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The doghouse

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Original poster

Puppy advice please!

39 replies

Sevensevenone · 14/10/2023 18:58

We have decided to get a puppy after years of consideration but am after advice on breeds. I lean towards a cockapoo as we are a busy family of five, I have researched and they are known to be great family dogs who don’t need excessive amounts of exercise, good size, don’t shed too much etc. My concern is becoming a middle class cliché as every other family in a ten mile radius has a cockapoo 😂 so I’d love to get some other ideas! I’d love a cocker spaniel but worry they need a LOT of exercise. Any thoughts on great family small - medium size dogs (we live in london, I don’t want a big dog). Thank you!

OP posts:
wetotter · 14/10/2023 19:03

Cockapoos can need just as much exercise as a cocker spaniel - it depends which breed traits dominate, so if you don't think you can cope with the characteristics of one parent, don't get the cross.

You could look at getting a poodle

Or if you are prepared to put in the early training, then one of the small/medium terriers - Border terriers have a good reputation as family dogs, as do the smaller (and less common) Norfolk terrier and their rarer (vulnerable native breed) cousins Norwich terriers

Bonniethewestie · 14/10/2023 19:08

West highland terriers! They are fun & loving family pets.

Daschunds are very popular (sausage dogs)

PourquoiPas · 14/10/2023 19:27

Sevensevenone · 14/10/2023 18:58

We have decided to get a puppy after years of consideration but am after advice on breeds. I lean towards a cockapoo as we are a busy family of five, I have researched and they are known to be great family dogs who don’t need excessive amounts of exercise, good size, don’t shed too much etc. My concern is becoming a middle class cliché as every other family in a ten mile radius has a cockapoo 😂 so I’d love to get some other ideas! I’d love a cocker spaniel but worry they need a LOT of exercise. Any thoughts on great family small - medium size dogs (we live in london, I don’t want a big dog). Thank you!

I would recommend doing some more research on breeders and breeds - there are a huge number of puppy farms and backyard breeders around nowadays who will say whatever they can to sell puppies. It's not like 20 years ago where someone would have a litter of puppies and sell them in the area, these are sophisticated operations who present themselves as nice people who love dogs but actually are just out to make money.

Not only is this horrible for the dogs being breed and kept in unpleasant conditions for their whole lives then dumped in rescues but also means you are more likely to get a puppy with genetic and behavioural issues as puppy farms and backyard breeders don't care if the dogs they breed have the right temperaments and clean health, they just want the money. Google puppies and parvo - it is incredibly rare for good breeders to have parvo in the house as it is 100% preventable but thousand's of puppies die each year which is just horrific

Firstly, cocker spaniels usually need a lot of interaction and exercise and so do poodles. It is really unlikely that a mix of the two will not need a decent amount of interaction and exercise and anyone who tells you different is not being realistic or not giving the dog what is bred to do. That's not to say that there aren't some lovely cockapoos out there who are super chill and just love the sofa but there are a lot that are quietly rehomed at 9 months or so, or are crated for 18 hours a day because they are really bored and so destroy the house.

Have a look at the genetic testing recommended by the kennel club for cockers and for poodles and eliminate any breeder from your list who does not do them - some of these diseases are horrific and puppy farms do not care about the health of the puppies. They will happily breed dad to daughter etc as it's cheaper for them and they don't care if your loved pet ends up dying much too soon :(

For example, German Shepard's and labs used to have awful hip problems and I remember family dogs in the past suffering for years in some pain before they eventually had to be PTS. Now all GSDs and Labs can have their hips tested painlessly and good breeders will only breed from dogs who have good hips which has lead to a massive improvement in health for the resulting puppies.

There are some great programmes on iPlayer which will give you tips on finding a breeder and choosing a puppy - what to look for and what the red flags are I.e. lots of litters every year, lots of different cross breeds, puppies available immediately

If you like cockapoos and are happy to commit to a decent amount of company and exercise I personally would go for a miniature poodle - same size and with the same grooming look identical but much easier to get a happy and healthy puppy who will bring you joy for years to come Smile

Ylvamoon · 14/10/2023 19:43

I have a cookerpoo- she's fantastic!

But, she's also crazy! Loves to go on long walks , needs a lot of stimulation and brain games.

I think they are great for agility and other K9 sports.
Disclaimer, she's a mini Poodle X - so maybe a bit different? As she's also very clingy, nervous and still not 100% house trained... at 2 years! (I re homed her as a 6 months old that didn't get any basic training)

Gamjs · 14/10/2023 19:47

We have got a miniature schnauzer ( our first dog and we are in our sixties)fantastic intelligent loving dog. Read up on the breed could be just what you at looking for.

NormaLouiseBates · 14/10/2023 21:33

Every cockerpoo I know is utterly bonkers. And no 2 of them are the same. You just don't know what you're going to get.

KateyCuckoo · 14/10/2023 21:41

Get a show cocker spaniel/ cockapoo instead of a working one.

Ours is a dream, doesn't need more than one walk a day, can miss the odd day if replaced by brain game stimulation (which we do anyway) he's super chilled and great around everyone.

Danja2010 · 14/10/2023 21:47

All dogs need proper exercise and should be walked 3x a day. I am appalled at those that say one walk a day is enough. It simply isn’t. If you don’t have the time to walk and interact with your dog. Please don’t get one. Young dogs are a LOT of work.

thistimelastweek · 14/10/2023 21:54

wetotter · 14/10/2023 19:03

Cockapoos can need just as much exercise as a cocker spaniel - it depends which breed traits dominate, so if you don't think you can cope with the characteristics of one parent, don't get the cross.

You could look at getting a poodle

Or if you are prepared to put in the early training, then one of the small/medium terriers - Border terriers have a good reputation as family dogs, as do the smaller (and less common) Norfolk terrier and their rarer (vulnerable native breed) cousins Norwich terriers

Norfolk terriers are great little dogs.
Tiny packages of fun.

Original poster
Sevensevenone · 14/10/2023 21:58

.

OP posts:
KateyCuckoo · 14/10/2023 22:00

Danja2010 · 14/10/2023 21:47

All dogs need proper exercise and should be walked 3x a day. I am appalled at those that say one walk a day is enough. It simply isn’t. If you don’t have the time to walk and interact with your dog. Please don’t get one. Young dogs are a LOT of work.

Dogs who are walked 3 x a day will eventually need this as you'll have a very fit dog.

We certainly have time to walk him more but he doesn't need or want it. Save your 'appalled' for something actually appalling!

Robotalkingrubbish · 14/10/2023 22:03

Why not get a miniature poodle? Everyone thinks ours is a cockapoo but in fact we have a quiet, non shedding, calm, easy to train poodle. They are fully health checked and available from reputable breeders.

Many cockapoos come from puppy farms.

tabulahrasa · 14/10/2023 22:09

Danja2010 · 14/10/2023 21:47

All dogs need proper exercise and should be walked 3x a day. I am appalled at those that say one walk a day is enough. It simply isn’t. If you don’t have the time to walk and interact with your dog. Please don’t get one. Young dogs are a LOT of work.

Enough exercise isn’t really linked to amount of walks...

I mean, you could do 3 half hour walks round a housing estate on lead and it’d be chuff all exercise really, and not that interesting for them either.

Mine aren’t getting 2 token extra walks when they’ve been hill walking for 4 hours already that day.

hermioneee · 14/10/2023 22:14

Definitely go for a poodle only if you don't think you could cope with a cocker. But they can be a bundle of nerves so be careful around children.

Miniature schnauzers are a good bet. Or a show spaniel - they're bred for calm!

Rowgtfc72 · 14/10/2023 22:14

We've got a year old dachsund. Doesn't shed much, is fine being left alone. Not a crazy run around dog( like my last two jack russels). Great with people and other dogs. He does 4-5 miles a day over two walks. Any less and he can be a pest.
Barky sod though.

margotrose · 15/10/2023 07:59

Danja2010 · 14/10/2023 21:47

All dogs need proper exercise and should be walked 3x a day. I am appalled at those that say one walk a day is enough. It simply isn’t. If you don’t have the time to walk and interact with your dog. Please don’t get one. Young dogs are a LOT of work.

I've never walked my dog three times in one day and he's a working breed (beagle).

Quality is far, far more important than quantity.

Floofydawg · 15/10/2023 08:10

My dog would give me a WTF face if I tried to walk him a third time.

We have a cavapoo. Alternative to cockapoo - not as crazy, non shedding.

Robotalkingrubbish · 15/10/2023 08:16

hermioneee · 14/10/2023 22:14

Definitely go for a poodle only if you don't think you could cope with a cocker. But they can be a bundle of nerves so be careful around children.

Miniature schnauzers are a good bet. Or a show spaniel - they're bred for calm!

I have a miniature poodle, she’s the calmest dog I’ve ever known. She just fits in with us. At Christmas we had a house full and she was very happy all day, as everyone wanted a cuddle with her. Every time I looked she was settled down with a different family member, including children aged from two to 12. On the other hand, if you go to the park, she’s a completely different dog! She loves to chase a ball, and have a rough and tumble with her doggy friends. She’s been so easy to train, she’s very intelligent. She’s an amazing dog.

hermioneee · 15/10/2023 08:26

She sounds the best! But poodles aren't known for being calm and relaxed dogs. She must have felt very safe with you from the start.
I think when you get a dog you have to think about your worst case scenario and if you can deal with that you're on to a winner. It's not helpful when someone says oh I have a working cocker who needs a 30 minute walk and sleeps all day - get one! Because there are so many that would hate that - and you need to plan for the hard ones!

Robotalkingrubbish · 15/10/2023 08:31

hermioneee · 15/10/2023 08:26

She sounds the best! But poodles aren't known for being calm and relaxed dogs. She must have felt very safe with you from the start.
I think when you get a dog you have to think about your worst case scenario and if you can deal with that you're on to a winner. It's not helpful when someone says oh I have a working cocker who needs a 30 minute walk and sleeps all day - get one! Because there are so many that would hate that - and you need to plan for the hard ones!

The other poodles we know are just like ours. Having said that, you don’t see many poodles these days. All you seem to see are poodle crosses. We get the same questions over and over. Is she a Cockapoo? Is she a Cavapoo? When you say, no, poodle, they give you a funny look. 😂

Puppy advice please!
Hugosauras · 15/10/2023 08:43

Cockerpoos are high energy dogs. They need lots of exercise, esp if one parent is working cocker.
Read up on how to avoid buying from a puppy farm. They routinely place puppies in households to appear as though home bred. 1 in 3 dogs in the UK come from puppy farms. Avoid Kelly's Kennels and Douglas Hall Kennels. Both are licensed puppy farms based in Ireland. Don't buy through Pets4homes or similar sites as rife with farmed pets. DNA tests don't cover all the conditions that a dog can get. Look into the health conditions of each breed and ask for a full family history (Inc grandparents). Try Champdogs as a starting place.

Hugosauras · 15/10/2023 08:46

Also avoid Cavalier spaniels or cavi crosses, unless the parents are heart clear (parents/grandparents tested and heart scanned). If considering one, read up on the KC cavalier heart clear scheme. Cross breeds are not healthier than pure breds, so you still need to research the health conditions/family history for both breeds.

Robotalkingrubbish · 15/10/2023 08:51

Why are poodle crosses so popular?

Hugosauras · 15/10/2023 08:52

Because they don't shed

tabulahrasa · 15/10/2023 10:33

Hugosauras · 15/10/2023 08:52

Because they don't shed

Except lots do.

Poodles don’t, spaniels do, cross them and you get any possible coat combination.

If someone really needs non shedding it’d be pretty stupid to get a poodle cross instead of a poodle.