Query about cocker poos and poodles

[bluericicle]

Just wondering why so many go for poodle crosses rather than a miniature poodle?

Growing up we had a different working breed, very intelligent but good pets. I always got the impression poodles were similar.

I know cocker poos were bred as hearing dogs originally.

Just wondering why people choose poodle crosses over a poodle?

I met a blind toy rescue poodle recently who'd been adopted near by. He is such a sweetie.

Thank you all, so many comments around what I've pretty much suspected. I think there's a general snobbiness about poodles that's misplaced.

I always thought they were v intelligent as they were the circus performers.

As a child I promised myself I'd get a black poodle one day. (But then got a black version of the type we bred who was v smart. And a tad stubborn.) Met one recently who was super smart and utterly gorgeous.

Often when people looking for a cockerpoo describe what they want in a dog they are describing a poodle and none of the spaniel traits you’d end up with I've recently started to think the same.

I'm not a fan of spaniels to live with. Loved a relative's working cocker. But never felt the same level of engagement you get from the more intelligent dogs.

I know from our breeding that one breed of dog can have many different characteristics but i so think good breeders are better at recognising that these days.

I'm not a fan of spaniels to live with. Loved a relative's working cocker. But never felt the same level of engagement you get from the more intelligent dogs

Spaniels are incredibly intelligent, it's just that they are also full of energy and need a job and a purpose, otherwise they go rogue and find their own entertainment 🤣

And cockers vary hugely too.

Mine is show/working mix, he's so sweet and actually pretty chill in the house. Never destroyed anything other than his toys, sleeps 10+ hrs a night. Sweet natured.

Lots of cockapoo types are working x working type and are high octane dogs. Mine loves to work but he's not that 'buzzy' cocker type dog

So buying a crossbreed is massively varying. Some cockapoo types will be chilled and easy going sweet dogs, others will be wired. Depends on parents and own genetics.

Spaniels are super clever. That's why they can be so destructive. You need to work their minds as much as their bodies or they just go self employed

Cockerpoos were first report by the Times in 1859 as a good combination ground and water dog. So not really new.
I have both a cockerpoo and a standard poodle, my cockerpoo is 12 so long before the huge fad. He was a compromise with my ex husband who wanted and spaniel and I wanted a poodle. Replaced the husband got the dog I really wanted.

Poodles are fab! I have a Standard and people always say ‘you never see proper Poodles anymore’
Mine doesn’t have a fancy hair cut either, just keep it tidy all over.

I have a working spaniel and then one that’s a poodle cross. She is a rescue, but originally was bred at a puppy farm. She looks like poodle tbh. Though on her paperwork she is a cavappochon.

I adore her. But if I was choosing a dog I would go spaniels every time. If I am honest, I don’t get the spaniel/poodle kid at all. The vast majority look like poodles, if the poodles has a similar cut. Most people couldn’t tell them apart unless the poodle has a traditional poodle cut. Ours needed a short clip when we got her. She looked like a poodle.

I think both breeds are great and on their own. And can’t see any benefit to the cross. Especially since the vast majority are very poorly bred, it’s usually a disadvantage.

I have a mini.

My parents have 2 toys.

I also live surrounded by cross breeds. Cavoodles are everywhere locally.

My girl has become less perfect with lockdown, she's now very clingy towards me. But there is so much that makes her a pretty amazing pet. Enough that I can't imagine owning another breed.

Why would you not want to guarantee that your dog is not going to shed? And poodles can look so many different ways - so many haircut options as they grow quickly. No need to go with a trad poodle look, but you can do that once or twice.

@QuicheQuoche Absolutely gorgeous 🥰

I honestly think people still think 'poodle' and associate show clipped poodles and high maintenance. The same as people thinking cockerpoos don't shed. I'd have a mini poodle anyway - super, smart dogs.

But there's a huge difference between crossing two breeds for a purpose (eg. work) and crossing them because they're cute and to make money. Lots of mixes are bred for a good, solid purpose - retrievers/labs as guide dogs or hearing dogs, shepherd mixes for police work, hound mixes for hunting, spaniel mixes for gun dogs etc.

Cockapoos as a mix may have been around ages, but it's only recently that they've had a "breed club" (which is stupid in itself as they're not a breed) and have been as popular as they are.

The same goes for sprockers - excellent working dogs but they're become more and more popular as pets and most homes just can't provide them with the exercise and stimulation they need, which is why so many end up in rescue.

@QuicheQuoche what a stunner! I walk a toy poodle and he's incredible - so, so smart and loveable. They're fab dogs. We also have a standard locally and he's HUGE he has the teddy bear cut and just looks like a massive curly bear. He's amazing.

@thelobsterquadrille it was worth considering how dogs become formal breeds. Many 'breeds' had clubs long before they were formally recognised examples would be parson jack Russel in the 1980s and Norfolk and Norwich Terriers who were considered a single type and the split in the 1960s before being formally recognised;
I do disagree with the indiscriminate breeding, but if there are people trying to breed a type dog of dog that can meet a standard that can be formally recognised with health checks is no different to what many others have done before. My father was one of the first with recognised registered Norfolk Terriers.

I just think it's comparing apples and oranges. Mixing two breeds to create a working dog with a job is very different to breeding crosses because they make cute and appealing pets.

I'm sure there are some doodle/poo breeders out there who health test and who want to do their best to create calm, well-bred pups, but the vast majority are breeding for looks, not health or temperament or work.

Comparing JRT's, "goldadors" (bred as guide dogs) and sprockers with cockapoos just doesn't work IMO. They're bred for totally different reasons and by totally different types of people.

@QuicheQuoche

Did you feel his face was too identifying??

Our 6 month old black/white parti mini poodle

We have a standard poodle she's on the small size for a standard ( about the same size as a Lab ( still within breed standards). She is my first dog and she is fantastic! Chilled out at home when she needs to be but will happily go on adventures too,

We had her cut into a Miami ( with Pom-poms) despite vowing never to have a 'silly show cut', as people kept asking what her cross was.

I have a miniature Australian Labradoodle. I got him as I understood that it would have the best of both breeds. Family friendly and non shedding (Australian labradoodle are not simply a lab x poodle cross but almost a breed in themselves. Mine looks exactly like his father and grandfather and I've got a more than five generation lineage). I have another labradoodle bred back to a mini poodle. She looks and acts like a terrier though (very good ratter and mouser). I met her parents though.

@SkylightSkylight 😂 She doesn’t want to be hounded by the Puparazzi! She’s very private you know!

I grew up with a miniature poodle whose now 13 years old
My partner and I got our own pup over lockdown. I wanted one which was allergy friendly because of my mum so either poodle, bishon, maltese or a cross of these.

Just so happened the first day we looked we came across an advert for our pup who is a mix pomeranian and toy poodle. He was a lot cheaper of all other options (still ridiculously expensive) and we loved him right away.

He is two now but I would argue he is smarter and more loving then the poodle I grew up with. Easy to maintain because he is small and we can trust him playing with children (which usually they say small dogs do not like but ours loves)

I love my Poodle, what a fab dog he is. Very bouncy as pup, very intelligent, quite a unique sense of humour. He's matured into lovely laid back boy, very loving and fun. So easy to train.

I, too, just keep him short and tidy. He has a curly tail and top knot. Everyone asks what breed he is, and I guess he doesn't look poodley because he doesn't have the traditional poodle haircut.

I have a miniature poodle and he's fab!

When originally planning a dog (years in the making) I admit poodles didn't enter my brain - it was the 'traditional' looks that stopped me even considering. some research recommended cockapoos to me - I've had a cocker spaniel as a kid and loved him but temperament wise wasn't the fit for us at this time, so I started looking into poodles - sounded perfect, but - the look! Until one day I bumped into one with a 'normal' haircut up at the park and fell in love.

So glad we met that dog and decided on a poodle, he's 2.5 now and fantastic! Literally fits in with everything