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

We have a cavapoo. Friends have a cockerpoo. Both lovely and have proven great with children. We looked for breeders that healthchecked the Cavaliers due to their health issues. (Heart)

We opted for a cavapoo in the hope she'd be less hyper than a cockerpoo. So far she is. She can cuddle up for ages but also have a mad doodle dash when she wants!

I'd definitley factor in grooming with poodle crosses. They can matt so easily.

OP can you say why you think a cockerpoo would fit your family. For example I have a cocker and they can have a high prey drive which a cockerpoo may inherit. This may or may not be a good fit for your family.

Hello!!! Wow!!! This is brilliant! Thank u all so much. Some incredibly useful information. I will digest it tonight

Really interested by the extra poo
variations. I know Shi Tzu well. So that might work and not heard of a cavapoo.

The pink panter: I suspect this might be our only foray into dogdom as the kids ages. I have a feeling once they hit 18 I’d only buy a cat. There’s a “now or never” feeling around this point in time.

Yes the reason was asthma in my husband.

Thanks to all pointing out both breed fit and intelligent as I was wondering about this myself.

Has your husband spent some time with dogs of various fur types? As a poodle designer cross is a cross with a "normal" fur dog usually there's no guarantee it would inherit an asthma-friendly coat. It could just as easily inherit from the Spaniel side for example.

If you go back to the KC breed list of purebred dogs with low/no shed fur, you're going to have less of a minefield finding a legit breeder as there will be KC assured breeders listed.

A lot of allergies can be caused by the dander so whilst a poodle cross might shed less it won't mean that your DH won't be allergic to it.

You really should research both breeds of any crossbreed and make sure both aspects would be suitable for your lifestyle. Being a cross breed doesn't mean you only get the 'best of both breeds'. I know of cockerpoos that are similar to my cocker in some ways and different in others (the looks being the big thing ).

OP join Cavapoo club on FB. There's lots of knowledgeable owners on there and a list of responsible breeders who health test.

As a PP said there's no guarantee you would get a poodle coat so if that's on one your must haves I'd look at a minture poodle. :)

This is our cav x poodle.

We've got a Schnoodle, she's now 8 months old. Absolutely gorgeous pup, beautiful temperament, doesn't shed at all ( her brother- who my parents own- does), she's laid back and also very playful. Happy on long walks and flat on her back asleep

She's also got amazing recall and is very clever. Honestly couldn't fault her in the slightest. She's also massively improved my mental health which is amazing

Hi.
We have a cocker, and have got to know quite a few cockerpoos (I would say at least 6 or 7 over the last couple of years). Same level of bonkers, they 'get' each other and with the exception of other full spaniels, our cocker connects with them better than any other breed and loves nothing better than a full-pelt run and roll about, like todays muddy episode

However what I wanted to say was, I dont know if this is typical or just our experience with the ones I know, I have found that on occasion (well quite a few to be honest) they can be quite snappy and possessive when treats are being dished out (might be classed as food guarding) Might be something to bear in mind with regards to the children.

p.s. have always thought a shitsu/poodle cross, apart from being exceptionally cute. was a shoodle!

We have a cockapoo and friends have one from the same breeder (but different parents). They are so different in personality

Our boy is a chilled, cuddly chap who loves attention and can do long walks but doesn't need them. He's a bit stupid as well. He can't find a ball under his own feet. But we love him. He is amazing with all ages of children and other animals and suits our family well.

Our friends' girl is much more hyper and needs long walks every day. She also has a strong guarding instinct and can be a bit growly with people and other dogs.

They are both hyper allergenic for family members with asthma and eczema.

Our breeder came from personal recommendation (I can dm you) which I was pleased about as there are a lot of dodgy breeders out there, especially as cockapoos and cavapoos are so popular.
A PP mentioned a puppy farm that left dead puppies on the road. They also charged people to be on a waiting list. A good breeder wouldn't do that.

Don't read the article if you're easily upset news.canterbury.gov.uk/dog-breeder-fined-after-discovery-of-dead-puppies/

Since this article was published, the council has taken their dog breeding licence away

My cockapoo is very anxious. Cries as soon as we leave the house. Cries if we cuddle without him. He's very nosey when on his leash, never walks in a straight line but has good recall.

The coat takes a lot of work and we ended up getting him sheared at Xmas as it actually got wet and was a horrible mat.

But he's adorable and loving.

It's interesting about the guarding. Mine never has and is v gentle.
My friends labrador is awful at snapping treats away. Is it a training thing?
I'm a first time dog owner so still learning.

If you are after a low allergen dog, why don't you get a low allergen dog. A poodle, perhaps.

I've got 2 cockapoo's. One is a F1 (cocker x poodle) - he was £850 and a F1b (cockapoo x poodle) she was £1100

My girl has a very fine coat and it aggravates my eczema, the boy's coat is thicker and doesn't bother me at al, not even when long. The breeder I got them from explained that they aren't hypoallergenic and anyone who says they are is a charlatan!

They are high maintenance - I groom them everyday to stop matts in the coat and have them professionally groomed every 6weeks @£40 each.

They are very intelligent - both of mine last love brain games. One does scent work - after a class he sleeps for hours! Both are muck magnets......mud and puddles - they love'em! If you are ho serous a dog s not for you - cleaning my tiled floors s a never ending task in the rain.

I love them both and wouldn't be without them, they are wonderfully sociable and love company........ Some don't like bring left and can get quite upset, so you need to think about what you'll do with them if you are both out off the house.

In all honesty I would only have one if I'd have got my girl first - she is a proper diva with separation anxiety and a fussy appetite. My boy on the other hand is a laid back, cuddle monster who will eat anything put in front of him.

Do a lot of research and ask around locally if you see people with a cockapoo as they will be able to recommend a breeder.

I have a poodle cross (couldn't tell you what as she came from a rescue abroad) But she looks pretty similar to the photos above. She is amazing, cuddly, friendly, laid back, follows me around the house. She has a bit of separation anxiety, but is slowly getting better. Quite a strong prey instinct but has learnt to accept the family cat (guinea pigs not so much, so I have to keep them well apart)

Expensive to groom, yes. But I wouldn't want any other breed, she is perfect

Why anyone would pay the price they do for a cockerpoo, cavapoo, whatever the latest mogrell is, is beyond me! Especially when you can get pure bred, full pedigree registered and properly health tested puppies of either breed for less than the designer cross breed!

Think about why anyone would be breeding these crossbreeds? It's usually to cash in on the latest designer dog. Are these people really going to spend hundreds health testing the parents for all the conditions poodles can have plus all the ones cocker spaniels can have? Are they really going to raise the litter with no expense spared when it cuts into their profit margin?

With no registration or pedigree you've only got the breeders word that the dog is indeed what they say it is. Could be anything!

@CatchingBabies

We wanted a cross breed as they generally have fewer health problems and live longer.

The parents were both pedigrees with all of the paperwork. Best of both worlds.

Catching a mongrel is made up of 3 breeds so your term isn't really accurate. People can do as they wish with their own money after all. It's not something you need to necessarily get.

I also found crossbreeds cheaper to insure.

Either way as long as people are doing the proper research in to the breeders that's the main thing.

I have two non shedding dogs, they are both pedigree with an average life span of 14 years and almost no health problems in the breed (parents both DNA checked as not carriers) a cross does not guarantee a long healthy life it increases the risks of getting the health issues from both sides of the cross.

catchingbabies

1. I wanted a cockerpoo because I like them, the same way you might like any particular pedigree.
2. My cockerpoo's parents are both KC registered pedigrees and I have their paperwork
3. I suspect breeding for money is not something which is exclusive to crossbreeds: you may have noticed that pugs seem to be hugely fashionable right now. It is up to every buyer to do their research, make and ask the right questions and walk away if something doesn't feel right, whether you are buying crossbreed or pedigree.

Cross breeds aren't usually well received on MN especially poodle crosses...

Like I said earlier their are breeders out there who do breed responsibly.

KC accredited doesn't guarantee anything either these days!

I know people who have paid £1600-£2000 for a cockerpoo and cavapoo!

Crossbreeds are not healthier that's a myth, it depends on the breeds. When both breeds carry the same genetic conditions it doubles the risk.

Look at the list of recommended health tests on poodles and cocker spaniels, how many cockerpoo owners can say all those tests were done?

Having the pedigree and kc reg of the parents means nothing, no guarantee they were the parents. They could be puppy farmed and placed with "parents" to fool buyers as often happens. When the actual puppy is KC reg there is paperwork and checks to confirm parentage, not with crossbreeds.

Most pedigree breeders breed to a breed standard, what are crossbreeders breeding to? Who says what a cockerpoo looks like? There's huge variety! How many of these are bought for their non-shedding qualities which is actually 50/50 if they have that or not. How many are then rehomed because they do shed?

Look at the sheer number of poodle crosses in rescue! Look at many tears rescue and see the appalling state of the ex puppy farm breeding dogs.

Even the creator of the labradoodle (where this poodle crossing started) has said he deeply deeply regrets it and the damage it has since done.

As for pugs, I think that's also disgusting and should be banned but again it's thoughtless breeders cashing in on the latest craze.

But buy what you want, feel free to support these people and line the pockets of backyard breeders and puppy farmers.

There are good and bad in pedigree and crossbreed breeders.

Our cockapoo came from a family home and we visited a few times before he was ready to come home with us. He and his siblings were always with their mum in the kitchen, dad hanging around too. It was the best, clean, warm and cosy environment and the breeder was fab. Don't tar all crossbreed owners or breeders with the same brush (ignorant/greedy).