Getting Rolo from Mike and Susan has been one of the best experiences we’ve had with bringing a dog into our family. From the start, they took time to meet and talk with us, check that we were a good fit for Rolo, and walk us through his family history and health checks. That care made a big difference.

 

Rolo is everything people say about Cockapoos - loving, smart and a real “velcro dog”. He loves being close to us, quickly learns what we ask of him and makes us laugh every day.

 

Typical Cockapoo alert: he looks absolutely lovely and fluffy right after a groom. Then 24 hours later he’ll be absolutely filthy, having charged into a muddy puddle or river on a woodland walk somewhere around Oxfordshire, following every scent he can find.

 

They need consistent training and attention at the beginning. The first weeks and months take patience. Rolo came to us already used to a crate and that really helped with his transition. We kept his crate as a safe space and, over time, he moved onto a bed on our landing. He’s now confident and settled with how and where he sleeps (and sometimes I do wake in a morning to find him cheekily snoozing on his back on our bed, especially when my wife is on night shifts!)

 

Cockapoos need regular grooming. We chose to groom Rolo ourselves, but when he was young we took him to a groomer to get him used to the process. We keep his coat clipped short compared to most other owners because we’re outdoorsy and he loves water and mud. Regular brushing and basic trims around eyes and hygiene areas make life easier.

 

For training, gundog basics really helped for us and to satisfy the amount of stimulation he needs to be calm at home. Off-lead walks took time to get right, but patience has paid off. Now his recall and obedience are solid, which makes outings much more relaxing.

 

Rolo’s temperament reflects the care Mike and Susan put into breeding and socialising him early. He’s non-reactive with other dogs, calm in the house and comfortable being on his own when we’re out. We started with just seconds as a puppy and built up gradually. Now he’s fine alone and even doggy boarding or daycare are all good.

 

Funny Cockapoo life fact: your socks are no longer just your socks. Rolo has a sock stash somewhere that I’ve never fully uncovered, and I’m pretty sure I go through several more pairs of socks a year than I used to.

 

We decided to keep Rolo intact for now. That’s a personal call and we spoke with our vet at length about what’s best, but it’s worked well for us so far. The only times he’s shown extra interest is when another intact dog is in season - natural instincts can take over - but we’ve managed that without issue.

 

Overall, Rolo has been a fantastic addition to our family. We’d recommend Cockapoos to anyone ready for the training and grooming they need (this isn’t our first rodeo so first time owners be sure this is the right choice for you) but ultimately we’d recommend you to anyone looking for a loving, well-bred pup.