Labradoodle or cockerpoo?

[GinAndTonicOnIt]

Hello! Married with three young kids. Looking at either a labradoodle or a cockerpoo. Which would you recommend? Kids are ages 7, 5 and 3. One DC has mild special needs (similar to autism).

Many thanks!

Miniature (not toy) poodles are lovely dogs, companionable, alert but happy to accompany and play and interact with humans. Cocker spaniels are v energetic dogs, hardwired for scent work aka running off and getting lost. With three small children you may find training and exercising a Cocker mix just too much.

Australian labradoodles look interesting... but why would they be temperamentally reliable and not the english (or whatever) labradoodles?

I guess more or less all pedigree breeds were cross breeds at the start... not sure why one combination becomes reliable and another doesn't.

Get an established breed with known characteristics, a set established breed standard & come with health checks.
As an owner/ breeder/ exhibitor of one of our rarest At Risk breeds I weep at the popularity of these mixed breeds being sold for stupid money when many of our beautiful native breeds are being overlooked to the risk of extinction in this country.
Even the man who “ invented” the Labradoodle says it’s his life’s regret.
You just don’t know what you’re going to get in the mix. Why pay a lot of money for that, when we were young they were called cross breeds or mongrels with no posh name.
My Life’s Regret

Join a few Facebook forums that are breed specific. You'll be able to pick up lots of useful information on breeds, temperament, health issues etc.

Sweet because they were bred for temperament. They're an established breed over many years and where they started originally.

Don't get a labrador if you're worried about shedding.

I really wanted a Coton de Tulear but my husband could not be convinced (we havea labrador). Worth a look as I think it ticks a few boxes.

Sweet because ALDs are health tested, mutil generational dogs where only the best examples of the breed in health, confirmation and temperament,go on to be bred themselves. They are sold on a non breed contract so there's no backyard breeding. You won't find genuine a ALD in a rescue.
Labradoodles are generally the result of someone deciding their labrador is a nice dog, thinking some cash would be good and mating them to a random poodle.

We have a labradoodle and two cockapoos in the family.

The labradoodle is huge and doesn’t look poodle like at all. He’s like a massive Labrador with a slightly wavy coat (he does shed). He also very hyper, vocal and demands attention - much more so than the cockapoos.

The cockapoos are very energetic but will channel this into play more than the labradoodle who used to look for things to steal/chew.

I also don’t know how you’d find a decent breeder in the current climate when there are so many people with a cocker spaniel or poodle who are breeding without experience or proper advice - so many won’t have had any health checks and there’s no way I’d want to pay the sort of money they’re asking for a dog that could have any number of health issues. All three of the poodle crosses we know seem to suffer with something whether it’s itchy skin (one has to have injections at the vet every month) or recurrent ear infections.

You’d be much better off going for a full Labrador or poodle to have a much better idea of what you’re getting in terms of health and temperament as others have said.

Also bear in mind that most gundog breeds will want a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. They’re very clever and pick things up quickly but if they’re bored with no outlet for their energy they can be hard work.

SoThis the breeder my friend got her dog from only hands them over once they've been neutered to prevent the backyard breeding issue. They neuter them themselves (( well the vet does)) I really wish more breeders would

Don’t pick doodles just because you think they won’t shed, they still might, plus you still need to factor in regular grooming costs. Labradors do shed (looks at fur balls rolling across the floor) but some (our neighbours) labradoodle is massive, and hyper. Cockapoos can be quite needy and high maintenance, and aren’t as sturdy as labs.

You need to ignore the hair issue for a moment and work out which breed fits in best to your lifestyle. There’s a good reason labs are used so much as service dogs.

at the idea of breeding a miniature poodle and a Labrador; has this ever been attempted?! The miniature poodle would surely never recover!

I would go for Labrador too- purely just for the biddability and temperament aspect. However, they grown v quickly and can be bouncy and bowl everyone over while they are young.

Also, I'm not sure where you live but it's too hot today to run with a dog; they could get heatstroke with their big furry coats. I imagine it could be acutely problematic if you went for a doodle cross and it was thick and curly. Unless you clipped it all, I suppose.

I have a Labrador so I am completely biased - good luck with it all!

cockerpoos tend to be smaller, I love ours to bits so am biased but she's been a brilliant therapy dog for our family. Very loving, can be left home alone (after some training and now she's 18 months or so).

I know another one who has been trained as an epilepsy support dog.

Ours is bright loyal and trainable. She does need a professional groom every 6 weeks.

Labradoodles we've met have all been very big.

We've met calm cockerpoos, mad cockerpoos, same with labradoodles. Also some absolutely bouncy as anything labs and retrievers. I think a lot of it is down to owners and training as well as dog temperament.

Whichever dog you get you'll have to put the time in - and get through the bitey puppy what the hell have done stage.

Labs are known as good family dogs for a reason though!

And our cockerpoo is very calm. She can get anxious though. She gets a couple of hour long walks a day off lead, beach, glens, forest walks. And some brain work as well.

@MobyDicksTinyCanoe

SoThis the breeder my friend got her dog from only hands them over once they've been neutered to prevent the backyard breeding issue. They neuter them themselves (( well the vet does)) I really wish more breeders would

Yes some the breeders do ESN. However, a lot don't. Not something I was keen on (although I agree with the sentiment of protecting the breed and making sure the pups never end up in a puppy farm) so I chose a breeder that sells on a contract to be neutered when they are older.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy

at the idea of breeding a miniature poodle and a Labrador; has this ever been attempted?! The miniature poodle would surely never recover!

I would go for Labrador too- purely just for the biddability and temperament aspect. However, they grown v quickly and can be bouncy and bowl everyone over while they are young.

Also, I'm not sure where you live but it's too hot today to run with a dog; they could get heatstroke with their big furry coats. I imagine it could be acutely problematic if you went for a doodle cross and it was thick and curly. Unless you clipped it all, I suppose.

I have a Labrador so I am completely biased - good luck with it all!

I assume the miniature poodle is the male

Thank you all, lots to think about!!

I would get a lab if I were you. The shedding isn't too bad, especially black labs and their only real vice is their greed.

I am slightly concerned that you are bothered so much about shedding. What about muddy paws, unexpected sick, chewing, puppy wee and poo etc....? In the grand scheme of things, shedding is the least of your worries and very easily fixed with the hoover.

BigusBumus (great name!) Mud, wee and chewing doesn't bother me. But hair everywhere, in my tea, all over my clothes, sofa etc and the tickle I constantly have in the back of my throat when I stay with my brother (who has a lab) does bother me. So although I love labs one wasn't right for me.

@SoThisIsMe I do agree actually, I have 4 dogs and the fcking hair everywhere all the time is maddening. Especially the Jack Russells as theirs is white and I wear a lot of black and you can't keep Jack Russells off your furniture the same way you can the labs!

NDN has a Labradoodle and I have to say its very sweet, but it is MASSIVE! Its like a small Shetland pony!

Ha! Yes I've seen some huge ones. Ours is a mini, should grow to around 8-10kgs.
Perfect for us and our house/lifestyle.

I'm currently looking at breeds and what we can offer a dog. Have you considered a golden doodle? Golden retriever x poodle? Apparently they can be smaller if bred with a mini poodle male. Their temperament and loyalty sounds great, but I'm yet to actually meet one.

Labs do shed a lot, but what that actually means (unless you’ve got a fur allergy and usually that’s not what people are allergic to) is that they need regular brushing.... and given that poodle crosses need even more brushing, it’s not really a huge advantage.

Rehome a dog with a known temperament.

There are loads that would make lovely pets sitting in shelters.

There are also dogs that have started training as guide dogs but are not suitable so need a home, many but not all are very well trained.

Not all areas are accepting applications.

www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/rehoming-a-guide-dog/

caninepartners.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/rehome-one-of-our-dogs/

@sashh would these rescues allow rehoming with children as young as the OP's? I didn' think that rescues rehomed with pre-school or primary aged children.