A woman from Shrewsbury says the cockapoo puppy she bought in 2019 grew into a 22-kilogram dog with chronic health problems and a different pedigree than she was told, forcing large veterinary bills and repeated treatments.
Charlotte Fallowfield, 55, told the Daily Mail that she paid £800 for a pup advertised as a first-generation miniature cockapoo but became suspicious when the breeder insisted on cash, would not show the puppy’s mother and pressured her to complete the purchase quickly. Within months, the dog, named Waffle, developed parasitic infections and ongoing gastrointestinal problems that Fallowfield says have left him with lifelong stomach issues.
After two years Fallowfield commissioned a DNA test that showed Waffle was not a cockapoo but a mix she described as a ‘‘sproodle’’ — primarily toy poodle and springer spaniel, with cocker spaniel and other small amounts of standard poodle and field spaniel. The test results cited 47% toy poodle, 35% springer spaniel, 14% cocker spaniel, 2% standard poodle and 1% field spaniel. Miniature cockapoos are typically around 10 kilograms when fully grown; Waffle measures about 44 centimetres and weighs about 22 kilograms.
Fallowfield said some of Waffle’s early infections included Campylobacter, a bacterial germ the U.K. National Health Service says can transfer from animals to humans and cause gut infections. She said she contracted the infection and spent the first two weeks after bringing Waffle home feeling unwell. She also described multiple allergies, including a grass allergy that requires frequent paw cleaning, and chronic yeast overgrowth that needs specialist shampoo.
The medical problems have produced heavy costs. Fallowfield told the Daily Mail she spends about £250 a month on routine care in addition to a series of insurance claims amounting to roughly £15,000 in the past six months. In recent months Waffle required tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgeries to address cruciate ligament injuries; Fallowfield said each procedure would have cost about £7,000 without insurance.
Fallowfield and her partner, who do not have children, said they have been able to absorb the financial burden but cautioned prospective dog owners to research breeders carefully. She urged potential buyers to deal directly with licensed breeders, check credentials through the Kennel Club and avoid generic online selling sites. "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is," she said.
Fallowfield has also spoken publicly about Waffle’s temperament. Despite his size and health issues she described him as "loving" and well behaved, saying he is gentle with children and provides emotional support to her 83-year-old mother, who has dementia. The dog has appeared with Fallowfield on British television programmes, including This Morning in June, to illustrate her experience.
Waffle’s case highlights concerns raised by animal welfare experts about online sales and misrepresented pedigrees, particularly during the pandemic era when demand for small, "teddy bear" dogs rose. Veterinary professionals have warned that buying from unverified sources can increase the risk of disease, congenital problems and behavioural issues, and that some crossbreeds carry health risks associated with larger parent breeds.
Fallowfield said she would consider getting a sproodle again in the future but would take greater care selecting a breeder. She advised others to be prepared for lifelong financial and time commitments when adopting a dog and to verify documentation and health history before purchase.