The Cockapoo Owners Club Aims and Goals
The Cockapoo Owners Club UK was founded in 2011 after identifying a need for an increased awareness of ethical breeding practices of Cockapoos and other poodle crosses and a place for potential owners to gain information to assist them in searching for a Cockapoo. Our aim is to provide a club with the needs of Cockapoo and Poodle cross owners at its heart, providing useful information in all areas of dog ownership and the continued promotion of ethical breeding practices and dog welfare.
We are an independent club and are not affiliated to any other clubs. We do not personally endorse any breeders nor offer breeder recommendations or stud services. We recommend that our members only choose breeders who carry out appropriate health tests on bitches and studs and who prioritise the welfare of their breeding dogs above commercial gain.
Our Aims and Goals
- Provide a positive contribution to raise awareness of responsible breeding and ownership and to work towards securing a future for the dogs to be bred in an "Ethical" and responsible manner.
- Providing information to potential owners on choosing the right type of breeder including health tests, appropriate questions to ask breeders and information on the types of Cockapoo cross and the myths surrounding some of the advertising.
- Promoting responsible breeding practices for members thinking of breeding their own dog or using their dog as a stud.
- Promoting responsible dog ownership through training advice, health information and care advice.
- Provide our members with access to training advice via our ADPT trainer Anne Rogers . our own experiences and from sharing of website links from external resources through our website articles.
- Provide information on cockapoo care from puppies through to adult.
- Supporting UK rescue organisations in the rehoming of Cockapoos by the sharing of cockapoos they have on the clubs facebook rehoming page.
- Providing a place where any Cockapoo is lost or stolen can be advertised on our Facebook pages and twitter for instant and quick coverage to a wide area.
- To provide an informative and helpful website and friendly facebook page where members can share advice, news, pictures and arrange dog walks and make friends. The facebook page is fully interactive and friendly, it is a closed group, so all private, with membership at our discretion
- We are happy to receive feedback.
We would love to see the following apply for breeders of cockapoos :
Breeding can be a labour intensive, expensive and at times heartbreaking experience and people should not go into it without having the proper facilities, time, and money for vets bills should it be necessary. Please read our Why should I breed article ? on website if you are a novice breeder embarking on breeding for the first time.
a) No bitch should be bred from until mentally and physically strong enough. This can vary from bitch to bitch but as a guide the Owners Club would like bitches to be close to 2yrs old as possible. This is due to cocker Spaniels being slow to mature.
b) No bitch should have a litter after the age of 6 years old and no bitch should have her first litter at this age.
c) Ideally no bitch should have more than 3- 4 litters in her lifetime
**Licensed Breeder regulations allow for more, but maximum of 4 litters is what we would like to see.**
d) No bitch should have ‘back to back’ litters (a litter per season).
e) Bitches obtained from rescue organisations should not be rehomed for sole purpose of breeding
f) Dogs should only be used for breeding if they are physically and emotionally suitable, taking into account temperament, health, conformation and have been thoroughly checked by a qualified veterinary surgeon beforehand.
g) Breeders should ensure that health checks, BVA health screens and relevant DNA tests are carried out before mating takes place to ascertain if the dogs should be bred from. All health tests carried out with records of such must be original and genuine and for the dog stated. No false records will be tolerated.
h) Pregnant bitches must be checked by their vet, and puppies should be regularly inspected for signs of illness or disease.
i) Puppies ideally will be checked for fleas, ticks and mites before going to new home. They should be wormed as recommended by veterinary guidelines. Puppies need to be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. From 12 weeks to 6 months old they need worming monthly and after that every 3 months if using chemical or prescribed wormers, alternative wormers may follow a different protocol. Breeder should provide this info to new owners, so new owner knows when next to worm.
j) Breeders should ensure that puppies are ideally raised in a home environment to allow them to get used to the hustle and bustle they will experience in their new homes.Or if raised in kennels to ensure socialisation is provided.
k) Breeders will ensure that all puppies sold are healthy, well nourished and socialised . Puppies should not leave the breeder until at least 8 weeks old , following a health check from the vet.
l) Breeders will do all they can to ensure that all puppies are sold to good forever homes, by carefully vetting prospective buyers thoroughly and carefully and ensuring dogs needs will be met.
m) Breeders will promise to look after any puppies that are not sold from a litter until they have found a home for them .Breeders acknowledge that they have a duty to care for ex breeding bitches, will pay for them to be spayed and care for them in their retirement, or find them good suitable homes.
n) We do not condone the buying in of litters that are passed off as your own, nor puppies sold with wrong parentage information. It is breeders duty to breed your own litters and ensure all puppies parentage is clearly documented and can be verified.
o) Any advertising should be of the actual puppy for sale and not a lookalike or from earlier breeding nor should another breeder’s litters be used and passed off as your own.Please note we do not allow breeder advertising on club.
p) Breeders should sell puppies with a ‘Puppy pack’ the contents of which can vary from breeder to breeder but should include as a guide –
** Paperwork – Copy of micro chipping certificate and copies of health tests
** Birth certificate
** Temporary Insurance Cover
** Contract between breeder and buyer
** Blanket with the smell of Mum and siblings.
** Food that the pup has been weaned onto
q) Breeders will provide a guarantee for all their puppies that they can be returned to them. Promising to take back the dog if a valid reason, or assist in finding a new home .Breeders should always take back very young pups and should have a "duty of care" for the life they created.