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

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every poodle and poodle cross listed with us in Sheffield and within about 25 miles, with a link to the rescue that has each dog. It is usually short and some days empty, so treat it as one route of two. The other is the national doodle rescues, which rehome many rescue Cockapoos and Cavapoos.

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".

Rescues often list both simply as poodle crosses, and the label on a listing is a best guess. That matters less than it sounds: an adult dog's size, coat and character are already known to the people caring for it.

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. You can't do that with a puppy whose adult coat nobody knows yet.

A rescue fee pays for vet work that is already done. At Sheffield Dog Rescue the £200 fee helps cover neutering, first vaccinations, a microchip, and flea and worm treatment. Doodle Trust's enquiry page says all its dogs are neutered, microchipped and vaccinated before rehoming.

With a bought puppy, all of that is on top of the £400 to £3,000 that Blue Cross gives for the puppy itself. Price insurance and a groomer before either route: Battersea warns that ear, skin and digestive problems can mean ongoing costs for medication and specialist food.

A cross can inherit problems from either parent, so The Royal Kennel Club's crossbreed guide says breeders should consider the health tests for both breeds. A rescue doodle's parents may never have been 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, and Sheffield Dog Rescue looks for adopters who are not out at work full time or leaving a dog alone for long periods.

The rescues around Sheffield also look closely at your home. Sheffield Dog Rescue wants a securely fenced garden, Thornberry checks your home by video and photos, and Best Life Dog Rescue, whose foster homes are around Doncaster, about 17 miles away, asks for a video of your garden and home, so have one ready if you apply.

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.