Cockapoo / a poodle, etc

[BingBong36]

Seriously considering getting a dog, ideally a fairly small one.

Loving the look of the cockapoo's , can anyone advise on what these breeds are like?

I have 2 young children 3 and 6.

Many thanks

I have one. I think he is wonderful. DD(9) used to have a dog phobia. She would scream blue murder if a dog touched her and would cross roads to avoid passing a dog. Despite this, she was desperate to own a dog. I kept telling her we couldn't get a dog because she was petrified of them!

Last summer we were taking the train home from London to Scotland and opposite us was a family with the most lovely, well behaved dog. DD fell in love with it. It was the first dog she had ever touched and she spent the whole trip petting it when it was sitting next to her. At the end of the trip I asked what the dog was and they said it was a cockapoo. We researched it and it seemed to be the perfect dog for us.

Ours is now 7 months old. He is really settling down now and spends most of the day snoozing on the sofa with little play bursts in between. He's been really easy to train in most areas- he loves learning new tricks and DD is the official tricks trainer. She is now mad about dogs and for that alone I am so glad we bought him.

The downsides are that he jumps on people and is too enthusiastic around other dogs. I spend most of my time on off lead walks playing spot the dog/person so I can get him back on lead. His recall is fantastic so long as he hasn't spotted someone first!

THEY'RE NOT A BREED AND ANYONE WHO BUYS OR BREEDS THEM IS EQUIVALENT TO HITLER AND SHOULD FACE A FIRING SQUAD!!!!

Just getting in ahead of the usual MN response .

Cockapoos are lovely. I have a labradoodle and she's the best dog I've ever known. Her temperament is perfect. She is bouncy and playful but also incredibly calm and gentle. She adores my 6 year old and 5 month old and they her. She's not even that big. Get a Doodle .

Thank you so much for replies, I am also looking at labradoodles.

Sounds like it is a good family pet!!

I think that you need to have a look at your own circumstances before deciding on a breed (which a cockerpoo is not ).

How much time do you want to exercise the dog? Do you mind shedding? Do you enjoy grooming? Do you work, if so, what do you plan to do with the dog while you do? Do you enjoy training? And so on...! Have a think about what traits you want from a dog, then go from there.

A cocker and a poodle are two intelligent breeds that also require a good deal of exercise and stimulation. That's come wind, hail, snow, rain etc, probably with the DC in tow!!

I have a cocker, we have already walked for circa 2 hours today. He would do any amount of exercise you are prepared to give him.

The dog you saw on the train will have been the result of a great deal of time and energy having been put into it, being so well trained.

And just to let you know that puppies are VERY VERY hard work!! Whatever the breed. It's like having a baby that moves!!

bing what things about a cockerpoo and a labradoodle attract you to them?

Ermm, I'm aware that the dog on the train will have had a great deal of time and training put into it. I'm a very experienced dog owner and knew exactly what I was getting into.

Apologies taz I was multi tasking and I hadn't read fully, I mixed you and the OP up, completely my own fault there, I am clearly not good at multi tasking

I am attracted to them as a year ago (that's how long I've been thinking about it) I googled what I would like in a dog and Cockapoo kept coming up, not to mention they look very sweet.

I am in an ideal situation to get a dog:

Walk to school through a park x2 a day.
Garden
Live near 2 large parks
Always out and about with my children to bushy park etc
I work part time but have my mum at my house the 2 days I work.

Holidays I have my dad, mum in laws to have the dig, they have offered.

Husband often works from home.

Large summerhouse in garden we could put a flap in if it wants to go in and out if it's outside.

I do wAnt a low maintenance dog, easy to train, etc as even though I was brought up with dogs it will be my first one for our family.

Ideally I would like to rescue one (husband disagrees).

No worries, I shouldn't get touchy about it- so many people seem to think I've never had a dog before when I'm out walking a puppy and seem to want to give me usually very bad advice about making sure I dominate the dog and make him know who is boss! I am too touchy!

They do need lots of grooming so they are not low maintenance in that area!

Oh, another downside... They can be quite clingy and have separation anxiety. I'm home all day but I make a point of going out once a day so our puppy gets used to being on his own. I also had to seta routine where I would play with him for a while then ignore him, otherwise he would pester me to play all day long. Now when I'm home on my own with him he is fabulous and spends lots of time snoozing. However, DH was home with him yesterday while I was out and he decided, "Daddy is home with me! Daddy will play with me all morning long!" and didn't give him a moment's peace (much to DH's bemusement when I came home, the puppy went straight to sleep. )

tax

Sounds like a good set up.

Just be aware that, when you cross two breeds, you have no idea about which characteristics will come through. So, you may get a non shedding dog, as the poodle trait is strong, but you might get more of the Labrador, who shed like buggers.

Be aware that size will vary lots too. Our friends have a Labradoodle who is lovely, but is absolutely HUGE, way way bigger than any of his litter mates.

I guess with an established breed, there will be less differentiation in traits for you to consider.

Oh balls to spell check on the phone, I give up taz!!!!!

The Cockapoo Club website has lots of excellent information about them, including the huge amount of variation there can be in both type and coat.

It can be even harder to find a decent breeder of crosses than it is to find a good pedigree breeder simply because there are so many people churning out litters without doing things properly. Even when breeding crosses a breeder should have a clear intention for their breeding and be able to explain why the two dogs they've picked are the best match for each other to achieve that goal. Crosses aren't immune to the inherited health problems that can crop up in pedigrees so it's important to find a breeder who does the appropriate health tests on the parent dogs. There's an excellent page on the CCGB website about health testing and which breeds and crosses should be tested for what prior to breeding.

The CCGB has a list of approved breeders who do at least the minimum health testing and abide by the club's code of ethics but it is quite concerning a lot of those breeders listed are council licensed which means they could potentially be producing a lot of puppies a year which would be a very large red flag for me.

All the "poo's/doodles are not are breed, therefore there is no breed standard., so although you saw one on the train - yours could be very different, in looks and temperament.
An example is I know a labradoodle that looks like a whippet....I guess how the genes feel is a poodle body with a labrador coat.

They are not popular on mumsnet as many of the "breeders" are doing it purely as a money making venture, don't health test (essential for the longterm health of a litter), don't offer the back up that a reputable breeder would. Then there are the disreputable KC breeders that do it to get an extra litter out of there bitches (KC restricts litters for v good reason)....I am sure you can see why its an emotive subject.

I don't understand why people would pay so much for a dog, that is essentially a mongrel, when you can go to rescues and get one for many 100's of pounds less.

I do have a purebreed dog - who we adore - but he is breed to a breed standard and a lot of thought went into his breeding, to keep to the breed standard and "improve: the breed if you like (health testing for hips and elbows. Having said that, my next dog will probably be a lurcher.

PS - I wouldn't necessary describe cockapoos as low maintenance dogs, regardless of what coat they have, both poodles and cockers are working breeds (I often walk a poodle and if he is not properly exercised he is a menace - goes a little crazy - like literally goes mad at shadows, starts making up things to go mad about - is about 4 and will destroy the kids soft toys - this is all just lack of exercise/mental stimulation), so need a good amount of mental stimulation.

I have an f1b cockapoo, which means he is a cockapoo x poodle. He has a poodle coat, weighs 6.5kgs and is a genuinely marvellous dog. He's friendly, affectionate, playful and happy as long as he's with you. Cockapoos are cross breeds, so there is no 'standard' cockapoo. I've seen 'poos that just look like spaniels. I've also met extremely nervy, high energy poodle crosses that are poodle bright. They are not easy dogs to own. Personally, I think you have to get your head around the fact that you really don't know what kind of adult you might end up with and proceed with that in mind. I chose a breeder who is attempting to create an even tempered lap dog, and she is successful, but looks aren't as important at this stage. My boy was the only pup in his litter with a non shedding coat. The other pups have a silkier, wavier coat.

mrslaughan Again I was fully aware that the one I saw on the train might have a very different look/temperament to the one we eventually got!

for the sake of my blood pressure, will assume that you have also confused me with the OP

Here's mine- he's been sound asleep like this for two hours. He was at the groomers for the first time today and he's exhausted!

(Second photo is pre haircut with his hair in his eyes!)

I have no idea but one of my neighbours has a miniature chocolate cocker spaniel cross poodle.
Cutest thing EVER, I have to stop and stare whenever he walks past, has that face that just makes you want kiss and cuddle it...

I will say that my cocker is a little dream. A very gentle timid soul, so easy, if a bit pathetic. That said, we have a springer too, who is lovely, but folk will tell you springers are mad and I have met a few far busier than ours.

The whole 'designer' dogs thing just makes me feel very uneasy. Have a look on Pets4homes at all the 'chug', 'doodle', 'jackapoo' puppies for sale and their price tags. I can't think of a good reason for the mating in the first place. You are not enhancing the breed, as there is no breed!!

Although, you can argue that my two young spaniels came from breeders, and I could have got a rescue dog. And I can't argue with that really. But at least both were planned litters with specific working purposes for the pups and all appropriate tests having been done.

Thats great Taz - but many people aren't aware of that :-) and sorry , I did mix the messages up in my brain......

The number of poo/doodle owners with puppies I meet that say they wanted one because they are non-shedding astounds me!!

I have a walking mate who seems to have the worst of both worlds - a hybrid coat that sheds like buggery, but also needs brushing and clipping (curly pood-ly) it is very literally a mix of both coats. She loves her dog, but not what she expected.

taz, tax, tiz whatever your name

ps - nothing against the dogs themselves, all dogs are a result of their experiences whatever their background. Just the fact they are being bred for profit and for very little other good reason (with the exception of the rare few)

We have a cavachon (bichon and King Charles spaniel)
My whole family were the same as your DD, terrified of dogs but she's completely changed our lives. She's the most friendly, affection little thing, loves people and is good with kids

Thanks for sharing pic of your dogs they are adorable!!!

I really do not care if it's not a 'breed' it just so happens to be a dog that caught my eye, I would very happily rescue one. I would like to get an older one do that I will know it's size, temprement, etc, my husband is against this tho.

Any other breed of dog please recommend I am doing lots of research.