Cockapoos- from working or show cocker???

[missminimum]

I know there have been a lot of cockapoo threads and some people do not approve of the breed. I am not looking for opinions on if you approve of the breed, but advice of the pros and cons between a working cockers or show cocker crosses? We have previously had a show cocker, but many cockerpoos seem to be a cross between a poodle and working cocker, sl would like advice on if this makes much difference in a cockapoo. Thanks

I’d go show. Working tend to have a nicer coat I think but can be loopy as there’s so much fizz.
Most cockerpoo owners I’ve met want an easy pet- so show gives a bit of lower energy and drive dog.

I prefer working cockers to shows personally but I’m not a cockerpoo fan tbh.
And that isn’t because they are a cross, I just don’t find the majority I see out about particularly appealing.
In looks or personality.
If you like the ‘look’ I’d go for a miniature poodle

If there are any, the differences will be in the coat and the energy levels, but as with any mix, there's no guarantees.

As a general rule, working cockers require more mental and physical stimulation and generally have softer, more feathery coats compared to shows.

As a dog walker, I have numerous cockapoos on my books - some from working cockers and some from show - and they're all completely different - both in size, colour, coat type, behaviour and temperament.

I think show are supposed to be calmer. I don’t think you’re guaranteed anything with any dog. I’d get to know the parents if you’re worried. We had a run down of parent personality from the breeder and met both a few times. We have a 12 week old cockapoo from a show cocker and you poodle. She’s gorgeous. Very sociable, handles most things well, adaptable,affectionate, intelligent, bouncy at times but she’s a puppy and we’re following the EasyPeasy Puppy book. She’s a joy. They’re lovely dogs.

The show I know is adorable but very needy, hates to be left alone, a real companion dog. The working ones I know are really different, much less affectionate, quite hard work and need a lot of stimulation. I think they're a lovely sized dog but I wouldn't get either personally. The prices for what is a mongrel are ridiculous imo and far too many have been bred by puppy farms.

Our show isn’t needy at all. I don’t get why a cross breed needs to be cheap. I don’t give a shut about pedigree but a dog right for us. I’d rather get a dog from a caring well set up breeder who keeps to strict guidelines and knows what they’re doing than somebody breeding dogs with poor facilities and limited knowledge. I saw so many back garden breeders I wouldn’t have touched with a barge pole when looking. Do your research, our breeder was fab.

The biggest consideration would be energy levels and drive - on average, working cockers are much more likely to require more exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy, and whilst with a cross you can never 100% predict anything, a show cocker mix is more likely to be more chilled out and not require quite as much to tire them out. Working cockers tend to have thinner and shorter coats compared to the shows, not sure though if this would make a visible difference when mixed with a poodle!

As most cockapoos are destined to be pets (not going to homes that are going to work them, e.g. gundog training, agility, scentwork etc) it would make more sense to cross them with the generally more sedate counterpart.. however I would encourage anyone thinking about a poodle mix to consider a well-bred miniature poodle first - they're cracking little dogs and so overlooked, they don't need to be trimmed in a show clip and tend to be much more predictable trait-wise :)

Not sure how much Covid has affected prices, but on average, working cockers tended to be markedly cheaper to buy and more plentiful than show cockers, so that's most likely why you see more working cockers mixed with poodles.

@Gowithme My show is like this, affectionate and extremely loyal but very needy. Obsessed with me. He gets walked off lead every day but is excited to get back home and doze.
I’ve met a lot of working cockers on our walks and their owners say they need a lot of physical and mental stimulation.

IME experience of cockers, working cockers are energetic and driven - lovely personalities, but often completely batshit. They have been bred to hunt and if you don't train them and give them an outlet, they are very likely to go self-employed and not come back for half an hour. They tend to be pretty healthy.

Show line tend to be bigger with more pendulous ears (more prone to ear infections) and a lot more coat though as a PP said, not sure how much that will matter when mixed with a poodle.

Personally if I was a after a quiet pet I'd go for a show cocker cross.

My show is a sweetheart with me but very needy - obsessed with me (to the point that I could tell today that he was disappointed my son was holding the lead on his walk, and not me). Also cries a lot. Wants a share of everything I eat...and usually gets it. But a cuddly darling the rest of the time, except that he doesn't like most other people...
It's complicated.

Thanks for all your opinions, it is really helpful. If we go for a cockapoo, I am more drawn to one from a show cocker, mainly because we have had a show cocker pedigree who was easy, calm and had a great nature. Just thinking of a cockapoo for a dog of similar size and temperament, but not one that reminds us of our old dog

Cockerpoo is not a breed, it's a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle (in other words, a mongrel). The same for Jackapoo, Labradoodle or any other silly names of cross-breed dogs

Cockerpoo is not a breed, it's a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle (in other words, a mongrel). The same for Jackapoo, Labradoodle or any other silly names of cross-breed dogs

What's your point? Do you think mongrels are inferior dogs?

I've got a working cocker. He's the intensest dog imaginable. He is in my personal space 24/7, has an incredibly strong prey drive, and has taken an enormous amount of training on his recall. He's adorable, and the love of my life, don't get me wrong - but he's a lot of work. He's clever, demanding, and needs a lot of off lead scent work/exercise.

I wouldn't mix those genes with a poodle.

My sister has a cockerpoo from working lines and honestly it is neurotic,

YAppy, separation anxiety, doesn’t like other dogs or people.

Might just be how she has raised it but every cockerpoo I’ve met has had a behavioural issue of some sort…

I thought maybe it’s just the one I’ve happened to meet, but then when discussing breeds with our dogs trainer she says the number 1 ‘breed’ she gets call to help with are cockerpoos, but I think that’s mostly because cockerpoos are a favourite with first time dog owned who don’t realise when you mix a working breed with one of the most intelligent breeds of dogs you get a high energy, intelligent dog who isn’t happy with just a half hour potter around the park.

Ok getting off my pedestal now

Why get on your pedestal?Every cockapoo you’ve met- really.🤔 We seem to meet loads on our walks. Also know several happy owners hence us picking the breed ourselves. All look pretty ok to me. Interested into how your life is overrun with cockerpoos and the owners have time to share in-depth behavioural issues.

Why not get a show cocker in a different colour to the one you had or a Cavalier King Charles? The Cockerpoo is not likely to be as nearly as nice. I come across cockerpoo's on my dog walks all the time (there's an epidemic of the things) and most of them bark at my poor Rough collie, he was attacked by the neighbours one once and a couple of others nearly got him when the owner let go of the lead.

Cocker spaniels on the other hand are lovely.

Wow feral too!

Haven’t CKC got health issues.

They are popular for a reason Their pleasant demeanour and trainability make them great family pets. I think packs of feral cockapoos looking to get other breeds probably just hang out in MNland.

One of my friends has a cockerpoo (not sure if its part show or working) and it’s lovely. Absolutely nuts and lots of energy.

Another friend has a Cavapoo which is also lovely but much calmer.

They are popular for a reason Their pleasant demeanour and trainability make them great family pets
I have to say most of the ones I see on my regular walks don’t strike me as having particularly pleasant demeanours.

One has bitten my DH.
Another one really hates one of my dogs and goes mental as it soon as it spots us.
A fair few that I see are quite dog reactive actually but not as bad as the psycho one.

There’s one that growls at kids (I haven’t seen that one in a while actually).
There are some calm, well mannered ones too that I see out and about.

I don’t really get the popularity myself.
They aren’t particularly attractive to look at (sorry cockerpoo lovers) and strike me as quite neurotic and hard work, generally.
Probably due to the fact a lot are puppy farmed and bought by first time owners.

I suspect that a lot of their popularity is down to the stupid cutesy name, the fact they are freely available and their cuteness as puppies tbh

“Just thinking of a cockapoo for a dog of similar size and temperament, but not one that reminds us of our old dog”

It’s pretty unlikely that’s what you’ll get tbh, when you cross two breeds you’re basically throwing all the traits into the air and seeing what you end up with.

@Z1nn1a

Wow feral too!

Haven’t CKC got health issues.

Most breeds have health issues including cocker spaniels. Go for a health tested puppy from health tested parents, which you are highly unlikely to get with a cockerpoo or any other poo.

Not sure what first time owner has got to go with it and what the stats for that are. Most of the people buying from the same litter that we met on our weekly visits to see her were well seasoned dog owners. We are first time buyers and really don’t see the issue. A couple of puppy books, masses of info from the breeder and the internet has been all we need. It’s not hard when you research and frankly don’t see how they differ from any other puppy.

They’re not freely available, far from it.

Why is it highly unlikely to get a health tested cockapoo? We have the full health history of the kennel club parents and the paperwork for our vet checked puppy alongside cover for us to do our own vet check as soon as we got her home. Which we did.

Our puppy is very well adjusted, well socialised and friendly just like all the other dogs we saw at the the breeders. Certainly not neurotic she takes everything in her stride. Surely you train and reassure any puppy. They’re highly trainable. At 12 weeks our puppy now goes a teenage school run in the car twice daily, sleeps through 7 hours in her crate, toileting outside and has good lead behaviour on walks. Now working on recall and she’s beginning to recognise her name. Just got to train her out of the slipper nicking and odd nips from over excitement which when you read up most puppies go through and is lessening with training.

She’s gorgeous. So much cockapoo snobbery and scaremongering on MN re this breed. It’s laughable.

@missminimum

Thanks for all your opinions, it is really helpful. If we go for a cockapoo, I am more drawn to one from a show cocker, mainly because we have had a show cocker pedigree who was easy, calm and had a great nature. Just thinking of a cockapoo for a dog of similar size and temperament, but not one that reminds us of our old dog

But there's no guarantee of this - so it's a huge risk to be taking.

Poodles themselves can be quite neurotic - they are high energy, intelligent and don't especially like being alone. Mix that in with a cocker spaniel and you could end up with a very high energy, intelligent mixed breed dog that hates being left and is fearful (so can't be let off lead) but needs the exercise to be calm and chilled.

I have no issue with cockapoos as dogs - as I've said, I walk plenty but they're all completely different (in terms of looks, temperament and personality) so you need to go into this with eyes wide open and not have any set expectations of what your dog will look like or how it will behave.