Couldn't agree with this more! Very well said and the same in my house. My kids are 3 and 6 yrs. We do however all LOVE having Obi and we're going to get another pup later in the year. I think it's brilliant for kids to learn to care for and respect an animal as part of the family. My son has Aspergers Syndrome and it's helping him enormously! Be prepared for a lot of hard work but lots and lots of pleasure!Hi, I got Rosie 4 months ago and my kids are 2 and 3. I won't lie - it is really difficult with the three of them at times, but generally, it is the kids that are at fault and not Rosie!
To begin with, I found it quite frustrating that Rosie was jumping up them all the time, as she was big enough to knock my littlest one over. And when she jumped up, she would mouth them and nip at their clothes. She has put holes in a fair few tops! But that was just puppy behaviour - she looked like she was just running with her littermates!
She hasn't been like that for a couple of months, maybe more. She has bitten them, but it has always been playful nips, rather than actual bites and it has always been when I have already warned them that they are playing too rough with her and winding her up. She puts up with unbelievable amounts of pulling hair/tails/ears wihtout reacting at all.
I can't tell you that it's easy, because the dog interferes with the family discipline (I cannot get them to focus on anything when she is about because they just want to play with her or laugh at her or talk to her) and the children interfere with dog training and discipline. But, I haven't ever regretted getting her, the kids absolutely love her and I think it is really, really good for them to be around her. When I see my little girl cuddling Rosie and rolling around laughing with her, I know it was a really good decision!
So, I guess my feeling is that if you are sure that having a dog is the right thing for your family, a cockapoo is a good dog to get. But, check out the parents' temperaments, make sure you train them properly etc etc. Whatever dog you get, it will only be as good as its genes and environment allow it to be.
Yes - there are several established breeders on this site.
hey stephen, think Harley got more like 98% from his mum- she must have had a pair of quality jeans......oops genesThe most important factor you need to concentrate on is which 'type' of cockapoo suits you and your lifestyle best so you must be sure what the adult cockapoo will be like. The purchase price should be secondary. In our experience you get 60% of the end result from mum. So you need to meet and like her too.
Happy hunting.
Stephen x
I completely feel your pain.Like others have said it is hard work, it seems like your always telling one of them no!
I know that you love Harley to bits whatever his coat ends up like. Some of the more cocker looking babies take a bit of time to reach their full potential. The little girl below is Dexie who was short coated but now has turned into a swan. She will be at 'Poo Fest '11 on Sunday I'm told.hey stephen, think Harley got more like 98% from his mum- she must have had a pair of quality jeans......oops geneswhat do you reckon.....infact he looks more cockapooish when wet! and his coat is getting thicker and clearly different when next to a pedigree cocker.
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Hello and welcome! I have seen my son showing genuine empathy and concern for Obi's welfare which as you know doesn't come naturally from children on the spectrum. He is very protective of Obi and likes to tell his younger sister how to treat him all the time!! I've read a lot of research about dogs helping autistic children so I think you should go for it! I've had other breeds of dogs during my lifetime and along side the Bichon Frise I think Cockapoos have a wonderful temperament and adore people. Good luck in your search, keep us posted!Its interested to hear that your son Clare has Aspergers and he gets on well with your pup as our son also has Aspergers. We are looking to get a Cockapoo as our family pet but also as a companion for our son. We are hoping that he will find it easier to bond with a dog than he does with a human. In a few week we are attending a course run by Dogs for the Disabled for parents of Autistic children.