New here! Collie poodle

[Dotbydotbydot]

Hi hi hi! I'm thinking of getting a puppy which is a Welsh collie and poodle mix. Anybody have any experience/advice/top tips? Have had a lovely collie before but never a poodle and never this mix!

Thank you

@Dotbydotbydot glad you reconsider. But why not just get a Collie or a Poodle?

But then you could go with your original idea of the X breed and enter the world of K9 sports. Agility,, obedience or Rally (= I just introduced this to one of my dogs and it's so so much fun! However, we are already acing the Agility!)

Collies also aren't that keen on grooming in my experience, with the poodle mix it could be tricky to keep their coat in condition (pure border collies don't need too much grooming, just a bit of a brush.

Honestly you could get the worst traits of both breeds!

By the way, collies don't need 10km daily, mine have all been quite content on half that weekdays and the latest one prefers a trip to the pub to a walk

re. breeder, do your research, KC reg and vet checked. And speak to owners of dogs from the same place to check incase any major issues further down the line (remember you do not need a degree to breed dogs so there is little regulation bar a breeders reputation/record at shows).

And don't whatever you do go taking a pup that is the last of the litter to go or older than the typical age for them to go to a new home (usually there is some reason they are left over - breeder may have seen something in their health or temperament which would make them unsuitable for show and thus they want to offload them).

Always see the mother at least, preferably both parents and the conditions the dogs are being kept in.

Register your interest in a pup in advance of a litter being born and be the first to pick your pup.

Above all, make sure all the vet checks, worming, jabs if applicable have been done AND that you have pet insurance that runs with no lapse between the dog's time with the breeder and you.

Some breeders will give you six weeks insurance included with pup and it's up to you to carry on with that particular provider. If you want something different or the breeder isn't doing this, make sure you have it all sorted out before the pup comes into your possession.

If you want a dog for an active family, what's wrong with just getting a poodle?

And don't whatever you do go taking a pup that is the last of the litter to go or older than the typical age for them to go to a new home (usually there is some reason they are left over - breeder may have seen something in their health or temperament which would make them unsuitable for show and thus they want to offload them)

I feel sorry for all the last in the litter puppies... someone has to be last, the same as one has to be 1st, 2nd, ... and so on.
Puppies can be last for other reasons than pure rejection. like colour & markings or male / female when people want the opposite.

The key is, choose your puppy carefully. Spend time with the breeder & litter. Watch the pup you are interested in. Is he playful, bright & alert? Where is his standing within the litter? Does he get 'beaten up' or is he the one always on top or somewhere in between?
And most importantly: is the puppy interested in YOU? I s he happy to be touched? Can you entice him to play a bit away from his mates?
My current boy fell asleep on my lap after a play session... obviously he was the one I took home. And 4 years later, he's still my best buddy. First impressions really count!

My brother had a collie and she wasn't miserable

And never nipped nor destructive

Mine was “last of the litter” and yes, he was bred to show but was unsuitable.

she’d bred a litter to show. Kept two, others went to other show people. At 5 months it became obvious that mine was going to be too small for breed standard. Nothing wrong with him, just a few kg less than he should be.

as for buying a puppy- keep away from crosses and poodlydoodlies. These are inevitably puppy farms, they’re very clever and have all sorts of tricks to appear genuine. Stay away from gumtree/pets4homes etc too.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494939/7712578/GPS_thingsToChecklist.pdf/43764d67-0fdd-de55-873e-12c5730d86b6?t=1550832077386

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/buying-a-dog/questions-for-the-breeder/

Between them they have some good information (and easier to take it in that multiple posts of people saying the same things).

And don't get a cross as PPs said they're mostly just puppy farmers and if you want a mongrel (doodle cross) because it's 'hypoallergenic' please remember that not all of them are hypoallergenic and you cannot be sure your puppy will be.

There are dog breeds which compliment each other in a mix and there are dog breeds which would be an absolute nightmare of a mix. Collie/Poodle is most definitely the latter.

Literally, same. I love my boy to pieces but my god he's not the sharpest tool in the box. Any kind of enrichment toy or game or trick we try with him just gets met with a blank expression before he toddles off back to licking the skirting board/barking at the clothes rack/sitting on the cat

My friend has a collie/poodle and it has a huge amount of energy and is extremely bouncy. It's also very needy and doesn't even like being left alone while you go toilet! But she is the sweetest girl and loves to sleep on your lap, very bright too. The energy/needy thing means it's not a breed I'd choose though.

@Wishicouldthinkofagoodone

I was speaking from experience; I bought a dog just like yours.

It cost me in excess of 10k in vets bills.

I really would absolutely not recommend getting a dog that has been "left behind".

Top breeders too.

I really would absolutely not recommend getting a dog that has been "left behind".

Clearly you just hit unlucky though. Every single dog I’ve had (all ten of them since I was a child) has been ‘left behind.’ All KC - three ended up at crufts. All got between 8-10 weeks old. So unless you mean 20+ weeks, you should be careful of parroting nonsense.

Do you want to know why I got LOL? Because I specifically pick them. When I view the litters, I very often say I’ll take whichever dog is left. Why? Because by and large ‘last in the litter’ is an old wives tale. None of my dogs, bar one who developed neurological issues which couldn’t have been foreseen, have any displayed any negative behaviour.

Dogs get left for any number of reasons:

• not breed standard as puppies
• wrong sex
• boisterous
• to quiet
• just not enough interest in a litter

The ONLY reason to not pick a puppy that has been left is because it’s never it’s/fearful. And then I only say that to not experienced dog owners.

The reason my cocker spaniel who I showed for years was left and I got her at ten weeks? Female. No one wanted the bitch in a litter full of boys.

The reason I got my golden? To boisterous - no one wanted to take the puppy pouncing around being a plonker. Him now? 14 month, walks to heel perfectly and has done his SWCG.

Unless a dog is nervous or fearful there is no reason not to get the last pup in a litter

Lots of good advice on here.

Is there any reason why you are not getting a rescue this time? Puppies are cute but such hard work!

Thank you so much everyone for the advice and the stories! Not getting a rescue this time as now have small children and I think I want a dog from a puppy so they are used to children (and children used to them!) from the very begining. Also hoping that being able to choose the breed means can choose one that will fit well with our family and that we'll be able to provide for as they need. But I know so much of that is down to the individual dog and the care and training you put in with it. Have got the possibility of an 8 month poodle... Just worrying they're too old already to adjust to us and being in a home with children! Otherwise seem a really good fit with each other

@Devilshands I did say beyond the normal age to go. The dog I got was between 16 and 20 weeks. Clearly they had seen some sign of the condition that pup developed and wanted rid.

So I am definitely not parroting nonsense. Better to get them young and to have your pick of the litter for the dog that suits you best. Nobody wants a boisterous or nervous animal neither.