Where do cockapoo and labradoodle owners usually get their dogs from?

[sortaottery]

This post is motivated by curiousity and a slightly OTT enthusiasm for all things canine.

I was wondering where cockapoo and labradoodle owners acquire their dogs from?

The cockapoo/labradoodle owners I've met don't seem like the type to buy intentionally from puppy farms. (Though since I imagine that type to have fangs, horns and red eyes, my impression might be incorrect).

But a lot of traditional dog breeders seem very down on the new "designer" mixes.

There a loads of them about, and they must come from somewhere.

I'm agnostic about them myself. I can see how a cockerpoo might go wrong, ending up with the highly strung temperament from the poodle side and the craziness from the spaniel side. (Love spaniels, btw). Yet looking at the harm done to dogs by breeding for exaggerated looks over breeding for health and happiness, it's hard to imagine how they could be any worse.

It's a good question OP.

The Kennel Club doesn't allow for these crosses to be registered or regulated so it is the wild west in many ways.

I almost bought from a puppy farmer when we got our Cavapoo, and only figured it out when she turned nasty, after I asked who had microchipped her litter.

We eventually got ours from a local-ish amily who had bred one litter from their 2 pet dogs, and had advertised on Pets at Home. All above board, welcomed questions, allowed for visits.

People scoff at non pedigrees but good crosses can be healthier than pedigrees, especially if we compare an unhealthy pedigree (like a Cavalier or Pug) with their crosses.

Yep my in-laws Cockapoo was such a puppy farm puppy. Their visit was cancelled while they were enroute (other end of the country) and sil sent me a photo shoot photographs of 5 pups, I asked which was hers, and she said one of the black ones!

People scoff at non pedigrees but good crosses can be healthier than pedigrees, especially if we compare an unhealthy pedigree (like a Cavalier or Pug) with their crosses

As much as I dislike the RKC the health testing & record keeping is probably the only good thing they do.
But even with X breeds you don't get away from some of the inbred & inherited health conditions. It's just that there is no health testing or record keeping.

We got our labradoodle aged 2 from his previous owner. She had a young child with suspected autism and felt the dog needed more than she was able to provide. She had bought him from responsible hobby breeders. He was health tested, and well raised. He is an absolute diamond. I’ve had a lot of dogs, all rescues . To dismiss anyone with a poodle mix as “not dog people” is pure snobbery. That said, many doodles and poos are bred in conditions of absolute misery, and those bad starts do lead to health and behavioural issues.

A dog walking friend has got a cockapoo and that came from a traveller camp - she was so upset seeing the conditions they were kept in that she took the dog anyway, at 6 weeks old. She adores her but it's a nutter of a dog with no manners and no discernable training, plus she costs her £45 every 6 weeks for grooming. If I see her in the distance, I change direction more often than not as the dog jumps all over you and covers your coat/clothes in mud/dust. I've got 2 spaniels that I've spent years training, have almost perfect recall and were taught not to jump up by 6 months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyx81517jxo

Some crosses work very well for health benefits, usually the ragamuffin looking ones or most things with a labrador do well.

Unless you have a very active lifestyle and have owned/trained dogs before I don't think any Oodle mix is a good first dog. There are loads in the shelters around here who clearly have behavioural issues and can't be homed with small children or any other pets.

But I think that's the point, isn't it @redboxer321? If they really loved and cared for these dogs and wanted to help they would try and get the dogs into environments that gave these dogs the best chances of finding homes. I can't think highly of any charity that would rather a dog stay in kennels than be placed in a foster home with someone experienced with that breed.

Yes, I saw that update!! Interesting how the stepping down came a month after the inspectors turned up. I know she had another rescue in Kent that shut down as well (before Many Tears).

@Dunnocantthinkofone I would like to think they have improved, but the investigation isn't concluded yet, is it? And the not allowing a breed specific rescue to help re-home a pedigree dog is really not acceptable. No idea how long the dog were there for in the end, but it went on for months...most breed rescues can re-home in weeks, easily, because we have waitlists (which I'm sure you're away of).

Sorry, I've completely derailed the thread. But I just think there's quite a lot of skeletons in MT closest. And the not allowing pedigree rescues, with experienced waitlists, to help re-home problem dogs was the final nail in the coffin for me. You clearly do think highly of them, but I certainly can't whilst they allow dogs to live in kennels when there are foster options available...

Possibly (finally) found something we disagree on! 😁

cockapoos are a mix of miniature poodle, not standard

We got ours from a friend of dh who is a registered breeder. We met both parents and ChenDog came fully health checked and vaccinated by a local vet.

lol yes we usually do agree. And yes, there are definitely skeletons
In fairness to the individuals concerned, I really can’t elaborate but to say I do have first hand knowledge of them at the highest level. I’m as confident as I can be in them now given personal knowledge (all very cloak and dagger I know but I really can’t go into details on the investigation)

I’m looking at the moment. There are lots of big dogs, and a few effectively feral dogs needing total socialisation.

Quite a lot of older, very small dogs. Barely any ordinary medium / small dogs.

There used to be an endless supply of staffies. I Love a staffie. Not a staffie to be seen. Sigh.

Quoting myself as can’t edit…….zero skeletons as far as I’m aware regarding dog care. But other issues yes