Side by side
Put a few breeds side by side before you make up your mind.
Pick up to four. The URL updates as you go, so you can send this comparison to whoever you are arguing with.
| Breed |  Shetland Sheepdog |  Cockapoo |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Shetland Islands, Scotland | United States, popularised in the United Kingdom |
| Group | Pastoral | Crossbreed |
| Size | Small | Small to Medium |
| Coat | Long, double coat, sable or tricolour | Variable, from loose waves to tight curls to a flatter spaniel type coat |
| Weight | 6 to 12 kg | 4.5 to 11 kg |
| Height | 33 to 41 cm | 25 to 38 cm |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 yrs | 12 to 15 yrs |
| Exercise need | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Affection | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Grooming needs | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Barking | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Good with children | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Good with other dogs | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Trainability | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Prey drive | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Copes alone | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Drool | 1/10 | 1/10 |
| Shedding | 8/10 | 3/10 |
| Flat fit | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Running cost | €81 / month | €163 / month |
Shetland Sheepdog verdict
A collie in miniature, whip smart and devoted, but quick to bark at every passing sound.
Get one if
- · Owners who enjoy training and canine sports such as agility or obedience
- · Families with children who can interact gently and calmly
- · People able to manage or tolerate a genuinely vocal dog
Think again if
- · Owners in flats with close neighbours sensitive to barking
- · People wanting a low shedding, wash and go coat
- · Households that cannot commit to regular brushing sessions
Cockapoo verdict
An affectionate Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross where coat, size and energy vary litter to litter, so no two Cockapoos are quite alike.
Get one if
- · Owners wanting an affectionate, people focused companion that bonds closely with the family
- · Households able to commit to regular professional grooming regardless of coat type
- · Families realistic that allergy friendliness is a possibility rather than a certainty
Think again if
- · Anyone choosing a Cockapoo purely to avoid grooming costs
- · Allergy sufferers relying on reputation alone rather than testing their own reaction first
- · Households that cannot offer much daily company or structured alone training