Choosing Cockapoo puppy - advice please

[EveryLittleThing]

Hi there - we are in a dilemma - we have found a brilliant breeder who has ticked all our boxes. She breeds cockapoos from 2 cocker spaniel bitches and a stud miniature poodle. One bitch is a working cocker spaniel and the other is a show cocker. Working cocker was due to give birth around now but her list was full so we are on the list for the show cocker which will be mated next month when she comes into season. However we have just had a call from the breeder to say that the working cocker has just delivered and had an extra puppy (girl) that was not seen on the scan - would we like it?

Very excited about the prospect of having a puppy sooner than anticipated but here is the dilemma:

a) being on the bottom of the list we would get zero choice of which puppy we get. I'm worried about ending up with a puppy that might not be the right temperament \ fit for us - I had psyched myself up and read all about how to choose a puppy etc and now that process will not take place. Breeder knows how keen we are to end up with the best possible temperament for our family and says that she does do her best to steer\match each family with the right puppy - after all she will have known them for 5-6 weeks and will have a fair idea of their personality by then. So we could end up with the right one for us.

b) if we wait for the next litter we will be top of the list and get first choice but it's a risk isn't it? What if she doesn't fall pregnant or doesn't have many pups or has all boys (we're keener on a girl but it's not a dealbreaker).

c) Plus DH is keener on having the working cocker puppies than the show cocker. I'm quite getting tangled about the difference - are show cocker cockapoos calmer? Are Working ones easier to train?

SO - Do we say - bird in the hand - whatever we end up with will be fine, there's not much in it and it will save all the angst of waiting and possible disappointments? Or do I be patient and wait and have a choice?

So sorry - I've waffled on - cannot believe I am getting so flustered over this!

Hi just bare in mind that with crosses of two pedigree dogs you could get the looks and temperament of only one of the parent dogs so your cockerpoo could end up looking like a poodle ( which you previously said you didn't like the look of) or shed like a cockerpoo ( which you don't want). Or you could get a mix of both.
I'm not against cross breeds I have what most refer to as a designer dog myself a jackhuahua - chihuahua cross jack russell.
But I liked both breeds and didn't mind so much on the looks or which parent breeds temperament he had.
Turned out he's a balanced mix of both, temperament wise he's not as hyper as a jrt but also not as delicate and nervous as a chihuahua, energy wise he's more laid back chihuahua unless it's play time then he's all jrt.looks wise he's in-between both breeds height wise and a mixture looks wise, you can definitely see both parent breeds in him.
He turned out the best of both breeds in my opinion.
But you could I suppose end up with the worst of both breeds or just the looks and temperament of one.
So you really don't know what type of pup you will be getting but then to some degree the same can be said for pedigree dogs not all pedigree dogs in the same breed are going to be the same temperament wise.
And not all pedigree breeders do it for the right reasons either they want to make money too.
As long as you are comfortable that the right health tests have been done to the parent dogs and your willing to take the risk on not knowing weither looks and temperament wise which breed it will take after then I say go for it if that's the breed you want. Just bare in mind you could end up with a cockerpoo who looks like a poodle but sheds it's fur like a cocker.

Everylittlething as you are looking at breeds I would suggest you consider a Norfolk Terrier, I suspect you have dismissed the large majority of terriers, however, these are not like the vast majority of terriers.
In general as a breed they adore people particularly children, they are very, very good with children with SEN as will just be. As they are small and compact the jumpy, biting stage is much more manageable.

Tibetan terriers are funny, clever, stubborn, infuriating dogs. I wouldn't recommend one if you're not an experienced dog owner or at least had one easier dog to ease you in.

Second the above, Tibetan Terriers are very high energy, many are destructive, some have separation anxiety. The only reason mine is half sane is because she runs round the farm all day long.

I always find it difficult to recommend breeds but how about a Westie? Small, bright and don't have many terrier traits that are more challenging.

I think all these high energy breeds are probably just as likely to be as challenging as a cocker/poodle cross! Cocker and Poodles are both breeds with similar traits, you aren't avoiding anything by crossing them.

Hello everylittlething
I am new to mumsnet and came across your post from last year as we are currently seriously thinking of getting a cockapoo
How did your experience turn out?
Any advise welcome
Thsnk you

On this thread many people say get s rescue as if that's easy when you have children.

All the rescues I have looked at all say suits home with older children or another dog
Of which I have neither!

So many of them are reluctant to re home with younger children. Or they are round here anyway!