Breeder Info...

[Nic*]

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Hi newbie here, I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with Lorton Cockapoos based in the Lancashire area please? Thank you.

 

[JoanneF]

Not directly but breeders of popular crosses like this seldom do the health testing recommended - you are more likely to find responsible breeding in pedigree breeders. For the record, I am not a breed snob, my own dog is a mutt, but I see many people who go through years of watching their dog in pain which easily could have been avoided.

It used to be believed that crossbreeds had the best of both breeds and health problems were 'bred out' but in fact you could well get a puppy who has inherited health defects from both parents. In this cross both parents can suffer from hip dysplasia and eye problems. I notice they also breed cavapoos, whose parents should be screened for heart problems and the excruciatingly painful syringomyelia. Marilyn Munro allegedly once suggested to Albert Einstein that if they had babies they would be amazing with her beauty and his brains. Einstein allegedly replied how awful it would be if it were the other way round. You get the picture! Good breeders do tests on their breeding dogs (proper tests, not just checks to say the dog is capable of siring/carrying a litter) to breed out these conditions. Unfortunately with the popularity of these crosses there are many puppy farmers who are more interested in exploiting buyers than the long term health of the puppies they are selling; and pet owners who think it would be lovely to have mini versions of their own pets but lack the understanding of responsible breeding.

There are some responsible breeders of crossbreeds and that is a good thing. But they are very few and you may have to search extensively to find one. Ask if the parents have been hip scored, you should see scores below 13 from each of the parents (or 10.8 cocker and 10.1 poodle if first cross) and at least one should be clear of Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Absolutly agree with @JoanneF . I have read through their website and they say they use tested stud dogs their T&Cs sound good too but Im always cautious around people who breed as a profit making business somehow the animals then become a commodity.

 

[JoanneF]

To add, you often find crosses are more expensive because of their popularity. Can I ask why you want the cockapoo? If it's the look, poodles can be left with a shaggy clip that makes them hard to distinguish from cockapoos, they are guaranteed non-shedding (cockapoos can still carry the shedding gene from the cocker side) and behaviourally are poodles are less likely to engage in resource guarding which cockers can be prone to.

 

[Nic*]

Thank you both so much for your replies. I ask if anyone has had any dealings with them as I know there are a lot of puppy farms and fake websites and want to make the right choices. I'm mainly looking for a breed with good temperament to fit in with my young family and cockapoo / schnoodles were recommended. I have previously owned mutt's and I agree with what you say completely. I have been told that poodles can be highly strung therefore a poodle cross was advised. I am still researching my options.