Just like their name, Cavapoo puppies are one of the most adorable breeds of dogs. Imagine you have a puppy with a gorgeous fluffy coat, round face, super friendly nature, and minimal shedding. Amazing right?
Cavapoo is an ideal breed for many reasons. They are a cross between Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and poodle dog breeds. Intelligent and hypoallergenic like poodles and sporty like cavaliers, they take just the right qualities from both parent breeds to make a perfect combination.
Cavapoo puppies are also known as cavoodle and cavadoodle. They are an intelligent breed that is easy to train and does well with families and children. Moreover, they have very few health issues and a long life expectancy. Isn’t it perfect?
If you are amazed by these traits, keep on reading. This article has all the details and information you need on the Cavapoo dog breed.
Cavapoo Breed History
Although these designer dogs rose to fame in recent decades, they are believed to have originated in the 1950s. Their first batch of pups was bred in Australia intentionally by breeders in the 1990s. After that, their popularity kept growing in the United States and Europe.
The main motive behind producing these mixed-breed dogs was to achieve the desired qualities. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a calmer nature, whereas the poodles shed minimally and are hypoallergenic dogs.
Hence, the resulting mixed-breed dog is perfect for allergy sufferers. A cavapoo puppy loves to play and is equally as cuddly. They are highly sociable and train well. Just a perfect package of cuteness and intelligence!
Cavapoo breeds are known to be the healthiest designer breed. They have minimum exercise and grooming requirements and live a long happy life. They also love to please their families, hence a great choice for first-time dog owners.
Cavapoo Appearance
Cavapoo has to be our favorite designer breed in terms of appearance. They take the best physical features of both their parents.
They are small dogs with round faces, big eyes, and long furry ears that drop down the sides of their face. The soft curly fur and button nose gives it a teddy bear look. How irresistibly cute right?
However, it can be tricky to determine the exact appearance. The size, color, and height all depend on the individual dog parent characteristics. They may end up looking more like one parent than another.
The cavapoo breeders keep crossing them over until they get the desired traits. For instance, if they are looking for hypoallergenic properties, they will bring in the pure breed of a poodle.
Size
As both Cavalier king Charles spaniel and poodle are smaller breeds, the cavapoos can be small to medium in size. If the miniature poodle is crossed, a toy-sized cavapoo can be expected.
Weight
Cavapoo can range in weight from 9-25lbs. It is important to keep a check on their diet and not overfeed them. More weight gain for small sizes can cause potential health problems.
Coat
Their coat mostly resembles their poodle parent with the softness of a cavalier. It is medium-long, and the hair can be curly or wavy.
Coat Color
The coat color ranges from fawn to cream, golden, chocolate, or tri-color. It can be one solid color or have streaks of white.
Cavapoo Characteristics
Cavapoos have very amusing, friendly, and winning personalities. They are very attached to their owners and don’t like being in cages and kennels.
Cavapoo dogs are very social. They tend to follow their owner everywhere. It is better to train them to stay alone from an early age. If not done so, they can develop separation anxiety.
When distressed, they engage in destructive habits. They chew toys, furniture, and shoes and might bark uncontrollably.
They socialize well with other dogs and pets. They are high-energy dogs, so they should be monitored around large dog breeds. They can’t be kept as watchdogs as they socialize even with strangers.
Cavapoos love companionship and consider themselves a part of the family. They love being involved in all activities and gaining praise. If you are someone who is out of the house for most of the day, this isn’t an ideal pet for you.
Cavapoo Facts
Here are a few quick facts about the cavalier king Charles spaniel and poodle mixed breed Cavapoo dogs.
- Temperament: highly affectionate nature.
- Shedding: Very little, hence hypoallergenic.
- Suitable for: children, adults, and elders.
- Size: small to medium
- Weight: 9-25lbs
- Life span: 12-14years
- Barking habit: do not bark much.
- First-time dog owners: highly recommend
- Training: highly intelligent and can be trained easily.
- Dependency: develop separation anxiety if left alone.
- Cost: 1000-3500$.
Cavapoo Temperament and Personality
Cavapoo dogs have two major moods or temperaments. They are sporty and playful like poodles. Contrarily, they can be calm and quiet as cavalier king Charles spaniels.
Many pet owners have noticed that they develop an innate bond with their dogs. Cavoodles are perfect companion dogs. They may emancipate in the same mood as their owners. They will cheer you on when you want to play and can be lap dogs when you want to be a couch potato.
Cavapoo dogs are highly adaptable to their environment. Whether you live on a farm or in an apartment, they won’t have any problem adjusting. They only desire the loving company of their owners.
Wherever they live, cavapoo needs daily mental stimulation. The owner must take out at least one hour from their day to walk their dog and play with it. If the activity needs of cavapoo are not met, they can get distant from their owner.
They thrive well in most temperatures. But, because of their medium to long coats, they do better in slightly cold environments.
Cavapoo loves to be with children. You can trust cavapoo to take care of your babies. The problem is that the children can get rowdy and may injure your pup. Given that they are a small dog breed with bones prone to injury.
Cavapoo Training and Care
Cavapoo dogs take their intelligence and curiosity from their poodle parents. They are very easy to train and take care of. Their coats require a little more care than other dogs with short hair. Put in just a little time and you will be amazed at how rewarding it can be.
Exercise
The Cavapoo does not have many requirements for exercise. However, they are highly energetic and need stimulating playtime. One hour walk per day or indoor play with lots of fetching activities should keep them happy.
If you live in a compact apartment, try to get them lots of toys or at least have a little area for them to play in.
Exercise is important to keep their weight in balance as well. Their small stature does not respond well to weight gain and obesity. Moreover, if they are not engaged in activities, these social bees tend to feel lonely. This can result in unwanted behaviors such as barking and chewing.
Training
Cavapoo dog breed is best trained when started early on. At only a few weeks of age, they are intelligent enough to respond to rewards. Giving them treats for desired behavior can do the trick.
They can be trained to socialize and perform a variety of tricks. Through training, they can be introduced to other pets, dogs, and strangers. Training sessions must be kept short with lots of playful and rewarding activities.
It is also recommended to hire a professional dog trainer to teach them how to stay on their own. Attachment behaviors can be controlled much more easily at a young age.
Just as positive reinforcement makes them happy, punishment can make them anxious and distant. These pooches will never let your attention go unnoticed!
Grooming
Cavapoos shed very less hair as compared to other dogs of similar breeds. It means that they minimize the risk of allergies caused by pet hair. Even then, they need combing once or twice a week. Weekly brushing is necessary to keep the hair from matting.
Although you can manage their hair well by bathing and combing them at home, professional grooming is recommended once a month.
Regular grooming will keep your furry friend fresh and free of tear stains. Some pet owners also get their pets regular haircuts to keep the mats away.
Apart from grooming their coat, these fur babies also require ear cleaning and dental care. It is important to keep their teeth clean.
Teeth brushing can be done daily by using toothpaste suitable for dogs. Dental disease is the easiest way for the infection to pass into the bloodstream and cause heart problems.
Cavapoo Diet
To keep your cavapoo dogs healthy and content, you need to feed them the right amounts of meat-based proteins, carbs, fats, and micronutrients. Their playful and energetic bodies need foods that are high in energy. The best food for them is high-quality dry kibble.
Depending on cavapoo size, dry dog food formula made for small dogs is best for their complex nutritional needs. They are also perfect for their small bodies and activity levels.
It is also important to feed them according to their age. Full-grown cavapoo puppies require more food portions than small ones.
Watch their food portions to maintain a healthy weight. Overfeeding can cause obesity and dental plaque. Putting on weight for small dogs is detrimental to their health. Keep checking with the vet for specific diet instructions and health care.
Cavapoo Health
Cavapoo dogs are considered a very healthy breed. They do not suffer from many health problems. That being said, there is still a fair chance that they might inherit some of the health problems of their parent breeds, the cavalier king Charles spaniel and poodle.
Some of the most common diseases of these species include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, epilepsy, and ear problems. These diseases are just risk factors, having the risk does not mean that the dog will suffer from it. Most cavapoo dogs live happy lives without any health concerns.
It is important to note that the cavapoo breed has long hairy ears. Regular trimming and cleaning are required for the ears. It prevents infection and dust buildup. Dental hygiene is just as important to prevent periodontal dental disease.
Keeping up to date with the vet and following all hygiene requirements is the best way to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Take care of them and provide them with a healthy environment to help them thrive.
Cavapoo Lifespan
Cavapoos tend to live very long lives. Their life span ranges from 12-15 years. That is a generous amount of time to spend with your four-legged friends. If you are looking to keep a pet that goes through thick and thin with you, consider them. They are excellent companions and serve well to people of all ages.
FAQs
Do Cavapoos Bark a Lot?
No. Cavapoo is a calm breed and it will bark only when it is anxious or stressed.
Is Cavapoo High Maintenance?
Cavapoo does not require a lot of maintenance. Regular baths and weekly brushing should prevent the hair from matting. If necessary, haircuts can be scheduled every month or two.
They require a healthy environment and proper dental hygiene to prevent dental problems. They do not need a lot of food as they are small in size. A scoop of dry dog food every day is enough for their little bellies.
Do Cavapoo Dogs Shed a Lot?
Cavapoo is a low-shedding dog breed just like its poodle parent. It is hypoallergenic which means that it is great for allergy sufferers and children.
Can Cavapoos Be Left Alone?
Cavapoo dogs are highly attached to their owners. They do not respond well to being separated from their companions. If you have to leave them alone for some reason, consider getting them trained at a very young age. It will help the dog from developing anxiety or aggression.
Conclusion
Cavapoos are a perfect cross between cavalier king Charles spaniel and poodle parents. They serve the best traits of both parents being super friendly dogs, highly social, and hypoallergenic all while serving the best looks.
Their small size and super cute features have made them a popular choice for dog owners. If you are looking forward to buying them, get yourself ready for a constant companion. They will be at your heels wherever you go.
However, if you stay outside of the house for most of the day, you should rethink. These dogs can not thrive well without social companions and develop separation anxiety.
If you are ready to commit to their cuteness, go ahead and adopt! We promise you won’t regret it.
