Has anyon on here got a labradoodle/cockerpoo/golden doodle etc?

[wifeofsimoncowell]

What are they like? We'd love one but want to know more about them other than what is printed on sites promoting them! Our favourite appearance and tempermanet wise from what we can gleen on't internet is the goldendoodle. Thanks

[wifeofsimoncowell]

anyone?

[aliasjoey]

What's wrong with a proper poodle (if its a non-allergenic breed you're after)?

You don't have to get them clipped into silly pom-poms. Ours has the 'natural look' and frequently gets mistaken for cross-breed!

The problem with the designer dogs you mentioned is they are not breeding true (apart from a very few labaradoodles in Australia) so you cannot predict what temperament or coat they will have.

[wifeofsimoncowell]

nowt wrong with trad poodles, just doin research really. I love poodles - very intelligent from my understanding and i love labs, loyal, gorgeous looking. A combo sounds ideal but wanted more info .

[PersonalClown]

I have a Labradoodle. He a pig disguised as a walking ball of fluff. (pics on profile)

He's completely bonkers, a wuss that hides from other dogs and is as thick as 2 short planks!

What AliasJoey says about coat etc is true. The coat doesn't not set until about 18 months of age so while you may get a fluffy pup, you may end up with a wirey adult.
And they can shed. A LOT!! My house is covered in fluff.

We seems to be one of the lucky ones as 3 of the litter of 8 have had major shoulder surgery.

[wifeofsimoncowell]

personalclown - did the puppy come from pedigree hip scored parents? Wonder why the pups had shoulder probs? That doesn't sound good at all.l

[AgathaFusty]

aliasjoey we have a standard poodle without the traditional clip. He is cream and most of the time looks like a sheep. It is a rare walk where someone doesn't ask us if he is a labradoodle [annoying].

I would second what has been said about the cross-breeds shedding. I have only met one owner of one who said that hers doesn't shed - it still managed to leave hair on my trousers though!

[PersonalClown]

No idea!
I didn't intend on getting the fluffball! My friends have the parents and I think it was an accidental breeding. (Flupps is a 2nd gen, born to Doodle parents)
It was just that she called when asking my advice on whether to advertise the last pup. All others had homes with people she knew wanted them but she was afraid of him going to a place/person that would BYB from him.

I had to have him!

I know 1 pup had an accident resulting in surgery as she belongs to a vet nurse at my practise!

[Lizcat]

I am a vet and an owner of a cockerpoo. Firstly to answer the question about labdod pups - labs can get OCD of the shoulder nothing to do with hips and is not tested for so labdods can get it too. Unless the breeder had had previous litter with it or knowing breed from affect parents they could not have predicted this.
Why do I have a cockerpoo? Because I wanted a poodle and DH wanted a spaniel so he is the compromise dog. As others on here know he is a great family dog and I compete in agility with him. Do I think he is a great family dog because he is a cockerpoo - no. I think it is because of the huge number of hours I have put in training him. Will I have another cockerpoo - no, because next time I will be getting the poodle I want probably a rescue that needs an agility home.

[Lizcat]

Meant to say mine hasn't shed a hair, but this is just luck.

[lisad123]

I have a brother of Personalclowns boy. He is big, nutty and friendly as anything. He is clever, was fairly easy to train and very laid back especially with the kids. However, he eats everything that he can get hands on if its food. Needs a good amount of walking and does drop hair but not as many as rest of litter.
I wouldnt swap him for anything but would never recommend a doddle as a first time dog, especially a large ladoddle.

[Monkley]

That's weird I was about to ask the same question!

[PersonalClown]

Oi Lisa why you get the clever one?? I'll swap you!

[lisad123]

Haha because his mine
Will have to meet with the boys soon. They look nothing alike!

[clam]

I have an F1 golden cockapoo. He's glorious
Check out my profile to see how cute he is -obviously! If I had a pound for the number of people who've stopped me in the street to coo over him! I have always liked scruffy jumbly-looking dogs rather than short-haired spindly ones. I think golden retrievers are fantastic, but just too big for us - and I was quite allergic to my sister's - he shed like the blazes. SIL then got a cockapoo (F1b) and we observed him for a while to see how he turned out, temperament/health-wise, although I knew that with cross-breeds there are no guarantees.
And, to be fair, ours is nothing like hers. He's much bigger for a start - many people comment on him being the largest they've seen and there's a small labradoodle we meet on walks who's a similar size. He's very good-natured and quite placid, although lots of fun too. He has the poodle intelligence and is very quick to learn. I'm not allergic to him although he sheds a little bit - usually when he's brushed.
I would highly recommend them - BUT, remember that, not being a "proper" breed, there is a wide range of looks/size.

[wifeofsimoncowell]

clam - your dog is adorable in looks and how he sounds. We are not keen on Spaniel traits as it happens but appearance wise they are stunning. I read a lot that they are not all that child friendly. Would you say that is true or do you think that is more to do with training etc? The goldendoodle's I was looking at were bred from goldendoodle mum and mini poodle dad. Both are owned by the family, I think the Dad is not resident but lives with a famly member. It is a difficult decidion to make, this dog decision!

[Madsometimes]

I have a Cockapoo. He looks and sheds like a spaniel, and also is completely dotty. He is one of the stupidest dogs that I have ever met, and jumps like crazy.

However, he is totally faithful and adores the company of people. He is a little timid with bigger dogs. We adore him, but I think his companionship traits are true of most breeds of dogs.

[clam]

Others might disagree, but I reckon that there seems to be greater variation in the appearance of labradoodles than with cockapoos, (haven't seen many goldendoodles around so can't really comment on them). Some labradoodles like my friend's, are very poodley (although she is 3/4); others have the stocky build of the lab but with only slightly wavy coats.

[wifeofsimoncowell]

We don't really want one that looks too 'poodly' (no offence intended to poodle lovers). Not keen on the pointy face If I'm honest. Just love their intelligence and bouncy gait. Plus their curly coat. They sound like amazing animals who are kind of overlooked. We also love the labrador breeds so a combo would be perfect I'm thinking. I know the appearance varies wildly but does the temperament too?

[aliasjoey]

They only have a pointy face if you shave them! They do not have to be shaved or clipped short! Okay, I'm going to work out how to attach photos to my profile so you can see what a REAL poodle looks like!

[wifeofsimoncowell]

that'd be great allasjoey - thank you.x

[daisydotandgertie]

But a golden doodle is not a labradoodle.

A golden doodle is a poodle x golden retriever

A labradoodle is a poodle x Labrador.

It is impossible to predict which traits each puppy in a litter will inherit from the parents, so predicting a set of behaviour patterns from what is essentially a mongrel will not work well.

Out of a litter of 11 dogs, which are just a year old now, each one has inherited and developed an absolutely different character to their parents. Each has a bit of Mum and Dad, and a bit of each of the grandparents BUT in very different proportions.

Labradors have very different temperaments depending on their breeding, I expect poodles do too, so a cross of them both will be even more unpredictable.

Sorry to sound negative, but I really don't think it's easy or even possible to predict with any certainty which characteristics are going to be dominant in a cross breed. People have spent years trying to refine behaviour characteristics in many breeds of working dogs and are often thrown a curve ball. What should give the best possible working dog on paper, in practice isn't quite as expected.

[aliasjoey]

I have tried to add pictures of my dog to my profile. The second photo wouldn't upload? Sorry, not very technicallly-minded (or sober) but you can see what I mean.

[AgathaFusty]

I agree with aliasjoey - their faces usually look pointy because owners usually shave them. We never shave our dogs face, just clip him to the same length all over, so his face doesn't look at all pointy.

aliasjoey - I've not met many other poodle owners who just clip to the same length. Glad there are starting to be a few of us around

[Inthepotty]

We've got a labradoodle.

My SIL bought him from BYB and then couldn't cope after 3 weeks. Cos she's irresponsible, nowt to do with pup. He's fab, dead friendly, easy as pie to train, lovely with other dogs and kids. But that's probably because I've always had dogs and have put in hours of training, not cos he's a doodle.

I think people underestimate how clever they (usually!) are, both labs and poodles are bright dogs. Whilst he doesnt strictly NEED hours and hours of walking, he can't go a day without a good play/training session with me. He'd go mad and find his own entertainment!

He's got a build like a slim lab, and a rough scruffy coat. Doesnt shed loads but does honk when he's wet! Tbh whenever people say 'i dont want hair everywhere' I always think that's just a bit of the mess a dog will make, it's the moody footprints, bits of twig, dried silt that makes more
mess!!

[MrsMonkey]

Our pup is now 14 weeks old. She is a Aussie labradoodle and is a miniature. She has been a fab addition to the house - seems fairly easy to train, is very calm and biddable and is a super friendly velcro dog! She doesn't shed - but that doesn't bother me too much anyway as I have two cats who seems to shed carpet loads and three kids who traipse mud into the house constantly anyway.

I know there are people who say there is no such thing as a reputable breeder of crossbreeds, but I have to say they are wrong. They are out there - although NOT easy to find. I spent a year waiting for my girl. Saw her mum and grandmother and had my name on a full waiting list a year before the litter was even conceived - dad is from another breeder some distance away and carefully chosen. Both parents hip and eye checked. I had to sign a contract to say I would return my dog if at any time I couldn't keep her. My breeder does it for the love of her dogs and because as she says, seeing a puppy go off to its new home and all the happiness it brings that family is a huge buzz for her. She is part of a small group of breeders who are trying to breed good family dogs and as the Aussie labradoodles are breeding much more true they are trying to enhance this lovely crossbreed too. They also don't insist on early neutering/spaying of their pups which a small group of Aussie breeders do.

I didn't pay a fortune for her, although a bit more than the average. I doubt my breeder made much money at the end of the day with all the costs involved.

My friend has a first generation lab/poodle cross who is also lovely. Much bigger than my girl will probably get. Sheds - great character and quite bouncy. As with any straight cross breed you can't be so sure what size/coat characteristics you will get.

Lovely dogs though all of them! Proper 'mud will stick to me' shaggy dogs!