Cavapoo

What is a Cavapoo?

The Cavapoo breed is a cross between the Poodle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breeders wanted to produce a low-shedding dog for pet lovers with allergies.

It was not long before this designer dog breed’s popularity surged not only in the United States but also across the world, including here in the UK.

The Cavapoo dog breed has lots of nicknames, but he is commonly referred to as Cavapoo in the UK. As early as the 1950s, Cavapoo emerged as one of the first designer dog breeds developed in America. However, he is believed to have originated from Australia in the 1990s.

Not much is known on how the Cavapoo first came to be, but his parent breeds have a long history behind them.

The Cavapoo’s parent breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was a beloved companion breed of the nobles. This small dog breed originated in Victorian England. His name was inspired by King Charles II, who was a big fan of the breed.

The Cavalier King started as a Toy Spaniel, but breeders developed the breed by crossing him with brachycephalic oriental dogs—the Japanese Chin and the Pug.

As a companion and family dog, this small dog breed is described as gentle and loving. The Cavapoo inherited these traits from him.

The Cavapoo’s other parent breed, the Poodle, is an ancient dog breed believed to have hailed from Germany. His primary use as being a hunting dog that retrieves ducks and other waterfowls. This dog breed has 3 size variations: Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, and Miniature Poodle.

The Poodle is a lively and playful dog, but most of all, he is smart. This is where the Cavapoo dog’s feisty, intelligent, and free-spirited nature came from.

As the Cavapoo is a mixed breed, there is never a guarantee that specific characteristics and traits from the parent breeds will be passed on to the puppies.

Cavapoo enthusiasts and breeders now only use the Miniature Poodle to be interbred with the Cavalier to produce Cavapoo puppies. This is due to the Toy Poodle’s susceptibility to various hereditary health problems.

Unfortunately, the Cavapoo breed is not yet recognised by the Kennel Club or any other international dog club. With time and careful breeding, the consistency of this small dog breed’s traits and size may be achieved soon.

This is necessary for the Cavapoo to be recognised and registered as an official breed. Regardless of his complex traits, this designer dog managed to be one of the most popular new breeds in the world.

How big do Cavapoos get?

The size of the Cavapoo puppies generally depends on their parents. Every puppy can come out with a different size, colour, shape, and coat texture.

There are two Cavapoo size variations—the Mini and the Toy. The average height of male and female Cavapoos belonging to the Mini category may range from 30 to 40 centimetres (12–16 inches), whilst their weight can run from 5 to 11 kilos (13–25 pounds).

Male and female Cavapoos classified under the Toy variation can measure approximately 30 centimetres (12 inches) in height and can weigh around 3–5 kilos (7–13 pounds). Note that a female Cavapoo can give birth to a litter of 2–8 puppies.

Generally, the Cavapoo appears charming with his round face and floppy ears. Overall, his teddy bear face gives away many expressions, which make him even more adorable.

However, some Cavapoo puppies predominantly take their physical traits from the Poodle, whilst others can be from the Cavalier.

The Doodle, which refers to the breed that is a mix of a Poodle and another breed, is usually bred based on their generation. There are F1, F2, and F1B Cavapoo dogs, and each one describes the parent breeds of the puppies and how many genes they inherited from them.

The F stands for filial hybrid, which indicates that the dog is a crossbreed. The number after F indicates what generation the Cavapoo puppy belongs to. The B means backcross, which means the crossbreed was bred back to a purebred dog.

Here is an overview of the various generations of the Cavapoo breed:

• F1 – an offspring between a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a purebred Poodle, made up of 50% Poodle and 50% Cavalier
• F1B – an offspring between an F1 Cavapoo and a purebred Cavalier or Poodle, made up of 75% Poodle and 25% Cavalier
• F1BB – an offspring between an F1B Cavapoo and a purebred Cavalier of Poodle, made up of 87.5% Poodle and 12.5% Cavalier
• F2 - an offspring between two F1 Cavapoos, made up of 50% Poodle and 50% Cavalier
• F2B - an offspring between F1 and F1B Cavapoos, made up of 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Cavalier
• F2BB - an offspring between an F2B Cavapoo and a purebred Poodle, made up of 81.25% Poodle and 18.75% Cavalier
• F3 – it is also called the multigeneration Cavapoo, an offspring between two F1B or two F2 Cavapoos

When are Cavapoos full-grown?

The Cavapoo dog breed becomes fully matured once he reaches one year of age. Note that the adult size of the puppy depends on a variety of factors. These include gender, size of the parent breeds, and generation of the puppy.

Do Cavapoos shed?

The Cavapoo breed is a small low-shedding family dog. The frequency of his shedding depends on what coat type he inherited from his parents.

A Cavapoo dog with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s coat will likely shed more than the one who has inherited the Poodle’s low-shedding fur.

Are Cavapoos hypoallergenic?

The Cavapoo dog breed has a hypoallergenic and low-shedding coat that comes in a wide array of colours as well as length and texture. He can either have a Poodle or Cavalier type of coat. The silky coats are genetically passed by the Cavalier, whilst the curly coats are from the Poodle.

The usual coat colours of Cavapoo dogs are black, white, chestnut, and gold. Their coat can also be a mix of colours. These include Blenheim, which is a combination of chestnut and white, and tricolour, which is made up of black, white, and tan.

The Cavapoo breed is high maintenance. Grooming requirement varies depending on the inherited coat type. A longer coat entails more frequent grooming than a shorter coat.

Brushing the Cavapoo’s coat weekly is advised, as well as maintaining professional grooming every 4–6 weeks. When it comes to trimming this dog breed’s coat, most owners opt for the teddy bear clip. Since his fur is not prone to doggy smell, only bathe him when it is necessary.

Brushing the Cavapoo’s teeth should be done every day to avoid periodontal disease. Make sure to clip his nails weekly. The same goes for ear cleaning.

The Cavapoo breed is prone to tear stains. Remove these stains using a damp cotton ball. Always change the cotton ball when you start working on the other eye. This process will prevent the spread of bacteria and dirt from one eye to another.

Is a Cavapoo a good family dog?

The Cavapoos get easily attached and stays devoted to their humans, including the children, making them great family dogs. However, supervise these designer dogs when they are around younger children. Sometimes, they get too excited may accidentally knock their little masters over.

On the other hand, young children may become too rambunctious and may unintentionally hurt their furry pals. It is advised to teach them how to behave around dogs properly.

Are Cavapoos aggressive?

The Cavapoo is not known to be aggressive towards other dogs. But as with all dog breeds, he will need to be socialised early in his learning phase. When puppy socialisation is achieved, this small designer dog breed can do well with other dogs and pets.

Are Cavapoos barkers?

The Cavapoo is not known to be a barker. He is a sweet family pet that thrives on human interaction.

However, he cannot be left alone for greater lengths of time. In fact, when he is all by himself, the Cavapoo will likely manifest undesirable behaviours. These include separation anxiety and inappropriate barking.

Cavapoo puppies are easy to train. They are known to excel and are capable of comprehending basic commands. Just keep in mind that this small designer dog breed is a sensitive canine that cannot handle heavy-handed training well.

The Cavapoo responds best through positive reinforcement training methods. This teddy bear-lookalike dog also excels in different sets of activities such as interactive games and competition. The mixed breed is a bag of energy that also enjoys the attention he gets.

The Cavapoo dog breed needs food that contains lots of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy and vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health. He also needs omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness.

For this reason, choose an excellent-quality dry dog food that is specifically formulated for small dog breeds. It contains all the necessary ingredients a Cavapoo dog needs.

A premium-quality dry dog food also prevents dental issues like cavities, gingivitis, and tooth loss, which is a condition that is inherited from his parent breeds.

Feeding a Cavapoo dog with dry dog food will help scrape his teeth clean due to the chewing action whilst eating. Providing chew toys will also be helpful to avoid dental diseases.

Be sure to follow a consistent feeding schedule and provide the same food that your dog is used to. Doing so will keep him from experiencing stomach upset.

However, if you need to change your Cavapoo’s dog food, you will need to introduce it in his diet gradually. Doing this will help your dog adjust to the new food without complications.

• A Cavapoo puppy should be fed 3–4 times a day, whilst an adult one can be fed twice a day.
• For a Cavapoo puppy that is 2–6 months old, feed 96–159 grams of dog food daily, depending on his size and activity level.
• For one that is 7–10 months old, feed 96–114 grams of dog food daily.
• When he turns 11 months, and beyond, he can be provided with adult food.
• A fully grown Cavapoo weighing an average of 5–8 kilos should be fed about 69–144 grams of dog food daily, taking into consideration his activity level.
• For a fully grown Cavapoo that weighs 10 kilos and above, the recommended daily portion is 138–181 grams.

How long do Cavapoos live?

The average lifespan of the Cavapoo breed is 13–15 years. Although a sturdy canine, this small designer dog breed is known to be affected by the following health issues possibly inherited from both lineages:

Luxating Patella

The Cavapoo is susceptible to this bone disorder, which is common in crossbreeds and small breeds. This condition is also called slipping kneecaps, which happens when the kneecap is deformed. Luxating patella can be a hereditary health issue or it can be caused by an injury.

This illness in the Cavapoo dog breed induces extreme pain and lameness. Affected dogs will also have trouble in moving around. Treating luxating patella requires surgery coupled with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Mitral Valve Disease

Cavapoo dogs may acquire this congenital cardiovascular disorder, which commonly affects small and large dogs. Mitral valve disease develops when the left ventricle creates high pressure whilst it pumps out blood. A heart murmur is the early symptom of the condition.

This disease in the Cavapoo dog breed can result in congestive heart failure. It may occur within a few months or years after heart murmur first began. Surgery and life-long medications are the treatments for this disease.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Another disease that Cavapoo dogs are susceptible to is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Its other name is progressive rod and cone degeneration (PRCD).

This is a hereditary degenerative eye problem that leads to the gradual loss of vision. The common symptoms include night blindness and hesitation to explore the surroundings.

Sadly, PRA in the Cavapoo dog breed has no cure. Thus, focus on keeping your home safe and comfortable for your dog. Do not rearrange furniture so that your dog can easily navigate his way through different rooms.

Dangerous places for blind dogs such as pools and stairs should be inaccessible to avoid accidents.

Buying a Cavapoo puppy from a reputable breeder is one of the best ways to prevent PRA. Make sure that the breeder’s breeding stocks are health-tested for PRA, which specifically involves DNA testing. This will determine if a defective gene is present in the parent dogs.

Those Cavapoos that have a high possibility of passing on PRA on their offspring should be excluded from breeding.

The Cavapoo, being an energetic pooch, should be provided with the right amount of exercise. About 60 minutes of physical and mental stimulation will suffice. Remember that the more tired this small dog breed is, the happier he will be.

Cavapoos are the perfect dogs for active Cavapoos are the perfect dogs for active owners. They enjoy long walks and playing games in a securely fenced yard, which are some of the simple activities that can meet their exercise needs.

How much is a Cavapoo?

A well-bred Cavapoo puppy from a reputable breeder costs £1,000–£2,500. The size and energy levels of your dog can affect his food cost. As this designer dog breed is small but active, his annual food expenses may be around £200–£300.

To make sure that your Cavapoo puppy settles in your home comfortably, you need to invest in basic dog supplies such as dog crate, potty pads, bed, and toys. The total price of these items may range between £100 and £500 depending on your dog’s size and the brand of your choice.

Vet care is an essential part of your Cavapoo puppy’s life. The budget for his initial vaccinations is approximately £100–150. Keep in mind that he will also need yearly boosters, which costs around £50–£60.

Protect him from tick and flea infestation by purchasing flea and tick treatments, costing between £5 and £15. Do not forget worm treatments as well, since puppies are highly vulnerable to these parasites. You may need to spend approximately £10–£15 for it.

Since the Cavapoo is a crossbreed dog, the average cost of his pet insurance per month is around £23

However, mind that prices may vary from different regions in the UK. Dog owners situated in London are more likely to pay more for the same coverage. The age and health of your dog will also affect the cost of the insurance.