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

Cockers can be terrible for resource guarding. Cavs can have awful health issues. So I’d say neither. Out the three she breeds I’d say the maltipoo. But I don’t understand how you can say you don’t want a poodle but you’d happily have a poodle cross….i don’t understand the difference? You don’t have to have a poodle clip haircut you know? If you’re a walking family I’d get something a bit more robust like a border terrier.

Blimey I bet that ‘breeder’ would be astounded if they realised they were splashed all over Mumsnet.

I really think you want a Havanese! Reliably non shedding perfect family dogs. And look very like cockapoos. PM me if you want suggested breeders or a picture of ours!

Honestly these were my requirements and I got a Norwich terrier. I know for a fact there are two very well bred Norwich terrier girl pups just available as my ChampDogs waiting list alert sent me an email today.

Any small wire haired terrier would be good. I was nervous about would a terrier be too much but he’s fine. Hour long walk in the morning, snoozes most of the day, short 15 mins walk in the evening, bit of play and he’s settled all evening.

i think some terriers are more energetic than others but Norfolk, Norwich, borders, westies, cairn are at the calmer end of the terrier scale I think. Don’t shed and will walk miles with you. Healthy dogs overall.

I think I’ve only met one well trained cockerpoo and I’ve met a lot! They’ve all been various kinds of crazy.

I’m never sure if it’s because they’re so cute, their owners just don’t give them clear structure or boundaries or if their breeding can predispose them to being untrainable. 🤷🏻‍♀️

There was a cockapoo in my puppy training class who was impossible to train a few things to including the ‘stay’ command. She did learn some things but she was also adorable and her and my whippet really loved each other.

A colleague has a cavapoo who is very much not keen on long walks - they are a keen walker and runner but sadly she refuses to move or walk further after a certain distance.

@JulietteHasAGun - border terriers not good for allergies and they can shed a lot.

Healthy adult Border Terriers need at least 60 minutes of daily physical exercise and dedicated mental enrichment. Originally bred to hunt vermin, they have high stamina, keen instincts, and smart minds. Without enough activity, they can quickly become bored and resort to destructive behaviors like digging, barking, or escaping so not right for the OP

If you don’t have time for a springer then you absolutely DO NOT have time for a cockapoo. Cockerpoos are a mixture of two very energetic, highly intelligent dogs. The need specific training and enrichment for their breed - when you’re getting a cross breed like this you have no idea what you are getting personality wise. You could easily get a cockerpoo who is more “cocker” in their breed traits / behaviour and energy level and believe me, this is much harder to deal with than a springer.

I say this as someone who adores high energy dogs, and has spaniels (working type cockers and also had springers in the past) and I have also previously worked as a dog trainer. I would never own a cockerpoo.

When I worked as a trainer our puppy classes were filled with cockerpoos that first time dog owners bought because the look like teddy bears and they thought they’d be great with their kids, and they quickly find they have no idea what they’ve signed up for.
I have friends with cockerpoos and they bark constantly for attention, find it hard to switch off and can be very neurotic, have separation anxiety and are also prone to resource guarding. (Please read up on common behaviour issues with both cocker spaniels and poodles as you may get any mixture of these)

They only people I know with “nice” cockerpoos do a hell of a lot of enrichment and activity with their dogs - I’m talking things like agility training & competing, scent work, mantrailling or other dog sports MULTIPLE times a week - not a walk in the local park or a run in the woods after the kids get home from school. Their lifestyle & hobbies are based around their dog, and because the dogs are getting their needs met they’re then calm and happy dogs.

I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but so many dogs end up in the wrong home and in rescue because people don’t know what they’re getting. There will definitely be people on this thread who rave about how lovely their cockapoo is, and I’m sure for many that true and they’ve been lucky, but trust me when I say I have seen a lot who are HARD WORK and I would not recommend them as a pet that fits in to a busy family with kids or ever have one myself.

Just do not get one of these mixed breeds. They are 99% bred unethically with zero regard for health, temperament or … well, anything.

Her website is awful. As someone else said, put together with AI. There is no useful information on there. Wherever you get a puppy from you should see the following as the absolute bare minimum:

• coefficient of inbreeding for the puppies - otherwise what you are getting could be a father to daughter mating, with all the many problems that will bring
• breed specific pre-mating health tests - never, ever, ever buy anything with cavalier KCS in it sans heart checks and checks for brain malformations unless you’re happy for your kids to cope with the death of your beloved puppy at an early age, ditto golden retriever crosses without joint scores, or basically any breed.
• Full, physical sight of original health test results
• Sight of the sire and dam’s KC registration information.

It's not the hair people are allergic to as a general rule, it's the skin, dander.
All dogs, cats, anything with fur. To be allergic to their fur and how much the moult is a rare thing.
It was probably a coincidence he didn't react and no animal is 100% anti-allergy really.

The cavapoo I know is nervy and yappy, and surprisingly fragile.
The 2 sibling cockerpoos I meet ( different owners) are completely different. One is very spaniel like in looks and behaviour, the other could be mistaken for a poodle, is brilliant fun and loves a crazy play with my Border Terrier.
My first dog was a miniature poodle. They're fabulous dogs, tough as old boots, walk miles, follow you everywhere and appreciate the importance of a good haircut.

Sounds like you want a cat.
not too big , not too small.
doesn’t need enrichment like a gundog.

sounds like you have no idea about dogs at all.
I have a gundog and he doesn’t only need ‘enrichment’.
You need to think that a mash up dog is like a child.
I could have dark hair and a fiery personality. My partner night be blonde and passive.
we may create a child who has blonde hair and be a crazy serial killer.
I am amazed that you can’t recognise that a mash up of a dog is literally throwing its DNA up in the air and catching it as it falls.
anyone that prescribes to this religion is either stupid or extremely brave

@KaleQueenit feels weird to me that there’s no details of the bitches on her website, the emphasis seems solely on the puppies. Admittedly not a doodle, but when we were looking for a puppy all the breeders we looked at clearly listed the dogs that were part of their breeding program, their breeding lines and all relevant health checks etc. so it was easy to make an informed decision.

I have a pure English cocker and she’s bad with resource guarding and hates children - great dog otherwise 🤣

I think this is what the OP thinks is “an excellent track record”.

I’d agree with this if the OP was looking at a specific breed. But with a cross between breeds, is still a random chance what particular characteristics a particular dog would inherit.

What is it that you don’t like about poodles? Just trying to understand what is putting you off them but you like the cross breeds. If we understand what it is that you like/don’t like we can give you more information. Mini poodles are fantastic dogs!

Hi OP,

I see that you've had a lot of great advice on here re: designer dog breeds and puppy farms.

The 'breeder' that you have mentioned is definitely a puppy farmer. Has anyone explained to you what that means?

Any 'poo' breeders, who mix poodles with other breeds, are unethical.

Anyone who has a mixed breed from someone like this, and claims that their dog is 'brilliant' is an exception and not a rule.

There is no way to know how much poodle versus how much cavalier spaniel is in a 'cavapoo' and is actually in the dog you bring home.

Because of this, there is no way to control the looks, behaviour, size, health or traits of each dog (assuming there really are just two breeds which have been mixed) so it is a game of chance which can be devastating.

You will not see the results of in-breeding, mixes etc. Those dogs will be dead or abandoned. You will only see the result of your puppy, which may die shortly after you bring it home, or develop issues as it gets older, due to lack of genetic testing in the lines etc.

There was a post here, just last week, of someone who purchased a 'poo' puppy and it was very ill. The woman realised her mistake, thanks to the people here, and gave the puppy to a rescue after the 'breeder' refused to take the puppy back.

Ethical breeders will also take a puppy back, for any reason, for life.

They usually ask you to sign a contract so that you understand that they will want you to bring them the puppy, at any stage of its life, in the event your circumstances change and you can no longer take care of the dog.

Additionally, you will not be able to breed the dog and claim any progeny. Unethical breeders will not care what happens to the puppy once it leaves their home.

If you would like some links re: why you shouldn't buy designer breeds or from a puppy farm, please let me know.

Also, if you have an idea of what breed you'd like, I can have a look around for you.

The best way to find an ethical breeder is to look for the breed club of the dog that you're interested in.

I have posted the standard poodle club here, as an example.

Any questions, let us know! It's better to learn and arm yourself with education, before bringing a puppy home, so that you can ensure the best future for your new friend!

About The Standard Poodle Club

I have a mini labradoodle.She is the best - but she is mainly poodle .No lab traits .My next dog would be a poodle. She isn't motivated by food so eats slowly and doesn't steal or beg for food. She is strong (we do canicross, can walk for miles).Loves water.Cuddly, loving and loyal .Sheds balls of fur I can just pick up rather than hair everywhere. Best dog I've ever had.
Honestly get a poodle!And if you dont want a poodle DON'T get a doodle.
Downsides - I spent £50 on her 4 yearly groom yesterday.

There are many sites, such as the Dogs Trust, that help someone from the breed that is right for them.

I recommend looking at this, OP, because it’s not clear on what basis you’ve narrowed down your choices as you describe

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/breeds

Adopt don't shop!

We have a Patterdale. He’s brilliant. With training he is bulletproof. Done with kids, 99% ok with other dogs. He did go through a chewing phase (don’t all pups?) we crate trained and at 9 now he still likes to go and sleep in his crate.
He barely sheds and can walk 15 miles on mountains off lead or sleep all day, very versatile. His prey drive is minimal and recall is good.
Dirt doesn’t cling to him the same as the collie either, all in all a sound little fellow

Choose your mongrel!

Thank you, you’re right if she’s not going to walk for at least an hour then a border is no good and possibly not the other terriers. I thought she said they were keen walkers so I just thought she was able to do 60 mins but i might have missed another post.

Yes, you sound like you have a really great breeder there. She’s called a puppy farmer in real life.

It’s a publicly available link so I don’t believe I’ve ‘splashed’ anything, I’ve just shared a link on a fairly niche corner of a fairly niche forum.