Cockapoo advice?

[BB8sm8]

We are looking at getting a cockapoo as a first family pet dog. We have a 5 and 7 year old. Im a SAHM so I’m around all the time. Does anyone have any advice or tips for this particular breed? 🐶❤️🐶

@BB8sm8 you were going to spend £1200 on a dog? That's crazy, the breeders know that the dogs are in demand and price them so much higher than they're worth!!

My parents paid £600 for our miniature schnauzer. Most spaniels I've seen go for £450 (ours) or between £500-700.

I’m not overly keen on the look of the poodle (sorry no offense intended at all!) I like the scruffy teddy bear look of the cockapoo

Have you seen the photos above? Can you tell which is the poodle and which is the cockapoo?

What don’t you like about poodles looks? Unless you give it one of those ridiculous show clips they look exactly like “scruffy teddy bears”

There’s very little difference in appearance. Again, see photos

@youngmb the neediness comes from the cocker spaniel side, they are very 'people person' dogs and can't be left alone for more than 4hrs max.

The anxiousness is also most likely spaniel related too.

We leave ours with the radio on and a chew quite often. He will whine though if he's not in the same room as us and gets so excited and wiggly (really cute) when we come and see him.

£1200

WTF! It's a mongrel! What a rip off.

@reallyanotherone there's actually a lot of difference imo- I always prefer the 'cuteness' of a cockapoo over a poodle (I often think of poodles as dogs old ladies would get for some reason!), but would never buy a mutt.

You can definitely see the difference clearly between a cockapoo/poodle.

Also why is it 'cocka'poo and not 'cocker'poo?

Here's our gorgeous boy...
And my parents handsome miniature schnauzer

But there are so many lovely dogs in rescue centres, we had one when our children were a similar age, she's 10 now and we've never had any problems. She's a crossbreed mixture of a collie, bit of Labrador. Very loyal and easy to train, friendly and tolerant. Please don't buy a designer dog, rescue one! You won't regret it.

*£1200

WTF! It's a mongrel! What a rip off*

Supply and demand. People have bought into the whole portmanteau dog breeds that it’s a lucrative business.

Which i why i would never recommend one. Every one bought drives the demand and more dogs bred irresponsibly.

I have a yorkie. Fab wee dog but not suitable for breeding. He has a genetic issue which means he’s very small, and has dislocating knees, highly likely to be hereditary.

First year we had him when we took him for a walk we’d often meet people also with small, fluffy dogs who’d exclaim over his cuteness “is he a teacup?” No, he’s a dog.

If they had a bitch they’d then start on about using him as a stud and such cute puppies, shorkies/chorkies/morkies sell for £1500.

I’d politely decline, but now he’s neutered it’s much easier to brush them off.

Other “in demand” dogs like pugs and frenchies, female puppies sell for several hundred pounds more than male. More money if the dog can produce more to sell on...

The other thing to consider is the testing of the parents.

I went with a breeder that DNA tested both parents to ensure that my puppy would never suffer from FN and PRA.

I would recommend you read up on any generic testing and other recommended test for both breeds. This is different to 'vet tests' that lots of breeders advertise which is no more than a simple checkup at the vets for the puppy when the other tests are done on the parents.

@user12345678987654321 realistically though if OP works and has kids it's hard to find a dog at a rescue centre that they'll actually allow you to take home! They're very strict.

No not waffling at all, thank you for going into detail ❤️

He’s beautiful! What breed is he? Sorry struggling to keep up with all the replies!

I am at home all day but yes rescue centre so are rightly strict. My first thought was rescue as we’ve reduced all our other pets, but I was nervous of not knowing a dogs history and mixing with my 5 and 7 year old. If you don’t know what a dog has been through, I worried might not be safe with my kids. We have other animals and my kids are very respectful, they know how to behave around animals, but as I say the not knowing a dogs history did make me nervously of rescue.

@BB8sm8 He's a working cocker spaniel :) the other is a miniature schnauzer :)

Interested in this too as we were looking at the same breed but OH refuses to pay such money for a 'mutt'

I looked at rescue centres as I'd love to rescue a pup but we have a toddler so have been turned away every time.

@user12345678987654321 realistically though if OP works and has kids it's hard to find a dog at a rescue centre that they'll actually allow you to take home! They're very strict

O/p said she’s at home all day?

Finding the kind of dog o/p wants in rescue is difficult though. Small/medium fluffy dogs are in demand even in rescue, and often don’t make it through the doors before they’re snapped up.

I really struggled. Passed all the checks witg flying colours, but spent a year contantly on the phone/web filling in forms and arranging visits only to be told sorry, we had a walk in this morning who reserved it, or the fosterer has decided to keep it.

Dogs trust/rspca etc do first come first served. If you can get there and reserve the dog first, it’s yours. I was starting to feel pressurised into taking any dog.

There are a couple of smaller rescues i eventually discovered that will take applications for a dog, then sit and look for the best home. Angel small paws on fb is one- they only rescue smaller dogs. Breed specific rescues are worth a look too.

Pop over to the ‘Cockapoo club of great britain’ forum, you will get helpful answers and recommendations of ethical and genuine breeders, rather than risking the puppy farmers and unscrupulous types (not limited to cross breeders) . They are super family dogs, yes they are cross breeds, but it’s a cross that really makes for a lovely pet IMHO (Although I know this doesn’t fit the mumsnet acceptable view).

As with any introduction of a family dog, do your research thoroughly, prepare for a massive change to your lifestyle and get ready for two years of training. (puppy-juvenile stage)
Regular grooming is also essential with poos, 6-8 weeks is ideal.

If you are ready to do all of the above, then I see no reason why a cockpoo couldn’t bring joy to your life, and you to theirs!

We have a Border Terrier. There are small-medium sixes but very robust little dogs. We got him when my kids were 10 and 8. He's a great family dog and is very 'scruffy' and teddy-bearish in between strips.

Out and about I've also met lots of Miniature Schnauzers that a fab.

I used to dislike poodles too, however out on my walks I've seen some gorgeous dogs I thought were cockapoos but were actually untrimmed poodles. Great dogs.

Also, on the CCGB forum, you won’t get sneered at for your choice of dog OP...

I have two F1 cockapoos, a 2 year old working cocker/miniature poodle cross and a 1 year old show cocker/miniature poodle cross. Both were fully health tested, here they are currently having a snooze next to me.

Neither shed but do need regular brushing at home and they go to the groomers for a cut every 8-10 weeks at £25 each. Both were bonkers as puppies, the 1 year old is just starting to calm down now. He is a nightmare for eating things he shouldn’t so he’s still in a crate when we go out after he ate my passport! They love a good walk although our older dog is anxious with other dogs on lead which is a pain, especially after the amount of training classes and socialisation we did with him.

Would definitely recommend if that’s what you want! Since I got my older dog, my sister and three friends have all got cockapoos themselves as they loved mine so much.

Oh and they aren’t mongrels, they are cross breeds, mongrels have unknown parentage

Our cockapoo is gorgeous and has a fantastic temperament.
She has the same fur type as the poodle (her mum) so doesn’t set off my oh allergies, although I would always recommend meeting the puppy first to check this.
Also although as people have pointed out it’s possible to get a cross with the worst of both breeds the opposite is also true and I would personally be wary of any pedigree because of the health defects bred into a lot of them.
We have copies of both parents medical records and DNA tests as well as a six page contract of sale which includes everything from how the breeder covers us if a genetic illness develops to us returning her if we decide we no longer want her to prevent her ever ending up in a rescue centre.
She takes a moderate amount of exercising, needs grooming every 6-8 weeks and mental stimulation.
We take her to obedience, agility and will be looking at flyball as she’s ball obsessed.
I wouldn’t be without her and would happily recommend them to anyone looking for a family pet who’s done their homework and understands the animals needs.

I used to dislike poodles too, however out on my walks I've seen some gorgeous dogs I thought were cockapoos but were actually untrimmed poodles. Great dogs

My friend has a giant poodle. He gets very cross now when told his “labradoodle” is gorgeous. He is a huge poodle fan, this one is his 3rd, and he finds it annoying that so many people seem to not realise what a poodle looks like.

Also, on the CCGB forum, you won’t get sneered at for your choice of dog OP

Replies are also unlikely to be unbiased.

Oh and they aren’t mongrels, they are cross breeds, mongrels have unknown parentage

Cross breeds are mongrels.

*Also, on the CCGB forum, you won’t get sneered at for your choice of dog OP

Replies are also unlikely to be unbiased*

I doubt a cockapoo forum is unbiased . Biased towards their dogs, unsurprisingly.

I am a yorkie fan and freely admit i am biased towards all things yorkie. They are way better than all your poodle doodle dogs