Adopting a Cockapoo or Cavapoo in Liverpool: rescues, costs and health

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every poodle and poodle cross listed with us in Liverpool and within about 25 miles, each linked to its rescue. It is usually short and some days empty, so treat it as one route of two; the other is the national doodle rescues.

Dogs Trust describes a Cockapoo as a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, and its Cavalier guide a Cavapoo as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel crossed with a Poodle. Neither is on The Royal Kennel Club's Breeds A to Z, so neither has a breed standard, and its crossbreed guide warns that it is often "difficult to predict what the puppies will look like or what their temperament will be".

Battersea says people can underestimate the time and training Cockapoos need, "which is why they're often given up", and that they're "not the low-maintenance family dog they're sometimes pictured as". Doodle Trust says "many of the myths that made them popular are the same reasons so many end up abandoned".

The best known myth is about allergies. Doodle Trust says "No dog is allergy friendly" and that a puppy's coat can change in adulthood, and Battersea says Cockapoos are not hypoallergenic. If someone at home has allergies, ask whether they can spend time with the adult dog first.

A rescue fee pays for vet work that is already done. Freshfields Animal Rescue microchips, vaccinates, neuters and treats every animal for fleas and worms before it leaves, and Doodle Trust's enquiry page says all its dogs are neutered, microchipped and vaccinated before rehoming.

A bought puppy should already be microchipped by its breeder, as the law requires by 8 weeks, but neutering and the rest of its vaccinations come on top of the £400 to £3,000 that Blue Cross gives for the puppy itself. Either way, price in insurance and a groomer.

A cross can inherit problems from either parent, and a rescue doodle's parents may never have been health tested, so ask what the rescue's vet has found.

• Cockapoos. Battersea says ear infections are common, that itchy or sore skin is often linked to allergies, that Cockapoos are more likely to have long-term digestive issues, and that they can inherit progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an eye condition that causes gradual sight loss.
• Cavapoos. On the Cavalier side, PDSA calls heart conditions, most often mitral valve disease, "a big problem", and also lists syringomyelia, a painful condition of the spinal cord near the brain. Ask whether a vet has listened to the dog's heart.

Battersea says Cockapoos need around an hour of exercise a day plus daily mental stimulation, and that separation anxiety is common. If you work long days, tell the rescue honestly how the dog's day would be covered: DoodleAid asks on its application how long you would leave a dog alone and how often.

Children and renting come up early. Freshfields Animal Rescue doesn't rehome dogs to families with children aged 5 or under, and wants to see your landlord's permission if you rent. North Clwyd Animal Rescue doesn't rehome dogs to homes with children under 5, as many arrive as strays with no known history, and no dog at all to a family with a child under 2.

Rescue doodles are adopted, not sold. You apply, the rescue picks the home it thinks suits the dog best, and you pay its adoption fee. Puppies do reach the doodle rescues, but you can't plan on one, so be open to an adult.

If you decide to buy, Battersea says demand has fuelled puppy farming and poor breeding, and suggests a breeder who health-tests both parents. Dogs Trust's breed guides, such as its Poodle guide, suggest asking your vet about a pre-purchase consultation, and The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.