Family dog, Cockapoo?

[User0919]

Hi, we are considering a family dog. Now might not be the right time as 2 of my DC are still quite young and I want to be able to give the right attention to any dog. I’ve never had a dog so looking for some advice for anyone with experience.

Would need a dog who gets on with children, relatively low maintenance and is able to be left in for short periods of time. I also visit my mum, she has a cat and wondered if this is a definite no that a cat and dog would never get along.

I have mainly looked at Cockapoo? As I say this might just be a bit crazy to add into the mix and would maybe need to wait a year or 2 but at least then I can have a look at what might be the best breed for a family dog in future. Thanks

Cockerpoos can be mad. I have friends with cavapoos - great dogs and seem much calmer! We have a golden doodle.. lovely but is a bigger dog 😊

My opinion of them is a cockerpoo is not a regulated breed. It's a mongrel. So break down what they are. A cocker spaniel. Very, very energetic, bouncy, chewy and need a lot of mental stimulation. Poodles are retriever type dogs, can be possessive and obsessive. My friend has a pure breed poodle and I wasn't keen on its traits that are 'typical' for the breed so may be worth looking at the two breeds separately and then deciding.

I have met many, many owners over the years - we tend to hone in on others with similar dogs to our own to chat - and I've never spoken to anyone who regrets having one on account of "high energy/maintenance."
If a dog, any dog, has lots of energy, then exercise/stimulate it more. Ours gets up to 2 hours of off-lead countryside walks every day, with lots of play and games at home in between. Not because he demands it, particularly, but that's just how it works out for us.
Also, get it trained. Get ANY dog trained.

There really is no need to be so defensive and rude My point is a correct and valid one about cockerpoos, in order to maintain them, they need professionally grooming and you need to groom them on top of that. I would call that high maintenance as is it more than most need.

What is "defensive and rude" about stating the facts of my experience?

Anyway, this thread is bearing out what I have always seen in the MN Doghouse about poodle mixes. People who've never owned one piling on to take a pop at those of us who have.

Everyone has different interpretations of high-maintenance, though.

For me, any dog that needs to be brushed, trimmed or groomed is automatically a high-maintenance dog and not a breed I would ever consider.

You were very defensive, and just to let you know, I'm not one of the MNs who you think just goes in on poodle mixes, as I own a poodle mix myself 💁‍♀️

Same here - not a dog l would want

The ones I have come across seem to be nice natured and friendly

I’ve got a show cocker and it’s certainly not a breed I’d recommend for a novice dog owner, even when crossed with another breed.

Our cockepoo is gorgeous but hard work! She is affectionate, great with the kids and gentle. She was easy to toilet train and has good recall. She doesn’t chew.

However, she is reactive, anxious and barky - at other dogs, kids on scooters etc so despite good recall she remains on the lead unless somewhere really quiet. We had planned to take her to cafes etc which isn’t possible. We have tried everything. She is also clingy and barks at everything passing the house.

Love her to bits but no way would I have another one. Our springer spaniel was a dream compared to her.

If I’ve got to do more than run a brush over a dog about once a weeks or so and wash it if it’s rolled in something, I’d call that a high maintenance coat tbh 😐😂

But I did ask ages ago what the OP meant because it wasn’t clear whether she meant coat, training, exercise, general attention ... 🤷‍♀️

I don't know if it's because of the breed (I've not had any experience with a cockerpoo) but BIL has one. It's almost 3 years old they had her from a puppy, really quite excitable (wees on the floor when someone new goes over to visit due to over excitement even now), wants attention almost constantly and can't be left alone for more than maybe an hour so if they want to take the kids out for the afternoon they need a dog sitter. Personally I wouldn't have one because of this but whether its breed or just that individual dog I don't know.

@Thinkbiglittleone I was answering a direct question from you (which included what some might interpret as excessive passive-aggressive question marks)!
You said, "yes I am saying that they are high maintenance, so do you not need to get your cockerpoo groomed and groom him regularly yourself ???"

I therefore responded that yes, I do. What's defensive about that?

@RubiesAndRaindrops Or possibly the owners?
I knew a springer spaniel who would constantly wee over out of excitement/stress. Doesn't mean they all do.
Many, many dogs will roll in fox poo (or cow/sheep/whatever) and trust me, they will need a thorough bath after that regardless of the breed.
My friend's golden retriever, a gorgeously stunning dog, stinks to high heaven and there are days in winter when she can't face taking her out, due to the nightmare of cleaning her up afterwards. And, when she gave me a lift once, I almost had an asthma attack (when I'm not asthmatic!) due to the hairs all over the seats.
My point: all dogs have their issues and foibles.

Thing is, it’s not a “breed”. So physical and personality traits can vary hugely from dog to dog, and even between littermates.

you may get all the best traits of a poodle and a cocker, all the worst, or anywhere in between.

someone meeting a cockerpoo in a park and thinks it’s their ideal dog “breed”, goes off to a local puppy farm for their own, and ends up with a completely different dog 🤷‍♀️

@Thinkbiglittleone I was answering a direct question from you (which included what some might interpret as excessive passive-aggressive question marks)!

@TheCrystalPalace I am not reliving a conversation that is there.
You quoted me first, a little bit you picked out from my quote and said how I'm calling you a liar (never did ) and to "hear it from you, your dog is not high maintenance" I never aimed any if my original post at you, you came to me, on the defensive.

Stating "Passive aggressive question marks" did give me a chuckle though, really.

You said, "yes I am saying that they are high maintenance, so do you not need to get your cockerpoo groomed and groom him regularly yourself ???"
Which is a fact they are high maintenance

I therefore responded that yes, I do. What's defensive about that?

That was not the defensive bit though.

Cockapoos can be a high maintenance not always easy breed

Cockerpoo is probably my least favourite dog because everyone seems to have one round here and all of them are yappy, poorly trained with separation issues and very barky in the garden. Massive generalisation of course, and absolutely the fault of the owners but just my experience 🤷🏼‍♀️ I just honestly don't get the fascination. Get a poodle, or a bichon if you're bothered about the shedding.

Cockapoos can be very high maintenance indeed, depending on their coat. I would look at other pure breeds like poodle, show cocker, Staffie, calmer strains of springer. Or for larger breeds, Labrador or goldie. All dogs required grooming but many need professional attention unless you are prepared to learn.

What is a "calmer strain" of a springer? How do you know?

Get a poodle, or a bichon if you're bothered about the shedding

you realise poodles are non shedding?

this is the whole problem. People seem to be snobbish about actual poodles, and want a cocker/lab/whatever that has all the poodle traits, but isn’t actually a poodle.

Pugs are amazing family dogs

There is a big push at the minute (rightly so) to breed out the flat face etc, but that aside, they're amazing,

Ours is very long legged for a pug and doesn't have the sticky out eyes. He does have a flat face but it's not as much as a lot of others. There are breeders out there trying to breed healthier pugs

We have a cockapoo. She's a really lovely dog, affectionate, great with our toddler, doesn't shed hair, and gets on with our cats.

Like all dogs, she needs daily walks, mental stimulation, attention, feeding, vaccinations, fleaing and worming. We have to buy replacement toys all the time because they get destroyed constantly, and she wakes my husband up every night to be let out for a wee.

The biggest "issues" are:

She needs a haircut every 6 weeks (at £35 a pop), regular brushing, daily ear cleaning, and frequent baths because she loves rolling in fox shit.

She's allergic to everything, so she has to have special (expensive) food, she's on steroid medication (expensive), and she's prone to ear infections. Our vet bills are huge.

She has separation anxiety and can only be left alone for very short periods. If she is going to be home alone for longer than 1-2 hours I have to make arrangements for someone to come in and see her, or she has to be left with a friend/mother in law. Luckily, someone is at home most of the time.

Apart from that, it is good 😂

I do love having a dog, but they are a huge commitment.

My BiL and SiL had 2 lovely Cockerpoos they've just died at 12 . They were never good at recall though and pretty much had to be kept on the lead unless in a fenced area . Other than that they were good and could be left up to 4 hours . They were very affectionate and not destructive at all . Just as a bit of contrast !