Mixing of dog breeds and selling them as a new "breed" is a fad. It started with a legitimate need, they wanted Lab/poodle mixes as guide dogs that were hypoallergenic. Poodles hadn't turned out to be the best guide dogs but Labs were and Poodles are hypoallergenic. Unfortunately the rest of the world decided to breed them too and then everyone decided to mix all breeds to all other breeds and give them odd names. The reason for this was money, people like to buy new things, if they could get one of those "new" breeds they would and would make a breeder rich. Almost NOBODY is breeding these mixed breeds responsibly, they are doing it for fun or money.
If you are okay with getting a mixed breed dog go to a shelter or rescue and save a life, support something good with your money. The only reason one should go to a breeder is for a predictable dog, when you get a purebred you know the breed's traits, what he will look like for the most part and what temperament he will have for the most part (if you go to a responsible breeder who is proving their dogs are proper for the breed by showing, working, getting temperament tests, having therapy dogs, etc.). Because Cocker Spaniel Poodle mixes are mixes, not breeds, so they have no standard temperament you can expect, no standard coat (might shed like a cocker spaniel not a poodle, might have an in between coat), no standard body or anything. I just don't understand why you'd go to a breeder for the same quality dog (by quality I mean predictability, I could get the same unknown puppy from a shelter) and support someone who is bringing shelter quality dogs (with no predictability or health testing) into an over populated world, these breeders have no goals for their breed like the original working mixes (mixing for better hunters or for better sled dogs) or the original lab/poodle mixes (mix for hypoallergenic guide dogs).
I never got back to you after you mentioned that you thought a puppy would be easier, no bad habits to work on. It really depends. You will have "problems" to work on- housebreaking, chewing, mouthing and other puppy things. Most people who do get puppies STILL end up not doing the prevention things needed to stop bad habits and still end up with dogs who jump, pull on the leash, steal food, bark, etc. I mean how many people take their little 10 pounds puppies out with treats on walks and teach them to walk near them, how many people worry about a dog jumping on them that doesn't reach the knee yet or teaches the dog to sit during greeting times if he doesn't jump up yet, who teaches a dog to stay several feet away from the kitchen table, on a mat, or in a different room while the people eat if the dog doesn't beg or steal yet? The answer is pretty much nobody but some dogs trainers. They wait until the problem occurs or actually starts to bother them. So in the end, statistically speaking, you will still have to deal with all the bad habits of an adult shelter dog. The only exception would be dealing with problems stemming from abuse because hopefully you will not be abusing your dog or using Cesar Millan methods on him.
BUT if you want a puppy that's fine, there are plenty of those in shelters too (and you've already shown you are okay with mutts and not knowing how they will turn out as an adult because you mentioned designer breeds several times). If you DO use preventative measure and address problems before they start then you will be saving yourself a lot of frustration, the point I was making before was that most people go get puppies so they can start with a clean slate and end up with a dog who has horrible bad habits anyways because they don't do anything to stop them before they start. but you can.
Also keep in mind not all shelter dogs have bad habits. I volunteer at a dog rescue, the biggest bad habit we get is jumping up followed by leash pulling, other than that we don't get much. All our dogs were strays though. A lot of shelters get owner turn ins, some lived in good homes but their owners died, got cancer, went to war, got allergies, etc. and did not not care about the dog or give the dog up for bad habits. the nice thing about adult dogs is what you see is what you get, you don't have to wait two years for him to grow up and hope he's what you wanted. You'll know if he will be a good jogger, if he likes kids, if he's good with small animals, if his coat sheds heavily or not, if he likes to bark, if he's clingy or not, etc.
What is also nice is adult dogs tend to be more ready to learn. They have a longer attention span and are physically capable of being housebroken already (most of the adults at my rescue, because they were strays are not housebroken but they are not babies who are incapable of holding it or learning to right now). I'm the type who will always want adults (I think
).
ANYWAY, sorry to get so lengthy and preachy, I tend to do that
I'm gonna look on petfinder some more, maybe there will be some poodle mixes that you like, whatever they mix with might get them a more manly look. I think a lot of people assumed you wanted a large dog for a few reasons: You didn't like the idea of poodles, weren't manly enough, some people don't consider any small dogs manly.
You wanted a dog good in snow/hard winters and a lot of small dogs are not (not sure about cockers though).
You wanted a jogging partner, terriers could be good small joggers (but are otherwise a handful), again I'm not sure about cockers, hopefully some cocker owners will chime in.
If you really want a dog from a breeder then you'll want a purebred, that way you'll know what you are getting. If you are not picky then we'll find you a good shelter/rescue mutt or purebred.
I also commend you for doing your research before running out and getting a dog, it'll be worth it in the end.