DH wants a cockapoo/ labradoodle I don't :/

[Snoopydoop]

I'm really hesitant to get a poodle mix, they're as expensive as a pedigree puppy but obviously not!

I'd really love another Labrador, we've had them before. We tend to go hiking every weekend and need a dog who can keep up. I also want a fairly sturdy dog? One who's parents are health checked.

We do have a dog walker and on the days I'll be in work (3) the dog will be in day care with her. I do long days but my husband works normal office hours.

Am I being stupidly precious about a labradoodle or a cockapoo? I just don't want a dog that is going to be unwell with god knows what hereditary disease or leg problems.

Are their good 'doodle' breeders out there? It's me that will be doing most with the dog so should I be able to veto a breed?

Sorry if it's a bit confused. I don't know why he's set his heart on these breeds!

Why the fuck isn't a lab suitable? They are biddable, loving and sensible. Apart from the black hair everywhere they are perfect.

Can't bear cockerpoos. Why spoil a perfectly good poodle with a spaniel (all insane)

I have a Heinz 57. We had her DNA tested. She's a mix of collie, greyhound, husky and malamute. None of which is a surprise to us. We thought she'd take hours to tire out - nope about 20 mins of off lead running and she's knackered! She'll pootle for hours, walking with you, but the sighthound in her apparently overtakes the husky thank god.

Have a look for a Heinz maybe. She's such a lovely chilled out dog.

Our 16 week old Goldendoodle is a very chilled out fellow. Perhaps we just got lucky. He enjoys being out for his short walks and gets excited when he meets other dogs, but spends a lot of time just musing quietly in the garden and sleeping.

Quite why people are assuming labs wouldn’t be fit enough I’m not sure, given that they are a gun dog that should be capable of working in the field all day. Well, the working strain obviously, not the heffing great lump the kennel club seems to prefer.

This is my boy. He’s from working lines. He’s as happy trekking out with me for hours as he is spending the rest of the day snoozing. He’s got a beautiful temperament, he’s been a dream to train and thanks to an expensive diet he’s as fit as a fiddle. The constant black hair everywhere is a small price to pay.

Black lab all the way (although she currently stinks from all the crap she scavenges!)

Just wanted to come on and say that although breeds have their inherited traits they also vary widely in personality and a lot of bonkers, whether it be a Labrador or a labradoodle/cockerpoo, is down to lack of training and stimulation or sometimes over stimulation.
My girl is a mix of springer spaniel, Labrador, collie and poodle...all high energy breeds supposedly and although she took a lot of recall training and needs mental stimulation she doesn’t need loads of exercise although will happily hike for a few hours occasionally. Don’t get a doodle because you obviously don’t want to and for very sound reasons but don’t believe people who just dismiss them as bonkers☹️

We have a 7 month cockapoo/poodle cross- so more poodle. Our last dog was a lab and before that a spaniel.

It is great. Less walking but can still do long walks. A real dog- not a lap dog but you can pick him up when needed. Retrieves- has a dummy. Digs (massive holes he can sit in)

Very clever, easy to toilet train and can do tricks. Thinking about doing agility as he really loves learning.

No fur! no fur! no fur! I don't mind paying for grooming, so much better than the lab shedding hair everywhere.

I am a convert.

You seem to have made your mind up that all poodle crosses have health problems. Do yourself a favour and get the lab. Nothing wrong with labradors. Lovely dogs. Just the same as any dog really. If the owner knows what she or he is doing the dog will be well trained. No breed is a bad breed. Their behaviour depends on the owner. (PS not all poodle crosses come from puppy farms. Lots do. Puppy farmers deal in all pedigrees and crosses).

Well, the working strain obviously, not the heffing great lump the kennel club seems to prefer

Oi. I have a big kennel club friendly lab and he's up for a good 2 hour walk every day! Or just as happy with a quick tootle round the field for a poo

Did I say how fab he was

Several years ago when I was looking at active family dogs I did set my heat on a labradoodle. Then I did some more homework.
In the end we set our hearts on this breed. Irish terriers are medium sized, generally calm in the home, amazing with kids and wonderful to train. They normally don’t shed so need regular grooming and about 2x year stripping. They can be complicated so not a first time dog owner dog unless a lot of ongoing training for dog and owner are committed to.
I then seemed to lose the plot and now we have three .

Please look at this rescue. www.facebook.com/dogrescueandadoption/ Specialising in Lab/retriever types. They do extensive health testing, cat testing etc. a lot of the dogs are with foster/pension (in the European sense of the word) type arrangements rather than in large kennels, so socialised well.
They ask around £300 to pay for transport to the UK. They also have some dogs in UK foster homes.

Take a look at many tears animal rescue. They always have loads of puppies and every breed esp labs, all in need of a lovely home!

My labradoodle is the gentlest, calmest, laziest dog I've ever owned. My standard poodle on the other hand, is a fruit loop! Both are equally gorgeous, but poodle is definitely high energy and highly strung compared to the labradoodle! That said, obviously poodle traits can be the more dominant ones in doodles, so I think we're just lucky with ours!

If you don't want one don't get one. But I have had four awesome Labradoodles and I love them. Our latest puppy is from a very responsibe breeder. If you are genuinely interested then pm me and I will give you the name. Not all breeders are the same.

I don’t recognise the negative cockerpoo traits at all.
Ours are the sweetest things, so easy to toilet train, literally one accident. They have lots of energy, could run all day, but they don’t go crazy if they don’t get it. No chewing, no shedding.
Only issue is ours is a bit clingy.

I have two labradoodles who are horse-sized! They are full sisters, same parents, just two years apart in age. One is the most chilled-out, bomb-proof, obedient, friendly girl you've ever met. The other is highly-strung, nervy, barky and frightened of other dogs! That's one of the things about cross breeds, there is massive variation in temperament and coat type, even within the same litter. They both need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.

There is such a thing as a good doodle breeder (my breeder is a licensed breeder and all the dogs are hip and eye checked, you always meet both parents, do lots of familiarisation visits with them before you take them home etc) but due to the popularity of poodle crosses nowadays I think that there are lots of backyard breeders cashing in, so they're few and far between and it would be easy to end up with a dog with health problems.

The other thing about doodles (if you end up with one with a wool/curly coat) is the grooming fees! Don't underestimate them, it costs me a FORTUNE :)

OP - if you want to do agility and flyball plus hiking at the weekend and doggie daycare how about a JRT? They are so endearing, clever, robust and fun. They need a lot of mental stimulation and they love training and learning. Not for the faint hearted but with all you are planning to do I think sounds like a good match. Very good health too.

@password My JRT x would love a home with agility, flyball and hiking. He's done well at "have a go" type flyball and agility, will walk all day given half a chance (I've seen him go for 7 hours inc lots of dogs before now). Completely obsessed with balls and will play fetch for literally hours. He'd probably only manage half days at day care if there were lots of dogs as when he gets over tired he just wants to be left alone by other dogs, but he's also happy home alone. Tough as old boots physically.

Absolutely not for the faint hearted - anything less than 2 hours a day off exercise and I regret it. I wouldn't want this individual living with kids under about 12-14, but each individual is different.

Lots of fab JRTs in rescue too - plenty to choose from.

Just to add that I wouldn't do agility type training with mine though I know they would love the stimulation they like other large breeds have potential for joint injuries. Walking and playing fine. Not joining you in a bike ride either. They are hugh energy, bright and need stimulation our older 10 year old dog still thinks he's a puppy but is the soppiest thing ever. They can get huge, you can't be 100% how big any cross will end up.

I have a poodle cross. I love her to bits and wouldn't trade her for the world but I'd also never have another again.
Personality wise I couldn't ask for a better dog, very easy to train. Friendly with other dogs but now shes past her puppy stage not too friendly. Generally avoids people. And as long as she gets a couple of good walks a day she will sleep a lot of the time.
The reason I could never get another is the grooming. The best way to describe it is its like trying to brush cotton wool.

Have you actually considered a Border Collie? Contrary to what many believe, they're not all neurotic control freaks! If you to a good Collie Rescue, you'll find plenty of young collies just looking for a home like yours.

I adore my rescue collies, greatest dogs ever.

Aren't all dogs hyper when they are young? A lab sounds like a good option apart from the agility.

I love my cockerpoo.
He is our first dog and we've invested heavily in training. Obediance / agility classes every week. He's always been reasonably good and despite being a rural dog is great in a crowd.
He was part of a litter bred to be disable aid dogs. We have all the health checks, both parents etc.
He is crate trained but spends a lot of time with people. When I work at home he basically follows me around all day.