What Size Will my Cockapoo Puppy be?

I am a member of several dog forums as well as social media groups related to Cockapoos, Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels and I have seen a recurring theme that I would like to address: the size of your puppy. I have read over and over where people post complaints online stating that their now adult dog is bigger or smaller than what the owner expected so the breeder must have lied. I realize that there are some people out there that will say anything to make a sale but I don't think that's the majority of breeders out there and it's upsetting for a buyer to automatically post that "the breeder lied" just because they are unhappy.
With a mixed breed it is very important to understand that you have two different breeds creating a new one which will result in a constant stream of variation. Cockapoos take on the traits of both the Cocker and Poodle and one may lean more towards one breed versus the other hence resulting in a litter where there are different colors, different coats, different heights, and different weights. When you ask a breeder what size a puppy will be full grown it's almost as if you are expecting them to be psychic because they will never be able to give you a 100% guarantee on what size that puppy will end up being. After a human has given birth if the doctor asks what that child will weigh at age 18 do you think the parents would be able to give a valid answer? When someone asks a breeder what size their puppy will be they will answer based on the size of the parents and based on past puppies ( if any,) and that's all that they have to go by. Don't ever expect or demand a guarantee on an adult size, it's unrealistic.

If you are adopting a mixed breed dog it's important to do your research on both of the breeds involved, see what size they are, what colors they come in, what their average heights and weights are, what their health issues are, habits are, etc. so that you are prepared for what you may get in the mixed puppy.
Understand that the height and weight of a puppy is based on genetics, they can be as large as a great great grandparent that the breeder may or may not know about, and their weight can also be affected by their environment. If an owner is feeding low quality food, isn't providing adequate exercise, smokes in the house, doesn't provide mental and physical stimulation this can all result in poor health and being over weight.
I too have been the victim of a buyer freaking out because their dog ended up being 2 pounds over the projected size that the person had in their head. I never guarantee the size of a puppy and tell people the average size of my pups based on past experiences. I don't want people to be unhappy about their dogs but I also think it's unrealistic to complain over two pounds or love your dog any less because they're a little bigger or smaller than what you had wanted. If you are particular about what you are looking for first do your research on the breeds involved in the mixed breed you are interested in and second tell the breeder what you are hoping for with the understanding that they ultimately cannot control the size that your dog will end up being.

For information on us and our available puppies please visit our website at: www.cutecockapoos.com

Genetic Testing

Puppy buyers I feel your pain! I absolutely hate trying to buy puppies from other breeders because I find it incredibly difficult to find what I am looking for, and in this day and age I would expect quality to be out there and readily available. Usually we like to create our own dogs to raise and breed but occasionally I need to add to our bloodlines which means that I have to buy from someone else. Recently I started searching for a few new Cocker Spaniels and I was looking for certain colors and breeders that do genetic testing, this doesn't sound difficult, but unfortunately it was, and I am truly disappointed in what I found.

All of my dogs are genetically tested. Back in the day when testing first began I had to take the dogs to the vet (an hour away,) get blood samples in a specific type of tube with specific labels, drive them to the post office to do special shipping, and then wait for the results, all after paying an expensive fee to the genetics lab, a vet bill for the blood draw, and another fee for shipping. It was a pain but worth it because I then knew the genetics on my dogs.

Now days genetic testing is much more readily available online, it's affordable, and there are many more test options out there. I have an account with an online genetics lab, I set up a profile for a dog that I own, I order a breed specific test panel, they send me a test kit, and when it arrives I do a few cheek swabs to collect their DNA, put it back in the mail and in a couple of weeks I have the results. It's much more affordable, takes less time, and is easy to do.

When searching for new puppies this Spring I contacted three different breeders that had what I was looking for and asked all of them if they genetically tested the parents, all of them said no! The first lady I contacted told me that she didn't test because the lab was 2 hours away and it was really expensive. Wrong answer and a poor excuse when you can do testing online as I described above.

The second lady told me no because her dogs are all raised at her home. Again, wrong answer and a poor excuse. It's great that she raises her own breeding stock because she can see their personalities and general health but she cannot tell me their genetic makeup simply by raising them. I'm not going to go into scientific details here but even if a dog isn't affected w/a disease they can still carry a gene for it and it's vital to not breed two dogs that carry a gene for a disease because they will in turn produce puppies affected by said disease. A genetic test will answer all of that for you.

The third person caught my eye because in his ad he said that the parents were "health tested" so I thought finally, someone that does testing! When I contacted him and asked what tests were done on the parents he told me that they were vet checked on a regular basis, no genetic testing. This was false advertising and a really good ploy to get someone to think that he was doing the right thing, but he wasn't. A vet check is not a "test," and he was probably hoping that people just wouldn't ask for more details. A vet can do a full physical exam, blood work, x-rays, etc. but they still can't tell you about genetics unless a specific test is done by a genetics lab.

I was so disappointed in my search, these people were asking $1,000-2,000 for their puppies and were breeding without doing the simple and easy tests that all breeders should do.

If you're looking for a puppy don't be afraid to ask if the breeder does genetic testing, you don't have to fully understand all the details of it but it should tell you a lot if their answer is "No."

All of our dogs are genetically tested so that none of our puppies will knowingly be affected with genetically derived diseases. We currently are using Paw Print Genetics and Embark as our testing labs.

https://www.cutecockapoos.com/

Cockapoo Coat Variations

For my next couple of blog posts I aim to talk about the different characteristics of a Cockapoo ranging from coat styles to eye color, to size in order to educate others about this wonderful breed. Today I am going to discuss coat styles. Many of you may not be aware of this but Cockapoos can have three very different coat styles, one is a flat coat sometimes called a straight coat or a smooth coat or what I refer to as a "smoothie," another is a fluffy/wavy coat with loose waves running throughout, and the other is a tightly curled coat often referred to as a "Poodle coat." A variation in coat styles makes total sense because a Cockapoo is a mixed breed and their characteristics will depend on genetics and which breed they take after more. Sometimes people get a "picture" in their head of what a Cockapoo should look like and are either confused or mistrusting when they see one that doesn't look similar to what they think they should, this often happens when people see a smooth coated Cockapoo.

Coat variations can happen within a litter where some puppies are smooth while others are wavy, and again, this all depends on genetics. Here are pictures of two siblings from the same litter, the Merle has a fluffy/wavy coat while the Red one is a "smoothie."

Cockapoos that have the wavy or curly coats also have the well know beard, facial hair, long hair on their ears, and bangs.

Cockapoos with a smoother coat can turn out to be quite fluffy throughout their body, have bangs and long hair on their ears, but often lack the beard, otherwise referred to as "furnishings." 

Below is a picture of an adult Smooth Coated Cockapoo, she was recently groomed so you'll notice that her body hair is quite shorter than normal but her smooth face and lack of a beard is a perfect example of a trait very common with the "smoothies."

Here is a picture of another "smoothie" with her hair grown out. You'll see she has a fluffy coat, bangs, and some facial hair on the sides but not a full beard.

I occasionally do get "smoothies" in my litters and personally think that they are beautiful but have come across people who absolutely do not like them, and others who have questioned whether they really were a Cockapoo due to being uneducated about the variations within the breed. If a type of coat style is important to you it is vital that you discuss it with your breeder and wait until the puppies are several weeks old before you pick one. When a Cockapoo is first born they have a smooth coat and their texture develops over time so a breeder will not be able to tell you at birth whether the puppy is going to be smooth, wavy, or tightly curled. 

People often ask if smooth coated Cockapoos shed more and the truth is that each dog is an individual with their own traits but all three coat styles have the low to no shedding and low allergy qualities that has made the breed so popular.

It's important to remember that Cockapoos are a mixed breed and will take on the characteristics of both of their parents resulting in different coat styles, different heights, different eye colors, different weights, etc. Please do your research in advance when adopting a pet, no matter the breed, to make sure they will be the right match for you.

https://www.cutecockapoos.com/

2019 Spring and Summer Puppies!

This is just a reminder to let people know that we will have Spring and Summer puppies available for 2019 with the first litters arriving in March. I've said this before and will say it a million times more, but I do not know specifically what colors the babies will be until they are born. This is because our dogs have a lot of colors within their bloodlines so they can either have an entire litter all the same color, or each and every puppy can be different (rainbow litter.) for more information about this please view my blog article:


https://cutecockapoosinwisconsin.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-color-will-your-next-litter-be.html


We do take non refundable deposits in advance to get on our waiting list, this is a good idea, especially for Spring and Summer when we are really busy. Please understand that getting on the waiting list requires patience! If you only want one thing, for example a Chocolate Female, you will be on the list for one but I cannot guarantee when it will be born. I've had people put deposits down and then email me on a constant basis wanting to know when their color was going to arrive, etc. Also please note that all deposits are non refundable and that is because I am looking for serious families who truly want a puppy from me. For more information on how the waiting list works please read by blog article:


https://cutecockapoosinwisconsin.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-our-waiting-list-for-cockapoo.html


If you're interested in getting on the waiting list please feel free to email me. I also have tons of additional information listed on the "FAQ" page of our website:


https://www.cutecockapoos.com/faq


If you're not comfortable with getting on the waiting list but still want a puppy from us please keep an eye on the "Puppies for Sale" page of our website, I keep it very current with pictures and information about available puppies:


https://www.cutecockapoos.com/puppies-for-sale


I hope we can help you out with a new addition to your family in 2019!

Anna's Story

It's -24 degrees out as I write this with wind chills somewhere in the -50's, needless to say it's cold and miserable out. Five years ago last night we had the same type of weather and my husband and I were coming home from our neighbor's house when I saw a kitty running down the road. We stopped the car and me being the cat lady that I am got out to try and catch her so I could get her inside. Unfortunately she ran through some brush and up a tree so I wasn't able to get to her. I felt terrible leaving her out there but had hope that she would find her way to our cat house.
 (For those of you that haven't been here or haven't heard my kitty stories we have a remodeled Grainery that was to be used for a type of mother in law suite but I have since converted it to being the cat house. It is heated, has electricity, plumbing, furniture, and a  "cat door, " etc. so that all of our rescues and strays have a safe place to stay. Since we have moved here we have caught, tamed, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, fed/watered and cared for dozens of previously feral cats. Most of them are so thankful to have a loving place to call home that they never leave which is totally fine with me.)
Anyways, the stray kitty was in a tree not too far from the cat house so I hoped that she'd make it inside before she got too cold.
The next morning I got up to do chores and when I walked inside the cat house there she was, this tiny Calico cat with ears so frost bitten they had literally died and were flopped over, her tail was half frozen and she kept rotating which paws to stand on because they too were frost bitten and cracked open. I immediately called the vet and rushed her to the clinic where they removed the dead tissue from her ears, removed part of her tail, and gave her laser therapy on the pads of her paws to help heal the cracks.

It took some time for the damage to heal but she made it and that day I think she realized that she could love and trust me. We named her Anna, got her nice and friendly, vaccinated her, spayed her, gave her lots of love and she's still here to this day. This morning when I walked into the cat house to check on everyone she was curled up on the couch on top of her favorite blanket safe and warm like every animal should be. 

The reason why I am telling you this is because frostbite is not a joke, it can happen fast, do a lot of damage and be deadly. Please keep your animals inside when it is super cold outside. Please check on your friends and neighbors who have pets to see if they need any help and do not hesitate to report someone who leaves their pets outside and unattended to in the cold. 

Stay safe and warm everyone!

Does your Pooh Eat Poo?

Eating feces, or what is otherwise known as Coprophagia, is common amongst various animals but I am happy to sat that it's not a common practice around here...…… until it gets cold outside. I have no idea why but for some reason a select few of my dogs think that frozen poo or what I refer to as "poosicles" make for a fun treat and I find it to be completely and totally disgusting! I have read countless articles and asked my vet why this happens and it seems everyone has a theory. Some say it's a vitamin deficiency, my dogs are fed better than I am. Some say it's boredom, my dogs are never alone and get tons of play and stimulation. Some say it's because there is poo in the yard, we pick it up on a daily basis and on, and on, and on. So I don't have any idea why this becomes an issue when Winter strikes but I aimed to stop it as soon as it started. I have tried various products to add into their food, I have heard that fresh pineapple helps but they won't eat it, scolding just gets me a look like "okay I'll just do it later," and I think that I have finally found the answer: Adolphs Meat Tenderizer, the kind that is unseasoned and does not contain MSG. I found it on Amazon and when it arrived I lightly sprinkled it on their food. I did this right in front of them so they got all excited thinking that they were getting a new treat and were ready to chow down when I returned the bowls. At first I didn't think that they would eat it because it does have a spicy smell to it but it's not supposed to have any flavor and apparently it makes their waste taste terrible hence stopping the problem.

https://www.amazon.com/Adolphs-Unseasoned-Tenderizer-44-5-oz/dp/B0015AO7YO?th=1

I am happy to report that the dogs didn't flinch when I gave them their food and happily chowed down apparently not noticing or caring that I had added the seasoning. I am also happy to say that problem with the "poosicles" has been resolved. Since I started adding the tenderizer they avoid their frozen treats and I am no longer a horrified dog owner wondering what is lingering on those tongues they try to cover me in kisses with! 

If you are having an issue with your dog consuming feces please consult your vet before putting any type of additive in their food to make sure that it is safe and good for your pet.

If you're looking to add a Cockapoo Puppy to your family please visit our website:

https://www.cutecockapoos.com/

Puppy Take Home Dates

This week I have had a high level of unusual requests from people so I wanted to address the issue to hopefully help educate people. I try very hard to make my website informative but there's a major hitch, it seems that people don't take the time to read it or, if they do, some don't seem to think that some of it applies to them. With that being said let's discuss the take home/shipping dates for my puppies. When I have an available puppy posted on the website I will have a picture along with an informative paragraph below the picture telling you the color, gender, date of birth, take home date, shipping date, price and any other relevant information about the puppy. Here is an example of a post on the "Puppies for Sale" page of my website:

I post all of this information so that we are all on the same page, everyone knows when the puppy was born (be wary of breeders who don't post birthdates about their puppies,) everyone knows the price, and everyone knows the date that the puppies are ready to pick up or be shipped. The take home/shipping date is what a majority of people don't seem to take seriously and I don't know why.

This week I have had someone ask me if they can pick up their puppy a couple days earlier than their take home date because it's more convenient for them. This week I had someone ask me if they could come and pick up a 14 day old puppy this weekend. This week I had someone ask me if they could pick up a puppy two weeks earlier than their take home date because of the holidays and on and on and on…………

The take home and shipping dates that I have posted on the website are not negotiable! No, you cannot pick up a puppy a day or two earlier because it's more convenient, no puppies cannot go home two weeks early because of the holidays, etc. The puppies need to go through a weaning process, they need to be weaned off of their mother's milk, they need to be vaccinated, and I need to be sure that they are healthy and eating/drinking on their own, this all takes time and cannot be interrupted. On top of all that I am a licensed breeder and I have rules to follow, in the state of Wisconsin puppies cannot leave until they are 7 week old when being picked up and 8 weeks old when being shipped, no exceptions, not even by a day.  (There will always be people out there that will say that's too young, too old, etc. I didn't make the law, I follow it, and I will not let a puppy leave if I don't feel they are ready.)

Most of our puppies are adopted at a very early age and the families adopting them are immediately made aware of the take home/shipping dates that the puppies are ready on so please take that seriously and plan ahead to make that date a priority. There have been so many times that people have tried to change the date because they've wanted to make other plans and that makes me nervous because a new puppy is supposed to be a priority and if you can't make time in your life to pick them up when they are ready (when you've had several weeks notice) how are you going to make time for them in your life?

For current information about the Cockapoo Puppies we have for sale please visit our website at:
www.cutecockapoos.com