Cavapoo: An Intelligent, Playful, and Cuddly Breed for Families

Are you looking for a dog breed that is non-allergenic, does not shed too much, and is smart and fun to be around?  If so, the Cavapoo could be the perfect pet for you. This is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle mix, and it is a dog that is positive, smart, attentive, and responsive to its owner. This dog will give you love, keep you entertained, and will show you all of the smart things that it can do each day. You will stay entertained and laughing as you play and have fun with this easy-to-care-for breed. This mix will make a forever home in your family and will make your home positive while you bond.

Comparison: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Vs. Poodle Vs. Cavapoo

Breeds	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Poodle	Cavapoo
Type	Hunting Dog.	Duck hunters.	Designer Hybrid or Teddy Bear dogs.
History	These dogs were named after the British monarch’s King Charles 1 and his son, Charles II. They were made because of their tan and black colors.	This breed has been around since 1887 and they were bred to be duck hunting dogs.	Cross between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle Breed. They were originally meant to be hunting dogs and now they are used for designer dogs.
Country of Origin	Britain	Germany	Asia Minor, Australia
Size	Small (0-25 pounds).	Medium to Large (51-100+ pounds).	Small or medium (0-25 pounds)
Height	11 to 14 inches in Height.	9 to 22 inches in Height.	8 to 15 inches in Height.
Weight	12 to 20 Pounds.	6 to 75 Pounds.	7 to 26 Pounds.
Lifespan	9 to 15 Years of Age.	10 to 15 Years of Age.	9 to 15 Years of Age.
Coat	Medium-length coats, very silky and wavy.	Curly, wiry, or dense coat with a different texture and feel.	Medium or long and curly.
Coat Color	Blenheim (chestnut with white background), Tri-color (black with a white coat and tan markings, Black and tan, and Ruby (reddish-brown coloring).	Blue, black, silver, gray, café-au-lait, brown, cream, or apricot.	Liver, Gray, Black, Red, Brown, Chocolate, White, Fawn, and Cream.
Shedding	Medium Amount of Shedding.	Little to no shedding. This is a hypoallergenic dog.	Little shedding, mostly just seasonal shedding.
Grooming	Easy to groom, needs to be brushed four times a week, keeping the hair around the ears and legs brushed to avoid tangling, brush teeth three times each week, trim nails a couple of times a month, watch for sores or infection on the skin or in ears and eyes.	Lots of grooming is required. They need to be brushed, bathed, their nails trimmed every couple of weeks, their coat kept trimmed and brushed to avoid tangling, need their eyes and their ears are taken care of each day, teeth need to be brushed a few times a week, always check for sores or infection.	Requires a lot of grooming such as being brushed daily, clipped nails, teeth brushed a few times each week.
Temperament	Quiet, barks when strangers are around, fun, make good watchdogs.	Very smart, loving, loyal, loves to be mischievous, fun to be around, loves to play, easy to train, protective, affectionate, and clever.	Loving, kind, friendly, loves to play, very outgoing even with strangers, anxious, loves water, easy to train, loyal, loves to go outside.
Trainable?	Fairly Easy to Train.	Very Easy to Train.	Easy to Train.
Friendly with Children?	Very Good with Children.	Very Good with Children.	Very Good with Children.
Friendly with Other Pets?	Very Good with Other Pets.	Very Good with Other Pets.	Very Good with Other Pets.
Good Family Pet?	Great Family Pet.	Great Family Pet.	Great Family Pet.
Apartment Friendly?	Very Good for Apartment Owners.	Very Good for Apartment Owners.	Good for Apartment Owners is properly trained.
Good for New Owners?	Great for New Owners.	Great for New Pet Owners.	Great for New Pet Owners.
Touchiness	Tolerant.	Tolerant.	Tolerant.
Solitude Tolerance?	Does not like to be left alone.	Does Not Do Good Alone.	Does not like to be alone and is very energetic and gets bored easily.
Heat Tolerance?	Low Tolerance.	Medium to High Tolerance.	Low Tolerance.
Cold Tolerance?	Medium Tolerance.	Medium Tolerance.	Medium Tolerance. May need a sweater or coat if the weather is super cold.
Barking?	Barks some.	Barks a lot.	Do not bark a lot.
Exercise Needed	At least 30 minutes of exercise each day because they are very energetic.	At least 30 minutes of exercise each day.	At least 30 minutes a day of exercise such as going outside or going for walks.
Health Issues	Some of the health issues include syringomyelia, dry eyes, heart problems, progressive neurological disorders, heart conditions, blood leaks in the atrium.	Some of the health issues include Addison’s disease which affects the dog’s adrenal glands, diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, Legg-Calve Perthes, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, dislocating kneecaps, atrial septal defect, and bloat.	Some of the health issues include heart problems, progressive neurological disorder or syringomyelia, dry or “cherry” eye, Cushing’s Disease, bloat, diabetes, Addison’s Disease, Hip dysplasia, Luxating Patella, Allergies, flea allergies, dermatitis.

Other Names of the Cavapoo

The Cavapoo comes in many different names such as:

• Cava-doodle
• Cavipoodle
• Cavadoodle
• Canoodle

Cavapoo Highlights

When you are looking for a very cute and intelligent dog, the Cavapoo could be perfect for your family. They are smart, easy to train and can be taught to use the bathroom outside very easily. Here are some of the highlights of owning a Cavapoo:

• This is a mixed breed between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle.
• The Cavapoo is one of the most popular breeds in North America.
• The Cavapoo is very smart and needs to have their mind stimulated often.
• This breed is full of energy and needs to be exercised each day. It is important to walk this breed often to keep them healthy and entertained.
• The Cavapoo wants to please their owner and they will do tricks and will do what they can to make you happy.
• This is a great breed if you have small children or other pets.
• The Cavapoo is a dog that is easy to travel with but should not be left in the hotel room by itself for very long.
• If you have a job that is very demanding, the Cavapoo might not be best for you because they need to go outside, have attention, are very active and want to always stay busy. They do not like to be left alone and they experience high bouts of separation anxiety when their owner goes away for short and long periods of time.

Pros of Getting a Cavapoo

There are many pros of owning a Cavapoo including:

• They are very smart.
• A very loyal dog breed.
• They are hypoallergenic.
• They have a very cute appearance.
• They are kind, sensitive, loving, and gentle.
• They love to socialize if done at a young age.
• They get along great with other pets and small children.
• They are very smart and easy to train.
• They learn fast and are one of the fastest dogs to potty train.
• They love things that are fun.
• They are easy to travel with.
• They are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America, Inc., the International Designer Canine Registry, and the Designer Breed Registry.

Cons of Getting a Cavapoo

There are a few cons of owning a Cavapoo including:

• They need to be walked at least once per day in order to keep them happy and stopping negative behaviors.
• They are very nosey and energetic.
• They do not like to be left alone and are prone to separation anxiety and they hate loud noises or being approached quickly.
• They need extra grooming of the ears, teeth and should be groomed every 4 to 6 weeks.
• They chase smaller animals when not properly socialized.
• They are a breed prone to hereditary health problems.
• They are very sensitive to heat and can die from overheating quickly.
• They have sensitive bones and joints.
• They need to not run up and down stairs or jump off furniture.
• They are considered overly clingy to their owner.
• They are not recognized by the American Kennel Club due to them being a hybrid breed.

History of Cavapoo

The Cavapoo is a mixture between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle, and this means that this is a very affectionate and smart dog. It was originally bred in order to have a hunting dog, but the problem is that they do not have a very high prey drive.

This breed has become very popular in the last few years because of them being so sensitive, loving, affectionate and giving of their time. This is a dog breed that is often used in therapy because of their loving temperament.

The Cavapoo was one of the first designer dogs that were bred in North America in the 50’s and are a perfect dog for those that suffer from pet allergies because they shed very little and are considered hypoallergenic.

Why Do Cavapoo’s Exist?

Cavapoo’s were likely bred often with a toy poodle, and this is known because they have a lot of the genetic health issues that the toy poodle has. They come in different sizes and colors, and they make good pets because they are fun and gentle.

The purpose of this dog is to help families that are in need of therapy and those that need a dog that they will not be allergic to. This is a great dog for people with smaller children, elderly people, and other pets in the home because of its great personality.

Even though this dog was bred to be a hunting dog, it is more often used as a therapy dog or as a designer dog that people can keep as pets and show off their family addition.

Cavapoo Temperament

The Cavapoo is a very friendly and loving dog. It is patient and loves to be cuddled. This dog breed is easy to train and is very lively and fun.

This is an active breed, and they love to be around children because they do not mind noise and they enjoy being around company.

It is important to socialize this dog at a young age and then when you do it can love being around small children and other animals.

The problem with the Cavapoo breed is that it is very prone to different hereditary sicknesses, and it is important to check the parent breed before you make a dog part of your forever family.

This breed can be stubborn at times and will want to have all of your attention. It needs to keep its mind busy, and it loves to go outside and play and to play games such as frisbee and fetch.

One problem with owning the Cavapoo is that it does not like to be left alone and it will develop destructive behaviors and separation anxiety if you are out of the home too much.

This dog loves to travel and loves to go outside and play and burn off energy. It is important that the owners make time each day for the dog to go outside and run and exercise to stay healthy and happy.

Is the Cavapoo Good with Children?

Yes. The Cavapoo is a dog that is very good with small children and strangers. Socialize your dog at a young age to make sure that it loves to meet new people.

Is the Cavapoo Good with Pets?

Yes. The Cavapoo is a very loving and gentle breed and is great with other pets.

Cavapoo Generation

Here are some easy tips on how to know what kind of Cavapoo to look for when choosing this breed:

• An F1 Cavapoo means that it is 50% of the Poodle breed and 50% of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
• An F1B Cavapoo means that it is 75% of the Poodle breed and only 25% of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
• An F1BB Cavapoo means that it is 87.5% of the Poodle breed and only 12.5% of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
• An F2 Cavapoo means that it is 50% of the Poodle breed and 50% of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
• An F2BB Cavapoo means that it is 81.25% of the Poodle breed and 18.75% of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
• An F3 Cavapoo, also known as the Multi-Generational Cavapoo is 1/3 of the generation of the Cavapoo with the Poodle being back-crossed.

Cavapoo Personality

The Cavapoo is very loyal and friendly. It is a breed that is full of energy and loves to cuddle and be close to its owner.

This breed is one that likes to have fun and loves to play and please its owner. It is cuddly, loving, gentle, kind, and has all of the personality traits that make it a perfect family dog.

Does the Cavapoo Have Any Cons to Its Personality?

The only problem with having a Cavapoo breed is that it is very prone to separation anxiety. If left alone too much, the Cavapoo can develop bad personality traits such as barking, chewing on things, and using the bathroom in the house.

How Can the Cavapoo Family Fix the Separation Anxiety?

The Cavapoo is very easy to train and there are things that you can do that can keep your dog busy while you are at work or gone from the house. If you use training and give your dog much mental stimulation, chances are that you can cure some of the separation anxiety and have a healthy and happy dog.

What is the Life expectancy of the Cavapoo?

The life expectancy of the Cavapoo is between 9 and 15 years of age which is why people often choose this breed because of the long-life expectancy.

Size and Appearance of the Cavapoo

The Cavapoo will have both sides of both the Poodle breed and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and so you are never sure exactly what traits your dog will have. Look at the parent breed of the dog to get a better idea of what your dog will look like.

Mini Cavapoo Versus Full-Sized Cavapoo

The mini Cavapoo is a mix between a toy or a miniature Poodle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This means that the mini-Cavapoo will be between 7 to 10 inches in height and 7 to 15 pounds.

The full-sized Cavapoo will be between 7 to 26 pounds and between 8 to 15 inches in height.

The appearance of the Cavapoo

The Cavapoo will have medium or long hair that is curly or wavy. It comes in a variety of colors such as cream, grey, fawn, white, and more and sometimes they are even tri-colored.

Since this is a mixed poodle, you will never be exactly sure what the puppy will look like until after it is born.

Coat colors of the Cavapoo

The Cavapoo is a mixed breed between the Poodle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and so it will most likely have wavy hair that is either long or medium in length. The coat colors of the Cavapoo include:

• Liver
• Gray
• Black
• Red
• Brown
• Chocolate
• White
• Fawn
• Cream.

Grooming of the Cavapoo

Does the Cavapoo Shed? The Cavapoo is a hypoallergenic dog, and this means that it sheds only minimally. This breed of dog will normally only have seasonal shedding which means it is perfect for families with pet allergies.

Your Cavapoo breed needs to have its ears looked at each day so that you can make sure that there are no pests in the ears. Clean the ears each day and make sure that you trim the nails when they start clicking on the floor.

The teeth of the Cavapoo should be brushed at least each day because this kind of breed can have dental problems.

Feed your dog healthy foods and take it for a walk each day so that it can be healthy. This dog is prone to gain weight and so this is very important for its health.

Here are some great grooming tips for your Cavapoo:

• Always use a bristle brush to help keep the curls of your Cavapoo untangled.
• Brush your dog before it goes into the bath and after it gets out to stop tangles and frizzing.
• Always look in the ears and check for discharge or odor.
• Keep your dog’s nails clipped or take them out to walk and run-on concrete to keep them trimmed naturally. File the nails if you need to.
• Keep the eyes of your Cavapoo wiped clean to stop tear staining.

Diet of the Cavapoo

The Cavapoo needs to be on a healthy diet because it is a breed that is prone to being overweight. Make sure you are feeding your dog a few times a day with smaller meals.

It is often recommended to feed your dog 2 cups of kibble each day and then to add fresh foods such as chicken, pork, turkey, lamb, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other tasty foods.

A mini-Cavapoo should only have up to 1.5 cups of Kibble divided throughout the day, but this has to do with the size and the energy level of the dog.

Also, make sure that you limit your dog’s treats so that it does not get too many calories each day.

How Much Exercise is Needed for the Cavapoo?

The Cavapoo breed is a very active breed. They love to go outside and play games such as fetch and frisbee. This breed loves to go outside and run or just go for walks. Do not leave this dog out in extreme heat or cold because its coat is not made for extreme weather.

Your Cavapoo needs to go outside for at least 30 minutes each day to walk and play. It needs to go out so that it does not gain weight and get unhealthy. Take your dog out each day and let it play and breathe fresh air.

Here is a rule of thumb for exercising your Cavapoo:

• 5 minutes each day for a 1-month-old Cavapoo.
• 10 minutes each day for a 2-month-old Cavapoo.
• 15 minutes each day for a 3-month-old Cavapoo.
• 30 minutes each day for a 6-month-old Cavapoo.
• 45 minutes each day for a 9-month-old Cavapoo.

Is it Easy to Train a Cavapoo?

The Cavapoo is a very easy breed to train. They love to please their owner and will learn things very fast. One thing that the Cavapoo breed is known for is how fast it is to be potty trained.

It is important that you socialize your dog at a young age so that it can get used to children and small pets. This is equally important if you want your dog to be able to meet new people. Always make sure that you supervise your children when you have them around your dog.

Make sure that your Cavapoo is trained with positive and reinforcement training. This breed loves to have treats and so treat training is a great way to get your dog doing what you want it to and fast. Never use punishment to train your dog because this breed is prone to anxiety, and this can cause it to be more anxious.

The Health of the Cavapoo

One problem with the Cavapoo is that it is prone to having many genetic or hereditary diseases. Some of the most common sicknesses that the Cavapoo is prone to includes:

• Progressive Neurological Disorders
• Syringomyelia
• Dry or “Cherry” eye
• Cushing’s Disease
• Bloat
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Addison’s Disease
• Hip Dysplasia
• Luxating Patella
• Allergies
• Flea Allergies
• Dermatitis

How Much Does it Cost For a Cavapoo?

A Cavapoo will usually run from $800 up to almost $3,000 depending on the breeder and what kind of Cavapoo you choose. You can rescue a Cavapoo for much cheaper.

Finding a Cavapoo for Your Family

When getting a Cavapoo for your family, you should first look at a rescue or a shelter. If you purchase a Cavapoo from a breeder, make sure the person you are getting it from is a reputable breeder.

Cavapoo Reputable Breeders

When searching for a Cavapoo breeder, you can google, “Cavapoo breeders near me,” and you will get a list of breeders and descriptions of the breeders online. You can find different websites with Cavapoo puppies that are close to you or maybe even find ones that will ship their puppies.

You can also find breeders on Craigslist but make sure that you are being cautious of people out to scam you. Also, find out if someone is giving the dog away what the reasons are. Find out things such as:

• Behavioral problems.
• Health problems.
• Why they are giving the dog away such as if the breeder died or if they are not able to take care of it.

What to Consider When Choosing a Reputable Breeder

Make sure that you are communicating with your breeder. This is very important so that you can get detailed information about the puppies that they are selling.

Ask the breeder to explain the lifestyle of their puppies, what the best owners are for this breed, and other questions about being a new dog owner. If your breeder does not want to answer questions, this should be a concern and you should find another breeder.

It is important to visit the breeder if at all possible before picking a puppy. Make sure that the kennel is clean and taken care of and that the puppy’s crates are clean.

Pay attention to these things:

• Does the dog look healthy and clean?
• Is the puppy groomed and looks like it has enough to eat?
• Does the dog have nice bedding, a clean place, and plenty of toys to play with?
• Does the kennel look clean and does the breeder seem to be organized and positive?
• Does the breeder seem happy and do the dogs seem loving and happy?

Check out the parents and ask them to meet them. See what kind of temperament the parents have and watch the behavior. If they are well-behaved and calm, this could be a sign of the kind of dog that you will get.

Make sure that the parents do not have any health issues and that they are given the right vaccinations, foods, medication, and that they are being properly cared for.

Always look at their coat, their energy level, their eyes, their ears, signs of any kind of discharge, or signs of poor health.

Never purchase a puppy that will go with you before they are 12 weeks of age. This is unhealthy for the puppy and should be considered when purchasing from a breeder.

A good breeder will always have paperwork including a warranty and papers of the parent dogs. Make sure that your breeder has papers and if not, this could be a sign to move to another breeder.

The puppy that you purchase should be spayed or neutered unless you are buying breeding rights. Then it is up to you to make sure that you get the right paperwork from the owners.

Avoid buying from puppy mills and make sure that you and the breeder have paperwork that is signed including a contract to make sure that you get a healthy dog.

Final Thoughts

The Cavapoo is a loving and kind dog. This dog breed is very gentle and kind and loves to have a lot of attention.

If you are looking for a dog that is full of energy, loyal, smart, and easy to train then the Cavapoo can be a dog that will give you a forever friendship. This is a dog that is perfect for families and loves to be outside and have an active lifestyle. Find your forever family friend and get a Cavapoo today!

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