Anyone got two cockapoos?

[hippospot]

We like the look of this breed and were thinking that getting two would be better than one as they'll be alone for six hours a day (but with access to a garden via a dog flap).

So many of our neighbours have dogs that bark when left alone. Is getting two dogs the answer?

Thanks

Getting a spaniel or spaniel cross and planning on leaving them 6 hours a day regularly is a bad idea.

Leaving a puppy that long is even worse.

I've got a 1 year old cockapoo

She was very easy to train and apart from some nipping before 5 months and chewing of the odd sock she hasn't been a problem at all. She was trained fairly easily

I'm going to go against the grain here and say you can leave your dog 6 hours -just not straight away. I did leave my 10 week old alone from day one starting with 30 minutes rising to 3 hours within a week. She was totally fine. Ime, it's only on mumsnet where you encounter so many rules! Not leaving a dog young ime can lead to more separation anxiety. My dog is now left 3 days a week 8:30-4 (with a dog walker on only one of those days). She has the run of downstairs and hasn't damaged anything. I just walk her after work

I wouldn't leave in a garden due to risk of theft esp as cockapoos are often targeted as they're very popular

We have solid oak floors and I mop religiously daily and use febreeze on rugs and soft furnishings so no dog smell

As a puppy on my work days I paid a dog walker to take them out on 2 X 20 minute walks to break up the day. They cost £4 each

Thanks for all of your responses.

Yes I am a complete novice with dogs. DH grew up with dogs and has wanted them for a while.

So even though I work part-time is it not fair to get dog(s)? I'm out of the house six hours only, Mon-Fri. I assumed that this would be ok.

Would it be feasible to have a kennel in the garden instead of a dog flap? Or is the UK too cold for this?

DH grew up overseas with a big garden where a) it's warmer so dogs were outdoors with a kennel when alone and b) the dogs more or less exercised themselves. Everyone had multiple dogs so they kept each other company.

I think six hours is okay for adult dogs with a dog flap, but not okay for a puppy. For a start, a puppy in the process of house training doesn't know to go outside, and so won't use the flap when they need to go to the toilet! You'd need some time off when you first got it, and maybe someone to pop in while puppy is young.

Multiple dogs is a good idea but not getting two puppies at once.

The RSPCA suggests leaving an adult dog no longer than about 4 hours. You certainly can't leave a puppy anything like that long.
Older dog? Time off work to settle and then doggy daycare or dog walker to break up the day.
I wouldn't use a dog flap. My dog eats things she shouldn't and digs if not supervised. She could also be stolen or bark and annoy the neighbours.
Could you visit some dog shows and ask questions? Discover dogs is great for learning about specific breeds. Or try a breed selector quiz. Think grooming and walking requirements etc.
Also a quick plug for dog training advice and support group on FB. Great info on all sorts of things.

I have had several cockers. They are generally people dogs. The cocker i have now would prefer to mis walks than spend 6 hours alone. Not that we do miss walks. But interaction with people is what she needs. All my cockers have been the samr.

A cockerpoo is part cocker. You may find another dog isnt company enough for them. Relistically how much time can you take off work to settle the puppy until they are old enough to be left?

I wouldn't choose to leave and adult dog for that long 5 days a week. But appreciate some people do. But you cant do that to a puppy.

I also would not have a dog flap. I would be concerned about the dig being stolen.

Depending on where you are in the U.K. it is far too dangerous to leave a dog alone even in a secure garden , dog thefts are on the rise , it's easy money for daytime thieves . No amount of running around a garden makes up for exercise , exercise is not just about the actual physical activity it's just as much about the sniffing new smells and exploring new sounds.

The RSPCA suggests leaving an adult dog no longer than about 4 hours.

As does the Dogs Trust. If a dog is being left for six hours they really do need a break in there somewhere not only so they can go to the toilet but also to get some human interaction. Dogs are inherently social animals and for many other dogs just aren't a substitute for interacting with people.

Six hours for an adult dog with a dog walker coming in to take them out part way through the day is much more manageable, not only allowing the dog the opportunity to go to the toilet but also providing human contact and mental stimulation.

It may be better to look for an adult rescue dog rather than getting a puppy as it'd be a while before a puppy could manage that sort of time period alone every day. A chilled out adult dog, especially if it's been living in a foster home rather than kennels, would be vastly easier to introduce to this sort of routine than a puppy. An ex-racing greyhound could be a great option. They're generally lovely, relaxed dogs who don't need vast amounts of exercise (although really benefit from being given the opportunity to properly stretch their legs somewhere secure) and settle well into home comforts life. Like most dogs they really enjoy mental stimulation but at the same time don't need vast amounts of it to be content with life or keep them from finding their own entertainment.

If you do decide to go for a puppy (taking time off and/or getting a dog walker in to do frequent "puppy visits") then you'd probably be better off going for something with lower exercise and mental stimulation requirements than a cocker x poodle. Both breeds a re very active, very intelligent and can be very quick to get themselves into mischief if they're bored/under-exercised/under-stimulated.

The max I leave mine is 4. I would only do 6 with a dog walker in the middle.

No way would I consider two puppies at the same time. My youngest is 2 and is just starting to get more sensible.
I would want the first dog to be reasonably obedient before considering a second.

I also would do more research on breeds before you commit to spending a small fortune on a mongrel!

Mongrels are mixed breeds, cockapoos are cross breeds

Do you really want dogs OP? Our cat can be left for 6 hours and let herself in and out the catflap, but that situation doesn't really suit dogs in my opinion. Not puppies anyway.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say you can leave your dog 6 hours ...... Ime, it's only on mumsnet where you encounter so many rules!

You realise the people on MN are quoting from some of the biggest animal welfare organisations and rescues? Dogs trust, PDSA, RSPCA, etc.

Personally I think the occasional one off of 6hrs is ok with adult dogs but to expect that 5days per week is unfair. To expect it of a puppy is asking for trouble.

Also the "breed" you want is normally a puppy farmed pup or a byb who doesn't have a clue. It causes all kinds of health and temperament problems.

Even if you did find a well bred one, cockers are extremely energetic and need lots of walking for a dog of their size and I think are quite people oriented. Poodles are also extremely energetic and need a great deal of mental stimulation (they were bred as trick/performing dogs). So definitely not the crossbreed to spend 6hrs a day, 5 days per week at home without people.

If you do decide to go ahead, whilst being out 6hrs a day, 5 days a week, at least pick a less people oriented breed, that doesn't need lots of mental stimulation.

Oh and all dogs need walks out and about, no matter how much access to the garden they have.

You can't leave dogs alone at home for hours on end every day. You just can't. Quite apart from the sheer psychological damage it would do, you will never get them toilet trained. They won't know that they're supposed to do it in the garden unless you're there to take them out every 20 minutes to encourage them to go outside. You will come home every day to piss and shit throughout your house.

Mongrels are mixed breeds, cockapoos are cross breeds

Please feel free to look up a definition of mongrel. Here's an example from the OED

'any animal resulting from the crossing of different breeds or types.
synonyms: cross-breed, cross, mixed breed, half-breed, hybrid'

Cambridge.org
'a dog whose parents are of different breeds'

Thesaurus:
Synonyms for mongrel
noun animal of mixed background
bastard
cross
crossbreed
cur
half-breed
hybrid
mixture
mule
mutt
half-blood
mixed breed

I have no issues with mongrels, I have gorgeous rescue mutt at my feet. But please don't pretend that a 'Cockapoo' is anything other than a mutt, albeit an outrageously expensive mutt bred for suckers.

I have a mongrel. It's nothing to be ashamed about.

I would be ashamed if I had paid hundreds for him despite a lack of responsible breeding or health testing though

For what it's worth I have no problem with cockerpoos or whatever, but I don't see why they command such a price tag other than fashion.

I think the tread is in danger of being derailed, the issue is two high energy pups being alone for six hours a day. I have a spaniel/poodle/Labrador mongrel pup, very hyper as a young pup and we have spent months playing, training, getting into a good routine and she is turning into a much calmer lovely dog. I think the days of multiple dogs running around the neighbourhood is well and truly over and if OP lets two young pups free run of a dog flap there will be much boredom barking, destruction and toileting in the wrong place going on.
I meet a lady out walking who never lets her cocker spaniel off lead, the dog gets the same route march round the village roads every day on a tight lead. She is also left alone for six or seven hours regularly. The dog is neurotic, whines and barks constantly,hates other dogs and looks so unhappy. I'm not suggesting the OP wouldn't give a dog a good run before and after work but rather what damage can be done by not considering what a dog needs and honestly looking at whether you can provide it.

Coco. Well put.
It's about the needs of the individual dog. Mine is a needy mummy's girl! It's taken months to be able to leave her alone. She requires mental and physical stimulation. Cuddles and interaction.
I would have loved a dog years ago but I knew my situation meant I couldn't provide what it needed. So I borrowed dogs! The Cinnamon Trust is a great charity to be involved with.
If I left my girl for hours a day she would be a bloody nightmare. Destructive and disobedient and wound so tight we would all be constantly on edge. Instead of calm and fun and (mostly!) a joy to be with.

They are all so different aren't they so OP I think you need to consider what to do if your dog is one that hates being left alone for any length of time, is destructive or barks and annoys the neighbours. Simply having two won't stop those issues and may double them.

My back up plan was day care and I ended up using it for my cocker as he prefers to be with people rather than go for long walks.

I have to say, my dog seems perfectly capable of sleeping for six hours some days (I'm at home during the day).

The difference is that she can amble into the room, nudge me a bit with her nose, decide there's nothing interesting happening yet and amble out again for another nap. I don't think she'd be as happy if there was no one around to check in with.

My mum recently got two Tibetan terrier pups she's always had them but couldn't make up her mind between two with my dad so they got both! They are a handful as I'm sure you can imagine and I would now never get two at once! Don't do it... she's so stressed out. Get one then train it and get another one later. 🙈

@Lf803
Research litter mate syndrome. It's a really bad idea to do this.