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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

Cockapoo / a poodle, etc

88 replies

BingBong36 · 16/01/2015 14:32

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

OP posts:
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needastrongone · 17/01/2015 12:16

Just also to add that you need to discount the kids, they are not as reliable after a couple of months and puppies are hard work as they nip and bite and don't have an off button Smile

Essentially, get a dog because you want a dog, not for the DC iyswim?

StripeyCustard · 17/01/2015 16:15

We have a gorgeous natured labradoodle. I'd be a bit worried about the size though if you want a small dog - you'd need to be sure to get one bred with a minature poodle, not standard. We were advised that as first time dog owners a labradoodle would be 'easier' than a cockerpoo. I know a gorgeous cockerpoo though.

You may find a rescue dog suitable for children - when we also considered the other things we wanted such as good recall (i.e maybe not a sight hound) we couldn't. There are very few doodles in rescue - which would suggest that actually they work as family dogs, wouldn't it? [that's aimed at the anti-doodle people on here]. Personally, I looked at so many breeds for a similar situation to yours, and either lab or labradoodle came out on top.

Original poster
BingBong36 · 17/01/2015 17:13

Thanks all for your replies !! I've just been at the pub after a long walk with kids and a lady had a bichon poodle cross with was very cute, maybe a little too small...

Will keep researching and the advice on here is very helpful!

OP posts:
needastrongone · 17/01/2015 18:18

stripey Personally I have no objections to the labradoodles themselves. All the ones that I have met are lovely dogs. I question the motives of most of the folk who breed them that's all Smile

There are more and more doodles in rescue. But you may find that there are less in rescue as there are fewer litters bred than say, Staffies. It's difficult to compare.

needastrongone · 17/01/2015 18:19

Bingbong Our friends have a maltese terrier, who needs very little exercise and has a lovely nature Smile

noddingoff · 17/01/2015 18:22

OP, are you in Dublin?

Original poster
BingBong36 · 17/01/2015 18:26

I'm in Surrey. Just googling Maltese terrier now

OP posts:
googlenut · 17/01/2015 21:51

We have a cockapoo pup about 6 months old
Pluses - absolutely lovely nature. Just live to be petted and get attention. Very cheery and easy to love.
Incredibly intelligent - at our puppy classes the trainer always comment on how clever he is
Look incredibly cute with constantly wagging tail - just make you smile.
Downsides - because they love company so much ours hates being left alone. Whines and sits at door if we leave even to go upstairs for something.
Ours gets too excited when he meets other dogs and new people. He is very difficult to calm in these situations and also barks a lot which is very wearing
Does need more exercise than we were told.

clam · 18/01/2015 00:27

The excitement when out and about will ease as he gets older. Ours (4yo) still loves to play and does whole body wags when he meets people, but it's within acceptable limits.

He's also OK to be left (might have said this already on the thread) but we had to train him up to it. He was a nightmare when we first got him - crate training was a disaster, and he'd also create a fuss behind the stair-gate at the kitchen door, even when he could see me the other side. We got round it by giving him items of our old clothing and he'd bury his nose in them and settle. Didn't last long.

However, I wouldn't say that any of this is breed-related. Any puppy might do it. My sister's lab wasn't fussy at all, but his big issue for the first two years or so was chewing. She ended up replacing her kitchen units and skirting boards. She loves him to bits but would never get another lab It wasn't through being left/boredom either, as she was a SAHM.

Just had some friends round and one of them is really not a dog lover At. All. She did just say, however, that if she ever did get a dog, she'd like one like ours because he really is quite gorgeous! Praise indeed!

Hoppinggreen · 18/01/2015 17:23

I know 2 Labradoodles and although they are lovely they are quite large and very very bouncy.
I would consider a cockapoo though as I don't want a pure breed as I'm worried about the genetics but only want a. Mongrel if I know what the parents are.
Rescue dogs aren't an option as far as I am concerned with children - I know lots of people have positive experiences with rescue dogs but I would always be wary

LoathsomeDrab · 18/01/2015 18:07

I would consider a cockapoo though as I don't want a pure breed as I'm worried about the genetics

Cockers and poodles (as breeds) share some of the same heritable health issues. A cross of the two is no more likely to be free of these problems as a pedigree of either from a breeder of the same standard.

StripeyCustard · 18/01/2015 21:32

Hoppinggreen I suspect those are labs x standard poodles. Crossed with a smaller poodle they can be much smaller.

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 18/01/2015 22:20

We have a cockapoo. She's our first dog and her chilled out nature and sense of fun has made puppy ownership an absolute dream. I had no idea how much we'd all love this puppy.

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