in the garden as well.

I have a cockapoo, she suffers terribly from separation anxiety and this seems to be a trait of the breed. You really need to get them used to at least having some time alone from day one. She has a crate and she's always been happy in there but doesn't sleep in there at night time she sleeps on the landing.

You will need to groom regularly and get them used to brushes etc from day one this is really important as they will need to have it done every 6-8 weeks.

You may find the pup doesn't shed hair as it has the poodle coat. Mine does however and we just use a regular hoover.

@VetOnCall . I do however have a major issue with people breeding/cross breeding their pet dogs with no or absolutely minimal health testing and breed knowledge (beyond 'which cross will make the most money') and flogging them to inexperienced homes.

Sorry this is shite. Just because both parents are the same does not mean they will have zero problems. E.g a KC french bulldog with registered parents doesn't mean they will have no health problems and in fact the KC is often criticised for the fact they promote bad breeding.
A cross breed is normally health checked for example PRA, hips etc because the parents tend to be KC registered. It doesn't make a cross breed pup bound to have health issues and in fact my vets and vet nurse friends have told me they tend to have less issues come in about crosses then pedigrees.

OP in answer to your question re: greyhounds, honestly with small children I’d probably say no. We have two and we adore the very bones of them, but given their size and speed they can be quite boisterous when the mood takes them and could easily knock a child over. They’re also a bit like the cat of the dog world, so lots of sleeping and super low maintenance but generally speaking not one for playing fetch for hours so might not be the most engaging of family pets and certainly a world away from a cockerpoo.

Back in the day of you just wanted a family pet you bought a mongrel puppy off the bloke down the road.

They tended to have decent temperaments because dogs with questionable temperaments tended not to live long enough to breed.

The family mutt has been replaced by the designer crossbreed.

@VetOnCall . I do however have a major issue with people breeding/cross breeding their pet dogs with no or absolutely minimal health testing and breed knowledge (beyond 'which cross will make the most money') and flogging them to inexperienced homes.

Sorry this is shite. Just because both parents are the same does not mean they will have zero problems. E.g a KC french bulldog with registered parents doesn't mean they will have no health problems and in fact the KC is often criticised for the fact they promote bad breeding.
A cross breed is normally health checked for example PRA, hips etc because the parents tend to be KC registered.

@decisionsdecision you're a bit lacking in comprehension there. If you read what I actually wrote, you'll see it clearly says 'breeding/cross-breeding' so I wasn't just referring to cross-breeding. Where exactly did I say or even infer that 'just because both parents are the same does not mean they will have zero problems'?... I didn't - I specifically put both breeding and crossing, and that the issue is a lack of knowledge and health testing, so I'm afraid you're the one who is posting 'shite' as you so charmingly put it.

You're also absolutely incorrect in saying that a cross is 'normally health checked because the parents tend to be KC registered'. That is wrong. KC registration has no bearing on whether or not a dog is health tested, it's entirely down to the owners being willing to go to the effort and expense of having it done. The KC makes recommendations for each breed and collates and publishes the results of registered dogs who have been tested.

Have a look at the facebook group - run by trainers and owners - from puppy upwards and have units to read for problems, basic things, first night at home!

Brilliant reading to be honest

www.facebook.com/groups/374160792599484/?ref=share

@ShallallalAa
Decided to cancel the purchase just hoping he will go to a good home, and actually course he will there will be plenty of people on the list.

I think that is a good, sensible call you have made. As I previously said, if you think that a Cocker/Poodle cross is right for you, there are some people out there breeding them in a more responsible manner. If you do go for a puppy rather than a rescue then regardless of breed, the breed club is generally the best place to start when looking for a breeder. Usually if you Google 'breed name + breed club' they will come up, or the Kennel Club has details by breed here: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findaclub/breed/Default.aspx

I think you’ve been very sensible OP. And regarding your query about breakfast in bed, you wouldn’t have had to worry about that because you would never have been able to sit still long enough to eat it with a puppy to watch 24-7.

@VetOnCall by your own admission you have issues with 'designer breeds'. Many a post where OPs have been looking at Poodle mixes you've commented to say about health tests etc and how they aren't a breed. As you don't like them as a breed you scare OPs into worrying they've made a wrong decision. For example your could just say if parents haven't had xyz tests I'd walk away not draw to the fact that they aren't a breed, they are a quick money maker so won't have any tests ever

Barbaraswoodlouse that's what I was meaning. We had muts that were not complicated or needy.
Now it is all quite fraught. Are dogs less healthy these days and do pedigrees now have more health problems than a few decades ago?
The 2 most easy going dogs I know are just mixes from family pets that friends own. Though I suppose they may be in for health problems later in life.

@vetsoncall don’t you mean people are crossbreeding them and she should look at a crossbreed club for a good crossbreeder given your previous posts or is it ok to call them breeders now that you’ve gotten tour way and the OP is no longer getting the ‘crossbreed’?

I also got a ‘crossbreed’ not proper dog and he is fantastic but reading the replies on here I would never have gone ahead.

I agree with other posters. All my childhood dogs were just X has a free puppy - what breed is it who knows or unwanted Mongeral pups. All wonderful family pets who lived into their old age without having had this test and that test and KC chip champion parents etc.

It’s not about having KC champion parents.
It’s about not coming from people breeding indiscriminately for cash. With scant regard for animal welfare or health testing.
I grew up with rescue mutts and cross breeds. They were not bred by people making cash out of breeding cute puppies.
And a cross isn’t a breed. That’s not snobbery. You don’t know exactly what coat etc you’ll get.
And yes MANY pedigree breeders are also crap.
So rescue or choose very very carefully.

Wolfiefan that's what I am interested in people's opinions about. Did people not breed for money in the same way back then. Is it a newish thing that's causing so many problems? We must have as many dogs shelters these days , if not more but why.

All my childhood dogs were just X has a free puppy - what breed is it who knows or unwanted Mongeral pups. All wonderful family pets who lived into their old age without having had this test and that test and KC chip champion parents etc.

There's nothing wrong with mongrel or crossbreed pups at all.

But people shouldn't be charging upwards of a thousand pounds for them.

@socochran
Our dogs were genuine accident puppies. (Adult mother and her puppies surrendered to charity.)
Or older rescue mutt. Probably someone who found him harder work than they thought.
Also no internet shopping for puppies then so no falling for cute puppy pics.
I think today many people get a dog without considering fully the time and money commitment. Also they met one of that “breed” and it was lovely so they want the same.

I agree, I got a puppy recently and would have been happy with a mut. I already have a rescue mut who was 2 when I got him and was keen to train up a puppy again. I have e14 year old lab who was a pleasure to train and has been a pretty perfect dog but now just snoozes away and can't come on many walks. He has been amazingly healthy, too. I think a lot down to luck, no overfeeding and lots of exercise.

This thread is a little sad. I'm sure you've done the right thing for your family OP, but don't let people on here put you off!

I think lockdown is a great time to socialize a puppy actually. You can watch the world go by without people coming up and trying to touch the pup while you are training etc.

I asked about getting a puppy on here before, big mistake! I work two days a week, term time only and was told..."Your lifestyle isn't suitable for ANY animal, let alone a puppy!!" I mean FFS

But in amongst the craziness I did get some good advice. Just do lots of reading and research first.

But it’s my understanding that “socialising a puppy” means letting them meet and sniff and just have nice encounters with as many people and other dogs as possible before they reach 12 weeks, Fizzy.

But how can you guarantee an encounter with a strange dog/ child/ whatever will be nice? I don't see how watching from the sidelines is bad thing.

Prepared to be told I'm wrong though.

You arrange the encounters with dogs or children that you know are nice...not random strangers. But the puppy won't socialise with the breeder at the moment either will they... especially if they are living in a kennel outside. So I think it's better to get the puppy now than get the same puppy in 6 month's time.

Raw feeding is a bad idea. Especially with children. There's a high risk of food poisoning to the owners due to cross contamination. You need extremely good hygiene around the food but also around the dog which isn't going to be possible with an indoor dog and a child.

You arrange the encounters with dogs or children that you know are nice...not random strangers.

Yes, that's exactly my point. You can safely take a puppy out and know that you won't be approached by strangers trying to touch it.

Great time to teach a dog that people walking past aren't very interesting, not so easy when they're running up to you trying to stroke the dog.

OP, you’re on AIBU so yes, YABU to still have this many questions about having a puppy with only two weeks to go. You and your partner don’t sound like you’ve thought it though yet or done much research / planning at all, not when you’re asking basics such as where in the house is a good place to put the puppy and what’s the best way for it to be sleeping. You really should have thought about these absolute basics well before this point. Our breeder grilled us on all of this four months before we got each of our dogs and set us straight on any dodgy plans / misinformed ideas we had.

No, you can’t just register with any vet. Your puppy will have started a course of vaccinations and will need the same brand for the next round. If the vet you choose doesn’t use this brand, you’d need to start the course from scratch with the new brand. Puppy pads aren’t generally recommended by dog trainers unless you are in a flat as you have to train the dog to use the pad and then train them again to use the garden. Toilet bells aren’t generally recommended either as the dog is reliant on you hearing the bells, and what happens if you can’t come because you’re busy? It’s better to get the dog on a schedule of toilet times, starting with regular shifts of getting the puppy up in the night, as well as after every single play, drink, meal, snack or exciting moment. You’re going to be going out at least every 30 minutes at first. If you don’t, you will find wees and poos. Consider getting an indoor line (lead) so the puppy can’t run away from you to wee or destroy stuff.

Seriously, this is a massive responsibility and it takes proper research. Otherwise the puppy will arrive and it will be chaos.

I’d suggest you join the ‘Dog Training Advice and Support’ group in Facebook and read all of the units there relating to new puppies...and fast.

I mean all of this kindly and with the best interests of the dog at heart. I volunteered at a dog shelter and so many young pups / dogs were brought in because owners hadn’t prepared themselves adequately and then had problems.