Cockapoo owners

[Mich1986]

We are thinking of getting a dog, possibly a cockapoo. We haven’t had a dog within our family and I have always been more of a cat person, but am open to a smaller breed of dog, the rest of the family are desperate for a dog. Does anyone here have a cockapoo? Are they good with children? Do they shed fur and require a lot of grooming? Do they bark a lot? How are they with being left alone?

Cavapoos tend to be more chilled out than cockapoos, in my experience.
Ours has been brought up with three cats, and thinks she is-one. She is very attached to me, she was a lockdown baby though(her parents live with our friends)

Please do not get a cockapoo. Many of them are imported or come from puppy farms. They aren’t bred by reputable breeders, just people trying to make money. Reputable breeders of recognised breeds make sure pups are healthy and will provide a range of results from health tested parents.

Cockapoos are bred from two very intelligent breeds. Something goes awry with these crosses with many having behaviour problems.

My advice is to look at getting a miniature poodle. They are a wonderful breed and very healthy. You can have them cut to look like a normal dog.

This is spot on

Cockapoos look sweet, or “cute”. Especially as puppies. They’re often created by backyard breeders and seeing the parents doesn’t mean they’re not.

You really are gambling on what the characteristics of the dog will be because they’re not bred for particular traits or standards, they’re just random crosses bred for cash. Many cockapoos are neurotic and they’re prone to gut problems. Think diarrhoea.

Also eye problems and hip dysplasia.

^ this is why we had our pup from a friend's dogs' litter.

We had a cavachon. Most intelligent dog we have ever known. Hardly barked unless someone wore a hi Viz jacket.
Didn't shed any hair.

Thanks so much everyone! We are clueless when it comes to breeds and don’t want to rush into anything without doing the research, so thank you for the advice.

Miniature poodles are quite energetic and interactive /task driven-- and need plenty of exercise. They also don't like being left alone. We can leave ours for three hours on occasion but we built up to that very carefully and we don't do it very often.
Tbh not many dogs that I know of like being left for longer than four hours once full adults (much less as puppies)

However ours is very good to go off lead on walks which is more than I can say of some spaniel types that 'follow a scent"...be warned.
Smaller dogs are not necessarily more biddable than larger dogs, either.

My miniature poodle does not shed. However he needs frequent grooming to prevent mats. Like any dog he needs training to behave around children (think jumping up, snatching tempting food from a child's hand, barking at strangers, chasing squealing toddlers) it isn't automatic and you have to be prepared to put a lot of time in. He loves the two cats, sleeps with one on the sofa, but chases and barks at them too.

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With the best will in the world, put a question on MN isn’t research. There’s loads of other information available. Please do a little more investigating to find the dog that will suit you, rather than picking on a cute looking breed and asking if it’s ok.

There are lots of sites that help you pick a breed plus read some dog magazines and visit dog shows: there are often local ones in the summer.
https://www.petplan.co.uk/dog-insurance/dog-breeds/breed-selector.html

Rescues have puppies and young dogs that are checked and whose temperament has been assessed. They can help you find the dog that’s right for you.

Also, just in case, please do not let your children think “we want a puppy”. A puppy is not a species. Dogs live many years, though never enough, and will only be puppies for a short time.

You need to think about (and answer honestly) what attracts you to a cockapoo. Is it because they are cute and teddy bear like in looks so you’ve all fallen for them?

if so, don’t buy/adopt one.

you need to research both breeds. Both spaniels and poodles like to be busy and engaged. My cockapoos love sniffing games. One will happily search for toys as a game, the other gets distressed if something appears “lost” to her!

One dog is 12.5kg of chilled out cuddliness in the home. A crazed mud monster out of it. If there is mud/puddles/water/fox poo -he will find it and roll in it. He’ll eat anything and is very food motivated.

the other is 6kg of nervous energy. She has separation anxiety and cannot be left alone. She is happy to stay home alone with the other dog for company but couldn’t be left by herself. She is not cuddly, she likes her space.
She is incredibly picky over food and will reject food she has previously enjoyed. She is not food motivated at all. Her reward system is a squeaky toy!

both were quick and easy to house train. Both were easy to train to walk to heel, sit, wait, recall etc. one loves a car ride , the other hates it and is anxious all the time. Both love people and are gentle around kids. Never had any resource guarding issues either. Taught them both to “swap” if they got stuff they weren’t allowed.

they need brushing daily and grooming every 6-8weeks. I spend more on their hair than my own 😂 Neither sheds which is why daily brushing is needed to stop knots/matting.

Don’t trust anyone who tells you they are a hypoallergenic breed. No dog is truly hypoallergenic.

I wouldn’t swap my pair, but they were much harder work than I anticipated- especially dog 2. But like any breed if you are prepared to put in the hard work and be consistent you’ll have a friend for life.

I know it can be annoying when people on these threads say adopt don't shop but I am going to say it anyway. I really fancied the idea of a cockapoo as my sister has a lovely one, but it is almost impossible to ensure that the breeders are reputable. I was sick at the thought of getting a puppy who's mother lived in misery. We signed up with a small adoption charity and fostered two puppies (mutts) and were then able to adopt one of them. She is the sweetest natured dog imaginable, we absolutely love her to bits.

I bought a cockapoo in lockdown (cliche I know) and she is the best dog I could ever imagine. She is intelligent, healthy, friendly, calm, never barks and great with kids. She has several besties who she loves playing with. They are all the small cuddly breeds (they definitely attract each other). They are a mixture of cockapoo, cavapoos and cavapoochons. I can honestly say I have never met a horrible one or even one who is particularly hard work (after the puppy stage of course). I have never quite understood the fear/dislike of cockapoos. I’d go for it but make sure you socialise them well.