Cockapoo vs. Poodle

[backtoreality21]

Hi mumsnet,

I realise that any cross-breed might be a bit controversial, but we're (finally!) in a position to own a dog, and are having a hard time deciding between a doodle (probably Sproodle or Cockapoo) and a Poodle.

As a quick summary we're a family with a 9 and 12 year old, with a small (paved) garden but close to a large park, and generally pretty active (I tend to go on 2 - 3 walks a day, total about 2 hours) with walking / cycling.

My wife doesn't want a large dog which cuts out the more obvious options of a golden retriever or lab. My kids are very keen on a Cockapoo, mainly as some of their friends have them, and my daughter in particular has become very close to one of them (which is a lovely friendly dog).

My thinking is that a Poodle will be a bit more of a certainty in terms of things like its coat and shedding, whereas a Cockapoo you roll the dice. Also it will be easier to find a reputable breeder for a Poodle vs. a Cockapoo.

My wife also thinks that a Poodle might be too smart and get bored if we're not spending all day every day with it.

Just wondering from those with experience if there are any particular differences in normal temperament or behaviour between these two - or anything else I should be thinking about in terms of decision making! As far as I can tell a Cockapoo and Poodle look almost identical.

Thanks!

Do you like cocker spaniels & feel they are a good fit? Including the bad bits (love my cocker to bits but he is prone to stealing things, we've had to work really hard to avoid full guarding, and he was a super bitey puppy).

You could very easily have a cockerpoo that is very spaniel-like in looks and/or behaviour. Or it could be very like the poodle parent. You're right in saying its like rolling the dice.

There are far, far more puppy farmed cockerpoos that pure bred poodles - are you confident you can avoid these?

Crossing a spaniel with a poodle is unlikely to make it less smart - my cocker spaniel is pretty smart & certainly makes his own fun if not adequately exercised & mentally stimulated (I highly rate Nina Ottosson puzzle toys for this!).

You are correct in thinking that teddy cut poodle and a cockerpoo look pretty much the same (unless you get a really spaniel-y one like I met a few weeks ago, he honestly looked just like a show cocker with a curlier coat) so if you like the look I'd pick a poodle

I'm a dog walker and walk both.

The cockapoos vary massively both in looks, size, temperament and personality. You can put three together and they all look like totally different breeds - there's very little consistency there.

Whereas the poodles are all very predictable. You know what you'll get in terms of size, coat (and therefore grooming needs), personality and overall looks.

In terms of intelligence, remember that cockapoos are a mix of two very intelligent working breeds. Cocker spaniels are extremely smart, energetic dogs and so are poodles. A mixture of the two won't be any less intelligent than the two individual breeds are.

If you wife isn't keen on a poodle be aude they are smart a poodle Cross with a coxker or springer is a bad idea.

I have rescue cavapoo. Honestly, just go with the poodle. Fardre predictable and quite honestly, unless poodles are clipped on a traditional poodle cut, they usually look very much like a lab/cocker/cav/springer Cross.

Google unclipped poodles and Compare photos.

I have had spaniels in my entire life. Crossing it with a poodle will or calm them down. Cocker and springers are extremely intelligent. Cockers especially are velcro dogs (In the main).

A reputable breeder of poodle crosses is almost impossible to find. Our girl was just a nervous mess her first family kept her 10 days and then the rescue I work with called me and asked my to Foster her, as we have fostered young dogs for them before. She came from a puppy farm and that start in life, really impacts them.

Honestly, she is fab but she is a bit neurotic. I still don't get why people just don't get poodles though.

Oh and ours needs grooming everyday. Her hair isn't poodle and isn't cav. It's an odd fluff that seems to matt as soon as you inish brushing her. We brush her twice a day and still get knots, in between. It sort of ends up like a piece of felt. A visit to the groomer every 4 weeks at a minimum.

I wouldn't swop her for the world. But I wouldn't have bought her from a breeder.

We have a cockapoo. I had no dog owning experience previously and had lots of worries. She's been a dream though. Loving, playful, never bitten or chewed, happy on her own or with us, easy to train. That's my experience anyway.

Have you thought about something like a cavachon? Might be a bit less intelligent/high energy? They look similar to a cockapoos? I’ve never had a poodle but remember reading they’re prone to separation anxiety.

Please get a poodle, they are gorgeous healthy dogs. So easy to train and just absolutely stunning little things. As you said, nature and size are more predictable. A toy will not get ‘too big’ if you want a small dog.

They also don’t have to have a poodle haircut. They will look like cockerpoos if you keep their hair natural. A lot of people think the breed comes with a pom pom and shaved legs!

reputable breeder of poodle crosses is almost impossible to find

This in a nutshell. Unfortunately most people skip off with their cute puppy and don’t research the mother left behind. My vet is actively trying to dissuade new dog owners but it’s not really doing much.

I think (sorry if I've got it wrong) that Darkpheonix meant "I have had spaniels in my entire life. Crossing it with a poodle will NOT calm them down. Cocker and springers are extremely intelligent. Cockers especially are velcro dogs (In the main)."

Very good advice above. Poodles are fantastic. I know a couple of lovely Cocker cross Poodles (Sorry I don't do silly names) but most I've met as a groomer and dog walker have been mad and the owners are struggling to cope as often they're crossed with working Cockers that can be very full on. I'd go Poodle everyday of the week. Easy to find a lot of good breeders to sift through that are passionate about poodles as opposed to passionate about making money.

Vet nurse here , go for a poodle , i really can't believe what we are seeing in the vet world ,pretty much every other pup we are / have been seeing over the last 2 years has been a cockapoo.
We have been seeing unprecedented quantities of pups ,i think most vets are the same .
They are very cute pups and i think a lot of people don't see beyond this.
You are often buying an unknown , you won't know how big it will be etc
we see lots of nice ones but equally we see nervy ,untrustworthy dogs too, of course that can be said of other breeds but as this seems the 'breed of the moment' there are so many unscrupulous people mating dogs without thought other than the money they are going to make.
Poodles are nice little dogs, happy and intelligent and sadly not so common now, with research you are far more likely to find a responsible, knowledgeable breeder of a healthy pup as opposed to a multitude of adverts for cockapoos with a possible dubious background.

I have a cocker spaniel. He's ace but he's whip smart, learns so fast (poisoned chalice) and quick as a bullet. He's also likethers said a total velcro dog. He's working/show cross and definitely has a more working cocker mindset and energy. Show cockers tend to be a little more placid but bear in mind a cockapoo with show cocker parentage still is x2 active, smart breeds. They needs mental stimulation, training etc.

What is it about the poodle/cockapoo that particularly appeals? And what can you do on terms of training and exercise? That will determine your breed/type of dog to look for

Get a poodle. We had two when we were kids, and they were the best dogs, friendly, easy to train, put up with a lot from us! Happy and intelligent. With crossbreds you have no idea what you might get.

Poodle definitely. CockERpoos are a bit crazy.

Poodle.

We have a friends who got a cockerpoo. Extremely cute puppy. Total nightmare adult dog now though and about 3x larger than they were expecting. I've heard that if you get unlucky they can be difficult, but this one is full on. I also have friends who have a very cute, friendly smaller one. It seems too much of a risk though and that's before the reputable breeder issue.

You sound like you'd be a good match for a poodle anyway.

I wouldn’t go for a cockerpoo. Meet too many neurotic bundles of chaos!
Puppy farmed or backyard breeding.
Could have the worst of each breed.
Grooming can be a nightmare.

I have a poodle he is wonderful

I'd love a poodle, but not on the position for a dog till I retire. Had one as a child and she was just lovely, easy to train and very relaxed with us. Neighbour has cavachons and they are mental, don't stop barking, crosses are an unknown

Has anybody ever crossbred a Cockapoo and a Poodle. Did they call it a Poopoo or a Cockdle?

Thanks for all the responses. It seems like a poodle makes most sense for us.

What is it about the poodle/cockapoo that particularly appeals? And what can you do on terms of training and exercise?

I like the way they look (unshaved) ;-)
A mini poodle would be around the right size for us (wife doesn't want anything too large)
Trainable which I think would be fun and appeals, although I am a first time dog owner (we walk a local dog sometimes)
Good family pet - good with kids
OK with cats - we have two cats at the moment - I know they have to be acclimatised very gradually
Seem like about the right energy level for us

I'm an accidental Cockapoo mum, I have to say, the little thing is high energy crazy, quite sensitive to noises and people (this might be due to previous owner) and I find this dog quite hard to entertain at times as its always on the go! Nevertheless, the sweet and caring (in a doggy way) temperament has won me over. The XPoo is staying.
My own choice of dog is a Tibetan Terrier and they are just fabulous, unfazed by most things, happy with a long or a short walk, easy to train, but not as biddable as the XPoo. They have the hypoallergenic coat and a great sense of humour- the XPoo is often more "serious" about things.

@Welshiefluff a cockerpoopoo?!

Go for a poodle. Poodle mixes are absolutely unpredictable. You can't judge from someone else's what yours will be like.
My rescue poodle mix is a bit of a nightmare in more ways than one (and I'm a very experienced dog owner). She's meant to be a "cavoodle" My vet peered at her when we were discussing one of her behavioural issues and said he thought there's a bit of Westie in her. So you can get people advertising cavoodles or cockerpoos or whatever, but in truth there might be all sorts of other things in the mix.
My poodle by contrast is pretty much the dream dog

@Welshiefluff

Has anybody ever crossbred a Cockapoo and a Poodle. Did they call it a Poopoo or a Cockdle?

A cocker-doodle-poo

@backtoreality21

Thanks for all the responses. It seems like a poodle makes most sense for us.

What is it about the poodle/cockapoo that particularly appeals? And what can you do on terms of training and exercise?

I like the way they look (unshaved) ;-)
A mini poodle would be around the right size for us (wife doesn't want anything too large)
Trainable which I think would be fun and appeals, although I am a first time dog owner (we walk a local dog sometimes)
Good family pet - good with kids
OK with cats - we have two cats at the moment - I know they have to be acclimatised very gradually
Seem like about the right energy level for us

When we first fostered our poodle Cross o joined several groups on FB. Its really not u usual for alot of these poodle crosses to turn out quite large.

The lack of repugae breeding is responsible. People told they are mixed with mini or toy poodles. Then the puppies end up 20kg plus.

So if size is a consideration, don't go for a poodle Cross. If a reputable breeder of poodles.

One of my main problems with poodles crosses is that improves neither breed. Spaniels are amazing dogs. But they aren't particularly easy dogs to have. Even show types, which have a reputation of being lazier need alot of training and alot of brain exercise.

They are prone to separation anxiety, resource guarding, Boredom driven poor behaviour, over stimulated poor behaviour. You have to get the balance right of exercise and brain work so they aren't bored or over tired. Lots of people just don't get that and end up with problem dogs. I can't think of one reason that introducing a poodle would improve any of that.

@justajesta you are correct. I left out a very important word....thank you for correcting it for me.

I've got a mini poodle and she's great. A little bit of separation anxiety. It makes it worse if I come and go so I try to schedule things so I'm not popping in and out. She's great with our cat and doesn't need to much exercise. She tends to get naughty or barky if she's not exercised enough so we walk every day but no usually huge walks but she can handle that if we want to go for longer ones.

She's a happy, bright little dog with no aggression at all. Perfect for us!

We had a Bichon poo, (our only dog.) He was a bit hyper when a puppy, but smart and was easy to train. I am allergic to dogs and have asthma, but he did not affect me. He did not shed! Very affectionate, he
accepted it when we got cats, loving and friendly and smart, we thought he was almost human like in his personality. His colour was cream.