Are Cockapoos okay with young children

[SianJenkins]

Wondered if anybody has any experience of Cockapoos and if they’re safe around toddlers.
I found some information from a website that was recommended to me Cockapoo For Life
But not much about with children?

Thanks in advance !
Sian

My mil has one and she is amazing around the 6 grandchildren! Gets very excited to see them all and she is only a puppy.

The ages of dc range from 5-15.

I’m sorry but that is such a daft question. No one can guarantee any dog 100% around children. You can never leave a dog alone with a toddler as every dog has a breaking point. My two pups LOVE children but are perfectly capable of knocking them over and hurting them by accident.

On the whole that breed seems to be a child friendly one, but all dogs have their own personalities.

What a stupid question - perhaps you should rephrase it. If you have a dog it is your responsibility that both dog and children are trained, it doesn’t matter what the breed is.

Undoubtedly some dogs are better family dogs than others, so not such a stupid question.

Cockapoos are generally sweet tempered dogs but can be excitable. My personal preference for a family friendly dog is a Labrador.

I noticed an Akita did well in it's class in Crufts. I wouldn't go near one myself as they were bred for fighting.

It’ll depend entirely on the parents...

The sort of behaviour you’re asking about is to a very large extent inherited and with a crossbreed that’s where it gets a bit tricky because most people breeding crosses aren’t doing it with a lot of knowledge about what is a good temperament and what traits complement each other in a dog and bitch.

It tends to be just any pair they have access to and of course that’s not even taking into account the number of dogs that come from puppy farms and the issues that can create.

So, a well bred poodle or a well bred cocker should suit children fine and in theory a mix should too, but, well bred crosses are pretty hard to find, so much more of a gamble.

“I noticed an Akita did well in it's class in Crufts. I wouldn't go near one myself as they were bred for fighting.”

It’s got not much to do with the OP’s question but they weren’t...

They’re bred to flush out game, like spaniels only instead of working them towards the human hunters, they keep them out in the open to be hunted.

More to the point, are your toddlers good with dogs?
Have they spent any time around dogs, are they gentle, do they listen to instructions and respect boundaries?
Do they love animals?

(And btw akitas are well known for loving children, though not a breed for the inexperienced owner)

I have springers and they love children. Better with 5+ age range as they love bouncing around and playing. But they are also really soft and gentle with my DD

I have a cockapoo who we got when my daughter was 3, honestly she was too young, it was hard work as she didn't really understand the rules around the dog. I Also have an older child who was 6, he was fine.

My dog is fab tho! He is happy to play with the kids, he has growled at my daughter once but she was annoying him, and I don't blame him. We all love him to bits and he has a great temprament.

All breeds are safe. All breeds are a risk.

To look at how much of a risk they are you look at:

• the physical size and ability of the dog. Large dogs can do more damage than small ones, so the danger if something goes wrong is greater.

• the breed characteristics. In this case you need to look at the worst of cockers and poodles as you won't know which bits will come through to your pup. Poodles can be highly strung, get very frustrated if not exercised and mentally challenged enough, be bouncy and boisterous, can be sensitive to noise and shouting which isn't brilliant with kids. Cockers can be overly sensitive, get frustrated when not exercised enough, hate being alone, strong willed, also bouncy. Both dogs can be mouthy which means they are likely to chew anything left around and may use their mouths in play more than other dogs. There are also lots of great points about both breeds (both of which I love) but you when crossing breeds you need to be prepared for the worst.

• the parents and they way they were bred, including early experiences in life. You need both parents to have brilliant temperaments. Whilst I am sure there are good breeders of cross breeds out there, you need to be prepared for the fact that they are harder to find than with pure breeds and so need to be much more savvy about choosing a breeder. MUCH more savvy.

• the training and experiences you give the dog. You should do plenty of research into canine behaviour in advance because it will be up to you to bring the puppy up to be safe around children

• the way the children behave. If yours are not used to living with a dog then I highly recommend getting them regular, supervised access to dogs so they can learn how to behave around them.

• your involvement in how the toddler and dog interacts. All dogs and toddlers must be actively supervised. That means watched by an adult who is on the look out for problems (not just an adult in the room who is doing something else). Toddlers and dogs should never be left alone, not even for a few seconds. It is not fair to either.

Thanks to everyone. It’s put my mind at ease!

I have a cockapoo and a 3 year old. They get each other VERY excited, but no nasty incidents so far, except the odd warning nip when my son really has gone too far and hurt him. Working on that, the dog is only 9 months old. I'm told they calm down when they go over 12 months... x