The Cavapoo, also known as the Cavadoodle, is created by the crossing of two breeds: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle. They are often referred to as "designer dogs" and have become popular family companions. The Cavapoo is a hybrid breed also known as a crossbreed. When you decide to open your heart and home to a crossbreed puppy like the Cavapoo you'll melt with joy on a daily basis as they are very compassionate, outgoing, playful dogs. Cavapoos are a cross between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle which means they are not purebred dogs, therefore, one must not assume this type of crossbreeding will result in the best genetic markup between the sets of parent breeds. Simply crossbreeding two or more purebred dogs will not produce a dog with the best qualities between the breeds as breeders cannot control their genetic markup or how the genes will express themselves after being combined.
Cavapoo pups are super cute and adorable which makes this breed very popular and a favorite of new puppy owners. They have become popular over the past decade as people seek out puppies or dog breeds that are different from the everyday Poodle for sale or believe this crossbreed will have different characteristics that will appeal to them. It's important to understand crossbreeds are not purebred dogs and do not have fewer health problems than their parents' breeds and will not carry only the best traits of each breed in its heritage.
One of the most distinctive features of the Cavapoo is their long ears. They are compact, small to medium sized dogs and possess a round, expressive face. They are typically well-proportioned, agile, and sturdy. Cavapoos are smart dogs and often possess great traits from their parents such as their alertness, intelligence, and their ability to learn quickly. Cavapoos interact well with children and are great playmates for kids 6 years old and above. This breed should be carefully supervised around younger children as this breed generally only weighs 12 to 25 pounds (making them a perfect suitor for any sized home). While this breed can appear to be quite sturdy they can be prone to injury from kids handling them too rough.
The Cavapoo is affectionate, loyal, and friendly. They are good-natured, playful, and social. They do best with older, considerate children. They do well with dogs and non-canine pets. Cavapoo's will bark to announce visitors and out of the ordinary sounds. They are very family oriented and do not do well if ignored or left alone for extended periods of time.
To achieve similar consistent size, appearance, temperament and characteristics of this breed responsible dog breeders will individually select the best puppies from their litter with the traits they deem important and then breed them over several generations for the desired traits to become set. To achieve consistency in appearance, size and temperament, breeders must select the puppies with the traits they want and breed them over several generations for the traits to become fixed.
Depending on coat type, the Cavapoo requires regular brushing to prevent matting and tangling or professional clipping. It is important to keep the ears clean and the nails trimmed. They may be prone to such health issues as hip dysplasia, eye disease, luxating patella, PRA, skin problems, and epilepsy. Cavapoos must live inside a house and never be left outdoors for an extended period of time. They are known to have a short muzzle which leads to heat sensitivity therefore, a responsible pet owner will not leave this breed outside in the heat on a hot day.
The coat of the Cavapoo may be curly or soft, silky, and slightly wavy. Generally speaking the Cavapoo is promoted by breeders as being hypoallergenic due to their parents' heritage of having a reputation for being hypoallergenic, meaning this breed can live in a house and be tolerated by owner's who are sensitive to dander (dead skin cells that are shed by all dogs including people) from a dog's coat. Some people may certainly find they may still react with an allergy when being around a Cavapoo, but many report the reaction to be significantly less severe and more tolerable. Any breeder of a crossbreed dog like Cavapoos should not guarantee their puppies will be hypoallergenic, but should state this breed may carry hypoallergenic traits from its parents' heritage.
Early socialization and obedience are recommended. The Cavapoo may be difficult to housetrain. The crate training method works best. They will not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. Training must be done with firmness, fairness, patience, and consistency. This breed responds positively to training and socialization which should be done at an early age. Keep their training sessions short and fun but make sure to use positive reinforcement. Award and praise this breed when accomplishing an achievement during training.
The Cavapoo is well suited to apartment living provided they are sufficiently exercised. They thrive on daily securely leashed walks, off-lead play in a securely fenced yard, and family play sessions. They are relatively active but do adapt to their owner's lifestyle. Take this breed out for a walk daily or engage in indoor play time every day. They are an agile, athletic breed who loves to play fetch and chase a ball endlessly.
6-20 lbs
11-15 inches
Red, apricot, black, cream, white, gray; may be patterned or blended.
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