Cavapoo

Cavapoos are a hybrid or mixed dog breed that is the result of combining a Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Cavapoos are gaining popularity, likely due to their wonderful personalities. This breed is very curious, playful, and friendly. They can make excellent family dogs and do very well with children. Cavapoos are also a good addition to homes with other pets since they don’t have a prey drive like other breeds.

Cavapoos are very intelligent and relatively easy to train. They can make a good pet for individuals who have never owned a dog before. Cavapoos were bred to be hypoallergenic with the non-shedding Poodle genes, so most don’t shed very much. They also may be called a Cavadoodle, Cavoodle, or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Poodle Mix.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning A Cavapoo

Evolution And History Of The Breed

Although the cavapoo breed didn’t begin in the United States until later, it was first bred in Australia in the 1990s. Breeders wanted to create a smaller breed of dog that didn’t have a high rate of shedding so people with allergies would be able to have more options. By combining the hypoallergenic Poodle and the mellow Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, they created the ideal breed: the Cavapoo, a dog that has minimal shedding.

Size And Weight

Cavapoos are a small dog breed. Both males and females are generally between 11 and 16 inches tall and weigh between 9 and 25 pounds. Males are more likely to be a bit taller or heavier than females. The exact size of each dog can vary based on the genes they inherit from the Poodle or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Also, Miniature or Toy Poodles may both be used to breed Cavapoos, which will also impact their final size.

The size of a puppy can also vary based on the genetic mix they inherit, but most of this variety should be full-grown by the time they are one year old.

Common Health Issues

Below are a few potential health concerns for Cavapoos. Keep an eye out for these health issues and bring your dog to a veterinarian if you suspect something is wrong.

Progressive retinal atrophy is one potential issue that could affect Cavapoos. This is an eye disease that causes the retina of the eye to deteriorate. After some time, this can cause night blindness and eventually complete blindness. There is no cure for progressive retinal atrophy at this point.

Some Cavapoos also have congenital heart problems, such as mitral valve disease. This is a condition where there is too much pressure from the heart’s left ventricle, which can cause the valve to wear out and leak. This can cause a heart murmur.

A third health condition to be aware of for Cavapoos is a luxating patella. This is a slipped kneecap that happens because of a malformation of the kneecap or an injury to the kneecap. The kneecap on dogs with this condition slips out of place as they walk and can cause pain or make walking challenging. Your vet may prescribe medication to help manage pain and inflammation from a luxating patella, but surgery is often required for severe cases.

To recap, a few health issues to be aware of if you plan to own a Cavapoo include:

• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Congenital heart problems
• Luxating patella

Temperament And Behavior

The exact temperament of this dog can vary based on personality traits inherited from the Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parents, though nearly all Cavapoos wind up being very well-tempered and friendly dogs. This breed is kind, social, and loves spending time with its family members. They are also highly intelligent.

A Cavapoo’s traits mean they can be a great companion for a child, though they typically do best with older children because of their smaller size. They do not like to be left alone, and they may develop separation anxiety if they are left for too long, which can cause them to bark or engage in negative or destructive behaviors.

How To Take Care Of A Cavapoo

Keep a Cavapoo’s temperament and potential health concerns in mind as you prepare to care for your dog. You should also take into account their dietary needs, activity requirements, grooming needs, and training needs to offer the best care possible to help keep your dog happy and healthy.

The Best Dog Food For Cavapoos

Adult dogs of this variety should be fed high-quality dog food designed for small or medium dog breeds with high energy levels. The exact size of your Cavapoo, along with their age, activity level, metabolism, and health, will impact their ideal quantity of food each day. Cavapoos may need between ½ and 1 cup of food each day. Check with your veterinarian if you’re not sure how much food your dog needs. Split the total recommended amount of food into two servings.

Cavapoo puppies should be fed between three and four times a day when they are under six months old. This is because they have a smaller stomach than a full-grown Cavapoo and can’t handle as much food. By the time the Cavapoo reaches the age of six months, you should be fine cutting back to two feedings per day.

Maintenance And Grooming

In general, a Cavapoo’s coat is relatively easy to maintain. Most will need to be brushed just once a week. Brushing your dog’s coat will help remove dirt and loose hair and keep their coat healthy and shiny. Some Cavapoos do have longer hair and may need to be brushed more frequently or even clipped once a month or so to keep their hair from getting too long or unruly. Brushing your Cavapoo’s teeth, trimming its nails, and keeping its ears clean are also very important.

Training

Cavapoos are both intelligent and very eager to please, which makes them pretty easy to train. Your pet will be able to pick up new commands quickly, but you’ll need to be consistent and offer multiple opportunities for practice and repetition for the best results. This breed does best with training methods that focus on positive reinforcement. Start training and socializing your dog from a very young age for the best results. Housetraining a Cavapoo can sometimes be a challenge, and you should be prepared to be patient.

Exercise

A Cavapoo’s exercise needs are not as high as some other breeds, but they still need a moderate amount of exercise each day. Take your dog for a walk or two each day and offer mental and physical stimulation through play and other opportunities to help them stay active.

Puppies

Cavapoo puppies will require a lot of care. You’ll need to be prepared to have a new ‘baby’ in the house that will require a lot of your time and attention, especially over the first few weeks and months. Start potty training and socializing your Cavapoo puppy from an early age. They’ll likely pick up training quickly but will need more time to master potty training and housetraining. Be very consistent and patient as your dog learns what is expected and when/where they should go to the bathroom.

Cavapoos And Children

These dogs can make great companions and playmates for a child. This breed is very social and friendly. They love spending time with the people in their families. However, due to a Cavapoo’s smaller size, they could be injured by a small child who doesn’t know how to appropriately interact with a dog. This means Cavapoos should only go to homes with older children or where an adult will always be available to closely supervise the interactions between younger children and the dog. Older children should also be supervised with a Cavapoo, as with any dog breed. This will limit the chance of either the dog or the child getting injured accidentally.

Dogs Similar To Cavapoo

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Havapoos, and Maltipoos are three breeds that are similar to the Cavapoo.

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: As one of the parents mixed to make a Cavapoo, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels share some similarities with Cavapoos. Both breeds are similar in size; Cavapoos have an average weight of around 18 pounds, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average weight of around 14 pounds. Both breeds are affectionate and social. Cavapoos are more intelligent and can make a better watchdog than a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
• Havapoo: Havapoos and Cavapoos are both half Poodle. Both breeds are small and generally around the same size. Havapoos are more energetic and are generally healthier than Cavapoos.
• Maltipoo: Maltipoos also have one parent that is a Poodle, like the Cavapoo. Both breeds are very intelligent, affectionate, and easy to train. Maltipoos are more vocal than Cavapoos and can be a bit more playful.

Famous Cavapoos

As such a great dog breed, it is no surprise that there are a few famous Cavapoos:

• Butters is Katy Perry’s Cavapoo.
• Enzo is a Cavapoo with a popular Instagram account, where his owners share photos of his fun-loving personality.
• Kaden and Addie are brother and sister Cavapoos who live in Maryland. They have over 43,000 followers on Instagram.