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Gus, the cavapoo from Vienna, VA

Today we are talking to Gus the cavapoo from Vienna, VA and his human mom Katie! Follow Gus on his instagram account at @gusgus_cavapoo.

What is your name? 
Hi, my name is Katie!

What is the name of your puppy and why did you choose that name?
My cavapoo’s name is Gus. At first, we called him Milo but after a day or so, I decided to name him Gus-Gus after the mouse in Cinderella. I think it fits him well!

How old is Gus?
Gus will be 2 years old on November 26.

What country and city are you from?
We are in Vienna, VA – USA

Gus loves all his stuffed animals, at this moment he loves his dragon.

How did you decide to have a cavapoo and why?
My son (9) and I were living in our apartment and we wanted a dog. We’ve talked about it for awhile and I was researching breeds. I was online searching and came across this dog. I took one look at his photo and I told myself I needed to have him.

I looked online and read about the mix and it showed they were compassionate, they were hypoallergenic, and they were a great breed to train easily. I walked in, and walked out with him an hour later. He stole my heart from the beginning.

What is Gus’s favorite food? Any recommendations on food for other cavapoo owners?
Gus does have a sensitive stomach, so we feed him Blue Buffalo for sensitive stomachs.

Gus enjoys snuggles with me, he also enjoys playing with our lab mix.

What are Gus’s favorite toys or games?
Gus loves all his stuffed animals, at this moment he loves his dragon. We have a basket filled with all of his toys and there are times he empties the entire basket, especially after I’ve already picked them up moments before.

At night time he likes to grab a toy and go running the full length of the house. He will eventually want to play fetch, however he won’t give you the toy easily to throw it again.

What does Gus love doing most?
Gus enjoys snuggles with me, he also enjoys playing with our lab mix. Loves walks and car rides. There are moments, he will nudge his leash to let me know he’s ready for a walk.

Cavapoo truly are compassionate, and I see the love he has for our family, especially me.

Is there a funny story you could tell us about Gus?
One day, I took him over to my moms for a visit and he went on this running spree. He was running so fast he jumped off the landing of the stairs and cleared the table. We all were impressed on his dive off the stairs! In addition, when I take Gus to the dog park, he doesn’t play! He will sit on the bench next to me watching all the other dogs play!!

What do you love most about your cavapoo?
They truly are compassionate, and I see the love he has for our family, especially me. I love his curls, his personality, his awkward moments such as not enjoying the grass. He will walk on the bricks to avoid touching the grass. He gives the best hugs when he hasn’t seen me for a little bit. Coming home from work to him is one of my favorite moments of the day.

Gus rarely sheds!

What are the good sides of having a cavapoo?
Great companions, their personalities will make you laugh. Training is very simple and they pick up quickly. We worked on handshake and he was able to do the command in less than twenty minutes.

What are some downsides to having a cavapoo?
Separation anxiety! Gus will have anxiety when I leave for a long period of time such as vacation. He went on a no eating binge and was a little depressed according to my caretaker. However this is very common in many dog breeds.

The barking, he will bark at every little noise he hears and at everyone walking past our house.

Gus will travel with me in the car when I run errands.

Does Gus shed much and how do you deal with it?
Gus rarely sheds! It’s nice not having dog hair on your furniture and clothes.

Do you travel with your cavapoo? What do you do when you need to go on vacation? (Pet sitter? Dog hotel? 🙂
Gus will travel with me in the car when I run errands. He does have a tendency to want to lay in my lap as I’m driving, so he has to be a backseat rider. He enjoys sticking his head out the window and I enjoy watching his fluff blow in the wind.

When we go on vacation, I send him to his grandogmom (aka: my mom) as he’s familiar with her. With his separation anxiety, I don’t want to take the chance boarding him because I know he’ll be nervous.

Gus will have anxiety when I leave for a long period of time such as vacation.

Would you recommend other people to have a cavapoo, why or why not?
100%, in fact I had a co-worker/friend get a cavapoo herself because she has seen Gus on my social media feed. They are great! They make you laugh, they make you feel loved, perfect size for your lap or your small living space such as an apartment. He’s the best ever!!!!

Cavapoo or Cavoodle? 😉 (Or cavadoodle?)
Cavapoo!

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Cavapoo puppies: the ultimate guide to choosing your cavapoo puppy, bringing them home and raising them well!

Have you decided to adopt a new cavapoo puppy into your family? That’s great! But it also means that there will be a lot of things you will need to consider and a lot of decisions you will need to make in these months before and after you get your new puppy.

Cavapoo puppies

Cavapoo puppies are absolutely adorable, so I am actually a little jealous that you will soon have that little creature in your home. However, it is still a puppy, so get ready for a lot of work you’ll have to do.

I don’t want to scare you off though 🙂 It will be a blast. I wanted to create this Ultimate guide to cavapoo puppies to give you a bit of an overview of what you should probably think about before you get you new puppy. Here are a few things I wanted to touch on:

Cavapoo puppies: choosing the right breeder

I already have an extensive article on how to choose a cavapoo breeder that you can trust.  Go and read that to get more in-depth information. In this guide I want to just summarise a few points.

Cavapoo puppies: choosing the right breeder

First of all, you really need to find a trusted breeder. Do not get your puppy from a puppy farm (a kennel that only cares about money so they create lots and lots of puppies without regard to their health, temperament or well-being.)

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

A good breeder will always health-test the puppy’s parents to eliminate any potential genetic issues in the puppies. A good breeder will always let you know such health-testing has been done and that the puppies are free from genetic diseases. They may even provide you with a certificate.

Other health considerations that a reputable cavapoo breeder will always have in mind is proper vaccination and deworming.

Of course, the conditions in which the puppies are bred and raise also play a great role in the puppies future health. If you have a chance to visit the potential breeder of your cavapoo puppy, always do that.

Cavapoo puppies: choosing a breeder

Take a look at the conditions in which the puppies are raised. If the kennel area is clean, warm and overall nice, that is a good sign. If it is messy, dirty and disorganised, you may be better off with a different breeder.

Have a look at puppies themselves. Do they look healthy, happy and energetic? That is a good sign. If the puppies have signs of disease, such as bad coats or discharge from eyes or ears, that’s a sign of potential current or future health issues.

If you decided on a breeder, do check their testimonials/references to see what their previous customers have said about them. A good breeder will always have lots of testimonials.

Ask your breeder about the puppies’ grandparents and previous generations, not only about their parents. This is particularly important when it comes to puppies’ health, as many diseases can skip generations.

What do you love most about your cavapoo?
That he loves us more than anything. He’s always wanting to snuggle up. Always have a loving companion by your side. Extremely trainable and lots of fun.
Lani, mom of Milo, the cavapoo from London, UK

Cavapoo puppies: which puppy to choose from a litter

Now that you picked your breeder, how do you choose your cavapoo puppy? There are a few considerations here.

Puppy’s temperament

Cavapoo puppies: which puppy

Think of what type of a puppy would do best in your home as part of your family. Would it be a calm, placid, shy puppy that would make a great companion for you if you prefer peace and quiet? Or maybe a loud, energetic puppy that would be a playmate for your kid?

All cavapoo puppies are great, and you will love them regardless, but it can still be wise to pick for temperament. Arguably, picking for temperament is smarter than just picking a puppy you like visually. Always wanted an apricot cavapoo but a little black cavapoo temperament seems nicer to you? Pick the black one!

Once the puppy is yours, you will love them no matter what color, especially if they fit your personality. However, if a puppy is too busy, or too energetic, or too shy for your liking, it might make things a little more complicated.

Cavapoo puppies: boys or girls?

Would you pick a boy or a girl if you had a choice? This is never an easy question!

Cavapoo puppies are absolutely adorable regardless of gender. You will probably love them equally whether they were a boy or a girl. However, there are a few things you may want to consider when choosing between a boy and a girl.

Cavapoo puppies: boys or girls?

Most breeders would say that although both genders of cavapoo puppies are wonderful, there are some differences between male and female cavapoo. Female cavapoo in general tend to be somewhat more independent than male cavapoo.

A male cavapoo may become a “velcro” dog, meaning that they will follow you everywhere and be happy to sit on your lap and never leave your side. A female cavapoo in general won’t be quite that “velcro”, although some definitely are. So if you want a dog that will follow you like a shadow, you will more likely find that in a male cavapoo rather than a female cavapoo.

Cavapoo puppies: Bringing you puppy home

So you finally picked your breeder, and then your puppy. Now it’s time to finally bring them home.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

One important thing to remember here, apart from all the excitement of a new puppy, is that puppies are first and foremost a lot of work. If you have never had a puppy before – you may be very surprised, if not shocked, how much work they can be. It is very important to understand that, and the fact that it’s extremely important to be ready to put a lot of effort and work into your new cavapoo puppy so it can grow into a really good, obedient, comfortable-to-live-with dog.

Cavapoo puppies: Bringing you puppy home

If you slack off during these first months and don’t “parent” your puppy well, you may end up with a dog that’s not well-behaved, well-socialised or well taught to live in your home.  Remember that you are solely responsible for what kind of dog this puppy will grow into. Don’t expect the puppy to be calm and docile and do what you want them to do right away. They have to be taught to behave, and what is and is not allowed in your home.

Follow our cavapoo training guide to learn more.

What do you love most about your cavapoo?
Spending time with her- Shes so affectionate she can cheer me up on my worst days. A nice walk in the park with your best bud at the end of a long day is just the right pick me up!
Lauren, mom of Perri the cavoodle from Cheltenham, England

Puppy safety and puppy-proofing the house

Cavapoo puppies

I decided to include a short mini-guide to puppy-proofing your house here although I have a larger article about it in the works. Here are a few steps you will want to follow to help integrate your puppy in your household safely.

I want to re-iterate again that puppies are a lot of work. So is puppy-proofing the house. You are doing it with several goals in mind.

For one, you are trying to create an entirely safe zone for a puppy where nothing can ever happen to them. You are also trying to protect your things, such as you furniture, your household objects, your valuable items, your mobile phone, cords, clothes etc etc.

Cavapoo puppies can be very busy (really, all puppies are). They are like little kids constantly on the move exploring everything in site. Except they explore by chewing things.

Anything your cavapoo puppy finds on the floor will end up in its mouth. It may be your sock, your phone, your carpet, a piece of chewing gum that fell under the couch, a piece of candy (which can be dangerous for your pup!) an electrical cord etc.

cavapoo puppy finds on the floor

So the first thing you will want to do is look around your home and find and eliminate any objects that might present danger to your new puppy.  Hide away electrical cords, especially ones that are attached to electric appliances that a puppy could easily pull off wherever they are located and onto the floor – such as your TV or computer. A puppy chewing on cords will not only damage the cords and break your appliance, but they can also accidentally electrocute themselves, or drop something heavy onto themselves.

Protect your furniture

A puppy will chew anything they can find, and your expensive new sofa is no exemption. Protect the legs of the furniture by wrapping them, or removing the furniture temporarily somewhere where the puppy can’t go. Close your wardrobes and dressers and don’t leave anything out on the floor or on the sofa where your puppy can jump up. Basically, remove anything chew-able from anywhere the puppy can get to.

Heights

Protect your puppy from falling down. You will be surprised at how agile your cavapoo puppy is and where it can get when you are not looking, If there are any high surfaces in the house, your puppy may be at risk of falling or even intentionally jumping off somewhere high. Although cavapoo puppies are normally not fragile, they can still easily hurt themselves, for example, break a paw. You don’t want that to happen.

Remove poisonous household items 

This includes washing solutions, dish soap, other cleaning solutions, antifreeze, any cosmetics/ shampoos that  may be in open access. Cavapoo puppies can be very determined and it won’t be very hard for a puppy to open your shampoo bottle or cleaning solution bottle after a whole lot of chewing.

Remove plants that can be poisonous

Really, any plant can be poisonous in various degrees, but the worst include Castor Bean, Sago Palm, American Yew, and the Autumn Crocus.

Remove all things that can hurt your cavapoo puppy if they fall on top of him. Puppies really like biting and dragging things, so if there is a heavy plant in a vase, especially one that the puppy can reach with its teeth, it can overturn and possibly hurt your dog. Same goes for computer or TV on a stand, which your puppy can pull down by the cord.

Be your puppy’s guide around your house

Take them into every room where they are allowed to be and spend some time with them. Spend a lot of time with them. Show them what they can and cannot do. You may have to repeat a few times, but eventually they will get it. (Use your most confident voice and say a loud and clear “NO!” when a puppy does something you don’t want them to do. Normally, if a puppy is well socialised at the breeders’, they will already know the word “no” by the time they arrive at your home.)

What do you love most about Maggie?

I just absolutely love her temperament. She is unbelievably sweet and tremendously friendly. She loves absolutely everyone she meets. Not to mention she is super snuggly. Their temperament is a huge positive. Also they are very smart and training has been so much fun. She’s an absolute sweetheart and completely adorable.
Tina, mom of Maggie, the Cavapoo from Hoboken, NJ

Provide your cavapoo puppy with a safe place

Part of this is crating your puppy. The importance of crating cannot be overstated.

Every dog owner should have a crate and use it often. A crate is not a cell for your cavapoo puppy and you don’t have to look at it that way. Dogs actually like having a small dark place to hide in. A crate serves exactly this purpose. Teach your puppy to stay in the crate for short periods of time first. Teach them that it’s a safe place. (To make it feel safe, cover the crate with a blanket or any other cover so that it’s dark inside.

Place a nice soft dog bed inside so your puppy can feel soft and comfortable.) You can even feed your puppy in the crate – that way they associate it with something really good. Why crate your puppy? First, because there will be times when you need your cavapoo puppy to be in the crate. When you need to leave the house for a period of time and are worried about your puppy’s safety if left alone, crate could be your best friend. (Do not crate your puppy for more than 3-4 hours though!).

Crate can also a major part of house training. (An article on this to follow). Crate can also be a safe zone for your puppy when you simply cannot supervise them even if you are in the house. As cavapoo puppies age, they normally grow to really like their crate. A lot of dogs will sleep in their crate even without you crating them.

To pick the right crate, choose one that will be big enough for your cavapoo when they mature into an adult dog. A dog should be able to fully stand up and turn around in its crate. Pick a wire crate. To get your cavapoo puppy used to the crate, start with getting them to be in it for short periods of time – 10 -15 minutes at a time.

Put some of their favorite chew toys in the crate so your puppy can enjoy the time there. If your puppy whines at first, cover the crate completely with a blanket and let them be there for a shorter time, then let them out. Always give them a treat when they go in the crate – that will make them associate the crate with nice things. 

Provide your puppy with the right food

I write more about cavapoo food including puppy food here.

Give your puppy lots of toys. Puppies explore world through chewing. If you puppy has lots of toys available to chew on, you have more chances to keep your house intact as they might not be as interested in chewing your furniture and other objects.

If your cavapoo puppy is chewing something they are not supposed to chew, tell them “NO!” and replace the object with a chew toy. Eventually your pup will remember which objects are and aren’t OK to chew. Good discipline is one of the key aspects of your life with your puppy. If he or she knows the rules from the start, your life with them will be so much easier and more pleasant.

Potty-train your cavapoo puppy

This one really deserves a separate article which I will add to this site shortly.

Provide your puppy with lots of interaction

Although a good breeder will have socialised your puppy well even before you picked them up and took them home, your job of socialisation will still be going on once the puppy is yours. It is very important to take your cavapoo puppy out for lots of walks and let them learn about the outside world, other people and other dogs.

The more things and people and dogs your puppy meets, the more socialised and “easy’ they will be. A puppy needs constant interaction and stimulation, and it’s up to you to make them familiar with the world in which they will live. If you keep your young cavapoo puppy away from other people or dogs, they may grow up too shy, or scared of their environment, or overly excitable.

This may result in a number of behavioural issues which you really don’t want in your puppy – such as fear, aggression, marking behaviour, avoidant behaviour etc. All these things are easy to avoid if you take time and effort and expose your puppy to the outside world.

This is it for now! I hope this guide will help you take better care of your little cavapoo puppy and raise them into a perfect dog!

What do you love most about your cavapoo?
How much he loves us! Also he is great company. They just want to see you happy! I love having my little guy around. It feels like we have always had him.

If you are looking for a cavapoo to adopt, check out our articles on how to find a reputable breeder. You can find such breeders in: Reputable cavapoo breeders UK, Cavapoo breeders in Ontario, Canada, and Cavapoo breeders in Alberta, Canada. You can also adopt a puppy from Cavapoo Rescue. Don’t forget to read about Cavapoo pros and cons.

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Cavapoo Owner Reviews: Thelma and Louise the cavapoos from Sydney

Cavapoo Owner Reviews: Thelma and Louise interview

Today we are interviewing Thelma and Louise, the two cavapoo puppies from Sydney, Australia, and their Human parents Yvette and Mat! Follow their adventures at @thelma_louise_the_cavoodles

What is your name?

Yvette & Mat

What is the name of your dogs? Why did you choose those names?

Thelma and Louise because they are two redheads with lots of personality just like the film characters.

How old are they?

They are 4.5 months old

What country and city are you from?

Sydney, Australia

Thelma and Louise cavapoo from Sydney

How did you decide to have a cavapoo and why?

I have asthma and they are great for people with respiratory issues and allergies. Plus they are super cute and so cuddly.

What is your dogs’ favorite food? Any recommendations on food for other cavapoo owners?

They love Ivory Coat puppy kibble mixed with Greek yoghurt for breakfast and mixed with Wellness Core Puppy formula wet food at dinner. They love a raw chicken wing or premium beef steak mince ball as a special treat.

What are your dogs’ favorite toys or games?

They love the Kong puppy chew stick, my slippers, my husband’s socks, their Kong squishy elephant and rhino and a little squeaky felt packet of fries!

Thelma and Louise cavapoo from Sydney

What do your dogs love doing most?

They love walking and going in the car. We take them everywhere and they love cuddles from their family. My mum plays fetch with them when she baby sits and they love going down the slippery slide on my niece’s lap!

Is there a funny story you could tell us about your cavapoo?

They are completely mystified about cut cucumber ends! They’ve spent hours pawing at them and watching them roll around the floor barking and circling thinking they are little animals! I also witnessed Louise giving Thelma a piggy back a couple of weeks ago which was such a sight. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get a pic!

What do you love most about your cavapoo?

They are warm, loving little creatures who just want to be cuddled.

Thelma and Louise cavapoo from Sydney

What are the good sides of having a cavapoo?

They are smart, quick to learn, affectionate and such well-natured dogs

What are some downsides to having a cavapoo?

Having to get up early to take them out to the toilet, but one look at their little faces and all the tiredness goes away.

Do your cavapoo shed much and how do you deal with it?

Not at all for either

Thelma and Louise cavapoo from Sydney

Do you travel with your cavapoo? What do you do when you need to go on vacation? (Pet sitter? Dog hotel? 🙂

We haven’t yet but we are lucky enough to have amazing puppy sitting offers!

Would you recommend other people to have a cavapoo, why or why not?

Absolutely! They are an amazing dog. They are my babies and they are so full of personality that I forget they are dogs sometimes!

Cavapoo or Cavoodle? 😉 (Or cavadoodle?)

Cavoodle!

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Cavapoo vs cockapoo: which dog is better for YOU?

If you have been looking at poodle crosses for a while, you might be interested in both cavapoo and cockapoo as two examples of great cross breads, each with its own unique physical and personality traits. There are upsides and downsides (with way more upsides than downsides 🙂  to both crosses. So, when it comes to cavapoo vs cockapoo, which one should you choose?

Let’s look at both crossbreeds to see what physical and temperament traits they have and which dog might be better for you.

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: origins

As you probably already know, cavapoo are a crossbread produced from Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and poodle. Cockapoo also has poodle in its lineage, but the other parent is Cocker Spaniel (American or English). Like cavapoo, cockapoo has been known for quite awhile – since 1950s.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Both are extremely popular in so-called “designer” breed category of dogs, although we prefer calling them cross breeds. Both cavapoo and cockapoo are one of the most popular dogs for families with children, and people who prefer smaller dogs to larger breeds.

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: appearance

First of all, I’d like to say that both cavapoo and cockapoo are gorgeous dogs. They definitely have similarities, but are also unique in their own way. Cavapoo are normally smaller than cockapoos. A full grown cavapoo reaches around 10 – 15 inch height (about 25 – 40 cm), and weighs 6 – 19 lbs ( 3-9 kg). A cockapoo can weigh 19 to 30 lbs ( 9-13 kg). An adult cockapoo can reach 10 to 15 inches in height (25 to 38 cm).

So, if you are looking for a smaller dog to live in your apartment with you, a cavapoo might be a slightly better idea than a larger cockapoo. If you prefer a more substantially-looking dog, choose cockapoo. If size doesn’t matter, read on 🙂

Cavapoo and cockapoo can have a lot of similarities in their appearance, despite differences in weight and height. Both have poodle in their lineage, which often results in them having poodle-like curly soft hair. This trait is generally desireable as it makes for a minimally- to non-shedding dog.

This type of coat also is often considered to be hypoallergenic.  (Although no dog is truly hypoallergenic). However, both cavapoo and cockapoo may not inherit poodle coat but instead the coat of the other parent – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in cavapoo’s case and Cocker spaniel in cockapoo. In that case the resulting coat will be longer and less curly, and will shed more than the poodle-like coat.

Both cavapoo and cockapoo tent to have long floppy ears that owners usually find adorable. In terms of coat colors, both cavapoo and cockapoo can have various colors such as black, creme, black and white, red or even tri-colored coats, depending on their genetics.

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: temperament

Cavapoo and cockapoo both were bred with the goal of producing a happy, loving and affectionate dog with low to non-existent aggression levels. This has been successfully achieved with both cavapoo and cockapoo. Both dogs are extremely loyal and family-oriented. Both love their people and desire  nothing more than spend every minute of their life around their family members.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

These dogs are really people-oriented and extremely sociable. Both cross breeds don’t do well away from their people or confined alone somewhere, such as in a kennel. Both cross breeds will be happy to participate in anything you do and follow you around the house and outside of it.

Both cavapoo and cockapoo are known for how gentle they are, which makes them great pets for families with children. Cavapoo, being a little smaller, should be watched around younger children. Young children can be potentially too boisterous and can accidentally harm a smaller dog.

Cockapoos, however, are generally large enough to not be at risk of being stepped on or otherwise harmed. Both cavapoo and cockapoo are very patient and will not show aggression to kids. The exception to that can be if your cavapoo or cockapoo is wounded or in pain.

Both cavapoo and cockapoo are dogs with above average intelligence (thanks to poodle!) and will have a very good grasp of what is allowed in their home and what isn’t. Both crossbreeds are easily trainable and are normally very happy to follow their owners’ commands and instructions.

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: barking

A lot of smaller dog breeds have a bad reputation of being incessant barkers. Indeed, smaller dog breeds often tend to be nervous, which reflects in their barking (and often passive-aggressive biting) behavior. This is not common at all for either cavapoo or cockapoo.

Although cavapoo and cockapoo are smaller dogs, they are not huge barkers at all. Cockapoo tend to be quite silent most of the time, barking only when there is a reason for that. Cavapoo are a little more excitable and will bark more than cockapoo. If you need a very quiet dog, your best bet would be a cockapoo, not a cavapoo.

Cavapoo vs cockapoo : training and intelligence

Both cavapoo and cockapoo have poodle in their lineage. This is why both crossbreeds are extremely intelligent (poodle is one of the most intelligent breeds in the world).  This means that both cavapoo and cockapoo are easy to train and will always appreciate the time you spend teaching them tricks and commands. There is an opinion that cavapoo are slightly easier to train than cockapoo as they tend to focus slightly more and are more willing to please the owner.

However, both breeds are really good when it comes to training, and both can be shaped into a great obedient dog.

Cavapoo vs cockapoo as home guards

If you are looking for a dog to guard you and your home, neither cavapoo nor cockapoo might be the right candidate. Both breeds are inherently non-aggressive and too happy to see people to actually protect you from strangers. Cavapoo in general are a little more barky than cockapoo, but cockapoo tend to bark more around strangers, and definitely if a stranger is trying to enter your territory.

It is likely that both dogs will bark at strangers, but don’t expect them to fight for you. Neither cockapoo nor cavapoo have any fight dog genes. Although some individuals are more inclined to protect their owners, and some will  probably happily greet the intruder after initial barking session. To sum up, if you want a guard dog, get a cavapoo or a cockapoo plus a German Sheperd or something 😉

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: Grooming

Cavapoo and cockapoo aren’t large dogs with lots of grooming needs, but you will nonetheless need to spend some time taking care of their coats. Both cavapoo and cockapoo grooming needs really depend on which type of coat they inherited. If it’s a Spaniel coat, you will likely need to give it regular brushing to prevent too much shedding in your house/apartment.

With the poodle-type coat, things are different. Poodle-type coat normally does not shed and looks more like curled hair than fur. It is often a more preferable type of coat  but it has its difficulties as well. Even though it doesn’t shed, it tends to get matted without proper grooming. A poodle type coat needs regular cutting and grooming. A lot of owners of cavapoo, cockapoo and poodles are regular visitors to dog grooming salons. Of course, you can always spend some time to learn basic grooming yourself so you can maintain your cavapoo or cockapoo coat in great shape. Overall, both cavapoo and cockapoo will likely need some amount of grooming.

Cavapoo vs Cockapoo: exercise needs

Cavapoo and cockapoo are both smaller dogs, but that in no way means they are lap dogs. Both of these crossbreeds are very active and require regular exercise. This means daily walks/runs for at least 30 minutes and preferably more. Both cavapoo and cockapoo will love walking (or, even better – running!) outside in the park or in your backyard, especially if you run with them. They love active games – chasing and fetching a ball or a stick, chasing other dogs, swimming etc.

The more exercise your puppy gets, the happier dog he will be. With both cavapo and cockapoo, exercise prevents boredom, depression and possible behaviour issues. If your cavapoo or cockapoo show any destructive behaviour ( unwanted chewing or destroying household items or furniture), or are too attached to you, they might be bored or depressed and you might need to give them more exercise. Exercise will also help keep your dog lean and healthy. Which takes us to …

Cavapoo vs cockapoo: known health issues

As a cross bread of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle, cavapoo can inherit health issues and conditions from any of, or both parents. Whereas poodles are generally a very healthy breed, it isn’t always so with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Unfortunately, they do tend to have a significant number of potential illnesses and conditions, such as Heart mitral valve disease (MVD). Almost 50% of all Cavalier King Charles spaniels are reported to have MVD after 5 years of age, and almost 100% by age ten. MVD is a grave disease of the heart that unfortunately currently has no cure.

Cavapoo, being direct descendant from Cavalier King Charles spaniel, may inherit MVD, as well as some other issues that Cavaliers are prone to, such as syringomyelia, cataracts, retinal atrophy, skin issues and epilepsy.  However, this doesn’t mean every cavapoo will have issues, or even that a significant number of cavapoo will. A good, dedicated breeder will always have done medical screening of both parents before creating cavapoo litters.

Only healthy parents should be allowed in the breeding program, and when breeders follow this rule, the resulting puppies are generally healthy. Always look for a respectable cavapoo breeders who do medical screening for every litter, as that is the only guarantee that you’ll get healthy cavapoo puppies. This is especially important in case of cavapoo!

In the case of cockapoo, their second parent is Cocker Spaniel, which is generally a fairly healthy breed. However, they do have a few health issues as well. Familial Nephropathy is a kidney disease in cocker spaniels.  Immune mediated thrombocytopenia, an auto-immune disease that causes internal and external bleeding. Hip dysplasia is common in cocker spaniels.

Heart disease and Pancreatitis can also present themselves. Ear infections, epilepsy and obesity are also something that Cocker Spaniel owners sometimes have to deal with. All of these diseases can be inherited by a cockapoo puppy from his or her Spaniel parent.

However, just like with cavapoo, a good cockapoo breeder will take utmost care screening the potential parents for problematic conditions before allowing them to breed. No good breeder will want to produce unhealthy litters. With both cavapoo and cockapoo, please beware of puppy mills.

Because cavapoo and cockapoo are extremely popular “designer” breeds, as some call them, there is a proliferation of puppy mills out there – unconscientious, uneducated people trying to make money producing puppies without any medical or screening protocol. Buying a puppy from a puppy mill is basically a guarantee that you will get an unhealthy dog with a bouquet of potential conditions that will rob the dog of its health, vitality and longevity, and rob you of a few thousand dollars in vet bills (plus all the heartache!) Please do your homework and find only the best, trust-able breeders whether you are buying a cavapoo or a cockapoo.

To sum up, there is no real winner in the cavapoo vs cockapoo debate. They are both charming, lovely and affectionate dog breeds, highly intelligent and easily trainable. Both will make wonderful family pets. Both will be great, loyal companions to you and your family members. If you want a slightly less barky dog – go with cockapoo. If you want a smaller dog rather than bigger one – go with cavapoo.

If you want a whole lot of love and fun in your house – just get both 🙂 (But do remember that there are associated costs of keeping them!) You can read more about cavapoo on this website and cockapoo on other web resources. Whatever dog you choose, we hope you pick the right one for you and that you have lots of happy years ahead together!

 

 

 

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Cavapoo vs Cavachon

Cavapoo vs cavachon dogs: what’s similar, what’s different, and which one should you choose?

Since you are on this website, you probably already know quite a bit about cavapoo. If not, take a minute to read this overview article about cavapoo breed, and this one about cavapoo temperament. This will give you more of a thorough background on cavapoo dog breed and their characteristics.

Now, if you are trying to find out more about another cross breed dog called cavachon, and how it compares to cavapoo, you are in the right place. In this article we will compare the two cross breeds in terms of their various appearance and personality traits and, hopefully, help you make a good choice.

Just like cavapoo, a cavachon is a cross breed, or a hybrid, between two very established and popular dog breeds: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (just like cavapoo!) and Bichon Frise.

By breeding affectionate, kind and loving Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to the healthy, sociable and active Bichon Freeses, breeders have produced a very loyal, very affectionate crossbreed that has lots of great traits of both breeds and much fewer health and personality issues than both Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Freese.

More about this further in the article.

Adult cavapoo reach around 10 – 15 inch height (about 25 – 40 cm) and weight around 6 – 19 lbs ( 3-9 kg). They are fairly small, compact dogs, but they are not frail. They have shorter coats and a unique coat structure, if they have inherited their coat genes from poodle – soft, curly, non-shedding coat.

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Cavapoo can have multiple varieties of coat colors such as black, white, black and white, apricot, brown, creme and some are even tri-colored.

Cavachons are normally around 10-12 inches tall (30 – 33 cm) and weigh 9- 19 lb (5-10 kg). They can be slightly less stalky than cavapoo. Cavachons generally have longer coats as they can inherit it from both Cavalier King Charles Spaniel of Bichon Frise.  The common colorings are white, red, black, or white with variously-colored markings.

Cavapoo are very intelligent little dogs, which they often inherit from poodle – one of the most intelligent dogs in the world. They are also very affectionate, loyal and loving, like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They can have higher or lower levels of energy, depending on whether they were produced from toy poodle or miniature poodle (with toy poodle being more energetic).

Cavapoo can be somewhat barky, although not every cavapoo is. They are not aggressive, are extremely happy to meet new people, but also do seem to get carried away easily and bark quite often.

Cavachons were bred with the purpose of preserving and increasing the Cavalier King Charles warm and affectionate temperament mixed with Bichon Frise friendliness and intelligence, but avoiding some of the Cavalier King Charles health issues.

As a result, cavachons are as friendly, loyal and affectionate as cavapoos. They are extremely gentle dogs and thus make perfect companions for families with small kids.

However, cavachons are less friendly than cavapoo when it comes to home intruders. They seem to have more of a sense of being a house guard and will warn their owners if there is an intruder. On average, you can’t expect that from a cavapoo.

They are very smart and very trainable, and thrive in interaction with their humans. One significant difference in cavapoo vs cavachon comparison is that cavachons are virtually a non-barking crossbreed. That doesn’t mean all cavachons never bark, but in general they are quite quiet and rarely bark (unless there is a very strong reason to!). So if you are looking for a very quiet breed, you might want to consider cavachon.

Cavapoo can inherit the low-to no-shedding poodle coat in which case they shed very minimally. That type of coat is actually hair, not fur – it’s curly and soft and needs grooming, just like human hair, to prevent tangling.

If a cavapoo inherits more of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel coat, it will be a different type-coat – and it will shed more or less just like Cavalier King Charles spaniel (moderately throughout the year).

Cavachon dogs do shed throughout the year, similar to other dog breeds. They are fairly small dogs and don’t shed excessively, but they can’t be called a non-shedding breed. If you don’t want to find dog hair around your house, you might better stick to a well bred cavapoo that has poodle-type coat.

Are you looking for a hypoallergenic dog? (Or at least, as close to hypoallergenic as you can get?) Should you choose cavapoo or cavachon?

Cavapoo are considered hypoallergenic, especially if they inherit the poodle-type coat that sheds minimally and is said to spread less of allergenic dander around your house. That doesn’t actually mean that cavapoo cause no allergy.

Allergy is triggered, most often, by proteins in dog dander. Since every dog produces dander, there can be no dog that is actually truly hypoallergenic. Having said that, cavapoo are definitely considered to cause less (to almost none) allergy symptoms in allergy sufferers.

Cavachons, with their small size and short hair, are also considered somewhat hypoallergenic by many breeders and owners. However, the only way to know if you will have any reactions to a cavachon or not, is to visit them (preferably adults) and spend some time around them.

Both cavapoo and cavachons are smaller dogs that, however, cannot be considered lap dogs. Both crossbreeds have high energy dogs in their genetic lines and both hybrids are considered failry high energy dogs. That doesn’t mean you are going to be getting a mini border collie there – not at all.

But both cavapoo and cavachons are very intelligent, inquisitive and curious little dogs that prefer active lifestyle of exploration and adventure with their humans.

They both thrive in busy families with lots of activity going on. Both breeds really need a good amount of time outside. At least 25 – 40 minute walk would be something your dog needs every day, whether it’s a cavapoo or a cavachon. They both also enjoy intellectual challenges such as games and learning new tricks.

Whether you are thinking of getting a cavapoo or a cavachon, you have to be ready to spend a significant amount of time with your dog, including time outside. If you are looking for a less demanding dog in terms of physical and mental activities, you may be better off with a different breed.

As with any cross breed, the resulting dog, whether it’s cavapoo or cavachon, may inherit health issues from either one of their parent breeds. Both cavapoo and cavachons have Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as one side of their hereditary puzzle.

One of the most serious health conditions that Cavalier King Charles spaniels are prone to is Heart mitral valve disease (MVD). It is said that almost half of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will have this disease by age five, and almost all will have it by age ten. It is a terminal disease that is number one cause of death for most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Both cavachons and cavapoo may inherit this disease as well.

Cavachons may actually have a higher chance of having it as Bichon Frise are also reported to have an often occuring MVD disease, even though  it’s not at the levels presented in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Syringomyelia is another deadly disease that’s very common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and is fairly common in cavapoo, although not as common in cavachons. A good breeder will always do their best not to allow dogs with syringomyelia to breeding, but it does still occur in both cavapoo and cavachons.

Apart from that, cavapoo are also prone to such conditions as cataracts, retinal atrophy, skin issues and epilepsy. Cavachons have their own array of potential conditions, such as excessive tear production (inherited from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels), ear and skin infections and issues, and hip displasia.

Although this may sound pretty grave, I don’t want to intimidate you from considering getting a cavapoo or a cavachon. Good reputable breeders will follow many protocols allowing to breed only healthy dogs without genetic issues.

Both cavapoo and cavachons on average are pretty healthy, and only sometimes pose issues and problems. Timely vet check-ups, good nutrition and exercise and proper hygiene are all factors that will help you keep your puppy healthy and happy, whether they are a cavapoo or a cavachon.

Of course you still have to make that choice, and that’s totally up to you.

Or, you know, you could always get both 🙂

 

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Cavapoo, aka cavoodle: everything about cavapoo dog breed

Cavapoo World is dedicated to the wonderful breed of cavapoo dogs, also known as cavoodles.  I hope you will find answers to all your questions about cavapoo / cavoodle on the pages of this website.

Cavapoo (also known as cavoodle, especially in Australia), have been popular for at least thirty years, but particularly so in the last ten-fifteen years. It is a type of crossbreed dogs created by breeding miniature or toy poodle with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Cavapoo history

Cavoodles, as they call cavapoo in Australia, became especially popular in Australia where they were extensively bred in the 1990s.  In the USA, cavapoo were actually first bred quite a while ago – all the way back in the 1950s.

Cavapoo dogs are bred from a mix of Toy or Miniature Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The poodle has been used extensively in many crossbreeding programs (to get such dogs as labradoodles, for example),  for several reasons.

First of all, the poodle is one of the most intelligent dogs. They also have silky curly hair that doesn’t shed and they are normally considered hypoallergenic (or at least more hypoallergenic than other breeds.)

To create cavoodle, toy or miniature poodle is used. Depending on which type of poodle is used, a breeder can get smaller cavapoo (with toy poodles), or slightly larger cavapoo (from miniature poodle). In any case, the resulting dog tends to have a poodle-like quality of hair (soft, curly, non-shedding), and a great temperament.

Cavapoo is bred to be a loyal, calm, smart companion for families and individuals, possessing poodle-like intelligence, friendliness and low to non-existent levels of aggression. This is probably why cavapoo spread all over the world so quickly and gained such popularity around the globe.

Cavapoo dogs are often called hybrid dogs, or even designer dogs, because they are bred “artificially” from two separate breeds. While some people have somewhat of a cautious stance towards designer dogs, cavoodle (cavapoo) popularity speaks for itself. They are truly wonderful dogs.

Cavapoo is bred to be a loyal, calm, smart companion for families

The temperament of cavapoo takes equally from that of poodle and Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Cavalier King Charles spaniels are great companions, loyal and friendly. They are also fairly smart dogs, although they can be somewhat stubborn. They tend to be very friendly not only with their owners, but with just about anyone who would offer them a pat or a treat.

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Poodles, on the other hand, are known for their extreme intelligence. They are very trainable and understand their owners very well. They are normally not aggressive, but they aren’t as open and easy going with strangers as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and can take a role of the house guard. Having said that, poodles can also be very playful (especially toy poodles).

All of these traits, combined in various degrees, can be found in cavapoo dogs. Cavoodle is a very loyal and friendly breed. Aggression is virtually non-existent in cavoodles, and they generally don’t make very good house guards. (Neither do they have the size to be intimidating.) Cavapoo are extremely attached to their families – sometimes picking one special person to pour all their love onto.

Cavapoo traits

A cavapoo will be happy following you around the house and participating in everything you do. Because cavapoo are so social, they do best in stable, big households and don’t do as well if they have to be left alone for prolonged periods of time.

Cavoodles make great pets for active people that like spending time outdoors and enjoy physical activities. Despite their small size, cavapoo dogs are very athletic and require regular physical activities to help them expend their energy.

They will happily run around the yard or park, fetching balls, or chasing objects – really, anything, as long as they are on the move. Cavapoo really thrives in households that can afford significant time to spend with their pets outside of the house.

One or two walks a day are very beneficial for cavapoo, and a good run in the park a few times a week can be a great addition to that.

Apart from physical activities, cavoodles also greatly appreciate a good mental challenge. They do take a lot of their intelligence from the poodle, and thus need to be mentally stimulated to thrive.

A good owner will regularly train their cavoodle by teaching them new tricks and making them work for their treats. Cavapoo dogs can learn dozens of commands and tricks, and regular repetition in the form of play can provide great benefits in keeping the dog engaged and happy. This is why cavapoo do so well in households where owners can give them lots of personal time and interaction.

Keep that in mind if you are thinking of getting a cavapoo. Boredom effects these dogs very negatively and may lead to apathy, weight gain, destructive behaviour and even depression. You don’t want that to happen to your dog.

Cavapoo dogs are medium to small sized dogs reaching 10-15 inches (about 25 – 40 cm) in height and 6-9 lbs ( 3-9 kg) in weight when they are fully grown. Cavapoo bred from toy poodles will be smaller than cavapoo bred from miniature poodles. They have a compact but sturdy body. They are smaller dogs but they do not tend to be fragile like a lot of other small breeds. On the opposite, cavapoo are very athletic and can grow quite a bit of muscle weight for their small bodies.

Just like poodles, cavapoo have soft, curly coat and generally do not shed much. (Although they do shed a bit, like any other breed of dogs. There isn’t a breed that does not shed at all.) Cavapoo have floppy ears and big eyes, and look just as friendly as they really are.

Cavapoo physical traits

Cavapoo are often considered hypoallergenic. This can be true for some people, although no breed of dogs is truly hypoallergenic. All breeds produce dander and other potentially allergenic substances, it’s just that cavapoo may produce less of it. Poodles are also considered one of the most hypoallergenic breeds out their, often due to their soft and non-shedding coat.

Cavapoo that inherit those traits really do seem to cause less allergy symptoms in allergy sufferers than other breeds. However, the best way to find out if you are allergic to cavapoo is to try and spend some time around them.

As I already mentioned, cavapoo is not a breed, but a crossbreed of two different breeds. Due to this fact, we can actually talk about several different genetic types of cavapoo.

F1

F1 is a standard crossbreed, the result of breeding a toy or a miniature poodle to Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is one of the most widespread types of cavapoo.

F2

F2 type is a result of breeding two cavapoos together.

F1B

F1B – this type is a crossbreed of cavapoo dogs and poodle (when a puppy is created by breeding cavoodle with a poodle)

F3

F3 is a type that’s created by breeding two cavapoo of F2 type.

Various types of breeding allow breeders to get physical traits and temperament that they would like to see in their puppies.

Cavapoo dogs are generally a fairly healthy crossbreed, although they can inherit health issues that are normal for Poodles or Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Poodles are prone to such conditions as thyroid issues, epilepsy, retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and some others.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels can suffer from such diseases as syringomyelia and mitral valve disease (MVD), both of which occur significantly often. (Half of all Cavalier Spaniels develop mitral valve murmur by age of 5!)

Cavapoo dogs are generally a fairly healthy crossbreed

While we don’t want to intimidate you, and while nothing guarantees that your dog will develop any of these conditions (or any condition at all!) we believe it’s necessary to understand the risks when you consider such responsibility as having a dog. You need to understand that sometimes health issues may occur, and be sure that you’ll be able to care for your dog if needed.

However, overall cavapoo are pretty healthy and can live 10 – 15 years long! Read more about cavapoo health in this article.

Because cavapoo is a crossbread, they don’t have a set standard for coat type and colors. Instead, we have lots of variations of both.

To begin with coat type and structure,  it can vary depending on how much coat genes your cavoodle has inherited from poodle and how much came from Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Cavapoo coat can be almost straight (like Cavalier King Charles Spaniel), Straight and wavy (mix), and wavy and curly (more like a poodle coat.) Depending on the genes cavapoo may shed significantly (like Cavalier King Charles Spaniel)  or  almost not at all (Like poodle). As for coat colors, they can be solid (one color) or mix.

The color array may include white, black, red, golden, white + red (Blenheim), apricot, cream and tan. That is a lot of different colors! And they all look gorgeous.

As with other dogs, cavapoo need grooming. Depending on the type of coat, it may be an occasional brush – through, or you may need to actually clip the cavapoo hair or use the services of professional groomers (especially with cavapoo that inherited their coat from poodle). Be prepared to invest time (and finances!)

When getting your cavapoo puppy, always do your homework and look for a trusted cavapoo breeder  who has cavapoo puppies for sale in your area. Don’t rush with this step. Make sure you can trust your breeder and ask them everything you want to know about cavapoo in general and their cavapoo litters in particular.

When picking the puppy, pick for the character. Although it may be very tempting to choose the puppy you think is the cutest just for their appearance, try to also take personality into account.

Cavapoo dogs, like any other dog, have various personalities, and even siblings from one litter may have vastly different temperaments. They would normally all be friendly, loving and social (provided they are well-bred and socialised), but even within that you can find puppies that are extremely energetic (and may be loud), and more reserved, calmer dogs that aren’t as outgoing.

Think of what cavapoo personality would fit you better – your character, your lifestyle, your family life, etc. If you are a loud, active family, then maybe a loud and active puppy will fit you just fine. If you prefer quiet evenings and slow living, a slower, more reserved puppy may be your best choice.

If you pick the puppy that fits your personality and lifestyle, you will see how quickly you will fall in love with their appearance too – their color, markings and everything else that makes them that one special dog.

cavapoo will trigger your allergy symptoms

If you are allergic to dogs, make sure you know whether the cavapoo will trigger your allergy symptoms and to what degree. Although cavapoo are often said to be hypoallergenic, it is not entirely true. Some cavapoo may be almost completely hypoallergenic, causing very few to no symptoms of allergy. However, some cavapoo may not be that hypoallergenic at all. It all depends on their genetics, and how strong your allergy is.

To find out if you are allergic to cavapoo, spend some time around them – preferably around the adult dogs and not the puppies. Adult dogs tend to produce more allergens than puppies do. Since your puppy will inevitably grow into adult, spending time with adult cavapoo will allow you to see just how allergic to them you are. We hope your allergy is not strong enough to prevent you from getting a cavapoo puppy, but you never know, and it’s best to know exactly where you stand in terms of allergy.

When thinking of getting a cavapoo, it is important to remember that getting a pet is not only about joy and love and all the fun that you will have with them. It is also about big responsibility that may last for the next 10 – 15 years of your life. It is about time that you will have to invest in your cavoodle – to properly feed them, train them, play with them, groom their coat and clean after them.

It is a significant financial investment as well – from the first purchase to possible vet fees, to food and toy fees, to boarding and kennel fees for when you need to leave for a vacation. It is a possible sacrifice of long vacations abroad (because cavapoos don’t do that well in kennels and will miss you terribly!)

All of these factors need to be considered when you think of getting a puppy. Are you really ready for something like that? Do you have space – in your home and in your heart – for the little living being that will depend on you for everything? Do consider all of these things before you make a decision. And if you do decide to get a cavoodle- we wish you luck in finding your puppy! You will most likely not regret this decision 🙂

 

 

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Cavapoo size: how big can a full grown cavapoo get

How big does adult cavapoo get?

Short answer: On average, cavapoo adult would be a fairly compact dog, with full grown cavapoo reaching around 10 – 15 inch height (about 25 – 40 cm). You can’t fit adult cavapoo in the pocket, but it can very comfortably exist in a small apartment with not much spare space 🙂

Since cavapoo isn’t a breed but a mix of  breeds, there is no breed standard for its size and weight. The appearance and physical characteristics of a full grown cavapoo, including its weight and size, will depend on how it was bred. Cavapoo can be bred from Toy Poodle or Miniature poodle. As the two of these breeds are fairly different in size, the resulting puppies will also be different.

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Full grown cavapoo will be taller and weigh more if it was bred from the miniature poodle, who is around 15 inches tall on average. Adult cavapoo will be smaller if it was bred from toy poodle (about 10 inches tall in size).

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However, here is what you can expect in general. On average, adult cavapoo are fairly compact dogs, with full grown cavapoo reaching around 10 – 15 inch height (about 25 – 40 cm). You can’t fit this dog in the pocket, but it can very comfortably exist in a small apartment with not much spare space. (Although do remember that puppies or adult cavapoo are not necessarily lap dogs.

Although their energy peaks in puppy-hood and somewhat wanes in adult cavapoo, they can have a lot of energy and do need exercise!)

Full grown cavapoo normally weight around the range of 6 – 19 lbs ( 3-9 kg), again, depending on how the cavapoo was bred and what traits it inherited. Of course, other factors will define how much your particular adult cavapoo will weight, such as muscle development, exercise and also your cavapoo diet. Today’s dogs, just like today’s people, are often sedentary and don’t exercise enough.

In addition to that, people often overfeed their animals, and cavapoo, being intelligent and cute as they are, are very good at begging for food.

Treats are a particularly dangerous territory. It’s very easy to give in to your cavapoo pleas and treat them several times throughout the day. However, you need to remember that commercially produced treats are often full of carbohydrates, which aren’t very good for cavapoo (or any dog!). Carbohydrates overload your dog’s digestive system and provide extra energy, plus raise their blood sugar levels.

All of that can lead to weight gain and even diabetes, if left out of control. So next time your cavapoo looks at you with their pleading little eyes, be strong and don’t give in! This way you can keep your cavapoo weight at a healthy level. And don’t forget about exercise!

Going back to the size of your full grown cavapoo: you might have a smaller adult cavapoo if they are female, as females are often smaller than males, just like in the case of many other animals.

Full grown cavapoo bred from toy poodle may reach around 10 inches in height (about 25 cm) and weight about 6 lbs (around 3 kg). Despite the small size, they can be a fairly sturdy and athletic dog, and normally have quite large personalities 🙂 These small dogs are also great to have in apartments or smaller living spaces as they fit literally everywhere. (But do give them lots and lots of exercise!) These dogs are great to travel with as well, as they normally can be allowed in the passenger zone of the airplane and are small enough to travel comfortably with by car, or even stay at a hotel or AirBNB.

If you are looking for a cavapoo to adopt, check out our articles on how to find a reputable breeder. You can find such breeders in: Reputable cavapoo breeders UK, Cavapoo breeders in Ontario, Canada, and Cavapoo breeders in Alberta, Canada. You can also adopt a puppy from Cavapoo Rescue. Don’t forget to read about Cavapoo pros and cons.

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Finding cavapoo puppies for sale and cavapoo breeders

First of all, congratulations on deciding to get a cavapoo puppy. It’s a great decision that will bring lots of love into your life. Cavapoos are becoming more and more popular all around the world, and that’s because they are simply wonderful pets. They are great, intelligent dogs with loving and sociable temperament and make perfect loyal companions and friends in almost any type of household. But how do you actually find cavapoo puppies for sale?

First of all, check out our lists of cavapoo breeders from various parts of the world. You will find detailed lists dedicated to each part of the world and hopefully can find a cavapoo breeder close to where you live.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

You can also google “cavapoo breeders near me” and see what google brings you. (Although truth be told you will probably find all of the breeders in our lists on this site. We also compiled cavapoo breeders descriptions from the material we could find available on their websites so you can quickly see what might interest you among breeders offering cavapoo puppies for sale in your area.)

Although cavapoo do not end up in shelters or SPCA very often, you never know. Sometimes people just have to give up their dog, be it because of the circumstances in their household that have changed, allergy, death of owner or multiple other reasons. Visit your local SPCA to see if there might be an available cavapoo puppy there. That way you will likely only have to pay adoption fees and you also save a cavapoo puppy from the rescue!

Another way to find cavapoo puppies for sale in your area is to look on your local Craigslist. You may find a local person wanting to rehome their cavapoo for one reason or another. Of course, as always, be aware of potential scammers and be very careful about sending anyone money over the internet. Make sure you can trust the person first! Visit them and meet their dog.

Also, try to find out the reasons why the person is giving the dog away. It might be personal reasons, such as inability to care for the dod, allergy, owner’s health issues, lack of time or finances. It might also be something related to the dog itself, such as behavioural issues or health issues. Find as many details as possible so that you can make an informed decision and be sure that you will be able to take care of the cavapoo the way it deserves.

Of course, one of the best ways to find a cavapoo puppy for sale is through a reputable cavapoo breeder in your area.  But how do you make sure you have found a really good breeder you can trust? Here are a few tips on how to pick a good cavapoo breeder.

Trust your intuition

When picking a breeder that will provide you with your cavapoo puppy, every little detail matters. When you have a breeder or two in mind, listen to your heart. Pay attention to how you feel about the breeder. Does their website look professional and presents detailed information in a friendly and welcoming way? Do they provide lots of pictures? Do they have a phone number and email address for you to contact them? Are they willing to speak to you on the phone or have you in their home so you can meet their dogs and puppies?

Check the breeder’s reviews on their website or social media page. Are there testimonials from their past customers that already have their cavapoo puppies? Are there any negative reviews?

All in all, if you feel anything at all negative about a potential breeder of your cavapoo puppy, try and stay away from them. Your intuition will be correct in most cases, and if you go against it, you might later encounter some negative things that you could have avoided.

Communication matters

When talking to the potential breeder of your cavapoo puppies, communication really matters and can tell you a lot about the breeder and whether you can trust them or not. Do they answer your questions in details and are they ready to provide all necessary information about their puppies? Are they willing to tell you more and answer the questions you didn’t even know you had? After all, they know so much more about cavapoo puppies than you do!

Is this breeder willing to explain what the best owner for their cavapoo would be and ask you questions about your own lifestyle and how a puppy would fit that? A good, reputable breeder will always be first and foremost interested in the well-being of their puppies, which directly depends on the new owner. Good cavapoo breeders would never want to give one of their puppies away to a person that might not be the best owner.

This is why respectable breeders always ask potential new owners questions about their lifestyle, their financial situation, the amount of free time they have and what conditions they have to raise their puppy in. If your breeder isn’t asking you any of these questions or any questions at all – it is a big red flag! You may want to look for another breeder.

If they don’t care who they give their puppies to, they probably also don’t care about a lot of other aspects of their “business”, such as their puppies quality, temperament, socialisation, or even their puppies health.

Kennel environment

Ideally, you should be able to visit the breeder in their home or kennel to meet the adult dogs and the puppies before you make a decision on buying a puppy. When you do visit them, pay attention to the conditions that the puppies live in. Is the kennel clean and well-organised? Are the dog crates clean?

Do the dogs look healthy, well-fed and well-groomed? Do they have enough toys and bedding? Is the overall environment positive and happy, or do you sense negativity or lack of hygiene? A good breeder will always make sure their kennels are well-organised, clean and provide healthy environments for their puppies and dogs.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

If the environment is disorganised, a breeder might have trouble keeping their dogs and puppies happy and healthy, and that’s not a good sign.

Cavapoo parents

When you are at the breeder’s home or kennel, make sure to meet the parents or parent (usually mom) of your future puppy. Puppies inherit a lot of health and temperament traits from their parents. Puppies also learn a lot of their behaviour from their parents.

If the puppy’s mom is a calm, well-behaved, healthy dog, you can expect a similar quality puppy. If the puppy’s parents are not well-behaved, have the temperament or behavioural issues or health issues, you may be buying a whole lot of problems together with your puppy.

Puppies’ health

Part of good breeding is making sure the puppies are in great health. This is achieved by breeding from the top quality, healthy parents, as well as maintaining the puppy’s optimal health through proper conditions, food, medication, vaccination etc.

A good breeder will be able to guarantee that their cavapoo puppies for sale are free of any health issues, whether genetic or acquired.

When at the breeder’s, make sure you take a close look at their puppies. Do they look healthy, energetic and happy? Is their coat shiny and clean? Are the eyes clear and shiny? Are their ears clean? Signs of discharge, diarrhoea, weepy, red eyes or stuffed noses are all signs of poor health in the puppies, which should raise a red flag.

Puppies’ age

Never trust cavapoo breeders that are willing to let your puppy go home with you before they reach at least twelve weeks of age. Puppies really need their mother and the company of their litter mates until that age. Being with their mother and siblings is crucial because it teaches the young puppy the most basic things such as eating, bathroom habits and social habits, playing and generally acting like a well bread, sociable dog.

If you take a puppy away from their mom before the twelve-week age, you will not only traumatise the puppy psychologically but also get a puppy that hasn’t yet learnt all the lessons they have to learn which can result in an un-socialised, badly behaved dog. This is not what cavapoos are about. You don’t want that in your puppy.

Paperwork

Good cavapoo breeders will always be willing to show you the paperwork with the lineage of their cavapoo puppies. It is a matter of both pride and professionalism of the breeder, and a warranty that your puppy will come from well-bred, high-quality parents, and thus will have great traits as well. If a breeder isn’t willing to disclose your puppy’s lineage and show you the papers for the dogs they have bread, it could be a bad sign.

Cavapoo puppies spaying/neutering

A respectable breeder will always make sure the cavapoo puppy they sell you is spayed/neutered, unless you are getting a puppy with breeding rights (so you can show them at dog shows and breed them, acting as a breeder yourself. That type of cavapoo dogs will cost significantly more and is a special case for most of our readers.)

Spaying/neutering cavapoo puppies is absolutely essential for several reasons. For one, it is beneficial for the cavapoo health, since you are likely not planning to ever have them mate with another dog. The other reason for spaying/neutering cavapoo puppies is to prevent bad owners from starting their own puppy mills. 

Having cavapoo puppies for sale may seem like a lucrative business for some people who are unaware how much it costs to properly and respectably breed cavapoos. Puppies from puppy mills are generally not well-bred, may have severe health/temperament issues and are not raised in good conditions. To remove the risk of a bad owner starting a puppy mill, all cavapoo puppies have to be neutered/spayed either before they go to a new home, or shortly after.

A good breeder will always have a note about that in the contract that you will sign when purchasing the puppy.

Speaking of which, a good, respectable cavapoo breeder will always have you sign a contract when you buy their cavapoo puppy – to protect you, the breeder and the puppy!

These were a few tips on how to find cavapoo puppies for sale and how to pick a good cavapoo breeder to purchase your puppy from. I hope this was helpful and you can find your cavapoo puppy from a great breeder soon!

 

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Cavapoo price – how much do cavapoo cost?

Short answer: If you are looking for a pet quality puppy, the price of your cavapoo may vary from around $1000 to 2000$ with the average being around $1200 – $1500. If you want to breed your cavapoo and be able to show them at dog shows, the dogs with breeding rights may cost anywhere from $2300 to $10000 depending on how high the quality of the dog is.

Good for you for deciding on getting a cavapoo puppy. You are inviting a whole lot of love and fun into your life (and potentially some wet dog kisses!) Of course, as with everything else in life, there is the financial question. How much will your cavoodle puppy cost? What is the average cavapoo price?

The answer to this question is not so simple. Cavapoo price may vastly vary depending on multiple factors, such as the location of the breeder, how popular the breed is in that particular location, the size of the breeder’s kennel, the lineage of your cavapoo puppy etc.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

One defining factor is whether you are buying a cavapoo puppy purely as a pet (pet quality) or with breeding and show rights. In the latter case, you have a right to breed your cavapoo once they are of age, get puppies from them and participate in dog shows.

Cavapoo price will depend on the quality of the puppy.

If you are looking for a pet quality puppy, the price of your cavoodle may vary from around $1000 to 2000$ with the average being around $1200 – $1500.

If you want to breed your cavapoo and be able to show them at dog shows and earn titles and awards, you will need a cavapoo with breeding rights. Those are extra high-quality dogs with excellent characteristics and premium lineage of parents. These dogs may cost anywhere from $2300 to $10000 depending on how high the quality is. If you are buying that type of cavapoo, you probably know more about cavapoos than I can ever tell you on the pages of this site 🙂

These prices can definitely seem quite hefty. But in reality, you are purchasing (although we like the word adopting more) a friend and a loyal companion for the next 10-15 years of your life. That is priceless. Pets (any pets) can generally cost a lot, including adoption fees and the various things your pet may need throughout its life. But a purebred dog, such as cavapoo, is going to be even more expensive.

A good breeder will spend a significant amount of time and energy, combined with professional knowledge, to breed the litter of healthy cavapoo puppies from quality parents. Breeding by itself costs a lot of money, as it includes various time and finance-consuming aspects such as showing the dogs, getting necessary papers, mating the dogs etc.

Further on, a breeder has to take proper care of the mom of the litter during pregnancy and at birth, which often involves extensive vet care. Once the puppies are born, they often require round-the-clock care (have you ever visited a breeder with new puppies? It’s crazy!) and lots of financial investment into vet services such as vaccinations, checkups, micro chipping etc.

So it is very understandable that the resulting price of a puppy is fairly significant, and this really shouldn’t surprise you.

What should surprise you, or, rather, warn you – is a low price for a puppy. Again, if you are getting a pet quality puppy, their price should ideally be in the range of $1000 to $2000. If someone offers you a puppy for $400 – $600, this has to raise a red flag for you.

If your cavapoo price is significantly out of the ideal range, that might mean that your puppy is coming from a puppy mill. Puppy mills produce large amounts of puppies without proper planning, medical care and any respect/love for the animals.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Puppies from puppy mills might not even be cavapoos, but rather some other mix that a breeder presents as cavapoo. Puppy mill puppies can also have various health and genetic defects and may carry diseases as they were not raised in proper sanitary environment. They may also have unpredictable temperaments and not have the stable, loving cavapoo temperament that you probably want.

Please don’t support puppy mills, for the love of the puppies and also for your own safety. You don’t want a dog with a bad temperament and unexpected health issues.

If you encounter a very low cavapoo price, you may also be dealing with a scammer. It isn’t very hard in our day and age to set up a basic website and advertise puppies that may not even exist, simply so they can ask for your deposit and then disappear.

In general, breeders asking for deposits aren’t doing anything wrong, it is an accepted practice. However, a scammer may ask for your deposit, luring you in with a low price for your cavapoo, and then simply disappear.

This is yet another reason to be careful and not trust someone asking for a very low cavapoo price when advertising their puppies.

Here is how you can be more careful when picking your cavapoo and the breeder, so that you don’t lose your money and get the best dog you can.

See if the breeder has any online presence. A good breeder will most often have an established website with lots of material and photos of their dogs and puppies. Breeders love showing off their dogs. If there isn’t much material online, it’s always a red flag in terms of the breeder’s authenticity.

Check the breeder’s website, Facebook page, Instagram page and any other social media pages belonging to them. Pay particular attention to reviews. Is there a lot of reviews from former customers? Are there any bad reviews?

Google the breeder to see if any bad mentions/reviews pop up.

Get in touch with the breeder. If they are friendly and open and ready to talk to you about their dogs and puppies or upcoming litters  – it’s a good sign. If they are impersonal and you have a feeling that they just want to push you into buying a puppy right now – stay away from them.

A good breeder will always care about you as their future puppies’ owner just as much as they care about their dogs. They will normally want to ask you lots of questions and find out exactly what kind of dog you are looking for. If you don’t see that approach, they might not be the right breeder for you.

Never allow a breeder to push you into a hasty decision. If you feel any pressure from a breeder, such as “buy the puppy now or they will be gone”, you can end the conversation right there. A good breeder will never push you into making a hasty decision. They will rather encourage you to take your time and give it a good thought.

And of course, be very careful about sending money, even just a deposit, before you know you are dealing with the right breeder for you, that can offer you the right price for the great, healthy, affectionate dog.

Do your research well, do some reading on this and other websites, accept the fact that the price for a good dog will not be low, and you will get your perfect cavapoo 🙂

When thinking of getting a cavapoo puppy, you need to be aware that the cost of the dog will not be the only cost you will have to incur. Here is what you will need to think about when buying a new puppy:

Cost of pick-up/shipping/transportation

If your breeder is far away from where you are, how are you going to get the puppy? You may need to drive a long distance, or have the breeder ship the puppy to you, which may cost extra $50 – $300 depending on distance.

New puppy supplies

You will need new puppy bedding, toys, blankets, food bowl, water bowl, puppy gates, a crate, a leash, a collar. Costs: $100 – 1000$ depending on what you choose to purchase and where. Tip: you can get a lot of this stuff on craigslist, used. (Such as puppy gates for example, or crates!)

Vet visits 

Vet checkups, vaccinations, and medical emergencies can all be pretty costly.

Puppy food

That’s something that you will have to take care not only during your puppy’s “childhood”, but throughout their whole life. Costs depend on what food brand / type you prefer.

Other miscellaneous costs/ expenses

You never know when you need to spend extra for an unexpected vet visit or boarding your puppy in a kennel for a few nights if you need to be out of town, or any other emergency. All in all, it’s good to be prepared and budget more than just the price of your cavapoo.

Remember, getting a new puppy is a big responsibility that includes an undeniable financial aspect to it, so think twice and make sure you are ready for this responsibility.

Good luck and have fun looking for your puppy and then raising them 🙂

 

 

 

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Are cavapoo hypoallergenic? What allergy sufferers need to know about cavapoo

Short answer: no. No dogs are absolutely, 100% hypoallergenic. However, cavapoo (cavoodles) are bread from poodle, which is one of the most hypoallergenic breeds of dogs out there. While nothing is guaranteed, a Cavapoo may cause far fewer or even no allergy symptoms in allergy sufferers.

Allergies are a widespread condition in the 21 century, and pet allergies are definitely something that thousands of people all over the world can relate to. Almost as much as 11 percent of all humans are allergic to their pets! That is no small number. For a lot of people, even a strong allergy isn’t a hindrance if they really want to have a pet. But it is always good to be well-informed about your allergy, whether getting a pet is a good idea for you or not and how to mitigate your allergy symptoms if you have them.

When it comes to pet allergy, there isn’t actually just one type of allergy. You can be allergic to many things about your pet (like their habit of waking you up at 5 am asking for food! 🙂 . Allergies to pet hair, pet dander, pet urine and other substances are just to name a few. Before getting any pet, it is very important to know if you have an allergy to them and if so, how you are going to manage it. Having said that, what about cavapoo? Are cavapoo hypoallergenic?

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

Cavapoo (cavoodles) are often touted as hypoallergenic breed of dogs. Many websites (even breeder websites) promise no allergy symptoms whatsoever if you get their cavapoo puppy. But is that really so?  Here is what we will talk about in this article:

To be honest, the question should be: Are cavapoo hypoallergenic for you? The answer to this question will actually depend on what exactly you are allergic to. You aren’t just allergic to a dog. You can be allergic to a dog’s hair, saliva, dander, urine, faecal matter (gross, I know). If you are allergic to saliva, dander or urine, you will likely be allergic to any type of dog, including hypoallergenic ones like poodles and cavapoos.

If you are allergic to dog hair, cavapoo might be hypoallergenic enough for you to not experience any symptoms. F1 cavapoo are bred from poodle and King Cavalier spaniel, and often inherit the curly, smooth poodle hair. This dog will not shed much and be close to hypoallergenic just like a poodle would be. F1B cavapoo (when a cavapoo is bred to a Poodle) are even more hypoallergenic for people allergic to dog hair.

The same may be true to various degrees if you are allergic to dog dander. A lot of people allergic to dander can tolerate poodles without much trouble. If your cavapoo has inherited a lot of poodle genes, you might be able to tolerate them just fine as well.

Saliva of a cavapoo, just like poodle saliva, may also contain less allergenic proteins than other breeds of dogs. A lot of allergy sufferers notice that they don’t display as many (if any) symptoms when they are around cavapoo, even around a whole litter! 🙂 If you have always been sneezing and coughing around dogs, you may find that that is not the case at all with the cavapoos.

However, you may still experience symptoms to some degree, depending on the severity of your allergy. Remember, no dog breed is truly hypoallergenic (even though it’s a great marketing ploy used by so many breeders! In fact, you can weed out bad breeders by looking at their stance on allergy. If they promote their cavapoo as completely hypoallergenic, they are not a breeder you want to deal with. A good breeder will always warn you that no dog, including theirs, is really hypoallergenic.)

Even if you have a slight allergy to cavapoo, don’t despair. This doesn’t mean you can never have a pet, especially if you really want one. Dog allergies can be managed if they are not severe. If you have a severe allergy, you really need to think hard about owning a pet, as long term allergen exposure may end up harming your health (did you know that living with a pet that you are severely allergic to may cause asthma over the long term?). If your allergies are light, they can usually be successfully managed.

Psst, while you are reading this post, I just wanted to say you might also like these other articles:

The other good thing is that a lot of slight allergy sufferers notice a significant improvement in their symptoms over the years of living with their cavapoo. Your body adapts and your immune system stops treating your pet proteins as foreign invaders! (how foreign can it be if your cavapoo sleeps under your blanket with you!) A lot of people notice their allergy completely disappears over time, even though they may still be allergic to other dogs!

Puppies produce fewer allergens than adult cavapoo. If you are trying to estimate how allergic you will be to a cavapoo, try to spend time around an adult dog, not just puppies. While you may not display any symptoms to puppies whatsoever, your reaction to an adult cavapoo will be a much stronger indicator!

Unless you are rescuing your cavapoo from  cavapoo rescue, always adopt a cavapoo from a good breeder. We have an article on how to find a good cavapoo breeder here and lists of breeders here.  A good breeder will always discuss your allergy issues with you and suggest the most hypoallergenic puppy they have (F1B cavapoo are often the most hypoallergenic type.)

A good breeder will let you visit their kennel to meet the puppies and their parents (or parent) and see whether your allergy flairs up or not. A good breeder will also likely be able to accept your puppy back after adoption if you display allergy symptoms that you can’t live with.

However, keep in mind that taking the puppy for a few weeks is not a good idea. For one, it will be very stressful for both you and the puppy if you have to return them. Also, you will likely not get refunded for a puppy even if you return it to a breeder. You need to really put a lot of thought into whether you are able to keep this little cavapoo or not if you suffer from allergy.

If you are only slightly allergic to your cavapoo, there are things you can do to make it easier in you.

Wash your hands!

Always wash your hands after you touch or pet your puppy. Don’t touch your face or mouth after touching your dog.

Keep your distance

Try not to sleep in the same room as your cavapoo (definitely, don’t take them in bed with you.)

Brush your cavapoo

Brush your cavapoo often outside to get rid of extra hair (cavapoo do shed minimally!) and the dander that collects on that hair.

Wash your cavapoo

Washing your cavapoo regularly will also help get rid of the extra dander on its skin and hair. If you get your cavapoo used to washing and bathing from early puppy-hood, they will most likely love this activity and be enthusiastic about the bath time!

Wash your cavapoo’s toys and bedding

Keeping your dog’s bedding and toys clean will help keeping extra dander and other allergens from spreading all over your house which will result in fewer allergens ending up in your airways and fewer allergy symptoms for you!

Keep your house clean

Ideally, you’d be doing it whether you own a cavapoo or not 🙂 Washing the floors of your house and vacuuming are two good ways of keeping extra allergens at bay. You can even get a HEPA vacuum to be able to more thoroughly clean the surfaces from hair and dander. Bonus point – you get a cleaner house!

While there are no truly hypoallergenic dog breeds, a few breeds are reported to cause fewer allergy symptoms to allergy sufferers than other breeds. Poodles are definitely famous for being hypoallergenic as well as minimally shedding dogs. Tibetan and Maltese terriers are two other breeds. Maltese terriers have smooth silky coats that shed minimally and also reportedly cause fewer allergies to people. Shih Tzu is another small breed that is considered hypoallergenic, as is Bichon Freeze. Labradoodles are a larger cross breed. It’s a mix of Labrador retriever and a poodle (standard or miniature). These dogs normally have longer, bushier hair but they often inherit poodle’s hypoallergenic genes.

Don’t lose hope of having a wonderful, loyal pet and companion because you might be allergic to them. If you have allergy to other types of dogs, definitely consider a cavapoo, and see if you can find a breeder who would let you visit their dogs and puppies. You may find that you don’t have any allergy at all to cavapoo dogs, or that your allergy symptoms are only minor. Cavapoos are a great pet and I really hope you can own one!

If you are looking for a cavapoo to adopt, check out our articles on how to find a reputable breeder. You can find such breeders in: Reputable cavapoo breeders UK, Cavapoo breeders in Ontario, Canada, and Cavapoo breeders in Alberta, Canada. You can also adopt a puppy from Cavapoo Rescue. Don’t forget to read about Cavapoo pros and cons.