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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Labrador or cockapoo?

69 replies

Goneshopping · 01/07/2013 20:31

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.

OP posts:
everlong · 01/07/2013 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeaOneSugar · 01/07/2013 21:46

We have a Cocker, he's still at the daft pup stage of life, but relatively easy to train and lovely with other dogs and kids, he does need lots of exercise, although he's a show type cocker so not quite as much as a working strain.

We have him clipped about every 8 weeks at £20 a time and moulting isn't really a problem.

Out friends Cockerpoo is just as bouncy, probably a bit more so and doesn't respond as well to training.

LiveItUp · 01/07/2013 21:50

I also don't know a single cockerpoo, or any other "poo" cross for that matter that is calm and sensible. All very cute, and full of fun, but would bowl a child over regularly with sheer exuberance.

If you like the spaniel bit, a lab/spaniel cross is a lovely combination. Had 2 over the years (from rescue centres), both fabulous dogs. Our next dog though will be a lab. No question.

NotAroundTheEyes · 01/07/2013 21:50

Don't get a cockerpoo unless you can genuinely say 'cockerpoo' in public to actual grown-ups without feeling like a complete tool Grin

Agreed on the Bedlington! They're beauties!

D0oinMeCleanin · 01/07/2013 21:53

We have a grand total of 4 rescue dogs, one fostered dog and one private rescue. Plus have fostered 6 dogs previous to the one we have now.

None have ever harmed my children in any way, what so ever.

The GSD we raised from a puppy when I was growing up bit my sister, scarring her face for life.

Just a thought.

MrsSchadenfreude · 01/07/2013 21:54

Why aren't they called Cockerdoodles? Grin

My friend has a Cavoodle, and it is as mad as your hat. It attacks other dogs quite randomly (although is excellent with people) and a nightmare to walk.

toboldlygo · 01/07/2013 21:56

Is there a reason then Choccy that you didn't return to them for help and behavioural advice?

toboldlygo · 01/07/2013 21:58

And I'm not having a pop, apologies if that sounded a bit blunt, it's just that in my experience Dogs Trust are very thorough in their rehoming policies.

Gorran · 01/07/2013 22:08

I cannot recommend our 16m old chocolate Labrador enough. She is the kindest, sweetest and most lovely dog in the world. Unbelievably tolerant of silly puppies pulling at her ears, chasing her tail, will play ball all day long but also completely happy to just sleep for hours! One good walk/run a day and some retrieving (she does Gundog training and is doing brilliantly) and she's perfectly content to spend the rest of the time dodding around the house with me. Yes she smells a bit but there are scented candles/open windows and it's a small price to pay for such a fab dog.

pinguwings · 01/07/2013 23:19

Choccy - scaremongering bollocks. My rescue girl is outstanding with children, so much so that we've been approached by a PAT volunteer who recommended we joined. We know none of her history except that she was a stray.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 01/07/2013 23:22

I have a cockapoo. He's more poo than cock, tbf. Only a pup, but he's positively sedate compared to my cocker/springer cross. I may not be the best judge of general dog calmness.

foolonthehill · 01/07/2013 23:23

Our rescue dog is the calmest most beautiful wonderful dog with my busy house full of children....a carefully matched rescue is no more likely to "turn" than another dog and you will have the support of the rescue.

Bowlersarm · 02/07/2013 00:21

Grin @ more poo than cock.

He sounds quite lovely.

MagratGarlik · 02/07/2013 00:51

We have two rescue dogs (one from dogs trust). Our first rescue came to us when my youngest was 2.10 years. We are not irresponsible parents. We read up a lot on rescues vs. puppies, we listened very carefully to the advice we were given from the rescue people regarding which dog would be suitable for us.

Our first rescue was a whippet - not a breed I'd previously considered. The rescue lady thought he was perfect for our circumstances. At first we weren't convinced. We went away and read about whippets - they were perfect for our circumstances. We adopted him. We've had him for more than 2 years now. He is fab.

Our second rescue was a whippet x greyhound. We looked at lots of rescues. We again listened to lots of advise. Most rescue people were more concerned about finding the right dog to fit with our whippet, as they knew that many dogs would fit with children. We rejected lots because they were unhappy around our current dog, or he was unhappy with them. We rejected lots who were not happy around children. Eventually we came home with ddog 2.

Getting a pup is no guarantee. Getting a rescue is not irresponsible.

Look at all your options and choose what is right for you.

Notonaschoolnight · 02/07/2013 08:18

Before I got the waiting list for my ewok I fell in love briefly with cockapoos, but it only took two mins on the cockapoo website to find out there was appropriate testing and speaking to 2 local breeders who both said " oh no my such and such doesn't need testing I can see he's healthy", for me to think bugger that whoever said it is right,they're far too trendy and attract far too many byb.

RosieLig · 02/07/2013 12:33

We have a mini labradoodle. We saw all the hip check and eye scores of the parents and grandparents.

He is lovely, very calm and doesn't shed.

Only issue is his ears- lots of ear infections and we've had to have them cleaned out under sedation. Apart from that he's perfect!

DeepRedBetty · 02/07/2013 12:46

This is the rescue I'm involved with. Dogs are there for all sorts of reasons, from abandoned strays through to much loved family pets whose family simply can't keep them for financial etc reasons.

The facebook page is a lot more up to date - I don't think anyone's had time to sort the website out for ages!

Gorran · 02/07/2013 17:13

I meant to say, we got Daisy from a rescue as an 11 week old pup. I absolutely would not hesitate to get another rescue dog/puppy.

Original poster
Goneshopping · 02/07/2013 18:11

Wow, I can't believe there are so many responses, thank you all! I think we will go with our original plan and get a labrador, although I still think cockapoos are adorable. I wouldn't have considered a rescue dog with children but will certainly have a look. Thanks again.

OP posts:
Choccywoccydodah · 02/07/2013 19:36

Toboldlygo, we didn't have a child at the time, he always seemed ok with kids occasionally, but as soon as we had a child in the house 24/7, he turned. Rather than 'get rid' we keep them separate.
As I said, I have friends who have had rescues and all of them have been the same, ok one minute, nasty the next. Personal choice, never again.

Choccywoccydodah · 02/07/2013 19:39

Oh and re getting help, we went to 3 different places to solve this issue and no success.

MagratGarlik · 02/07/2013 21:04

If a dog from dog's trust shows any aggression towards a child, they insist on the dog seeing one of their behaviourists. They will also take a dog back who has shown any aggression towards a child.

You cannot say all rescue dogs = bad, just as you cannot say all dogs from puppies = good. I've known some nasty dogs which were owned by the owners as pups.

OP there are lots of labs in rescue. If you go down the rescue root, make sure you go to a good rescue who are no-kill and who assess the dogs. Best is a rescue which uses foster homes as they will know how the dogs react in the home. Ask lots of questions and if you find your perfect dog in rescue, don't be afraid to visit several times before committing to taking him/her home. We visited and walked with our whippy quite a few times before we finally took him home.

Choccywoccydodah · 02/07/2013 21:48

We'd already had him 5 years and moved away from where we got him. They said he was great with children, and always had been, but as soon as he was around one all the time, he turned.

MagratGarlik · 02/07/2013 22:15

It's a national organization with lifetime support?

My friend, who owns a spaniel which she had had from being a pup has just had a baby. The dog is very stressed by the baby and they are having to be very careful to introduce dog and baby so as to minimise the dog's stress.

These things cannot be predicted whether the dog is a rescue or owned from a pup.

My own whippy BTW ended up in rescue because his first owners had a baby. He follows my boys everywhere.

Choccywoccydodah · 02/07/2013 22:36

Have they trained it? Do they walk it? Has it a good blood line? Ours is a gun dog and we spent the 4 months before our ds was born (from the moment we brought her home at 8 weeks) training her, socialising her etc. She walks at least 2 hours a day, was trained to a whistle within 6 weeks. We put ds in his carrycot in her bed the moment he came home to make sure she knew he was above her (recommended by all professionals). From the moment he came home, she sat under his Moses basket (we have a photo of that, so cute), she sat by his bouncy chair, by his pram in the garden etc and never left him, hence they are now best friends. She mopes all night after he's gone to bed. It's lovely to see Smile

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