Solitary chicken - need advice

[Luvachicken]

In 2 days time Daisy will have been gone for a whole year

 

I have seen numerous puppies in that time but haven't wanted any.

Daisy was meant to have been a one and only dog.

 

Recently though I saw a cute little puppy that was a cockapoo.

And then yesterday, DS and I saw a lady carrying the sweetest little pup we've ever seen and that was a cockapoo.

The lady let us give it a stroke and then she told us that she had only picked it up that day - 3 hours before she saw us.

 

So here are a few questions.

I know it depends on the ratio of cocker to poodle, but how often do they need their hair cutting ?

Are they less allergy making - for someone who suffers bad asthma ?

Are they yappy ?

Or snappy ?

How easy are they to train ?

 

I always said they if we got another dog I would like 2, so they can keep each other company and snuggle together at bedtime.

Is 2 more difficult to look after than 1 ?

How do you train 2 dogs ?

How do they learn which is their name ?

 

DS (20) is desperate for us to get a puppy right now. He says he missed out on Daisy as a puppy as he was only 3.

I don't think it will happen for a couple of years but there is nothing wrong in finding out all the information I can, is there ?

 

I would love it if any of you have any photos we could look at

[Cat tails]

Don't know anything in particular about cockapoos, but I can tell you that there are number of different outcomes furwise. Breeding in a poodle doesn't nescesarily give you poodle hair. If your hybrid does have poodle hair it is less likely to cause allergy problems, but there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. People with allergies are allergic to the skin dandruff of dogs and not the hair. But dogs with fur do shed more dandruff than dogs with hair.

Hairclipping depends a lot on the hybrid you get. Not much can be said from earlier litters by the same parent dogs. Each pup will have a different mix of genes, which will give different outcomes. Not even when breeding two hybrids, breeders can be certain of particular traits appearing or not.

 

Considering it is a poodle mix it should be easy to train, but the same holds here for the mix of genes of the puppy. If more cocker shines through, it might be more headstrong.

 

Some people don't like getting these hybrids, because you can't ever be sure of the outcome. Others see it as one big surprise.

 

Don't be fooled by breeders saying these hybrids suffer less from hereditairy diseases and such. If you breed one pure breed with bad hips with a different pure breed with perfect hips, you don't get a dog less likely of hip problems. It just doesn't work like that. The problem might even be that your dog can suffer from all diseases and can't ever be sure which it's going to have and which not.

 

Ps: reading up quickly leads to getting one! have fun!

[Luvachicken]

Thank you Cat Tails

[Lavenders_Blue]

The Cockapoo Owners Club is a great resource for finding out about all things Cockapoo. There's info on there about all the questions you've asked.

 

I completely agree with Cat Tails that when you buy a crossbreed you could have any amount of the best - or worst! - traits of both breeds. So there's a certain amount of gambling on how active, trainable, biddable etc they will be, plus of course how the coat will turn out. For some that's part of the fun though.

 

We had a cockapoo who came to our agility class for a while. His owner stopped bringing him as he was so laid back he just couldn't be bothered with it (dog, not owner!). Quite surprising really when you consider that both cockers and poodles are active little dogs! He was a real sweetie though.

[bluekarin]

My friend has a cockerpoo and she is lovely - the dog not the friend, though the friend is nice too She does clip her fur, but only because she tends to matt under her arms and behind her ears. She does moult less than my dog. She is a chocolate but since being clipped her colour has dulled quite a bit and she almost looks grey and not the chocolate she was. She is ball obsessed so can be yappy because of it. She is very sociable which is especially important for my friend as she is a childminder. I think it's the same with any dog, socialise them as much as possible and you should have a well rounded dog. Thought I had socialised mine enough, but she is getting quite nervous around strangers so perhaps not. If you do decide to have a look at a pup, which seems quite a done thing see how the mum/parents are, as that is a huge indicator.

[Luvachicken]

Thank you everybody.

Excellent information from my omlet friends as always.

There is no rush at all, think I just got caught up in the idea of a beautiful puppy and DS brainwashing me slightly.

[Grandmashazzie]

Oh luvachicken I hope you get a little dog,or two.I have always had more than one dog.They are pack animals and love to snuggle up.I got my two labs together,though they were from different litters.They picked up their own name quickly.I think you need names that sound different eg not Molly and Dolly.When there was odd toilet training accident you didn't know who to look cross at!But they have been great pals.Sadly Dexter was PTS on 1st June because of bad arthritis at 10 and I am already looking at ads for black labs.I just miss having a black lab in my life.Dont know anything about cockapoos but good advice as always.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Grandmashazzie, sorry you lost one of your dogs in June.

Does your other dog miss Dexter ?

That would be something I would worry about if I got 2 dogs.

At the moment we are thinking it would be best to stick to what we know - which was our beautiful Daisy, but having 2 cockers means twice the expense, especially for haircuts every three months.

If we get any puppy it won't be for a while. At the start of the Summer holidays would have been best as I only work term time, so we may have to wait until next Summer.

 

Thank you everyone though for your replies they have been much appreciated

[Grandmashazzie]

Yes Luvachicken Riley very much missed Dexter,they had been together for 10+ years.She herself has liver disease and can look a bit sad at times.But I would say she looked sadder following Dexters death.Now 3 months on she looks well.She stil has miniature Schnauser to contend with.They cuddle in to sleep,but otherwise I think Riley just tolerates the puppy antics.Your post made me broody So I looked up Kennel club breeders in area.A lady has litter of labs,but they are all booked Good news ,she has litter due in two weeks,sheis going to ring me.Hope OH doesn't log on here.It will be a nice surprise!

[Luvachicken]

Yes Grandmashazzie, it is not just our chickens that get broody is it ?

Do let us know if you decide to get one of the puppies due in a couple of weeks. I would love to hear what happens.

[PixieDust]

I think Cockerpoos are sweet but they can have some really terrible problems, health wise. When I first got my Cocker Spaniel, I was being approached by so many people with poodles saying "It's ok she's on heat but we are looking to breed". Obviously that is very irresponsible and can cause all sorts of issues.

 

Someone I know just bought a Cockerpoo puppy. She already has an old Cocker who is blind and arthritic. She bought the puppy home with Kennel cough.

 

From stuff I have read, the first mating of the poodle and cocker is usually ok. But the problems arise when 2 cockerpoos mates. The guy who invented the labradoodle has now claimed it was the worst thing he ever did as so many pups have been born with terrible problems.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks for that Pixie Dust

I think I have decided that whenever hubby lets me get a puppy, it will be either another cocker spaniel or a king Charles spaniel ....... but who knows when it will be.

[Grandmashazzie]

Hope it's soon Luvachicken.The breeder I was hoping to get a Labrador from wasn't successful with her matching.Trying again in New Year.Speaking of cross breeds,cockapoos tec I was looking at Gumtree pets and there is hardly a recognisable breed . There's pugles and jugles and chihuahua/jack Russell crosses.I hope they all don't end up with health problems.

[Luvachicken]

Sorry you didn't get your Labrador Grandmashazzie.

Here's hoping you get one in the New Year.

 

I'll let you into a little secret though ...... we were watching Paul O'Grady with the dogs the other day and there was a dog on it I didn't much like.

Hubby decided to keep pulling my leg saying how cute it was when it clearly wasn't, so I said to him to look at our dear photo of Daisy and tell me which was the cutest and that I wouldn't like a dog like that as a surprise.

He then said "so you wouldn't want one of those for your birthday then ?"

My birthday is in February so watch this space

[PixieDust]

Ooooh hoping it's a Cocker! What colour would you like? I am on my 3rd Blue Roan but I would love a Tri-colour or Orange Roan. My boy will be 5 in January. How time flies. I first visited him when he was 4 weeks old. He is still a baby to me.

 

Hoping you get your new baby

[bluekarin]

I would be happy with either. A neighbour has just got an orange and white King Charles spaniel and she is beautiful. Looks like a toy! But I do love my blue roan and tan cocker though she is a minx

[Luvachicken]

Daisy was a golden cocker spaniel and I'm not sure I would want another the same because I wouldn't want to see the new puppy as a replacement.

I think I would really like a golden and white one or a black and white one, with not too much black, not sure of the technical terms of the colours though.

[PixieDust]

There are loads from black and white to tri-colour and roan of all colours. Of course solid gold or red or black.

 

Must admit my first cocker was a very black blue Roan, my second had more white and Tali is very black but had a black and white ticked tri-colour father, (gold over the eyes), and a very dark blue Roan mum. He is blue Roan but in certain lights you can see slight gold over his eyes.

 

I would love a black and white or a Tri-colour blue Roan. Roan is when the black and white or Orange and white fur is mixed and not separate patches.

 

Sorry waffling on. I have had cocker for 30 of my 44 years lol

[Luvachicken]

Wow, Pixie Dust, you really are a cocker spaniel lover aren't you