Cavapoo Breed Information
One of the most fashionable designer dogs, the Cavapoo is a hybrid that mixes the best features of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Mini or Toy Poodles. Cavapoos have what it takes to merit the title of “world’s ‘goodest’ dogs.” They are a dog breed that loves playing and cuddling and will do anything to make others happy.
If their sweet and friendly personalities aren’t enough to spell “good dog” in your dictionary, you’ll be happy to learn they’re also one of the smartest dog breeds around. Mixing two highly intelligent dogs like the Poodle and Cavalier spaniel, results in a hybrid that is extremely smart. Cavapoos are fast learners and people-pleasers, a combination that makes for easy and fast training.
Awesome personality aside, Cavapoos are also one of the most popular doodle designer puppies in the world thanks to their looks. Small and adorable, these dogs have the looks to melt anyone's heart. Their adoring gaze, toy size, and fluffy, soft coats will win you over in a heartbeat.
Characteristics
- Tiny and completely charming, Cavapoos are one of the most popular designer dogs in the world
- They are an intelligent dog breed that is easy to train
- Cavapoos have a kind and loving nature that makes them ideal for therapy work
- Hypoallergenic Cavapoo dogs are a great fit for owners who struggle with pet allergies
- Excellent for apartment living, the Cavapoo breed is small to toy and weighs between 8 and 20 pounds in adulthood
- A moderately active dog breed that has low grooming requirements and excellent health, the Cavapoo is an ideal companion pet for any dog lover
- Cavapoos are also known as Cavoodles, CavaPoodles, Cavadoo, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle mix
Appearance
Regarding looks, Cavapoo dogs are perfectly equipped to charm any dog lover. They are a toy designer breed that sports the cutest features of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles. They have a small size, typically weighing between 8 and 20 pounds. Depending on which parent breed they take after more, adult Cavapoos can reach between 9 and 14 inches in height.
Some of their most attractive features include their sweet and friendly demeanor, dark, expressive eyes, cute floppy ears, and fluffy tails. Their coats are a mixture of colors and textures seen in the parent breeds. These include straight-to-wavy or curly coats with colors like brown, chocolate, white, red, apricot, black, merle, Blenheim, cream, and golden.
Temperament
Cavapoos are much like their parents when it comes to temperament. They are calm-tempered, kind-hearted dogs that are open and friendly toward everyone.
As a naturally joyful dog that loves to be around people, the Cavapoo mix is one of the easiest breeds to train for therapy work. These cute hybrid dogs have a natural openness toward others and love being held, pampered, and cuddled. Their superior intelligence also makes them easy to train for other jobs, tricks, or even sports.
Personality-wise, Cavapoos are ideal companion pets for any dog lover. They are obedient, sweet, and quite playful. They love having other pet siblings to play and bond with and are great with small children.
Like Poodles and Cavaliers, Cavapoos are not a reactive breed. They are neither jumpy nor aggressive. Calmness is what defines them. Because of their excellent personality traits, Cavapoo puppies are a fantastic fit for families with children, retirees and seniors, single owners, and first-time pet parents.
Care
Grooming
Maintaining the Cavapoo’s charming looks is typically easy, especially for Cavapoos that sport the cute puppy clip look. Long-haired Cavapoo dogs can be more demanding when it comes to grooming, but they are not high maintenance either.
To keep your Cavapoo’s hair tangle-free and shining, it is recommended to brush it at least a few times per week. Daily brushing isn’t required for this low-shedding breed.
Nails should be trimmed short so as not to cause damage to the nail bed. It is ideal to clip them every few weeks, or sooner if they grow back fast.
Like most dogs with floppy ears, your Cavapoo will need to have his ears checked and cleaned regularly. Floppy or drop ears are prone to humidity and can be home to infection, dirt or debris build-up. It is recommended to clean the ears with a damp cloth or earbuds for dogs.
Cavapoos also need to have their teeth brushed, preferably daily, to maintain good dental hygiene. You can use a finger brush, a toothbrush specifically designed for dogs, or simply your finger with dog-friendly toothpaste to brush your Cavapoo’s teeth.
Bathing your Cavapoo can be done once every month or two, depending on their lifestyle. You can bathe them as often as every 2-3 weeks if they need it.
Exercise Needs
Cavapoos are dogs that love relaxing on the couch with their humans. They are fans of cuddles, fun games with the family, and walks in the great outdoors. As a small, moderately active breed, they don’t require long, never-ending daily walks or an intense exercise routine. They do best with one or two 10-minute walks each day and an hour or so of indoor exercise.
Indoor games and activities that exercise both their minds and their bodies are a great way to keep them fit and healthy. Mentally stimulating games like puzzles or treat hunts are beneficial in keeping their minds active and entertained.
Health
Cavapoos are a healthy dog breed that not only enjoys a long lifespan but also has an advantage thanks to its purebred parents. Because they are a crossbreed of two purebreds, Cavapoos have very few health problems. They are born with hybrid vigor and live long, healthy lives without suffering from any major health concerns.
There are various common health issues associated with small dog breeds. Among them are cataracts, dental issues, and allergies. Cavapoos don’t typically suffer from these issues, but some of these can happen during their lifetime. Regular vet checks are recommended to ensure your dog is healthy and happy for a long time.
Lifespan
As a toy designer dog, the Cavapoo enjoys a long lifespan of up to 16 years. Although it is common for Cavapoos to live between 12 and 15 years, there are some that reach as much as 18 years of age. To ensure your little Cavapoo enjoys longevity, we recommend that you feed your pet with high-quality dog food and home-cooked meals that are tailored to your dog’s needs. Exercise is also recommended daily to ensure your Cavapoo puppy stays fit and in good health.
Training
Cavapoos are a smart dog breed that lives to please its owners. They have an eagerness to please that is rarely matched by other dogs, and this comes in handy quite often during training.
Training a dog that loves to make you happy is easy, and that’s what Cavapoo puppies are all about. They are fans of attention and praise and will do anything to get as much of these as they can. Positive reinforcement methods work wonders when training Cavapoo pups too, and so do reward-based methods.
The first step you need to take after you bring your little Cavapoo puppy home is potty training. This first step can take up to a few weeks, given their small size. It is ideal to show your Cavapoo where to go potty as soon as they finish eating or drinking water. This will help them understand where their potty breaks need to happen.
Teaching your Cavapoos to come when called is also among the first steps you need to take in training. Once your puppy learns to respond to the sound of his/her name, you can move on to basic commands like sit, lay, and wait.
Although Cavapoos are one of the friendliest dog breeds you’ll meet, they still require socialization training during puppyhood. Make sure to introduce your puppy to various people, sounds, pets, and places while he/she is young to give them time to adjust to different things. This will pave the way for easier handling and training in high-distraction areas, and will also make your Cavapoo adult an outgoing, friendly dog.
History
Unlike their parents, who are among the oldest dog breeds in the world, Cavapoos are a young crossbreed that originated a little over 30 years ago. Although the cross between Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles may have existed naturally over time, it was only during the 90s that Australian breeders sought to mix the two and create an offspring of two purebred dogs.
Hybrids like the Cavapoo were in high demand as soon as they appeared. Not only do they mix the most attractive features of two different breeds when it comes to looks, but they also have excellent health.
For over 30 years, the Cavapoo mix has been in demand, gaining even more popularity as the years went by. They are now a celebrity-favorite breed, and one of the most desirable dogs for families with small children.
Cavapoo breeders have worked towards defining the hybrid for over 30 years. Thanks to their efforts, this new dog is bred through more than one generation. There are F1 Cavapoos, which are a 50-50 mix of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle; F1b Cavapoos, which are a cross between an F1 and a Mini or Toy Poodle, and other generations like the F2 and F2b which are rarer.