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The doghouse

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Original poster

this cross breeding thing

58 replies

misdee · 25/10/2011 16:43

i have a labradoodle. for me it wasnt about wanting a fashionable dog, but what was suited to our family at the time.

can anyone tell me more about cockerpoos. i have seen a huge increase in them lately, why? are they easier than the mad doodles?

what other crossbreeds with mad names are on the increase? did anyone else see the article recently about the man who bred the 1st labradoodle regretting it due to unscrupulous breeders?

my dd's wet themselves with laughter when i told them of a dog on britains got talent earlier this year which was a bull dog/shitzu so a bullshit Grin

OP posts:
kid · 25/10/2011 17:06

I know someone that has 2 cockerpoos. She got them because she loves cocker spaniels but liked the idea of a non shedding dog. Her friend also has a cockerpoo and all three look totally different from eachother (but all are super obedient dogs Envy)

I know of a 'jug' (cross between a jack russel and a pug)
I had a 'sprocker' but I referred to him as a springer cross.
Some of the names are crazy but you can usually work out what the cross is just by the name.

Original poster
misdee · 25/10/2011 17:08

lol @ jug!

the cockerpoo's i have met have all been a bit bouncey. but the fur is a lot softer than my own lab/poodle cross.

OP posts:
kid · 25/10/2011 17:17

I have a pure springer now, his fur is very soft, especially the hair all over the floor! I even found a piece of his hair in the fridge earlier Shock

WoodRose · 25/10/2011 20:18

There are loads of cockerpoos around these parts. Springadors (Springers x labs) are also popular as well as sprollies (springer x collie), labradoodles and "goodles" (golden retriever x poodle). We also have 2 "cavchons" (cavalier x bichon) in our puppy class. We have a red and white 100 % border collie who is frequently mistaken for a springer spaniel. Confused

clam · 25/10/2011 20:18

I have a 7mo cockapoo. He's gorgeous. (see my profile pix). He is shedding a bit at the moment, actually, against all anecdotal evidence, but only when I brush him and I'm putting it down to him losing his puppy coat and because he's just been neutered. At the moment he's a shaggy cream powder puff on top, and ginger biscuit wiry dreadlocks underneath. He's off for his first groom tomorrow so no idea what he'll look like after that.

I'm embarrassed to tell people who ask that he's a cockapoo, and prefer to say he's just a crossbreed. But he's universally regarded as super-cute - unless he's been in the river, when he just looks like a drowned rat.

DogsBeastFiend · 25/10/2011 20:23

You know the stuff about ALL breeders of crosses being backyard breeders I suppose? :(

Cockerpoos are more popular now I guess because they tend to be smaller and the (wrong) claim by some that they are all non shedding. Plus some think that they'll get the best of both breeds when in fact it's just as possible to get the worst of both - also the parents won't have been health screened as a reputable breeder of a pedigree will ensure.

Other than that I reckon the reason is the the word of mouth, seen someone with one and think it's a good idea thing, the trend of the moment, just as Dalmatians became popular thanks to the kids film 101 Dalmatians. Shame the same "seen a lovely one, that's a nice idea" doesn't happen with Staffies or rescue dogs. :(

miacis · 25/10/2011 20:24

loving the cockapoo piccies - what a cutie

huffythethreadslayer · 25/10/2011 20:25

I've got a cavapoo, part KC Cav and part toy poodle. Allegedly hypo-allergenic, but I'm still snuffling plenty. She looks like a fluffy, flat mop of a dog and is very laid back. I call it a mongrel tho, cos that's what it effectively is :)

DogsBeastFiend · 25/10/2011 20:25

Clam sorry matey but despite the name, and nice as I'm sure your pooch is, he IS just a crossbreed. :)

clam · 25/10/2011 20:32

I know, DBF, that was my point. I'm embarrassed to be thought of as buying into a bloody silly daft-name trend, which actually was high on the 'con' list against getting one and yes you're right, he is a crossbreed. Only half a step up from a mongrel, really. But they really appealed to us and so far we've not regretted it. Apart from the chewing of pinecones and sticks indoors.

Lizcat · 25/10/2011 20:36

The first reference to the Cockerpoo was in The Times in 1859 when it was described as being a good cross to obtain both a field and a water dog.

DogsBeastFiend · 25/10/2011 20:37

Ah, I know about the chewing of sticks indoors thing Clam. :o

Think yourself lucky... large GSDs bring in larger sticks than your chap and they make more mess! :o

LtAllHallowsEve · 25/10/2011 20:40

I've got a 'Sprollie' or 'SpringBoard' - I just call her a Mutt! She doesn't look like any other Spring/Collie crosses I've seen before, for one thing she's flat coated. I reckon there's pointer and possibly whippet in there too. Maybe I should sue the rescue for false representation! Whatever she is, she's perfect.

I think a lot of that 'apoo' crosses are for non shedding reasons, but unfortunate really that it doesn't always work. Plus unscrupulous breeders 'forget' to mention to a lot of owners that you need 4th or 5th Generation to guarantee it (did a fundraiser for a labradoodle for a blind, severely athsmatic friend, didn't know until then).

The most gorgeous dog I ever met was a Rottie / Setter cross. Rottie face with long black shiny hair. He was bloody lovely. I'd pay to have his pups I reckon. (ok, that sounds weird...you know what I mean!)

clam · 25/10/2011 20:43

field and water dog?!
I want my money back! All mine does in the river is bounce around like Zebedee, no swimming involved at all, and if you chuck a ball for him, he'll lollop in the general direction, go past it and refuse to pick it up.

BehindLockNumberNine · 25/10/2011 20:53

There has been a surge in 'poo' dogs at the gates of our school recently. There are two labradoodles, four cockerpoos and now two cavapoos. All lovely.

I myself have a rescued whipped cross breed. Calm, gentle, gorgeous, low shedding, docile. Same can not be said for one of the cockerpoos which is in the process of being sent back to the breeder as the family cannot cope with his hyperactivity.

I do love the shaggy look of the doodle/poo type dogs.

clam · 25/10/2011 21:14

For "shaggy," read "bloody scruff!" I'm hoping the groomer can tame mine tomorrow.
But we have the same thing at our school gate. Bit of a club going.

DogsBeastFiend · 25/10/2011 21:27

I think you have hit the nail on the head. Small dog crosses, breeds known to be favoured by middle classes, cute, fluffy, pretty equals popular with families. Someone sees one at the school gates and thinks...ha, that's the dog I want! Then so does another mum... and another...

clam · 25/10/2011 21:32

Yeah, I guess so. And then they read about Staffies being force-fed StellaArtois and attacking small boys and the Richard Littlejohn in the DM referring to them as "fighting dogs" and their fate is sealed at the local rescue!

BehindLockNumberNine · 25/10/2011 21:48

Just reread my post. I do not have a whipped cross breed. Not sure what one of them is. It should of course be whippet. (I think I am too food obsessed...)

Scuttlebutter · 25/10/2011 22:42

You might have other obsessions, Behind LockNumber9 (the locks seem to be a clue) [hwink]

musicposy · 25/10/2011 22:46

We have a Jack Daniels Grin. I made that up actually, she's a Jack Russell/ Spaniel cross.

Yes, we did get her from a friend who had puppies because it meant something special to me at the time due to circumstance. I am aware of the backyard breeder thing (I wasn't at the time), though to be fair the pups did all have homes before they were born and friend did say any problems, ever, they were to go back to her, and mum was spayed after the one litter. So not all such people are after a fast buck and no care for the pups. However, I do appreciate now that there are lots of dogs in rescue so better ways of doing it.

That aside, we are constantly asked what she is and everywhere we go people say how cute she is. I think it's because she's pure white. Like you clam I feel a bit stupid, as though I have a designer crossbreed, so I often say she's a mutt! Vet when we first took her obviously thought we'd travelled the length and breadth of the country for her and paid a small fortune. In reality, friend is 3 miles away and we gave her just a small amount to cover costs. But I'm still aware people think we've gone for something deliberately fancy, when in fact, her arrival in our lives was purely circumstantial (and very wonderful).

Weirdly, our other dog is a proper pedigree and I think much more conventionally pretty. But it's our mutt crossbreed who gets all the attention! Clam your dog is gorgeous!

BehindLockNumberNine · 25/10/2011 23:01

scuttle?

musicposy · 25/10/2011 23:04
Grin
DooinMeCleanin · 25/10/2011 23:05

I have a Jack in the Fox [if other dogs can have silly names mine can too emoticon] Grin

I quite fancy a Jack Shit too.

Perhaps some one should co-erce Disney into making a cartoon about a rescued Staffy who falls in love with a rescued Greyhound and they set off to their find their forever sofa together and save a few small children from impending doom along the way Grin

BehindLockNumberNine · 25/10/2011 23:08

That sounds like my kind of film Dooin!

Scuttle, explain yourself, you have me baffled and worried now Hmm
Am panicking my name inadvertently refers to something rude....