Cockapoo or Golden Retriever?

[BaconAndAvocado]

Considering getting a dog for the first time and these two breeds appeal.

Any thoughts?

I have a GR. he is gorgeous, and at nearly 18 months is shaping up to be a Great Dog. But gosh he has a stubborn streak!
And he's a muck magnet and sheds like mad. But I constantly hear remarks like oooooo he's beautiful/gorgeous/handsome as I walk him. And he is!

I have a working type Labrador, so I may be biased.

Out of those two I’d go GR. As others have said, cockerpoos are too unpredictable as a cross in terms of characteristics, temperament and coat. They are also hugely fashionable and so you are more likely to inadvertently get sucked in by an ethical breeder (backyard breeder or puppy farmer). I’d be more inclined to go either poodle OR cocker. If you’re going cocker, I’d go working type as they have fewer health issues.

Golden Retrievers do have some big risk health problems in the breed, you can legislate somewhat for the hips and elbows by making sure that you choose a puppy from hip and elbow scored parents with low scores (ideally they have had other tests too), feeding them good quality food and keeping your dog at a lean weight throughout their lives. They also shed LOADS (same as labs).

Whatever you choose, please, please please do thorough research where the breeder is concerned.

unethical breeder

I have a GR and I'm a huge fan. Ours is five now and he's so sweet natured, friendly and a total cuddle fiend.

Some things you might want to consider:

• they are big dogs. You need a decent boot / space for a dog bed or big enough sofa / large crate if you crate train as a puppy. When we first got ours we lived in a small cottage and it did feel a bit cramped as he grew.
• they shed a lot. I brush ours every other day and we hoover daily. With that routine the house stays in good shape.
• they need a good level of exercise - ideally at least an hour a day.
• they love to swim - worth thinking about if your local walk will be near the beach / river etc.
• they require grooming - I'm learning how to do this myself to save money

He's the only puppy I've had, but he was fairly easy to train as very food motivated inside and ball motivated outside. That said, we definitely encountered some issues that were challenging, namely jumping up at people and pulling on the lead. And even now at five he can be very puppy ish if anyone shows him lots of attention.

Yes! Consider space. As I said, I have a lab but they are a very similar sized breed to GR. Mine is only 18 weeks old and is already 17.5kg and there is not an ounce of fat on him. He is also very strong already. He’ll be a big example of his breed when he’s finished growing, I think.

@LangClegsOpinionIsNoted

Just goes to show there are SO many 'experts' on here spouting nonsense.

We had goldies growing up. They were from working stock (not show) but...

• large workers are slightly smaller but still big dogs compared to spaniels etc
• expensive in both food and vets bills (usually) people didn't spend so much on medical care for dogs back then but I remember the massive slabs of tripe and bags of kibble that we had delivered
• breed has some serious health risks to be aware of, hips and cancer being the big two all ours died old and cancer was an issue in 2/3 of them; cancer in the US strains of goldies is a massive issue
• requires daily grooming my parents kept all ours trimmed quite short because...
• loves mud and water yes, yes, yes
• athletic so needs two good walks a day, something like 2 x 1 hour off lead ours were worked and could easily do 4-5 hours a day
• stay immature for a long time so it takes patience and work to get to the calm older dog stage I am not sure ours ever really grew up, they just got slower
• tends to be friendly and even tempered but breed can also be nervous and guarding of food, toys etc 1/3 of ours would guard from other dogs but they were all fab with people
• tends to jump and mouth a lot when young jumping was a big thing in our house and woe betide any child who was seen to encourage it
• heavy shedding memories of my mum sweaing at the amount of vacuuming to be done would suggest so
• tend to be smart so respond well to training and require mental work to remain happy see above, ours worked so were kept very busy

I compete in dog agility so see plenty of both breeds but own neither....

GR. docile sweet dogs, like to please and will do anything you ask

Cockerpoos.... stubborn stubborn stubborn. Only do something if they want to. Also met more than a normal proportion of nervy ones

I would go GR. especially as a first dog that you need to train as I think it would be an easier road. The fact that a fully health tested GR is easier to come by than a cockerpoo would also be a massive benefit (never ever fall for anyone telling u cross breeds are healthier. Hybrid vigour is a myth)

Any reason you wouldnt consider a cocker or poodle?

Wow, thank you all for your advice and views!

We've got quite a big house, I work from home, I've got lots of patience, my parents have offered to have the dog when/if we go away, I'm doing the research (see above!).........

One poster suggested talking to dog walkers and today I got chatting to a beagle owner. What a beautiful dog!

The owner said that it had taken a loooong time to train him but that he was a fantastic family dog.

Any views oh wise ones on beagles?

What are you actually looking for in a dog?

• size
• amount of grooming
• amount of barking
• prey drive
• trainability
• clingyness as in a Velcro dog or more independent

Etc etc

Then people could easily recommend breeds that fit?

I've only known one beagle, he is very lovely but his owners are very dedicated and on the ball with training.

I have heard they are stubborn/hard to train and very noisy generally as a breed.

Not a beagle owner but I have a basset hound who is just amazing (similar stubborn streak). I often get asked if she is a beagle!

Beagles are not ideal first dogs, IMO.

Beagles are known for recall issues....

How confident are U in your dogs training skills and how much time and money are u willing to spend to on doing it?

frostedviolets what are you actually looking for in a dog?

What I'm actually looking for on this thread is some friendly advice.

You seem quite hostile and I'm not sure why.

As my Mum always used to say, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Any views oh wise ones on beagles?

Haha. Both @adaline and I are beagle owners. Beautiful dogs, but I wouldn't advise as a first dog. Their shedding is worse than any other dog I've known! They empty every bin / fridge / cupboard. 😂 Breed has higher risk of epilepsy (sadly my boy diagnosed last week). They roll in everything that stinks - esp fox shit!

However - they can be trained. You can let them off lead (see training & also a GPs tracker). They are loyal dogs & goofy as hell. In my opinion, best for a confident owner. Oh, and they do really well with other dogs for company.

I arrange a monthly beagle walk - been running for 2.5 years, and we have had lots of beagles with us. All of the beagles are off lead, recall all great. They're not impossible to train, but in my opinion experienced & confident owners are a better fit. They can be resource guarded too - v food focused - this has been issue with 2 ppl who I knew who rejoined their beagles.

Neither breed would I recommend for a family dog of first-timers!

what I am actually looking for on this thread is some friendly advice

Um, I was trying to be friendly and helpful..

You asked about golden retrievers and cockerpoos stating only that you wanted 'well natured' and 'liked the look'.

I said what my personal opinion on those was and asked what specifically what you were looking for in a dog so breeds could be suggested because 'well natured' is pretty much all dogs.

Then you asked about beagles which are totally different in just about every single way to cockerpoos (and cockers and poodles) and retrievers.

So I asked what you were actually looking for in a dog, actual traits like what sort of energy level, how much grooming, size etc so that I and everyone else would find it easy to suggest some breeds for you that fitted with what you were looking for.

Then you asked about beagles which are totally different in just about every single way to cockerpoos (and cockers and poodles) and retrievers.

OP - @frostedviolets is spot on - ppl on these threads are dog owners & there's a vast wealth of experience here, but it's important to narrow down the "traits" you are looking for, and those you're not.

It might be worth thinking too, that those are all "working" breeds - they do have different needs. Beagles are hounds - they can run all day & once their noses switch on they're in full hound mode - it's a double edged sword as you can use this to your advantage in training (getting involved in scent training) but that isn't for everyone.

I'd suggest looking into as much info on each of the breeds (esp for a cross breed) and be really honest with yourself. If you couldn't cope with a dog who might bark loudly (for example) don't get a beagle & hope for the best. You could be lucky, but you cannot change their innate nature.

Hope that makes sense!

My cockapoos are lovely. Both very different. Both do love mud and water and are very messy. We keep their hair long, which we like, but does require more brushing and bathing.

One is quite needy, the other just loving. He'll eat anything though including tampons from the bin and knickers (he loves a gusset). She (the needy one) is more sensible, but can't eat much because she has a sensitive stomach. Both will hoover up any food.

They are both good natured, happy to be left for a couple of hours a day. But both love walks more than anything. I have many children and a dog walker and they get 2-3 walks a day.

They are very tolerant of children, very gentle. Don't particularly bark. Happy to be left all night. Not at all nervy. quite jumpy.

I did know the breeders (sort of) because I knew of someone who got their puppy from there. I know the antipathy towards cockapoos on here.

I have looked after both. I used to have a retriever - neurotic and messy. I currently look after two cockerpoos. One is calm and placid and gorgeous. The other is a manic and hyper.

@LettyFisher my DS & I were discussing our beagle eating a tampon the other day. And my staffy fries are the arse out of DS' pants! Dogs are vile 😂

I've a friend who breeds golden doodles, I'm assuming they are golden retriever poodle mix. They're bigger and less crazy than cockerpoos. Shes in Devon, happy to PM you her details if you're in that part of the world.