'Designer' dog owners report more problem behaviours, vets warn

'Designer' dog owners report more problem behaviours, vets warn 37 minutes ago Share Save Emily Unia , BBC England and Jonathan Fagg , BBC England Data Unit Share Save Mixed-breed dogs like cockapoos, labradoodles and cavapoos are more likely to display "undesirable behaviours" than their purebred parents, according to a new study from the Royal Veterinary College . "Doodle" dogs, where a poodle is crossed with a different breed, have become popular and have a reputation for being easy to handle and train. However, the RVC said those dogs "do not always behave as expected, particularly regarding training, anxiety and aggression". Animal charity Dog's Trust said a pet's breed was "not a reliable indicator" of an individual dog's behaviour, with both health and socialisation being key factors. According to the results of the study, cockapoos in particular displayed more aggression and rivalry when it came to other dogs. RVC researchers received valid responses from the owners of 9,402 UK dogs through an online survey conducted from 21 February to 21 April 2023. They compared popular designer doodle breeds - cockapoos, labradoodles and cavapoos - to their purebred parent breeds across multiple behaviour categories. Separation anxiety The results showed designer doodles differed from their purebred parents in just over half of all comparisons. Researchers looked at problem behaviour such as a fear of traffic or loud noises, separation-related issues or excitability. They found that in 82% of cases where one parent would display some problem behaviour, their doodle offspring were likely to show a more exaggerated version of that behaviour. Some owners reported finding it extremely difficult to train their dog or impossible to leave their dog alone. The study said that as the cocker spaniel, for instance, was designed to flush out game from dense areas of woodland and grassland, the dogs were bred to have high energy, mental resilience and intelligence, which could be "mo...