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

There’s no need to be rude. I’m not defending her. But I wanted to check facts.
And I have taken a LOT from this thread. Why do people have to get so rude and personal and attacky? It’s awful.

We have a Lhasa poo (Lhasa Apso Mum and Poodle Dad). He’s lovely, great with kids, sleeps a lot in the day but loves a long walk, friendly to other dogs, doesn’t shed). However, as you say any dog needs training and we had to do lots at the beginning- the Lhasa side are stubborn! Also his coat takes a lot of care, due to the poodle side so he’s groomed very 6-8 weeks and inbetween that we bath him every 2 weeks, plus brushing. He does prefer to be near to his people, so if you like personal space that can be an issue!

@KaleQueen Maybe it’s the way you’ve written. You’ve honed in on the allergy problems only. Which has very much given me at least the impression that you don’t actually care about any of the rest of it.
The allergy issue affects you as potential owners. The ‘everything else’ that you’ve glossed over in your posts is what actually matters in terms of welfare.
If your posts give an impression of caring only about the issue that affects you and not the puppy, you are going to rile those of us who care very deeply about dogs

We're not being rude - by the standards of dog house, this is us being placid. I'm sorry if you feel that way, but it is incredibly frustrating when you have defended this woman again and again ('has good intentions'). You've repeatedly tried to soften what she is. And you have only mentioned the allergy issue, as several PPs have said, not the issue about her breeding practices. That was never going to go down well here - not when we all care so deeply about our dogs and dog health and happiness.

She is:

A woman who has an AI generated website.
A woman who has has two different breeding licences referenced.
A woman who either deliberately hides her breed licence or is just incompetent (neither are good looks).
A woman who had multiple breeding dogs of different breeds.
A woman who breeds at least four different types of dog - all of which are vastly different from each other (A goldendoodle is as similar to a cockerpoo as a Bichon Frise is to a Rottweiler).
A woman who's reviews on her website have no grounding in reality and are not actually attirbutable to anyone.
A woman who who offers no proof of dog lineage or health tests.
A woman who's facebook page is full of AI generated photos of her dogs (in one of the photos of a child holding the dog, the child has six fingers).

Even worse. I just found her on Gov. UK. Did you know her business is registered as something completely different on Gov.UK? It's not 'Donna's Doodles' at all. I wonder why that is...

Shocker- she’s breeding frenchies under the different name. I’ve also seen Shipoo videos posted by her.
So 6 ‘breeds’ so far at a minimum
But no doubt the OP will be back in a minute to tell us how well meaning poor Donna is

@KaleQueen
Donna is like the Nigerian prince who needs your account details so he can deposit millions of dollars into it.
Or the dishy 30-something pilot who happens falls in love with 75-year-old Doris from Skegness whose arthritis has left her housebound.
Or the Russian beauty who just so happens to find the love of her life in 82-year-old George from Wolverhampton who might just have a few quid.
It is an out-and-out scam.
I'm sorry to say, and I'm sure you'll tell me I am being rude, but I don't think you should get a dog.

@redboxer321 yes you are being rude and patronising. I’ll be getting a dog. From a good breeder. And I’ll be taking the very best care of that dog.

Hope so.

@KaleQueen You call me patronising but you posted this:
I do have a dedicated breeder in mind who is expensive but does these checks. She breeds maltipoos, cavapoos and cockapoos. I’m being very diligent with my research and she has an excellent track record.
Before posting a link to the biggest red flag of a puppy farm I think most of us have ever seen.
So I wasn't being patronising. I was simply trying to give you examples so you would at last understand. But you don't want to and that's why you can't.
As for rude. I said I didn't think you should get a dog. So what happened to:
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

@KaleQueen
do you now feel sufficiently informed to actually spot a good breeder though?

Anyone considering buying a puppy from an advertisement by someone they neither know in person, not know of through others passionate about the breed, should be capable of doing the same diligent research that TheHungryHungryLandSharks has done. It’s a pity that so few bother to research the seller at all.

Unrelated to what the OP is researching, but who remembers the exposure three (?) years ago of the Devon agility breeder’s puppy farming racket?

Hell yes! Hidden under a cloak of respectability (although rumours were rife for a long time) that was an ugly can of worms

I do feel MN has become increasingly insane when I (rarely) participate in threads. Such anger.

anyway no there isn’t a genetic test for luxating patella but it’s sensible to have a dog checked before breeding as it’s rife in smaller breeds. You wouldn’t want to take a pup if it’s in the parents but equally any dog can develop it. That doesn’t automatically mean surgery though!

OP I hadn’t appreciated the hypoallergenic aspect in your case which doubly suggests a mini poodle might be a great option. I wish you lots of luck - I’m sure you will be a fabulous first time doggie owner!

Yes hopefully but I’ll keep researching outside of Mumsnet until I’m confident, I’ve registered on Champdogs as that was recommended

OP - when you meet any breeder, whether for a cross or poodle, ask to see the paperwork for the tests. (I think lots will say it’s been done but people forget to ask for it!) they should ask you lots of questions too and make sure you are a good fit for their pups in terms of experience or home set up. Never meet breeder anywhere other than their address and you need to meet the mum. You can’t always meet the dad but again need the paperwork of health checks.

Thank you. I actually felt upset when I read ‘you shouldn’t get a dog’. I’ve wanted a dog all of my life. I’ve waited until I’m nearly 50 and my kids are old enough, to get one. As I say my sister and best friend both got doodles in the last few years and they didn’t go through half of the stuff I’m checking. And both their dogs are super healthy. So far. And I also know of someone who bought two pedigree boxers from a reputable breeder after having boxers all of her life, who both had to be put to sleep after two years as there must have been some sort of genetic chink that caused them both to develop the same issues. Fully aware of all of the puppy challenges too - preparing for the same levels of sleep deprivation and chaos that my human babies created 🤣

Hi another breed to consider if you have allergies in the house is a Chinese crested powderpuff (it's a breed honest!!) They have hair not fur and don't shed and are the pedigree version of a cavapoo that no one really knows about.

Some of the litter are born hairless which is a genetic mutation of the full coated powderpuff so the litter can be hairless and fully coated.

Its the fully coated dog I am suggesting so don't panic if you Google Chinese crested and see something that looks like a my little pony. The breed standard for a powderpuff is a long flowing coat with shaved muzzle but they can be groomed anyway you like including cavapoo styles.

The Chinese crested powderpuff is a about that size of a cavapoo, doesn't shed and has a long muzzle so no breathing problems, and they are not overbred so are generally healthy. Personality wise they are clever, loving and devoted to their people and very easy to train.

When we were looking for a cavapoo puppy we couldn't find a decent breeder and a dog walker friend recommended a powderpuff as she walked one. I hadn't heard of the breed and did my research contacting breeders who didn't necessarily have puppies available but who could tell me about the breed. Generally they are bred for the hairless versions which are quite niche and the Powderpuff is a by-products. Ours is almost 6 and I can honestly say he is an amazing pet, great with our children and our cat and I would definitely recommend them as a family pet.

I think you’re just being goody now, it doesn’t feel nice. I wish you well but I won’t be interacting with you again.

I didn't think there was. It was slightly poor phrasing on your part to imply there was and you had tested for it, but that's part and parcel of typing as a form of communication and of course just further evidence as to how careful you need to phrase things as a breeder😊

If a dog does get it, it can cost thousands to fix. So whilst it might not automatically mean surgery...when it does it's expensive.

And I think people are well justified in their anger when people are suggesting puppy farmers are diligent breeders. Or is it better not to care, I wonder? Give me a thousand people passionate about dog welfare and good breeding practices over some puppy farm apologists any day.

Good luck. I think it was me who said about Champdogs and also that you could have a poodle without a poodle cut. 👍😀. Glad you came here for advice.

Yes. GOOD LUCK OP!! ( and you can also have a poodle with a “70’s Porn Star” look like my little red toy has had… 🐩!!! … ( winds the teenaged DS up a treat!) but he usually rocks a more teddy bear 🧸 look!)..

I think you have done a damn sight more research than the majority of people, and I hope you find your poodle-y Best Friend soon and I wish you many happy years of making memories together!

ps- one thing I wanted to mention is that we got our toy poodle 🐩 as a little bro for our cockapoo, but he also became the “best mate” and “ de facto therapy dog” of my younger DS who is autistic, has epilepsy and was badly bullied at school… literally adorable together for the last ten years. 💖🐩💖.. x

A great way to get better informed is to visit Discover Dogs at crufts and meet really good, genuinely knowledgeable caring breeders and their dogs. Obvs that is only yearly (march) but well worth it.
Alternatively All About Dogs is running at various locations over the summer and have many Breed Stands within that. You may get lucky and find one with a poodle stand so you can get some proper leads for decent breeders

TBH OP there is also a huge amount of luck. As a PP said, you can do all the checks in the world and some dogs, like humans, are just born with more issues (like the person above said about the boxers).

don’t beat yourself up if that happens as it won’t be your fault. My friend has a gorgeous cocker, super breeder and the dog has a really sensitive tummy.

when you do get your much longer for pup, lots of socialising as much as you can and you learn about your pup’s personality as you go. Some are more fearful than others; some more dominant, some more biddable. You have to adjust and learn as you go. My first dog war super smart, clever and dominant and he turned into a gorgeous boy but I had to work very hard as he was always one step ahead. One of my girls - the one I bred from - she arrived as if trained, very biddable, easy to please and train but probably not as smart. None of this stuff is anything other than personalities - like kids.

This sounds great I will explore. Crufts is on my bucket list, I’ve never been. Me and my youngest were watching re-runs of ‘fly ball’ last night, and she’s was in awe. So might even get the kids interested in coming too.

Ah I love that. Thanks for sharing. We’ve decided on male (and soon ish as in next 12 months) as the husband is outnumbered by female humans already and he’s got a rollercoaster ahead as the girls head into teens and I hit the dreaded meno, so it’ll hopefully be his therapy dog 🤣 (and mine…)