Talk to me about cockapoos

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We have a lab and are thinking about getting a cockapoo as Ddog 2. Would be very grateful for your cockapoo thoughts & experiences

I can't comment on the poodle side but I understand they are very intelligent and obviously that means you need to be able to mentally stimulate them enough.

As for the cocker side I have a working cocker and he is lovely as a pet dog in the house BUT he pulls on the lead and is a hunter. Cockers are notorious for being a pain in the arse for lead walking so will require a lot of effort. They are also hunting dogs so if they are left to their own devices will pick up a scent and go with it.

For cockerpoos there is no way to tell how much of each you will get. You might get one that looks like a poodle but acts like a cocker, vice versa and everything inbetween.

What I would do is look up the cons of both breeds and decide whether they could be an issue for you or not.

What are you hoping for in a new dog?

To be honest I wouldn't touch a cockapoo puppy with a bargepole because the vast vast majority of them come from puppy farms. Spending the first half of the critical 16 week socialisation period in sub optimal conditions can lead to behavioural problems and greater susceptibility to ill health. A local and very well qualified behaviourist said that last year she'd seen more cockapoos than any other breed (partly due to popularity, but...) and that resource guarding was an increasingly strong theme with cockapoos - and that's a problem that can be frankly dangerous if you have young children.

An adult rescue cockapoo, possibly, though it wouldn't be my first choice by any stretch out the imagination. At least that way you have a much better idea of the dog's personality, and you avoid the minefield that is buying a puppy. I would still be put off by the grooming mind you...

I've known several cockapoos and everyone of them seems to be rather full on.

Both breeds, poodle and cockers, can be hard work and high energy - both intelligent breeds - and as with any cross you could be getting the best of both breeds or the worst; you've no way of knowing until you get the dog in your house; so it's a bit of a gamble.

If you go with either a poodle, or a cocker at least, hopefully, you'll get a vague idea of some of their breed traits.

Agree with PP, my auntie has one and hers is absolutely lovely, seen with mother and father, raised in a home with children and they had regular visits before collecting. But... as a mixed breed you can end up with the good or the bad, it’s pot luck. I have mongrels so have some good and bad traits from breeds in them but if I was going ‘pedigree’ I wouldn’t be going for mixed breed, go one or the other at least you will be more informed on the bad traits within that breed x

I know one, he's a lovely dog but has absolutely no manners with other dogs (probably because he came from a puppy farm and was separated from his siblings too early), pulls like mad on lead, has patchy recall and absolutely no off switch. He does have a lovely loving nature but is far too full on for me.

I also wouldn't have one as I think it is very difficult to find a decent breeder. For me either a cocker or a poodle would be a better bet.

I have one, albeit one obtained somewhat accidentally, and he’s the most wonderful little dog, I couldn’t have done better with him to be honest. Having had lurchers, spaniels and jack russells previously, he’s quite different!
He’s clever but not so that he’s constantly looking for something to do and he doesn’t seem to get bored too easily. He’s as happy with a long walk as he is a quick spin around the field then a long nap and he’s so affectionate and loving, he’s just a great little pal. Super chilled. He doesn’t moult, he doesn’t smell too doggy and he’s small enough (mini poodle x working cocker) that he’s an ideal size for a smallish home.
If I had to pick something that is a negative, he’s a bit too attached to me, and can get upset when left, but I kind of brought that on myself. I didn’t even try and spend any time away from him from when I got him at 8 weeks to when I went back to work (I’d been off with a broken leg) when he was about 20 weeks. Ish. So yea there is that, but I can’t blame him.
As a PP says tho, it is pot luck with a cross. And I’ve met a lotttt of mental cockapoos 😂

Thanks for warning re puppy farms, but we know the owners of both parents - both animals have good temperaments (though I know this doesn't guarantee anything about the puppies' temperaments) and definitely not puppy farmed.

One of my concerns about cockapoos is clinginess. Our lab is never left for more than 4 hours (as an adult- much less when a puppy) but we do need a dog who can cope with a few hours alone once an adult.

To be fair to the cockerpoo I know clingyness isn't an issue. He can quite happily be left for a few hours. I think with separation issues it's generally down to the individual dog rather than the breed so I wouldn't let that put you off.

Not quite a cockerpoo but we have a poodle cross. She’s a delight and everyone comments on what a lovely girl she is.

My friends have a cockerpoo and she’s lovely. They seem to be well natured dogs. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule.

I have a cockapoo. He is the sweetest natured dog I have ever come across. Docile, dopey, brilliant with kids, energetic, loving. He's perfect. He would be clingy I suspect if he was the only dog but he's obsessed with our older dog.

They're everywhere, I see them constantly, far more than any other type of dog and feel that the numbers of certain lovely breed dogs are becoming dangerously low because of these boring crosses. Them and "CavaPoos". That and the puppy farm risks mean I would never get one. I hope very much that the novelty wears off soon.

Mine is clearly broken. She's bad with birds (chasing) and not cat friendly but so good with my children and a very loving little girl.

What’s wrong with a poodle can I ask? Just curious. I was interested in poodle crosses. But the more research I did, the more I realised that it was all the poodle traits I liked.
We have a mini poodle. He’s our first ever dog and he is delightful. Clever so easy to train, fine being left (only gets left for three hours at the most but not needed to leave him longer), amazing with my kids, no shedding, happy to have one quick walk or a long hike.
And you don’t need him to look like the usual idea of a poodle.

Think about what it is about the two breeds that you like. And what will the worst case scenario be - if you get a mix you don’t automatically get the best of each breed.

They are very popular now - almost every other dog I meet is a cockerpoo! The 2 I know well are non-stop and bouncy as hell. They also need to be clipped regularly £25 a time.

My 8 year old cockapoo, Doris, is the most wonderful pet. She likes nothing more than to be with us, whether that is playing with a ball on a walk or just snuggling on the sofa. She hardly ever barks and she just adores us.
Her fur doesn't cause problems for my friend who is allergic and I just think Cockapoos are great!

Both DH and I grew up with a variety of dogs and we also both agree that our current cockapoo is the best dog we have had.

She was not the product of a puppy farm (know the mum who is a family dog and saw the dad). She is is not overly energetic (DH had an Irish Setter in the past and that dog really was the definition of nervous energy) yet is still bouncy and fun. She is easily trained, obedient, patient with children, and whilst very friendly, is a great guard dog for the house (loud bark, but not a nuisance barker and only barks if she senses strangers stepping into our front garden).

In terms of clinginess, yes and no. She loves being with us and will cry if she is tied up away from us but can smell us close by or can see us. However, if she knows that we are going away from her immediate vicinity, she just waits patiently for us.

She does not shed but does require a good brush once a week with rake, particularly around the moulting seasons and a good grooming session every 8 weeks.

My aunt has a cockapoo and shes definitely very excitable, but then again she is well walked so does chill out afterwards.

We have a 2 year old cavapoo and shes much more chilled, i would say she easily sleeps 75% of the day. If we taker her a walk more than 20 minutes she will pretty much sleep the rest of the day or night. Shes very easy going and lovable!

Yeah they're not a boring cross. They're a lovely dog just like lots of other lovely dogs.

You know both parents? So backyard breeders who won’t bother to do health tests? Poodle parent should have those tests pre mating and cocker parent should have their own breed appropriate set of tests.
Don’t.
Get a mutt or an actual pedigree. There is no good reason for this cross. They are often bonkers and their coat can be a nightmare.

My DSis has one, definitely wasn't from a puppy farm, came from a family she knew well already and it's a lovely dog. Very good natured and I really couldn't criticise it. I've met a lot of others as they're popular and they've all seemed good natured dogs

I was walking my toy poodle one day. She was in need of a haircut so rather fluffy. A woman approached and said 'oh, how lovely, a cockapoo! I love cockapoos!' I said 'actually she's a pedigree toy poodle'. Her face fell - 'oh, I don't like poodles', and she walked away.
The only point to this story, if there's one at all, is that I think cockapoos are a bit of a fashion craze. People have funny ideas about poodles, but this is really all down to grooming more than anything else. My dog is not shaved or 'pom-pommed' anywhere, and, although she's actually too small to be a cockapoo, just because she's fluffy and 'poodly' looking, people assume that is what she is. Op, you know where your dog is coming from, which is a plus, but personally I would always plump for a pure bred rather than half and half. Poodles are wonderful dogs in their own right, as are cockers, but just because you mix the two doesn't necessarily mean you get the best of both breeds.

Oh, and yes to what a pp says about health testing. Have these puppies parents been tested op? I don't know anything about cockers, but poodles are prone to quite a lot of hereditary diseases, blindness among them. It would be heartbreaking to get and love a dog that eventually succumbs to illness.

Hi I have a cockapoo and his mum and she is expecting puppies in 5 weeks time fingers crossed. They are from show quality parents and reared in house with bunny and other dogs and cats. My cockapoo is 1 year old next month and he's the best dog and a true class clown he walks off the lead and so well behaved everyone falls in love with him. I'm going to get him into being a therapy dog as he's so loving and so good. He's clever quirky and fun. Such an amazing dog. I'd say the boys are the more chilled compared to his sister's that I have over for holidays they are typical girls! Xx

I don’t like them.

My area is overrun with them, most of them are very hyperactive, there’s a few that are dog/human aggressive aswell.

They also look exactly the same as a poodle in a sensible clip, so I’d just go for a properly bred poodle if I were you.
Or a nice working cocker.

both animals have good temperaments (though I know this doesn't guarantee anything about the puppies' temperaments)

Temperament is mostly inherited actually so if both parents are good, steady, friendly dogs it is highly likely their pups will be too.