cocker spaniel or cockapoo??

[amizzymummy]

We are looking to get a puppy within the next few months. We have decided on either a cocker spaniel or cockapoo.

Can anyone give me honest opinions on which might suit our family best?

We have plenty of room, large garden and loads great walks on our doorstep. We live in a fairly rural village. We are a family with two girls age 12. I have had dogs in the past but that was before i was married.

any advice would be great, thanks.

Ditto.

Before either of you do anything else please read this thread.

I now have my Handsome cockapoo having previously owned a rescue dog with many issues who would never have been adopted.
After 4 years mending our broken hearts after her death and 2 years discussing what we were going to have next we settled on an English Cockapoo, I am being specific as a lot of the American cockers have dubious personalities.
I acquired my boy from a breeder who owned both parents and they had both been optigen tested for progressive retinal atrophy.
My boy is exactly what I was looking for a lovely bubbly family dog (he has been caught wearing girls knickers riding in a pushchair) who does not shed hair. He is half spaniel so he loves water and last sunday he swam across our pond on no less than 6 occasions.
He has the attention span of a goldfish so training is hard work, but we are winning. He is unbothered by food - only just finished his breakfast now- and can sit next to you while you eat without even sniffing the food.
You need to have met several of each breed before you make your final decision.

Cocker spaniels are one of the most popular breeds in this country - testament to their lovely natures, but also meaning that there are plenty in the hands of unscrupulous breeders. They are prone to health problems and dodgy breeders won't screen for these. If you get one, please do very, very careful research into the screening you need to ensure your pup has had and go to an excellent breeder. Bear in mind too that there are two strains, the working strain and the pet strain - you want a pet one unless you are intending to work your cocker.

IMO, cockerpoos are just another trendy cross along the lines of a labradoodle. It's a gimmick to get you to pay over the odds for a crossbreed dog - they're not a breed. People will tell you that they can be predicted to have certain characteristics, but the genetics are very complex and it's very hard to say in advance what aspects of each parent dog the pups will inherit. Plus, they are just as prone to health problems as their parent dogs (a first cross between two pedigrees isn't enough of a hybrid mix to reduce the chances) but many breeders of these dogs don't think to screen the parents as they assume crossing them will automatically mean they won't pass on illnesses - not true.

You will find crossbreeds that are just as lovely in rescues all over the country - please have a look there instead of getting one of these. Your dog sounds adorable Lizcat, but the traits you mention (loves water, doesn't shed, low attention span etc) could exactly describe my dog, a lurcher cross of very dubious parentage who came from the dogs' home. Dogs are dogs!

We have an 18 month old cocker spaniel,he has been a great success and I can recommend the breed as a family dog I also had one as a child I agree with lurcher about reputable breeders and also being clear re working or show strain,both are fairly high energy family dogs but in my opinion unless you are going to work them show makes the better pet.
I would recommend browsing www.cockersonline.co.uk for all things cocker spaniel related,there is lots of advice on the breed,how to find a breeder ,what to look for in a puppy etc.The forums are a mine of information on everything cocker related !!

I have a cocker...they are beautiful but manipulative, loyal and loving. They do not like being left alone and love exercise.

Lizcat - would you mind telling me the breeder that you got your Cockapoo from. It is such a minefield out there and to have a recommendation would be great.

Bump. Could anyone help me with a reputable breeder of Cockapoos. Many Thanks

erm...reputable breeders of Cocker Spaniels - try the rescue rep from the area. They may have puppies in rescue, or adult dogs, or if not, may be able to direct you to a breeder of worth.

Cockapoo breeders - i am yet to hear of one that wasn't out to make a quick buck. Under no circumstances buy one from a Welsh breeder. It will almost certainly be from a puppy farm. Same for Lincolnshire. (my apologies to legitimate Welsh & lincolnshire breeders)

A quick google only brought up sites that are evidently untrustworthy (as they are about sales rather than ethics).

If you are really dedicated to a non-shedding dog - try

the rescue rep for min poodles

There is no guarantee any cross will be non-shedding.

read the link Valhalla posted.

A good cocker spaniel breeder will have had the parents for PRA and various other conditions to elimate hereditory conditions including eyes and kidneys ,similarly a good poodle breeder (although i know nothing of heriditory conditions for poodles).Presumably a good cockerpoo breeder would cover both breeds,however to be fair I have concerns about this