Labrador or cockapoo?

[Goneshopping]

Having seriously thought about getting a dog for the last couple of years, we have decided to go for it. I am a SAHM, DP works long hours in the week but is at home all weekend. We have 3 children aged 3, 8 & 10 and have a large garden & also have lots of fields near us ideal for dog walking. I have never had a dog but DP grew up with them. We had decided to get a Labrador based on their ideal nature as a family dog but I have recently met some gorgeous cockapoo's and wonder if they would be more suitable. I must admit I like the idea that they are low-moulting & supposedly don't smell as much as Labs. Please don't shoot me down in flames! However my main concern is a choosing a child friendly dog. Advice great fully received. TIA.

The low moulting thing is just luck, so I wouldn't make a decision based on this.

I do know a lady who has 2 cockapoo's who are supposedly low moulting, but then she pointed out the grooming is quite involved - she did a course so she didn't have to pay for it.

I am probably going to be shot down here, but I am going to say it - cockapoo's being a "trendy" breed attract "breeders" who may not know anything about breeding....at best they are foolish and don't do the relevant health screens, at worst they are puppy farmers.....you are paying alot for a dog that is not a "pedigree".

I do realize that not all KC breeders are that ethical - in the breed we have there are a couple of real cowboys, however if you do you research, for a labrador you should be able to find a breeder who breeds from dogs with the relevant health screens and are also breeding for the better-ment of the breed.

plus and this is a real bias of mine - I have not meet a calm sensible cockpoo - they have all been mad as a box of frogs - nice, but completely mad....and thats not my cup of tea, when you have young kids around.
Both the poodle and the cocker spaniel are bright dogs who need alot of exercise and mental stimulation.

Labradores I know - don't smell - and although need a good walk, are happy to chill around the kids, once they have had that exercise.

well...i go rescues all the way...plenty of mixed breeds and pures to choose from....

but I have many many friends who have cockapoos and they do seem to have lovely temperaments, are lighter than a lab and thus easier for children to join in with walking etc. also cheaper vets bills.
Like every dog they need consistent training, they don't moult but do need grooming and clipping.
If you don;t want a rescue then check the credentials of the breeder carefully...and expect to pay at least £650 with relevant health checks.

Poodles are genuinely no-shed (or at least as low-shed as you're going to get in a dog) and have similar family-friendly properties, no need to cross with a cocker. They also come in a choice of three predictable sizes.

All dogs stink.

My dad has a cocker poo. It's mental.
Lovely natured but absolutely crackers.

He is an escape artist and can get out of windows, into bins and has a soft toy fetish.

He is marvellous with the baby and fine with other dogs but easily bored and doesn't do being left alone very well.

Cockapoos can and do moult, fool.

a well bred labrador.

I have two beautiful and well behaved Labradors. They have been ideal small children dogs although the tumbleweeds of dog hair have made me dream of shaving them

Cockerpoos are a cross, not a breed. You can't guarantee coat type or temperament with them. Personally I wouldn't go for any "trendy" cross as it's very unlikely the breeders will have done the relevant health checks.

Labs are lovely but the moulting is unbelievable. You have to be very choosy about breeders too as incidences of hip dysplasia are very high. If you definitely want a pedigree (rather than a mongrel pup from a rescue, which would be my first choice tbh) can I suggest a border terrier? Good family dogs, and one of the healthiest pedigree breeds around. They do need their coats stripping occasionally but are low-maintenance otherwise, although they need lots of exercise.

He doesn't shed but stinks often and needs cutting every two weeks on the summer at 40 quid a pop to keep his coat short as he really struggles with heat.

He could also do with proper brushing and grooming but my dad tends to just keep him close cut

Labrador!

I know two people with cockapoos and they are both really cute dogs but yappy and barky and very jumpy.

Re no moulting, our friends have a Maltese poodle who is the most cutest thing ever and so great with kids and they have hair not fur (or the other way round-whatever a dog normally has, it has the opposite), and doesn't moult.
We have a springer spaniel who was 6 months when ds was born. Ds is now almost 23 months and they are the best of friends and she is so tolerant with him. She does moult like a.....ahem......bitch, but I shaved her the other week and my god how it helped!

And please do not rehome a dog if you have kids. We have another dog who we got from a home and we have to keep him separate from the springer and our ds as he has bitten my ds on the arm before so I am extremely wary of him around kids. We know 4 or 5 people with re homed dogs, and none of them seem to like kids.
You don't know their background, you don't know how they've been treated in the past. It's not worth the risk IMO. I know any dog can potentially 'turn' but a rehomed dog has a lot higher risk.

was I suspect someone in your house was a very sneaky vacuummer. Mind you my dc don't notice the dog hair at all (also black labs)!

Pic on my profile of Scone Dog trying to use telekinesis...

I have to disagree with you, Choccy. The last dog I rehomed came with a complete life history (and another thorough assessment from his foster home who had him for three months in between) - I had a far better idea of his temperament than I would a random puppy and lifetime backup from the rescue organisation. I could call them in five years time and they would take him back.

There's a huge difference between reputable rescues and council pounds (often named 'dogs homes').

Choccy that's bollocks I'm afraid. A reputable rescue will match a dog carefully to potential owners. Most dogs in rescue are there through no fault of their own and are no more likely to "turn" than any other dog.

My own dog is a rescue and adores children. He was also housetrained and lead trained already which made life much easier! Personally I'd have a rescue every time (pref a lurcher obviously) and I have young children.

Labrador!

There is a saying along the lines of 'a labrador is born half trained, a spaniel dies half trained' .

I love my labs, although my friend is very much in love with her 8 month old cockerpoo.

We got our from the dogs trust actually

I am getting my 8 week old Black Lab bitch tomorrow. Yay!

Agree with lurcher re rescue dogs. Mine aren't, but my friend works at a rescue centre. They have an enormous success rate with rehoming with children. You have to go to a reputable dog rescue, and listen to their advice.

We saw the gundog display at crufts this year and the lead trainer said that what would take a week to train in a Labrador, would take 3 weeks in a flat coat and ten weeks in a cocker!

They are very very cute dogs though.

My friends cockerpoo is adorable! She is so much calmer than our cocker, despite being young, she is not crazy at all, quite lazy really but does enjoy a walk without running off like our cocker. I'd love a cockerpoo, apart from the cleaning down after a walk as they are like little lambs!

And with regards buying a puppy, we have always bought from reputable breeders (second springer), with a fantastic blood line that have won awards for both gun and show.
Please do not just randomly buy cheap from a puppy farm.