Poodle then

[hipslikecinderella]

Mumsnet has successfully turned me off poodle crosses, and I am now very excited to get a miniature poodle.
It would be purely a pet, and my first dog I've ever lived with. I'm a sahm and love the outdoors so I think I've got the time for a puppy.
My question is how much should I be paying roughly for a pet girl - not looking to breed her ever? Should I only choose a breeder from the Kennel club assured breeder list on their website? Any tips appreciated please

Thanks. The breed clubs did seem mainly concerned with showing and as I only want a pet I wasnt sure if it was appropriate.

The breed club I contacted do run shows and promote them.
But at its heart is a group of people who love the breed and want to see the best dogs in the best homes.

Pics of my apricot toy poodle.
Good luck finding one. So pleased we adopted ours, shes a little sweetheart

Following.

I've been reading up on mini poodles for a couple of years and would love to get one when the time is right!

@MinniesAndMickeysNeedCounting gorgeous

People breeding crosses alongside poodles are often doing it to bypass the KC rules about overbreeding...

“The breed clubs did seem mainly concerned with showing and as I only want a pet I wasnt sure if it was appropriate.”

Good breeders should be breeding dogs that look and act like they’re supposed to, so there’s no issue at all with having one as a pet... most show dogs are also pets. You do get breeders who will breed dogs with dodgy temperaments just because they look good - but you’d be weeding those out along with other kinds of dodgy breeders.

@MinniesAndMickeysNeedCounting

What a sweetheart ❤️

I have a miniature poodle he’s 8 years old. He’s the easiest happiest dog we’ve ever owned and he’s never had a days illness in his life. I sought advise from the breed club and Jackie Kitchener in particular she knew all the members up coming litters and what colour the puppies were likely to be . Expect to be extensively quizzed about why you want one. I suspect people try to buy them to breed poodle crosses to sell for large sums of money. Mine was £800 his parents have been extensively health tested eye problems exist in poodles, his mother and litter mate have won at Crufts and according to my groomers he is a fantastic example of a poodle but very slightly over height for the showing which is probably why he was sold to me as a puppy as I didn’t want to show him.
What I hadnt really grasped when I bought him is that all poodles will eventually go grey and I guess white if they live long enough, mine is still basically jet black which again dog groomers and the occasional other poodle owners I meet tell me is very unusual for an 8 year old .
I was also told that some people in the breed club say that black poodles are easiest although others dispute this.
I absolutely adore standards but live in a tiny cottage and realistically lack the space.
I don't find the grooming a problem this is the first non shedding dog I’ve ever owned and frankly is bloody marvellous!

Sorry meant to say dedicated breeders like Jackie breed healthy happy dogs who they hope are going to be top examples of the breed because obviously they want them to do well in the show ring but a lovely temperament is equally important.
Over the years dog walkers groomers etc says mine has an amazing temperament, they are so easy to train he adore everyone and he is cheerfulness personified.

Thanks @Meandmypoodle
What age was your puppy then - how soon were they able to tell it was too tall?

He was 8 weeks old when I got him but a big puppy in that he was bigger that the others. The breeder did not absolutely know he was going to be over height but she suspected he might be. I think the others were going to top show homes so I guess they wouldn't have wanted to take the risk.
The other good thing is that they are really adaptable little dogs he’ll walk for 20 mins a day or 3 hours he doesn’t care, mine has a low prey drive I could walk through a field of cows with him off the lead and he would chase them (I don’t) and probably sheep as well (again I don’t) which is useful when you live in a rural farming community with livestock every where. He’s also very good at reading other dogs body language he walk regularly with a friends dog hating dog and he adapts his behaviour to suit her and respects her space and they get on really well.
Here’s a pic of him, black dogs don’t photograph as well as other colours.

Wouldn’t chase them not would!

Mine has no prey drive either. She found a baby bird/fledgling on the terrace last year. She carefully sniffed it all over, then play bowed to it! Was most dissapointed it didn't want to play. My jack russell would have killed it immediately.
She is currently drying off after a long walk through flooded fields in which she loved playing fetch in the water.
This is her in one of her favourite positions - asleep on my legs.

Mine doesn't go in the water which is also good as we have a lot here and they take ages to dry especially the ears.

Aww all loveliness!

We've always had standards, although I had a toy, and family had miniatures when I was a child. They are fabulous dogs, intelligent and very in tune with their owners generally.

I would avoid like the plague any breeder who says they are neurotic. If she cared about the puppies she was breeding then she wouldn't be using a neurotic parent dog. Go through the breed club, as others have said, Champdogs also worth a look. Really though, you need to do lots of research to find a decent breeder - look for COI, genetic testing on the parents, hip and eye testing. Then research the breeders specifically. Many have FB pages and you will be able to look back and see previous litters and maybe chat to other owners.

Just an update - I feel like I am going round in circles now.
DH has decided that he 'hates poodles' and won't have one in the house.
(For background, he loves labradors, but I don't want a big/drooly/sheddy dog.)
He will only compromise on a cockapoo. So we have been speaking with a breeder today from the Cockapoo UK site. I've met a dog from a previous litter of hers and the owners are very happy with their dog. But she is breeding 3 bitches at the same time, they are all likely to come into season close together, and she owns the dad who will mate with all of them.
She has extensive health check and showed me that the microchip number on the tests relate to the dogs, so that side of things doesn't worry me. But its the number of litters seems excessive.
DH also likes cavachons and cavapoos, but again, its like finding rocking horse poo trying to get a 'reputable' breeder with all the assurances I think we need.
What does the doghouse say please?

Would you consider rehoming from a breed specific rescue??

It would be my first ever dog, so I'm uneasy about rehoming. I've looked at lots of them, but they often seem to need experienced owners to help them over their bad start in life.....
Also, my kids are under 10 and we have a cat....

She has extensive health check and showed me that the microchip number on the tests relate to the dogs, so that side of things doesn't worry me.

What health checks are they? The only reason I query this is because health checks are not DNA checks and having investigated genetic disorders in cockers there were a few that I wasn't going to risk my dog having.

As for the number of litters together then my understanding is that actually it's very intensive on the owners part to help care for the litter when it arrives and ensure everything is ok with them all and continues to be ok. With that many litters it's obvious that the breeders time is spread thinly. I visited one breeder who had several litters ready and almost ready and quite frankly it was obvious it was a licensed place to churn the dogs out for lots of cash. As they had litters at that time I could see the puppies and they just didn't seem 'right'. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong but my gut instinct was they didn't seem that healthy and I walked away and with hindsight I am glad I did.

As for your DH not liking poodles etc then this sounds to me he is just choosing on looks alone which should be far less of a priority than breed traits. I can tell you my DH didn't want certain colour of coat prior to getting BiteyDog but I ignored that and now he just says how handsome he looks (colour completely forgotten as it's really doesn't matter when you get them as you fall in love with the dog). You need to make sure you aren't just picking on looks alone as you could easily end up with a dog that will never fit into your lifestyle.

Hi, thanks @BiteyShark. They were DNA tests yes, I have researched the testing both cockers and poodles should have for this crossing.

So hard to fall in love with a dog/puppy at the moment when you might not be able to go and mingle with it very much due to the stupid corona.

Honestly shelve it for 6 months now isn't the time to get a puppy sadly.

But she is breeding 3 bitches at the same time

Huge red flag. No-one should have 3 litters on the ground at one time, it's the hallmark of a greedy breeder churning out litter after litter to meet demand, not because they have carefully considered the breeding to produce a quality litter - quality not quantity. No matter what anyone says, 3 litters will never receive quite as much care and attention as solely having the one litter to concentrate all your efforts into.

Using the same sire they own is pure laziness and for the breeder's convenience only to cut costs and maximise profit.

Will your husband hate the cockapoo if it turns out to look more like a poodle? I've seen cockapoos that look more like spaniels, and some that take after the poodle side. It's a total gamble, and I do not understand why people hate poodles but then end up getting a dog that is half poodle. Seems a bit risky to me!

Thanks @TeacupRex

She breeds poodles for showing etc, and I know she is having 2 litters of them this year too. Those bitches were not seen anywhere, so I wonder where they were.

As it was, there were 5 bitches roaming around the kitchen, while the sires were next door being kept away. Just didn't look like they lived in that room at all iyswim.

I think DH will be happy with any appearance once he has met and fallen in love with a puppy. But yes, cockapoo seems quite an uncertain bet.

Yep, definitely avoid that one - I have heard of some unscrupulous breeders that have crossbreed litters in between their KC registered pedigree litters, as obviously the crosses aren't regulated whereas the KC will only register one litter per year per bitch with the pedigree breeds. As you can imagine, lots of back to back breedings as soon as the bitches come into season.

Would he consider a cocker spaniel if he likes the idea of a cockapoo? A show type rather than working if you want less drive/energy.