Going to look at a cockerpoo puppy this morning

[BarchesterTowers]

We were on the wairin* list. But she rang yesterday saying that one of the current litter isn5t going to br picked up. Did w3 want to come look. Means we won’t get a choice.

OMG CHristmass your girl is beautiful.

Can I just say that there is a case for having a puppy as long as you do your research and due diligence? We rescued for over 20 years - mostly elderly and ill dogs and ex-breeding dogs. I also volunteered for a rescue charity. Our hearts were broken over and over again. We got to the point where we could not carry on and needed a rest from the trauma and heartbreak.

So, I recently bought (yes, bought) a Clumber pup and I have enjoyed training her and forging a bond with her from puppyhood onwards. What she has given me is something very different and I adore her.

It was not long until another rescue dog came along (of course!) but the balance my pup gives me is a delight after all of the heartbreak of my wonderful rescue dogs. I miss them all every single day.

@Scarsthelot

No, I specifically chose a poodle cross breed that I'd known for not needing much grooming. Actually!

Personally, I am not against anyone getting puppies. It's about how well thought out it is. Regarding breeder and breed of puppy.

I have found my puppies far easier than rescues girls obvious reason. The puppy we have just reduced is a dream compared with the last 4 foster dogs we have had.

Add into that, the difficulties that can be in place when wanting to rescue. I totally get people do get puppies. Its about how it's done though.

And though none of us can stop puppy farms alone. We can do as much as we can to avoid using bad breeders.

No, I specifically chose a poodle cross breed that I'd known for not needing much grooming. Actually!

No. Because nothing is guaranteed with poodle crosses when it comes to their hair. Thata what you are missing.

No breedee can guarantee anything.

It's worked out well for you. Which is great. But it often doesnt and those dogs often end up in rescues.

Anyone every wondered what happens to those cockerpoos that are born with flat spaniel coats? Rarely seen aren't they?

@Cushycat I’m on a cockapoo Facebook group and thereate loads of flat coat poos on there who are loved very much. Everyone knows that a poo is like a box of chocolates...

No such thing as a reputable breeder of cross breeds. A reputable breeder is breeding to improve the breed, bring it closer to the breed standard and ensure breed defects are removed. This can’t be done with a cross breed.

"Mine doesn't actually! We chose one specifically for that"

You got lucky.

I'm a dog groomer and if I had a pound for every doodle owner convinced that their dog doesn't need brushing/grooming/ doesn't shed "because the breeder said" then I could retire tomorrow. Then it becomes the groomers fault when we have to disappoint these people and explain to them that their now matted solid dog needs shaved off to the skin. You CANNOT guarantee anything with these cross breeds; cockers and poodles (and labradors, and golden retrievers, etc) have completely different coats from poodles and shed like Hell; combining it with a wool coat generally makes it worse rather than better!!

Rarely seen aren't they?

Well you probably see them and don't realise what they are

Anyone every wondered what happens to those cockerpoos that are born with flat spaniel coats? Rarely seen aren't they?

Actually, there's one next door to me that's just a few weeks old. It look the spit of a cocker but with some poodle colouring. But agree I don't often come across that type.

@Scarsthelot if you brush every day does that help?

if you brush every day does that help?

I am not sure. I have never had a poodle cross.

Well you probably see them and don't realise what they are

@Cushycat because they can look just like spaniels to those who don’t know!
Poodle crosses should have regular professional grooming. Running a brush through won’t cut it.

Seriously what a load of absolute shit on this thread!

As if KC breed standards are good for the dog, really? Are you having a laugh?? Meanwhile back in the real world...

Plenty of cross breed breeders extensively health test their dogs. There are more that don’t and of course this is a problem but to say all cross breeders are unethical is absolute bullshit.

My brother is a vet and has said he would never own a pure bred dog, he has rescue dogs. Plenty of pedigree breeders are unethical. The kennel club is unethical.

Some people don’t want to adopt a dog from a rescue centre, especially families with young children, for various reasons.

Iffy I don't believe they showed you the real parents of that dog. Something not right about that setup.

Well I doubt the OP will be back anytime soon.

Poodle crosses and the people that buy them are horrid. The end.

You can have your fluffy teddy bear dog that may or may not shed, but every single time you buy one you are ensuring thousands of dogs are killed, brutalised, suffering, underfed, over-bred, have no life, have no love.

If you can live with yourself after that then you’re a much worse person than most people.

What a hysterical and ignorant comment. Bizarre.

I know quite a few really nice cockerpoo owners, just saying.

I’d be v reluctant to come and ask for advice here though...

Personally I am starting to come round to thinking there is no breed (including popular crosses) that doesn't have man-induced issues.

Mankind just isn't clever or ethical enough to maintain breeds in a healthy state over several generations without problems creeping in when looks play such a large role in selection. We can test for hereditary health issues all we like but there are issues coming through breeding lines that cannot be tested for (e.g. an increase in resource guarding in some breeds - something quite subtle at first so that you cannot say for sure the dog should not be bred from).

Breeding only from 100% sound dogs reduces the gene pool considerably but not doing so risks the continuation of poor genes.

I don't know the answer but just see the state of most breeds and their gene pools and worry - and that includes crosses which are no more genetically healthy than their parents/grandparents. I wish there was much more focus on function than form in all breeds and crosses.

Mankind just isn't clever or ethical enough to maintain breeds in a healthy state over several generations without problems creeping in when looks play such a large role in selection.
This is one reason why I have working-line dogs. They tend to be bred for ability, brains, temperament and functionality - which includes (or should include) sound conformation.

Crosses do tend to be healthier: a first generation cross won't come down with a recessive illness associated with one of its parent breeds, and it should enjoy some hybrid vigour, as well. Closed gene pools are bad news for dogs, and I wish the KC would get behind judicious outcrossing, certainly for the more inbred or messed-up breeds.

I know quite a few really nice cockerpoo owners, just saying

Me too. Most people don't know about the issues and Mustard if that's how you respond to people trying to find out I would imagine you'd be dismissed as unhinged.

But people don’t listen! They think their dog is fine and really don’t care about anything else. For every ‘lovely cockerpoo owner’ thousands of dogs are suffering.

You cannot be a lovely person to willingly condone that.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/sep/26/labradoodle-inventor-lifes-regret-frankenstein-monster