Which breed? Cockapoo? If you own a Cockapoo what is it like? Any tips?

[futuredogowner]

We are seriously thinking of getting a dog (after a lot of consideration and discussion) and have the following ideas on what we would like them to be like:

• clever and trainable (and not likely to completely leg it off all the time on walks as I hear this can make life difficult?)
• medium sized
• non-shedding coat
• no slobberiness
• CUTE!

Not worried about the cost within reason.

I've come up with Cockapoos and Mini Schnauzers but dh thinks the latter are too small so they are off the list.

Are there any other breeds we could consider?

If we do go with a Cockapoo, what should we consider and look out for? I have heard they can be quite lively?

I love that MIssB

Heinz - any good links for those? Sounds interesting.

Kerry Blue is also heading for the list of potentials.

Havanese are a toy breed, smaller than a Mini Schnauzer.

I would say Kerry Blues are larger than 'medium' and although gorgeous, are not easily trainable, they are a terrier, and can be highly strung.

Mothership - I don't know much about dog breeding or what the aim in creating this 'breed' was; only that she is the loveliest dog! Schnoodles are very popular here (Australia) and have been for 20+ years (although they may not always have been known by the current ridiculous moniker) so it is clearly a very pleasing genetic combination.

A whippet?

Thanks MissPlum I know a couple in the park we walk in and they are lovely, although very different in temperament, despite being littermates, but I didn't like to ask the owners, seemed a bit rude!

I thought whippety recall could be a bit iffy, what with them being sighthounds? Viva

If you go for a cocker/poodle cross then you need to be very careful when finding a breeder. A good breeder will be hard to find as a good breeder wouldn't make mongrels for more money than a pure breed. Both cockers and poodles have health problems within the breed so you must check that parents are health tested. I know cockers should be PRA tested as an absolute minimum.

Also, check whether it is a poodle crossed with a show type or working type cocker. Their energy levels will be enourmously different!

Whippets and Italian Greyhounds are lovely, but they shed hair.

Right is right

Right's phone is wrong! Obviously she meant enormously!

I have a cockapoo and she is lovely. Doesn't shed, doesn't slobber and is intelligent and easy to train. She is gentle,l
Placid and fantastic with my ds. I would recommended them as a breed.

But........ It's not all rosy. The spaniel in her means she's very excitable and needs a proper wall daily. She jumps up and runs around like mad on walks. The hair gets mattered very quickly and they need grooming regularly which costs.

Honestly not jumping down your throat OP, but your friends breeder with definitely not be affiliated to the KC. To be a KC registered breeder, you need to have a KC registered breed, which a cross breed is not, it's a cross breed

That said, there is some debate as to how much KC registration means in reality so choose carefully.

Cross breeds wrapped up in designer labels are very 'en vogue' at present so choose the breeder very very carefully, as there is a higher likelihood they are doing it for some element of profit. A good breeder would breed not for profit but to ideally gain a puppy for their own purposes and certainly for the ultimate benefit of their breed.

Again, not saying that some KC registered breeders are doing it for 'pure' reasons, but, add in the 'fashion' element to the mix, and I think it gets harder to find a good breeder. For example, Google Springer Spaniel puppies, then Google Sprocker puppies. Alarmingly, not only will there be 5 times as many Sprocker's, they will be 5 times the price too, which illustrates my point.

Champdogs has a good section which breed descriptors on it, shedding, exercise requirements etc. as does the KC website itself, but won't cover cross breeds. Both have good sections about how to chose a breeder too.

As others have said, rescues also have puppies.

Have you considered a Cocker too? You could always keep him or her clipped short. Our Springer has a full clip (much to DH's disgust, he kind of looks like a dalmation with sawn off legs!), but vastly reduces (mainly) mud, but also hair. Tbh, I don't notice him shedding all that much anyway, grooming is minimal, mud is maximal

Good luck.

Yes, good point re working or show cockers, the energy requirements are vastly different, whether you then cross with a poodle or not.

Health checks for both breeds, meet the parents, expect to be vetted verbally and to meet the breeder, see the pups with mum, ensure they are being raised inside and being socialised well, in a clean environment.
Lifetime support and an agreement to take back the pup at any point. Microchipped and wormed etc.

Ah I used to have a greyhound which didnt shed, thought maybe whippets were the same. And yes I guess you'd have to train a whippet harder to get good recall but my greyhound had good recall.

I've currently got a Podengo Pequeno which has excellent recall and sheds a little bit more than the greyhound but still hardly any. I never see dog hair round the house but have noticed it on the backseat of the car which is funny as he hardly goes in the car. But he's probably a bit small. There are medium size Podengos but I don't think there's any in the uk.

We have a Cockerpoo - she is absolutely nuts. Very affectionate, playful, obedient. Very curly coated so as mentioned upthread more poo then cock .

Her fur doesn't shed but she needs frequent baths and grooming, we actually like her fur to be quite long and scruffy looking but it is quite high maintenance.

One thing to be aware of is that they get very hairy ears and will need plucking from time to time to avoid infections.

There is absolutely nothing 'designer' about her I can assure you but we adore her .

What about one of these? Have been in foster so got a good start in life... www.dogwatchuk.com/three-cute-rescue-puppies-for-adoption/

I also have a sprocker (Bastard Spaniel) and he is very much not a designer dog. Springer/cocker crosses have been bred for years to work in the field. They are proper working dogs, which means I breakfast on gin and valium. Anyone who buys one thinking they're getting a cute designer cross is going to need therapy and possibly a new house

My cockapoo is playful, but mostly a lap dog. And thick as custard. Everyone keeps telling me how intelligent poodles are, and yet today I watched him cock his leg and try to scratch his ear at the same time. He pissed in his own eye, then fell over. Bloody adore him, though.

We have a cockapoo. She is lovely. Very clever, obedient, comes back when called, loves everybody including other dogs and kids, doesn't shed (but needs clipping every 6 weeks).

She is very energetic though and won't leave you alone if you don't take her for enough walks! She also pesters out other dog (who is lazy!) to play which I guess she would direct at people if he wasn't around.

I loved Cocker spaniels but they're not known to be the most intelligent of breeds which put me off as I love training and have always had intelligent breeds in the past. I also knew someone with a lovely miniature poodle when I was a child but was put off by some of the breed info saying they can be vocal and possibly snappy. This is why we decided to go for the mix - in the hope of getting the best of both breeds. All this snobbery about designer dogs is silly IMO especially with the overbreeding and resulting genetic problems that many breeds are now suffering with.

Anybody that meets ours comments on how great she is so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend!

Snakey - didn't know Bastard Spaniel was a sprocker. Thud.... that's me hitting the ground at the combination. Strangely, adding a working cocker to our current one springer seems strangely ok

Jaskla - always thought cockers were supposed to be intelligent? Which is why they are worked? Just to play devils advocate, I guess that you could have got the worst of both breeds though and got a vocal, snappy, unintelligent dog ? And you don't really know which traits will come through.

I won't start on the overbreeding thing.....

Anyway, all food for thought OP and good luck

Its not snobbery - its utter exasperation at people breeding dogs without ensuring they have proper vet checks and selling mongrels for ridiculous amounts and the knock on effects of over flowing rescues and healthy animals being put down because people see dogs as commodities instead of living things that need love and stability.
I feel the same about irresponsible breeders of Bulldogs that can't breathe, mate or give birth without vets intervention. (And countless other breeds with inherited conditions)
Its selfish to buy a dog like this. It just perpetuates these problems.
Go to a rescue and get a dog - there are loads of puppies around.

We have a cockerpoo too and she is the sweetest dog ever! Completely and utterly non-shedding (she is dark brown, our carpets are cream!) She was so easy to house train, literally took a week or so with some cheese bribes. She has one decent run per day so doesn't require a ton of excercise.

Historically, dogs have been bred for many varying traits so what is wrong with breeding a dog that is well suited to modern day living and family life as, in my opinion, our little dog is perfect.

As for the people that say don't buy a puppy get a rescue dog - we looked for about 6 months and there was nothing that we could re-homed as we have a small child and limited space outside. This is the one and only time in our whole lives we will buy a puppy, she brings love and happiness to our small family so I don't feel guilty about not rescuing a dog, we will hopefully be in a position to do that next time.

Good luck!

RayPurchase thanks goodness for a sensible ethical post.

whoops RayPurchase

Bugger. Meant to DM. Will report.