Cockerpoo and Cavapoo puppies

I have an English springer spaniel who I adore,but they are not a breed for the faint hearted. Such great characters though and very loving.

When my daughter was young a friend's Yorkshire Terrier had had puppies and she wore us down into taking one. I was used to Labs. And Cocker Spaniels but found myself allergic ( asthma) to the shed dog hairs. Out little Yorkie was ideal, no shed, very affectionate, well-behaved when we were out but could walk miles on family walks. Just a thought.

I've had a look puppy classes around here and there's some good classes close by. Also a lady who does one on one and classes just a few miles away so I'm really pleased about that.
I haven't had a dog for 15 years and she was a fairly big dog but I was quite well then so it is different this time around.
Thank you for all your ideas and good advice.
Though if any Cavapoo owners read this I would love to hear what you think now you have your dog.

I have a Labradoodle, first cross between a chocolate lab and Standard poodle
Lovely nature, great with children, every bodies friend but excitable and skittish even though she is now 10 years old. This combination was first engineered Iin Australia as low maintenance guide dogs so they wouldn't need daily grooming, well I vacuum my house once a week (just a standard semi) and I have to empty the bag after every session as it is completely full of dog hair. Choosing a crossbreed is a bit of a lottery with a mixed gene pool. Good luck.

While out walking last weekend, I met a man with two goldendoodle dogs. They were lovely, gentle, very soft dogs. I fell in love instantly. Apricot coloured, just like a little toy poodle that my DH had when we first met. We've had poodles, very intelligent little dogs.

I've always shared my life with dogs, many of them rescues or fosters. I agree with jacksmum who says at times the poodle crosses can be needy and definitely need more brain excercise than many other dogs. Its difficult to physically tire these dogs but obedience exercises, games that use the skills of both breeds do make them tired. Mine retrieve from water and love sitting whilst toys or treats are hidden, then being sent off to find or seek.

Would it be possible for you to go along to a good dog training club and ask if you could chat with some of the owners that have these breeds of dogs? its the best way to get info from people who have this x breed, they can be at times very needy dogs , this x of breeds need their brain exercising just as much as their legs,lol, we have over the past few yrs had alot of them at the club i am a trainer at, and sadly a large number have what i call behaviour problems, barking, nipping , etc, also as others have said please dont expect just because a dog is crossed with a poodle that it wont shed hair , because its just not true, Greyhounds are great dogs ,so many in rescues and most just want a short burst of exercise then will be really happy to just laze about

We've had two Cavaliers in the past. They are sweet dogs but very needy and very greedy. I've read that they're the breed of dog that remains the most puppy-like all their lives.

A friend has a Cavachon. I think she has springs instead of legs as she boing-boing-boings everywhere! I don't think I've ever seen her walk normally.

A vet friend tells me that the modern trend for cross-breeding means that some dogs end up with health conditions from both breeds. I had assumed that any unhealthy gene from one breed would be cancelled out by the other breed but apparently not.

It's great that you are being so careful in your research Izzywizzy. Poodle crosses have become overly popular and is so often the case when this happens to breeds, many people rush in without researching or realising how much work is involved in training and maintaining their coats.

It's true that when you cross two breeds, you may get the worst of both breeds, rather than the best. The health problems nightowl refers to in Cavaliers are significant and it's impossible despite careful breeding and health testing to totally rule them out.

The Cavapoos in our training groups are healthy, physically attractive dogs with high levels of energy and intelligence. They love water and mud. Their coats need regular grooming to avoid matting, probably ever 6 weeks which is a big financial commitment.

Their are lots of myths about the poodle crosses, particularly the non shedding/hypoallergic myth. Have you considered rescuing a cavapoo? There are a couple of charities that specialise in rehoming poodle crosses. Because of the popularity of these breeds, it's sad but true that many find themselves rejected at a young age. There are also the older dogs whose owners have become ill and unable to care for them.
I share my life with poodle crosses and wouldn't be without them but I'm the first to acknowledge they can be a challenge.

I agree a staffie cross is not the dog for you. It is sad that there are so many who have been dumped , but do go on to some of the breed rescue websites, or indeed the Battersea Dogs Home site or Dogs Trust to get an idea.

MawBroon I have looked at the local dogs home and around here the majority of dogs needing rehoming are cross staffies and they are way too strong for me and need loads of walking to keep them happy.

A six month old with good training is what I need but probably unlikely to find.

Our neighbour had a Cockapoo, which is as close as we can get to give you some insight into their characters. Poodles, which is obviously half the gene pool, are intelligent, long lived dogs, but can be headstrong as puppies. They don't shed and need to be proffesionally (ideally) groomed every couple of months. Spaniels are working dogs, depending on the breed. There have been issues with the Cavalier as bad breeding (blame breed standards) in the past have resulted in the problems outlined by nightowl. I think this is gradually being resolved thanks to pressure on the Kennel Club to think again.

All breeds have some inherent weakness (e.g. German Shepherd with hip problems) but now reputable breeders are only breeding from dogs and bitches with better constitutions and they will give you reassurances that certain conditions should not occur in your puppy - but there's never a guarantee.

I've been lucky with my dogs so far. I chose a cute, but hardy breed and my 'boys' are 15 & 14 and in reasonable health for their age. I don't expect them to last forever but I've considered a poodle cross for the future. But still undecided.

Good luck and I'm glad you're thinking carefully about choices.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrJhlVODG3w

That's very interesting NanaandGrampy as I was thinking about getting a small scooter to do longer walks and I think it's great that the dog classes have training for disabled clients,I shall certainly look to see if any are close by me.

annesixty I'd heard that Cavapoos can be a bit needy and that's one of the reasons I wrote here just to see if others said the same. Although in some ways that would be OK as I have no children so am somewhat lonely but I don't want a clingy dog who might suffer from separation anxiety.

Everyone can understand the appeal of a puppy but they can be hard work requiring patience, energy and perseverance and if that ground work is not put in, the problems can remain with the dog for life.
What about a rescue dog? There are so many ages, sizes and breeds available, and so many reasons for rehoming (not necessarily temperament related, but redundancy, divorce, illness or death of their owners)
I think a cute fluffy puppy will always find a home, but a "mutt" or an older dog may see out his days in kennels.
If you are looking for a more specific type or breed, each breed has its own rehoming agencies or websites.

Cavaliers have heart and brain conditions which are endemic to the breed. I have had two cavaliers but was told by a very reputable breeder and chair of the local cavalier club that no breeder in the world can guarantee that their puppies will not have these conditions, despite careful breeding and screening. I have had two and I adore the breed, but I'm not sure I would take the risk again. Crossing them with other breeds does not reduce the risk, in fact some breeders think that all it does is introduce the risks inherent in both breeds.

Sorry to be a voice of doom but please research it very carefully before making a decision

My D has just got a cavachon puppy. He is adorable but very needy and I don't know how long he will be able to be left when he is older.

I'm not a big fan of crossed breeds I'm afraid. So I can't comment on your choice.

We have a little Cavalier King Charles. I use a mobility scooter and from the start he was taught to walk at an arms width from my scooter and to walk nicely to heel. Its something you can start as soon as you go out. I walk with a stick so similarly he was introduced to that early on and has never ( fingers crossed) either got wound round my stick or run over by my scooter.

We can leave Sam happily for hours. He is caged ( although now he is nearly 4 we have no need to shut the door.) Its the first time we have used a cage having only giant breeds before.

He loves it. Its his safe place and he escapes there when he has had enough company.

You can train him to do his business on command ( again start from the very beginning). We have him 'summer' cut every May so very little shedding , and then again in Sept but not quite as short for the winter.

He's great company, has cuddling down to a fine art and runs our house with a paw of iron.

Our local dog training club has classes for training for disabled clients with emphasis on the things that are more beneficial to those whose mobility is compromised so maybe there will be something near you.

Good luck with your search .

"Finding an" (don't know where the "for" came from)

I am sure they would be lovely dogs. We had a Cavalier when I was a child and they are very biddable sweet natured dogs. Cockers can be more "energetic" but finding for an even tempered, easygoing dog will also come down to the breeding. Our DD and SIL have a lurcher/poodle cross who is the sweetest and calmest dog imaginable. Totally safe around 11month old DGS. too but they have trained him well and of course are always careful around the baby.

Oh no id never do that. I'm not someone that rushes into anything. I'm just doing my research !

But promise, PROMISE not to buy a dog from the Internet, please!