Cockapoo or Cavapoo

[KaleQueen]

We’re taking the plunge with our first dog this year. In the research phase and it’s down to either a Cockapoo or Cavapoo. We’re going for male I think. We’re an active family and have one of us working from home. Two kids over age of 10 both sensible. Small ish house and mid size garden. Lots of fields and green space nearby. Want a dog that won’t chew our house to bits and be fairly well behaved! Committed to fully training them obviously as I know that’s an essential factor for behaviour. I adore dogs and walk others’ regularly so I’m really excited we’re taking this first step to get our own but I’m worried about making the wrong choice. Any advice would be hugely appreciated

I just saw your update. I’m sure a mini poodle will also be a brilliant option. Gorgeous wee dogs but really check the health history. Super smart so will need a lot of stimulation and not just walks. I have met more grumpy mini poodles than I have cockapoos though!

Seriously - poodle. This ticks all of those boxes. And pure poodles already come in three sizes and various colours to choose from!

The real benefit is you can find a well bred one. It is almost impossible to find a well bred doodle, nothing is impossible, but it highly unlikely you'll find the needle in the haystack. Please please please do not underestimate poor breeding and all the havic in can cause either now or later in life.

I attach a picture of what a poodle looks like. You do NOT have to get then trimmed into a pom pom frou frou - that is not how they naturally look. It is a deliberate style that people choose to style their dog in. It is not their natural look, at all.

No judgement from me, at all! I understand why people buy doodles. It down to a huge societal widespread misunderstanding of what poodles are. They are not this: 🐩

A POODLE:

This not an attack or goady - but can you help me understand what it is about poodles that makes you say they are not for you?

(p.s. you're not stupid - because you had the sense to come and ask a knowldegable community about the breeder you found! And yes, she's a puppy farmer with a fancy website with a lot of word salad. But you had the sense to check! )

You're preaching to the converted by now, BiteSize, they're looking at poodles (and I hope they find a lovely one)

@BeethovenNinth Did you do all the relevant health tests for poodles and cocker spaniels before breeding your cockerpoo?

Great that you are looking at poodles now, we have a 10 month old miniature poodle who is a brilliant little dog, lively, fun, generally well mannered with other dogs ( we also have lurchers so very used to larger dogs). He’s just had a really short practical summer cut and looks adorable. When the coat is longer it does need very regular brushing and care compared to a regular dog and do factor in grooming which can be £50 every 6-8 weeks.

Oh!! Sorry!

Congratulations in advance then on your lovely poodle! ❤️❤️❤️

Just wanted to reply. I literally had a misconception about poodles. I’ve watched bits of Crufts since I was little so when I think poodle I think ‘show’ poodle. And I’m also
old enough to remember ‘Roli’ in the Queen Vic with Den and Angie..(Eastenders). Now I’ve had my eyes opened I’ve realised possibly half the dogs I smile at daily on walks are probably different coloured mini poodles and not ‘doodles’ as I’d assumed.

So pleased I posted to ask ❤️

We've got a miniature schnauzer, as it felt less risky than a mixed breed. We knew what we getting. If I was buying a mixed breed I'd choose a Cockapoo over cavapoo.

Which health history checks would you recommend for poodles? Presumably you would have had them all done on your poodle cross before breeding it, since it has poodle genes.

Just to clarify my earlier comment about a waitlist - it doesn’t necessarily mean a puppy farmer.

The breeder of my last two Belgians (in 1987 and 1998) only bred one litter every 2-3 years but dogs from her line were well known in showing and working trials, and she always had people who knew the pedigrees, waiting for pups whenever the next litter might happen - there are prospective owners who are knowledgeable about bloodlines and have done their research, and will wait for a puppy with specific breeding. It’s not that unusual, or it certainly wasn’t back in the 1980s when Belgians were still pretty uncommon and had a small but passionate following!

My daughter’s Labrador came from a long established gundog kennel where they breed several litters a year of labs, cockers and springers. They do advertise, but even they always have people specifically waiting for a pup by, or out of a particular working dog. They’re a professional training kennels, well-known and successful competitors, certainly not backyard breeders. That’s not what I think of when I think of puppy farms - I don’t think the latter ever have the improvement of the breed at heart.

Sorry a bit of a derail!

@YourWinter It's far more likely for a waiting list to be a sign of an ethical breeder than a puppy farmers.
Ethical breeders are often involved in working, showing or competing in sports with their dogs and people will enquire about the possibilities of puppies.
Puppy farmers breed and then sell to whoever pays the price. They're not going to go to the trouble of vetting prospective homes and holding onto a list of names.

I would ignore previous pp. They bought from a puppy farm and then became one, breeding an untested cross breed for profit.

This, I don't get why people don't want to engage their brains and get this!!

@BeethovenNinth
someone said “a breeder should have a wait list”. That sounds like a puppy farm to me!

My last wait-list was over two years - two years between litters people waited for a chance to have a puppy from me. Most of my 'breeder friends' have similar length wait-lists. We have them because we don't breed often...isn't that just basic logic and critical thinking?

Everything you have posted on this thread just gets more and more ridiculous. You don't breed dogs just because they're 'perfect.' Thinking your dog is 'perfect' and breeding it solely for that reason doesn't make you a good breeder or a good person, it makes you...well, I can't say as I'd probably get banned.

I have a boy at the moment, SGWC, JW, best hip scores on a pedigree boy I've seen, fully health tested, multi. ch. on both sides. He's the gentlest, sweetest, most perfect example (personality wise) of his breed I have ever met. By every measurable marker of his breed...he is perfect. It's not even opinion, or up for debate. He literally is an outstanding example of his breed. But I don't breed him. Why? Because there is literally no need to breed him. Breeding him serves no purpose.

Breeding should always be done with purpose and selectively. Not because you like your dog. Honestly. Sigh.

Between your assertion that Springers are untrainable, and this, I'm actually wondering if you've ever owned or dog...

Mini poodles are the best ❤

We have two rescue dogs. One is a pure bred toy poodle and the other is a chipoo - 20% chihuahua and 80% poodle. They are both lovely, friendly dogs, non shedding and very healthy. In my experience of owning 8 dogs of very different breeds they are all loving and want to please us. I would only avoid getting a scent hound again as our PBGV was just obsessed by following his nose.

Oooooh!!! Looks identical to my boy!!!!!! He’s 12, tho, otherwise I’d be convinced yours is his sister who was the spit of him as a puppy!! 💖 Very cute!!!!! 🥰 Enjoy her!!!

Looks exactly like my toy boy!!!! 💖💖💖..

I will say, however, he has had, on occasion, a “ 70’s Porn Star” cut ( aka the “ show poodle / 🐩 Rolly Queen Vic” look a few times!! My DSs and DH’s hate it!! It does get a bit “ rage bait/y” when out, as I live in the middle of a national park, and all the local dogs are gun dogs!! So, it shows I moved up from London! 😹😹😹.

He generally rocks this look, tho!! I’ve also had a white miniature rescue poodle, and have a cockapoo I referred to above. Love them all. Had zero problems, health or beviour.

Good Luck!!!! 💖

My two lovely rescue boys.