They’re described as cuddly teddy bear dogs but this is the dark truth about monstrous cockapoos… and why I blame their middle-class owners: LIZ JONES

All angles looked like a broken umbrella. When I gathered him, he felt like a sparrow.

Very cold, I thought he was dead. I put the gray fur on my skin, covered her little body with my sweater.

It looked like a cross between a fox and a shoe – a feaver? – like a shovel like sharp ears, pointed nose and tail. There was a brown female. The designer is more primark than Dog. It was the most sick, sad dog in the entire shelter; I couldn’t leave him to die alone.

I found him in a Romanian killing pen-K-9 Angels, as well as a charity, as well as this newspaper to emphasize the crisis of the stray dog. He was no longer in a cage, but he jumped out to die in a puddle.

I missed him and promised to give him a loving house. I gave him the name of Hilda, I took him to a veterinine – he predicted that he was 13 years old, and quickly placed him on a heat pillow and drop – and 30 days later he took him from Dover.

This was in 2013 and he had no idea that he should be a pet after hosting Yorkshire. If he had made a nest in a quilt, it was wise to mumble, ‘Let’s leave it, okay?’

But Hilda was my soul dog. He lived only three more years, but they were wonders.

And you choose a dog like this. You want to save them, not yourself. It should not be selected as a game for your children, which you are absolutely suspected of being allergic and should not be bitten or overthrown. (Personally, if it means I could save the most needy dog ​​in the rescue center, I would leave the child.)

Most importantly, Hilda didn’t look like a teddy bear. It was absolutely not cute. He was far from Cockapoo as much as you could find. In other words, it was not deeply fashionable.

Dogs once came in all shapes and sizes. Today, there is a dog epidemic that resembles teddy bears: they have round ears; Yellow, cream or white, fluffy and soft and extremely altogether and can take bag-benchmarks, button eyes and crushed small black noses.

Usually toy bear poochs, each of which is indistinguishable, all clean and pink captures, the top nodes are fixed on a bow. And I am not a fan of these Uber-Current dogs, but rather, especially the owners’ fans-I’m not sure they are real dog lovers.

My belief is attracting the owners of toy bear dogs walking on Instagram and other mothers at the school gate. Generally, for the first time, dog owners have an image -guided, disposable income and are influenced by aesthetics or social media rather than long -term conformity for lifestyle and expertise levels.

When choosing a dog friend, you must fall in love with them, don’t count on social media. Your dog is not a toy, a gypsum on a relationship, or ultimately bribes for children to be bored of them. But Instagram and Tiktok encourage the imitator or copying: if he has a dog, I need a dog. Preferably cute-my perfect partner! Fifteen years ago, there were about 7.5 million dogs in England. Now 13 million.

A Sheepadoodle named Bunny in Tiktok has a total toy bear aesthetics, 8.6 million followers and earns £ 30,000 per writing. Brodie, who is a Goldendoodle, has 7.2 million followers and is invoiced as ‘your local serotonin seller’. While dragging back from a swamp, this is not the first ‘medicine’ that comes to mind.

A famous dog behavior expert Victoria Stillwell says: ‘Social media brings a sterilized perception about these dogs. It is also full of fake dog instructors who share the wrong information. ‘

Teddy Bear Dogs is deliberately mixtures for a purpose: take your money and find your mental health as we will find. Of course, dogs want to be scattered, not dressed, not wrapped or teaching to erase their mouths after drinking water, and the claws on the mats – because there were many these days. My bed always smells strongly, Collie’s favorite place to cool off.

Liz Jones, while walking my dogs, I often see the teddy bear poochs

The term ‘Teddy Bear Dog’ was caught in the 2010s as demand for small, curly -coated, round -faced races increased rapidly.

Interestingly, these designer dogs have been for a while: the first Cockapoo was born in the US in the 1950s.

Breeders often began to benefit from people who want these desserts, which are a combination of a cocker spaniel or a Cavalier combination. The goal is a small, beautiful, low -piece, friendly dog. In addition to Cockapoos and Cavapoos, there is a Goldendoodles (a bleeding mixed with a gold retriever, Vogue has Anna WinTour three, but unlike super models, Maltipoos (a Cross between a Maltese and a Wing) and sheep (Old British Sheepdog/Poodle Cross).

Perhaps more niche shihpoos (Shih Tzu × Kanis), Schnoodles (Schnouzer × Blood) and Poyogles (Blood × Beagle). My exhausted friend, who owns a Beagle with a retreat with zero, opens the second ‘Little Sh ** S’.

Finally, Bordoodle: Border Collie/Blood Cross. I am the proud person of three Collies, the last Teddy – I’m sorry for the name, it doesn’t look like someone. Like Hilda, it comes from Romania. Smart: I think a burders are useful during the countdown.

They are not recognized by Kennel Club, but who cares: their friendly reputation and their default compliance for families make them attractive to urban households.

But there is a problem. Dr Rory Cowlam, a veterinary surgeon and writer, explains: ‘They are not dogs with entry -level dogs. Blood crosses are smart and incredibly hard dogs. We see many behavioral problems-neuroses, high-energy behaviors and behaviors [such as reactivity to other dogs] Hard management. For the first time, the owners bought a dog for cute factor, but a high -level dog. Cockapoos is the advance level: they are very, very difficult. ‘

This explains why I have seen a large number of toy bear owners who scream in my village. Once, when my friend cooked a Maltipoo called Betsy, the dog ruthlessly climbed to eat from the pot. When my friend put him back to the ground, Betsy was bright enough to jump to the point on Wellies, where my friend wore to give him a nip.

No matter how much it looks like toys, they’re not. Of course, do dogs want to be messy?

Victoria Stillwell also finds many aggression problems, including resource protection: dogs protect on toys, food, TV distances, beds.

“ These dogs look cute, but an energetic and clever mixture. These are hunting dogs that need attention, exercise and enrichment. If the needs are not met, dogs find ways to enrich themselves, which usually leads to chewing and excessive barking. ‘

A Cockapoo can be excited, so he needs a quiet household.

Many blood crosses are marketed hypoallergenic – but they can still pour allergies or trigger. A Cockapoo’s jacket is as quickly as Zara sweater. They need someone who can spend time for education and walking all day.

Cavapoos may get separation anxiety (we need a rule that says that dogs cannot be left alone for more than six hours, like Sweden), may be sensitive and shy and suffer from heart problems and eye disease. They hate loud children like me.

The purchase of this trend also has serious welfare repercussions. If you buy a puppy, you encourage dog factories – you are forced to have a large number of garbage until the unauthorized dogs are held in terrible conditions.

Cockapoo prices increased by 168 percent between 2019-2020; Today the average price for a puppy is £ 1,500. Premium Goldendoodles may be £ 3,000 to £ 5,000 or more. Designer Crossbreeds now accounts for 25 to 30 percent of puppy sales. In a not surprising way, these Frankendogs joins thieves. By the way, does anyone try to steal Hilda? Not likely – plus would break his face.

Dogs do not replace children or to be selected for their appearance (tail placement and ear crumbs are banned in the UK, but are still allowed to reproduce short -nose dogs).

And if you are shallow enough to buy a teddy bear dog, what happens when the dog gets sick or (I hope)? Taking a dog is a great financial commitment; Most of us.

Insta-Fily Mutts. Today, my oldest Collie in 18, mini, weak. Only one of his eyes is opened properly, deaf and has a bald back, and is shaved to help with hygiene because it is unable to hold now. But we love each other unconditionally. To me, it will always be the most beautiful dog in the world.

But when it comes to toy bear dogs, intelligence is worn out? I suspect it will be something you will need, will you still feed me…?