With their curly coats and family-friendly image, Cockapoos and designer doodles have become a popular choice for dog owners. However, there are some issues you should consider
‘Designer’ doodles have exploded onto the scene in recent years. With their adorably curly looks, low-shedding coats and friendly reputation, many families have welcomed the crossbreeds into their homes.
One of the highly-adored crossbreeds is the Cockapoo, which is a mix between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. They have become a highly popular breed in the UK and have even been adopted by celebrities including Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Kelly Brook.
However, having an angelic appearance doesn’t necessarily mean they will be well-behaved. Just last year, a devastated dad reported his three-year-old’s skin had been “ripped open” by a stranger’s Cockapoo during the school run in Kent.
What’s more, a study has found the dogs aren’t always a walk in the park. Research, lead by the Royal Veterinary College, analysed data from both crossbreed and purebred dogs.
With that being said, a dog trainer has issued advice about one trait that Cockapoo owners should get in check. So here’s everything you need to know…
We caught up with Woofz ‘s dog trainer Annie-Mae Levy for her professional opinion. She said: “In my line of work, I encounter dog-human aggression in nearly every single breed!”
This even applies to pooches that are deemed “family-friendly”. And with cockapoos, Annie-Mae said there is one particular trait you should be mindful of.
Resource guarding can turn dangerous if you don’t nip it in the bud. Annie-Mae explained: “Dogs become aggressive for a huge range of reasons, but mainly we are called in to deal with fear-based reactivity or resource guarding when there has been a dog bite.
“I think it would surprise most people to hear that bites due to resource guarding are predominantly from cockapoos, cocker spaniels, and labradors.
“We have bred these dogs to enjoy possessing items (so that they hold onto items we wanted them to retrieve), and left unchecked, this genetic desire to possess can easily slip into resource guarding behaviour. All of this says that bites happen in all breeds.”
If your pet is territorial over items, food or even you, you should tackle the problem as soon as possible. Being consistent with training – and seeking help from a professional – are advisable if you are struggling with behaviour issues like this one.
Resource guarding isn’t the only concern that has been raised in recent months. In a new study, dog owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the traits of their Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Cavapoo, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle dogs.
The survey showed Cockapoos were 44% more likely to suffer behavioural issues. They displayed more owner and stranger-directed aggression than Poodles. What’s more, they showed increased stranger-directed fear and dog-directed aggression than the Cocker Spaniels that were analysed.
Trainability, separation-related problems and excitability were also flagged as undesirable traits that could be linked to the breed.
Similar concerns were raised about Cavapoos, which differed from Poodles on three of the metrics and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on eight to nine of the scales.
While Labradoodles scored better than Poodles during the survey, they were worse off on five of the scales when they were compared to Labradors.
Research into the crossbreeds is in its infancy – and the study definitely does not mean that all Cockapoos are badly behaved. However, authors hope their findings will encourage members of public to do more research before adopting dogs.
In the journal Plos One, they added: “The results of this study highlight the importance of owners thoroughly exploring the characteristics of any breed or crossbreed during pre-purchase research to avoid misinformed breed selection.”
Ultimately, dog owners are responsible for doing their due diligence before adopting pets. They are the ones who will be liable if dangerous incident occur.
The Dangerous Dogs Act prohibits all dogs from acting “dangerously out of control” – no matter what the breed is. This can be in a public place, a private place, or even in its own home if it injures someone or makes them fear injury.
If a dog injures a person, the owner (or person in charge) can face prosecution, fines and prison sentences. For more information, visit the government website.
