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!

If you want a dog that doesn’t shed maybe a border terrier? I have one and they are great little dogs

What about a wheaten terrier. They are fabulous dogs. Not sure about shedding though. I luffs my rough collie but they do shed a bit but are fab with sen.

@LostArcher

What about a wheaten terrier. They are fabulous dogs. Not sure about shedding though. I luffs my rough collie but they do shed a bit but are fab with sen.

We are getting a wheaten terrier. Brilliant dogs but not easy to find a breeder.

We're bringing home our Australian labradoodle in 7 weeks. Pretty pricey at £3k but worth every penny in our eyes.

@toadstool32 would you be happy to share where you bought your Australian labradoodle from please? Was there a long wait list? Many thanks

I would say avoid an Australian labradoodle as they can be bonkers.

I have experience through family of both cockapoos and labradoodles (poodle/lab) cross and both can be gorgeous family dogs but choose the right puppy (quieter one) and make sure at least one parent has the right health tests

You can take either breed running.

I have had poodles and we never brushed them. It would disrupt the curls!

Short hair on any breed 🙂

By the way, if one of your kids has autistic traits and that includes being over sensitive to smells, avoid the labs. This is not going to be a popular opinion but, they reek after a good run in the sun.

There is a rest you can try with puppies to find out one with a suitable temperament but with this tendency to choose a puppy from birth you really don’t know what you are getting.

Test, not rest

@GrandmasCat
"I have had poodles and we never brushed them. It would disrupt the curls! grin"

Wow really?! Our groomer gave us hell every time we brought our little unbrushed poodle in, as his fur got so matted, but he absolutely hated being brushed (and hated the groomer )! He looked like completely two different dogs before and after groom - a scruff vs a show dog!

I always had them with short hair, never matted.

We have a cockerpoo and he is my daughter’s best friend. He has the nicest temperament of any dog we have ever had. She can squeeze him, cuddle him and he just snuggles with her. He’s always happy and bouncy, can be a bit silly but has been ok to train. Also doesn’t shed at all.

Having just looked at the uk Australian Labradoodle site it would seem that some of the breeders say the dogs / bitches are neutered before collection and others are saying that the contract is that you have to send proof of neutering before the animal is 1 yr old , apparently it’s in the ‘code of ethics ‘ . This alone would be enough to put me off .

@GrandmasCat

It depends, how many hours do you have a day/week to walk the dog?

If a lot, get a cocker
If some, a Labrador
If not many a poodle

Designer mixes are unpredictable, you can get a labradoodle who is no good for allergies, a Cockerpoo who sheds hair as if there was no tomorrow and needs a lot of exercise.

If you are looking for a family pet with non allergenic coat that doesn’t need hours of exercise a day. Get a propper poodle

I don't think a poodle would need less exercise than the others, especially if a standard.

If you think a standard poodle needs less exercise then you are very wrong 😁

I think you need to wait until your kids are older to be honest. Giving a dog enough exercise and having a 3 year old don't tend to go hand in hand.

But if you are determined you need to consider the size of your house, garden and the general area you live, in terms of types of walks available, and try and match that with a breed.

I have 2 poodles and everyone, literally everyone, thinks they are doodle something. I have no intention of giving them a pom-pom look, they are cuter as they are.

Neither. Crosses can be unpredictable in what they inherit in terms of behaviour of coat type. Look at Labradors, poodles and spaniels.

Thank you everyone, we've decided not to get a dog after all! It seems like a complete mine field and it apparent we just really aren't in the right place to get a dog right now.

We have a Sproodle, he's a Springer Spaniel/Labradoodle cross, he's amazing, doesn't shed, super friendly, really well behaved, all round fabulous dog!

Neither 🤣 labradoodles are huge. Cockapoo will be super clingy and suffer from separation anxiety.

Better going with a Labrador 😊 I have two! Easy to train and great with kids.

We have a cavapoo. Similar size to a cockerpoo, looks very similar, but gentler, calmer, and whilst happy to walk miles, doesn't go mad if a short walk is all that's on offer. Does like to chase a squirrel though!

Ours is our first dog and has been brilliant.

Can’t really comment on the doodle mixes but I asked a very similar question a few months ago and was also asked why I didn’t just get a poodle, and why, if not keen on poodles, was I considering a poodle cross. Which was a good question! Anyway, after scaring myself with stories of disreputable cavapoo breeders we now have a border terrier puppy (previously had a border terrier as a kid but was just lured by the doodle craze...)

So came on to echo what someone else said that border terriers are great little dogs if you’re looking a bit more widely. But also see you are now thinking you won’t get a dog at all - I think you are right to maybe wait. My youngest child is 7 and oldest 12, and 12 year old is really able to help whereas youngest is a bit of a pain as he alternately winds puppy up by playing and then complains he is biting - so hard work from that point of view and glad I didn’t do it with younger children. Maybe wait till your kids are a bit older and look again?

so hard work from that point of view and glad I didn’t do it with younger children. Maybe wait till your kids are a bit older and look again?

Yes agree! The descriptions of Labrador puppies on here have particularly terrified me, we've completely shelved the idea for now! Thanks to everyone for the advise!!