CockersOnline Forum
General => Introductions => Topic started by: Pacey on April 18, 2016, 09:50:57 AM
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The family have made the decision that they want a dog!! I've started doing my research and at the moment our search is for a Cocker or a Cockerpoo, mainly based on the wife's parents experience of owning rescue Cockers and Springers.
I have children who will be 3 and 8 when we take the plunge, so am happy to take on board any suggestions that come my way!!
Went to visit one Cockerpoo breeder last weekend (where I did fall for the potential Cocker mum) and have another one lined up for this weekend. Now need to get some appointments in the diary to find a couple of good local Cocker Breeders so we can make a definitive decision about which way to go.
Must admit, trying to find a breeder we are going to be comfortable with, is as intimidating, as the process of finding the right pup is exciting! At least we've given ourselves plenty of time to research so won't be rushing into anything! Any personal recommendations are always helpful!! (we are in North Herts, so close to Beds, Bucks, North London, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk)
Thanks
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Hi, and welcome to CoL.
The first thing I would be looking for in a pup would be that both parents are health tested and have the relevant certificates. You should also be able to see the mum with the pups and if you are lucky the dad too.
If there is any signs of nervousness or even worse, aggression, walk away.
If you know anybody with a cocker whose temperament you like, try and see if the breeder has any litters due.
I'm sure there will be good advice coming. Good luck with your search and be prepared for your life to be turned upside down :lol:
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Welcome to COL,
One of the most helpful things I did was to go to a Spaniel Club show, I then in the break managed to speak to owners who show and breed there dogs , I could also just sit back and look at the dogs to see if there was anything I didn't like ( there wasn't )
I also emailed all the local Breeders to see if they would have pups around the time I wanted, that way you can then research the Breeder starting with Health checks first.
It can be a long confusing process but I am now the very proud owner of a Beautiful Show Cocker called Bea.
Good luck.
Sharon.
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If you decide on a Cockerpoo I'm not sure whether there will be the same health testing in place because obviously they are crossbreeds and not a pedigree dogs (I could be wrong).
Good luck with choosing ;)
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If you decide on a Cockerpoo I'm not sure whether there will be the same health testing in place because obviously they are crossbreeds and not a pedigree dogs (I could be wrong).
Good luck with choosing ;)
Our Dexter is a cavapoopoo (although I prefer to call him a cross breed/mongrel or plain old mutt ! :005:) - his mum was a cavalier x poodle and both parents were checked and his dad was a poodle who had clear tests for things I didn't even know existed till I researched them!!
His parents were both health tested for the relevant breed requirements..... so decent breeders can be found who health test even if they are breeding crosses. ;)
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My guilty pleasures are Cockerpoos they I have seen them with young children and they fit in very well although the ones from working cockers are as mad as a box of frogs!
Just make sure both parents are health checked.
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Welcome to COL, you are doing the right thing in doing your research and also it is right that you have confidence in any breeder you are going to use. You will need to be able to ask questions and not feel afraid as it is a big step taking on a puppy as you are looking at a long term commitment.
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Thank you all for the replies, I've certainly read about PRA etc, and regardless of whether we go Cockerpoo or Cocker, rest assured I will make sure all relevant paperwork is there.
Visiting a Spaniel Club show does sound a good idea, I honestly hadn't considered that.
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Pips breeder is in Essex. Pip is the most relaxed, calm and quiet cocker I have ever come across ( nothing like Honey!!!). I'll pm you her details
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If you decide on a Cockerpoo I'm not sure whether there will be the same health testing in place because obviously they are crossbreeds and not a pedigree dogs (I could be wrong).
Good luck with choosing ;)
The Cockapoo Club of Great Britain have lists of Assured Breeders, and the breeders on the lists are responsible for making sure that the dogs/bitches they breed with have had the relevant health tests, or pups are clear by birth. I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs, but you can find out more here:
http://www.cockapooclubgb.co.uk/
I have chosen to go for a cockapoo for my next dog and pick him up on 3 May. I was lucky that I bought him from the same breeder who bred Branston, my cocker - always nice when you can go to someone you feel you can trust, whatever breed you go for, I think.
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The Cockapoo Club of Great Britain have lists of Assured Breeders, and the breeders on the lists are responsible for making sure that the dogs/bitches they breed with have had the relevant health tests, or pups are clear by birth. I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs, but you can find out more here:
http://www.cockapooclubgb.co.uk/
I have chosen to go for a cockapoo for my next dog and pick him up on 3 May. I was lucky that I bought him from the same breeder who bred Branston, my cocker - always nice when you can go to someone you feel you can trust, whatever breed you go for, I think.
Cockapoo GB was the first place I went when I started looking, as we had a Cockapoo in mind for our first choice. However I have met a lot of resistance to the club from Hobby breeders. Very interesting to here their opinions! Just makes things a little harder when nobody can agree the best place to start looking.
I seem to be falling more on the Cocker side when I've seen CP breeders, whilst the kids love the poodles! Have contacted quite a few Cocker breeders this week and will do more this week. Really want to get out and see as many as we can to work out exactly what we want.
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I got my Cocker from a hobby breeder which has its risks, but I was really happy with the breeder's approach and the way she cared for the pups. I have his Dad's pedigree and health check certificates but not his mum's, so Henry is not KC registered. I met both parents and spent lots of time with Henry on my visits. I sometimes wonder if I should have gone to a registered breeder, but Henry has never given me cause for concern in his health or temperament and I never wanted a show dog, just a pet.
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The Cockapoo Club of Great Britain have lists of Assured Breeders, and the breeders on the lists are responsible for making sure that the dogs/bitches they breed with have had the relevant health tests, or pups are clear by birth. I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs, but you can find out more here:
http://www.cockapooclubgb.co.uk/
I have chosen to go for a cockapoo for my next dog and pick him up on 3 May. I was lucky that I bought him from the same breeder who bred Branston, my cocker - always nice when you can go to someone you feel you can trust, whatever breed you go for, I think.
Cockapoo GB was the first place I went when I started looking, as we had a Cockapoo in mind for our first choice. However I have met a lot of resistance to the club from Hobby breeders. Very interesting to here their opinions! Just makes things a little harder when nobody can agree the best place to start looking.
I seem to be falling more on the Cocker side when I've seen CP breeders, whilst the kids love the poodles! Have contacted quite a few Cocker breeders this week and will do more this week. Really want to get out and see as many as we can to work out exactly what we want.
Aah right, was not sure if you knew about CCGB so thought it was worth a mention.
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No, thanks for the tip-off anyway. I knew very little when I started out looking so any tips on being a prospective dog owner is good for me!
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Welcome to COL :D Hope you decide which breed or cross-breed will suit your family best although I'm not sure a Cocker forum is the best place to get advice on Cockerpoos ;) This cross breed is now very commercially popular but many specialist breeders of Cockers disapprove strongly with cross breeding and indeed the Breed Club Code of Ethics does not permit members to cross-breed. Whilst there are producers of cross breeds who health test, many do not and their only motivation in breeding is to generate profit because this cross is currently hugely popular and can command bigger prices than either of the pedigree parents (of course there are profit motivated pedigree breeders too but many have now moved into cross-breeding because the puppies sell well currently)
Just to clarify some of the comments above about breeders - there is no such thing as a registered breeder as such. A breeder who registers their puppies with the Kennel Club is not a "registered breeder" & KC registration is not a guarantee that the breeder is a good one but KC registration is a good starting point as you have access to traceable pedigrees and health test results via the My KC website. Breeders who register puppies with the KC may choose to become members of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme (which requires certain basic standards in health testing etc & for premises to be inspected by a KC Assessor etc) but this is not compulsory. Hobby breeders include some of the top specialist breeders in the country, breeders who do all the recommended health tests and all that could be expected of any breeder but hobby breeders can also be people who know very little and are breeding on a whim or to make a bit of money on the side - only careful research can distinguish between these two extremes. Hobby breeders (legal definition) are those breeding 5 or more litters a year (can't see why anyone would want that many litters a year as a hobby but that's another subject :D) - if you breed more than that, then you are required to be licensed by the local authority as breeding that many litters is deemed to be a business. Possibly there is some confusion between licensed and registered breeders? Anyway, there's more info if interested here: http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=2019.0
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Hi Jane, actually wasn't here for Cockerpoo advice, just being honest that we are looking at a puppy and not sure whether to go for a Cocker or a Poo at present, hence why I've said prospective owner!
Thanks for the advice on breeders, hobby breeders etc, is the main reason I've joined the site, to try and pick up tips and avoid any rogues out there. I've received a couple of wonderful recommendations on here and am trying to fix up some dates to see breeders of Cockers. Really taking time to weigh up all options. Breeder is more important to us than anything at present.
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The thing I've noticed with Cockerpoos is that they come in all sorts of sizes, depending on the size of the 'Poo! Some are quite a lot bigger than my Cocker Henry, some are as tiny as Yorkies. Whereas with a Cocker you pretty much know what you'll have when they are fully grown.
Best of luck with whichever route you take - it's an exciting time!
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The thing I've noticed with Cockerpoos is that they come in all sorts of sizes, depending on the size of the 'Poo! Some are quite a lot bigger than my Cocker Henry, some are as tiny as Yorkies. Whereas with a Cocker you pretty much know what you'll have when they are fully grown.
Indeed, you don't get the same predictability with a cross. It's the same thing with coats, some have a shedding Cocker type coat and some have woollier coats.
Pacey, good luck whatever you decide but speaking as a breeder, please be up front with the breeders you contact and explain you have not made your mind up yet so they know you are not necessarily seriously interested in their puppies and just want to find out more about the breed/cross breed (I'm sure you are doing that already but just in case...)