Help me choose!

[Excitedannie]

First time dog owner on my own, although grew up with them. I will still be working but not everyday, and not full days. Live near fields so daily exercise ok although some days will be less than others. Smallish house, small garden.

I've done lots of research and I've narrowed it down to two breeds. Head is going for Maltipoo but my heart says cocker spaniel (show).

Would love to hear your experience and opinions on both!

You'll find it easier to find a decent breeder of show cockers than of maltipoos. The early life experiences of puppies have been shown to have an impact on their later behaviour, so (aside from the issues of what life is like for the parent dogs) you really, really, really don't want a puppy from a puppy farm - which is where most maltipoos are likely to be born.

If you go for the show cocker, check that at least one parent has tested clear of the inherited recessive genetic diseases known to be in the breed. They are pleasant little dogs in my limited experience of them, much more chilled that the working strain.

I'd go show cocker they are gorgeous ! There's a chap with three on my road and they are VERY glamorous 🤣

I know several maltipoos and they all seem to have sensitive stomachs

Why not go for a Maltese or poodle rather than a maltipoo? There is no difference between the look of a Maltese and a maltipoo except (sometimes) colour and you will be able to get a decent breeder rather than a puppy farm selling random poodle crosses.
Just don’t be fooled - Maltese dogs need a lot more exercise than you would imagine. Mine needs 2 walks a day every day, for at least 30-60 mins. They’re bright and easily trained but like to be with people.

Watching with interest!!! I'm desperate for a show cocker spaniel but just don't know if we're the right situation for one. That said, i analyse everything and each dog has their own personality!!!

Don't know about maltipoos (I do have labradoodles which are great). But they know several show cockers snd a couple working. They are lovely dogs and sounds like you have the right environment for one. Better suited to a more rural environment. As long as you give it a good amount of exercise then an small house and garden is fine.

I'd say show cocker, but I'm biased as a I have one She is my first ever dog, got her 9 years ago as a puppy, and have trained her myself. Could have done better and know a lot more for future dogs, but she is pretty good on the whole.

Don't know about Maltipoo, but my neighbours have a Maltichon (Maltese x Bichon, an entirely pointless designer cross if you ask me and they spent a small fortune on him) and he's yappy as heck. Only got louder as he's got older. Super fun in terraced houses.

Definitely best to look for KC purebred dogs than these fashion crosses. Or even rescue dogs which can mean you miss the tricky puppy phase.

OP, these are two very different breeds. What is the home set-up and lifestyle that you need a dog to work with?

What do you expect from a Maltese x Poodle that you couldn't get from a Maltese or (the more commonly available) Poodle?

As other posters have said, you are far more likely to get a Poodle that has been ethically bred from a breeder who health tests. The vast majority of Maltese x Poodle pups are likely to have been bred by commercial breeders or backyard breeders with no care for health, and it is very hard indeed for the average pet buyer to tell if they're having the wool pulled over their eyes, these people are very clever.

Please educate yourself on the evils of the puppy farming industry before you buy a puppy of any breed. There is a lot of information out there now, and if you don't educate yourself and make every effort possible to avoid it, then I am afraid you are part of the problem.

(Not specifically aimed at you, hopefully you will act on the information.) You SHOULD care about the miserable lives that the parents of farmed pups lead, but if you don't care about that, then you should worry about the very real possibility of paying out a lot of money for a puppy with socialisation issues, diseases that can cause huge vet bills and/or death, and of health conditions that could have been avoided by ethical breeding.

I prefer cocker spaniels but think a maltipoo would be less lively and easier to manage so it depends on what you are after.

@bunnygeek

Don't know about Maltipoo, but my neighbours have a Maltichon (Maltese x Bichon, an entirely pointless designer cross if you ask me and they spent a small fortune on him) and he's yappy as heck. Only got louder as he's got older. Super fun in terraced houses.

Definitely best to look for KC purebred dogs than these fashion crosses. Or even rescue dogs which can mean you miss the tricky puppy phase.

Because they’re cute and fluffy, there is a tendency not to train these small dogs properly and they can get too cocky. My own needs to be reminded not to bark inappropriately but most let them because it’s easier not to bother. Same with not socialising them properly or picking them up when big dogs come over to sniff. A total no no.