Cockerpoo

[angelinwellies]

Hello,

Based on advice from friends family and here we are now wondering if a cockerpoo might be a good first dog and family pet to 2 kids of 7&5yrs.

All thoughts extremely gratefully received.

I have read the cockerpoo club website. It’s very helpful but I like first hand experiences to if anyone has any.

Does anyone know what a usual price might be? I’m used to buying pure bred cats (I’ve had both Persian and Maine Coon) so know animals can be pricey but what region am I looking at? Around £500? Or around £1k? If I found the right dog from the right breeder I’m happy to pay but being rather clueless as to this “market” I’m a little wary of being to open to being taken advantage of as I’m not very knowledgeable and am in a bit of grief from losing our precious Maine Coon recently. I’m trying to be careful. Hope this comes over properly.

Thanks to everyone in advance xxxx

A cockerpoo is a cross breed of cockers and poodles. You should read up about both breeds and decide whether you could handle the negatives of both as you cannot guarantee how much of each of the breed traits the dog will inherit.

There are also some recommended DNA tests of the parents for both pedigrees (this is different to vet health checks). Not all pedigree breeders do them and even less cross breeders but for example my cockers parents were tested for FN and prcd-PRA which are two nasty generic conditions for that breed.

Also be aware of anyone marketing them as hypoallergenic as you cannot guarantee that from any breed let alone a mixed one and people can still develop allergies.

Posted too soon.

Saying that I know people with cockerpoos that are happy with them.

Why do you want a cockerpoo in particular?

They do look cute and are very popular and have been a victim of the designer crossbreed tag. Trying to find one that has genuinely had all the health tests for both parents and hasn't just been bred for cash, or even from a hideous puppy farm, is an absolute minefield. This is the face of puppy farmed Cockerpoos:
www.manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=21086

The only Cockerpoo I know is fine with some people but quite dog aggressive.

A dear friend of mine has one, she paid £950 for her, which I think is just bonkers for a mongrel.
That said, she is a lovely dog who has always been sweet.

If it’s the non shedding hypo allergic aspect of the cockerpoo you are interested in please remember that there are a lot of pedigrees that will also fit the bill - poodles being the obvious but there are also dogs like the soft coated wheaten terrier that fit the bill and are the same size and normally about the same price (around £1000)

This is the Kennel Club's list of dogs that don't shed or shed very little fur:
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/finding-the-right-dog/non-shedding-breeds-of-dog/

I have a cockerpoo, parents fully health tested. He is awesome and I love him but it took a long time to find the right breeder - I was on several waiting lists and discounted several who had very nice websites but something didn't smell quite right. (One has since closed down after a horrific incident involving dumping dead puppies on the road, so instincts were right there). Took us about a year from starting our search to getting him. We did a lot of research before deciding. Be aware that they look like cute little teddy bears but cockers and poodles are two highly intelligent and high energy breeds and consequently cockerpoos need lots and lots and lots of fun, stimulation, training, attention and discipline. We're a pretty outdoorsy family so a dog with energy is perfect for us. But not all families are like that - that's the trouble with saying dogs are a 'good family breed'. One might fit your family perfectly, one might not, because all families are different. I'd start with thinking about what you want from a dog and go from there.

My cockapoo is now nearly 7 and only just starting to calm down. He has all the energy of a spaniel and all the intelligence of a poodle which means he’s rarely physically or mentally tired. He’s walked for 2 hours a day but honestly a half hour nap and he’s ready to go again!

He needs grooming every 6-8 weeks at a cost of £45 a time, brushing daily on top of that.

He’s the sweetest thing but the first couple of years were an absolute nightmare. I had dog trainers, classes, you name it we did it. As much as I love him I would never have another cockapoo!

This FB group is a good place to start looking for a home breeder
www.facebook.com/groups/885918154882738/

Yes, poot, that lovely fluffy coat needs a heck of a lot of attention, doesn't it!

They can be really mad and they are super energetic and need a lot of walking. Are your kids prepared to do their bit in exercising the dog?

We have a Shuh-po (shih-zu X poodle) who is always mistaken for a cockerpoo.

Absolutely brilliant little dog. Totally recommend. Hypoallergenic, beautiful and perfect with families/small children.

We paid £800 or £850 (can't remember) she was £100 more than the boys in the litter.

Best investment we ever made getting her. She lights up our lives

How did you find your breeder @sirlee66? All poodle crosses due to their popularity are so prone to being farmed in dodgy places.

I thought a Shih tzu poodle cross was a Shitpoo.

I have a Cockerpoo. He is fab. Both parents tested etc, liked breeder.

He is asleep by my feet now.

They like company and need lots training because they are clever and walks. He's 3 now and still goes to obedience classes. He's the best dog, loved other dogs and adores people, marvellous with kids.

But....he has taken lots of training and he has lots of company.

When people say both parents fully tested, do you mean both parents had a vet health test or are you referring to things like DNA testing and hip scoring as they are two very different things.

We have 2 cockerpoos and they both are needy and clingy as anything, but wouldn't have them any other way. We have always had staffies, so these dogs were completely new to us. We have a girl and a boy, the boy is much more cuddly and dopey and the girl is like one big baby and enjoys being carried everywhere!!!
Lovely breed, good choice for a family dog if you ask me :)

www.facebook.com/groups/1500250740004019/.
This is a pretty good group for people who due to situations changing need to rehome their dog, specifically aimed towards poodle crosses.

Haha we do call her a Shitpoo when people ask us what she is (oh the looks we get)!! Both her parents were Shih-poos so I guess she's a pure breed even through its a mixed breed - don't know how that works!

We bought her from a family near us (the mum had the mother Shih-Poo and the daughter had the father) and they had a litter! They only let them breed the once though so wouldn't be able to pass on their details.

We looked into cockerpoos before getting our girl. Lovely family dogs

I have a 7 month old cockapoo and he is a total delight. I bought him from a breeder after a fair bit of research- he's our first dog so I was prepared to pay a bit more than take the risk of a home breeder which I don't have the experience to evaluate. Fine if you know what you're doing but I'm clueless. I've done lots of training with him which he loves and I leave treats in dog puzzles and boxes of I'm going out. To be fair he isn't in alone that much-needed I've heard they can be quite anxious. He does need a fair amount of exercise- I run with him a couple of times a week which he loves, otherwise an hour and a half walk plus a couple of half hours. On days we can't get out he's mental.

Should have said- I paid £1300 for him (a lot!)

Vet, dna and hip scores

Theworldisfullofidiots that's good. Often people say health tested for just a vet check which can be confusing.

We have a cockapoo. He's a dote and we love him but boy is he hard work. As PP said tiring him out is an impossible task. Like I say, we love him but that's because he's part of the family now. I wouldn't get another and definitely not if we had kids.

Good point there biteyshark. Yep - vet check, hip scores and DNA testing for us too - we were given a copy of the parents' tests.

They are lovely and you have to put lots of work into them. Worth it though.

My valentine's card from dh.
'i love you as much as my dog'

Soz.....lying.....