Talk to me about cockapoos

[XXcstatic]

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

[Hanspannerly]

We have a cockerpoo but he’s always mistaken for a poodle instead. He’s a delight. We worked hard on recall for for first year and reinforce it still as he loves to run off after a rabbit. He can jump very very high from a standing start but with training he doesn’t grab at our food now. The best thing about him is the affection he gives us. He just loves cuddles with anyone, he’s asleep with his head on my lap right now! He’s great with my kids and with other dogs too. Of course that depends on socialisation too. He’s a brilliant little dog 😊

[puglife]

Thanks so much. That's really useful

[Brightonbelle123]

Hi puglife, briefly we. started as we meant to continue leaving our pup for periods of time, starting with half an hour and building up and now never more than 4 hours a day. We also crate trained so she had somewhere safe to be and made the crate somewhere positive feeding her in there and leaving safe toys and a stuffed kong when we left and the radio on. We only used the crate for about a year and did likewise with our second dog. I'm not an expert and just followed advice from an experienced dog owner. This also included not making a fuss of the pup before or after going out for about 5 minutes so they don't pick up on any anxiety we have. Good luck with your pup

[puglife]

Brighton can I ask what you did to reduce separation anxiety? We've just brought our pup home & this is something I want to ensure we work on.

[Brightonbelle123]

I have two cockapoos. I did a lot of research before getting my first to make sure it fitted my lifestyle and that I knew how to avoid puppy farms as well how to look after them to minimise risk of separation anxiety. They do love being taken on walks and having a good sniff around in the woods or playing ball. Their recall is very good and as they''ve got older are much better at walking to heel. They are friendly with people of all ages and other dogs. At home they are very chilled and only bark if someone comes to the door. One big positive for me is that they are low odor, even my one who has a fairly straight coat.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Cockerpoos were originally breed in 1859 to give a compact ground and water gun dog -contrary to popular opinion they are not a new thing and they were breed with a purpose.
As long as this is what you expected to get you will be fine. Mine is in and out of the bushes and loves to jump in water. He is a busy high energy dog on a walk just as any ground gun dog is. At home he is mostly chilled occasionally giving a squeaky tennis ball a damn good squeaky. Like many poodles he very happily cohabits with cats.

[Wolfiefan]

Sprockers for example. Produced for a particular job is different.
These dogs aren’t. They appeal to people who want a cute looking dog. That’s all. They don’t end up in working homes.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

If you have good pedigree dogs then you want to breed good pedigree dogs.
Not necessarily. I've come across some very deliberate, considered crosses, though to be fair produced for work.

The cockapoos I know are great: very jolly and dog-social, which is a really valuable trait.

[BiteyShark]

Tbf the one cockerpoo I have trained alongside with has been lovely.

However, I know the cons of getting a cocker and would advise anyone getting one or cross breeding with one to carefully consider whether they are happy with them alongside the cons of the other cross.

I love my dog but I think every breed has both good and bad traits so I am always wary of any totally positive reviews just as I would be of totally negative.

[Nesssie]

It's interesting that the actual cockapoo owners with actual experience of a cockapoo aren't on here telling you what a shit dog it is.

This ^ Everyone is giving opinions on dogs they 'see at the park' or dogs 'they know'. Yes the cockerpoo at the park might be whizzing around at full speed, but that's because its at the park. Yes the dog you visited might have kept trying to climb on your lap, but that's because you are new and exciting.

And personally, I don't like the face of full poodles, I think cockerpoos have a nicer look. Personal opinion. But for those that asked, that is one reason I would get a cockerpoo rather than a mini poodle.

[GU24Mum]

I've got friends with a cockapoo which is very lively and excitable and friends with a labradoodle which is much calmer though still fun.

Poodle and spaniel are both excitable whereas the lab cross brings something different into the mix.

[Fucksandflowers]

I think lots of people think spaniels are loving dogs and the poodle will simply tame the manic bounciness of the spaniel

Probably true but IMO, neither breed really has anything to complement the other.
They are too similar.
It’s a pointless cross.

Both are extremely intelligent.
Both are working gun dog breeds, yes, really!
Both are energetic with good stamina.
Both around the same size if we are talking miniature Poodle.
Both are known to be biddable/eager to please.

[Wolfiefan]

Bitey

[BiteyShark]

I think lots of people think spaniels are loving dogs and the poodle will simply tame the manic bounciness of the spaniel. Coupled with the fact that they do often look like a cuddly teddy bear I can see why they are popular.

The problem is genetics can throw a curve ball and you get the highly intelligent manic dog that you just wish had an off button and didn't outsmart you all the time .

[Wolfiefan]

@hesagooddog
No one is saying all cockapoos are shit. They are saying they are pretty much impossible to find from a decent breeder. (If you have good pedigree dogs then you want to breed good pedigree dogs.) So puppy farmer or unhealthtested (often clueless) backyard breeders it is.
There seems little logical reason for the cross. What does one breed add to the other? And many people take them on with little idea of how high maintainance they can be.

[FoxesAreFabulous]

MissShapesMissStakes our boy has also some too-short clips!! I think that photo was taken a while after he'd been clipped so it had grown out a bit......we normally ask for the same length all over with a bit of height left on the top of the head and a bit of length left on the tail plus no face-shaving (so they either clip his face or trim it, depending upon how friendly he's feeling towards scissors that day!!
OP, with a cockapoo you'd be looking at clipping every 6-8 weeks and they need brushing in between, same as a pood. (although having said that, ours HATES being brushed and we can only do one small bit at a time so he has a complete brush over the course of about a week and is no worse for it.

[Clappyhapper]

My parents have one, he’s an absolute angel.
Two friends also have them, both wonderful family dogs.

[Walney]

I will say that they do seem to make excellent family pets and great with children. Also all of the ones I know are sociable with other dogs which makes dog ownership more fun.

[hesagooddog]

The op has already said it's not coming from a puppy farm.

I have a cockapoo. He's not yappy. He's energetic but also sleeps a lot. He's got a good protective bark. He loves to play and is easy to train. I love him, great temperament and I'd buy him again.

It's interesting that the actual cockapoo owners with actual experience of a cockapoo aren't on here telling you what a shit dog it is.

[Mummyshark2018]

I have a cockapoo (almost 2). We adore him and he is wonderful!
Pros:
Intelligent
Friendt
Sociable
Great with kids
Cuddly
Loves walks
Affectionate
Very easily trained
Fluffy!
Ours is hypoallergenic (I know not all are but I'm allergic so I know)
Ours Doesn't shed!


Cons:
Loves their pack so don't like being left alone for long. We leave for 4 hours max a few times a week. Does get anxious
My dh has to trim in almost every week
Likes stimulation so we pay a lot for dog walks mainly so he gets interaction and exercise with other dogs

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Sorry to derail but FoxesAreFabulous - that’s a lovely cut your poodle has. My mini got a little too snipped last time and I don’t like it. What do you ask for to get your poodle’s cut?

[Walney]

We socialise our dog with a few cockapoos and although they are friendly dogs they are also very energetic and don't seem to ever stop, I would also worry about puppy farming as with any popular breed. Personally I wouldn't ever have one as they are very yappy and full on, they also never really out grow the puppy stage.

[FoxesAreFabulous]

They're everywhere, I see them constantly, far more than any other type of dog ........... the puppy farm risks mean I would never get one
This
What’s wrong with a poodle can I ask?
And this
We have a miniature poodle and he is clever, funny, energetic but will snooze quite happily at home after his walks. I just cannot understand the current craze for poodle crosses and I'm sorry to say it just fuels the puppy farms and backyard breeders. Even if you have met both parents, there is just no guarantee of which breed traits you will get from either side. Our trainer has also seen more cockapoos than any other type of dog and you have to ask why.
If you want the cute, fluffy look - and I'm sorry but that is why a lot of people choose a poodle cross although that may not be your motivation, OP - then why not get one of these. 100% poodle but almost always mistaken for a cockapoo and when we do tell people that he's a poodle, it's always 'oh a pure poodle?'/'oh so not crossed with anything'/'what's he crossed with' and my favourite of all - 'so he's just a poodle?'. There is no such thing as JUST a poodle

[Mominatrix]

In terms of temperament, I am not certain that you are correct most people would be better with a miniature poodle. What is attractive to the owners of cockapoos that I know, including me, is the spaniel side. DH is a lover of hunting dogs and our compromise was a poodle crossed with a spaniel. We knew the spaniel mother and our dog very much has her mother's temperament - fun and lively, but not uncontrollably so, but tempered by the poodle in her. We very much wanted a mix of the 2 breeds.

[Kaddm]

I would have thought that the cockapoo wouldn’t be lonely when you go out because the lab would be there? He/she wouldn’t be alone.