The Cavapoo is a mixed dog breed that started with a cross between Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Cavapoo is now considered one of the most adorable mix breeds of all time. Cavapoo dogs are super sensitive, gentle, and love positive reinforcements.
NBC26, a renowned news website, which gathered the data after scrutinizing from credible websites like PetBreeds, announce Cavapoo as the 2nd most popular mix-breed of all time.
So, if you are thinking of buying a Cavapoo or if you already have one, and want to learn more about it, then you are at the right place. Here we are providing everything that you need to know about the Cavapoo:
Cavapoo Origin
It all started in Australia in the 1990s since the first doodle craze began. The first to fall to this craze was a breed between Labrador and poodle, known as labradoodle. Then came the Goldendoodle, Saint Berdoodle, and so on. Cavapoo was also a result of this doodle craze.
Despite being a designer breed, which they are called because of the interest shown by many celebrities in mixed breeds, Cavapoo is one of the most highly regarded family dogs of all time.
Fun Facts About Cavapoo
- Cavapoos are also referred to as Cavadoodle and Cavoodle.
- Cavapoo is a royal dog because poodles and its mix-breed are the most popular dogs in the White House.
- Cavapoos are also regarded as Therapy dogs because of their docile nature, which, according to great therapists like Rachel Policay and Mariana Falconier, are great for couple and family therapies.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the parent breed of Cavapoos, is the most beloved royal dog of all time. Such that they were included in famous paintings like La Belle Strasbourgeoise.
Cavapoo Physical Characteristics
Type: Companion dogs.
Lifespan: 12 to 15 years.
Size: 7- 14 inches
Weight: 9- 25 pounds
Price: $1800-$7500.
Cavapoo Distinguishing Coat and Color
Aside from the fact that almost all Cavapoo’s have these small flabby ears and cute bulging eyes on their small circular faces, they greatly differ in fur and color. Since they are mix-breed, some have inherited the smooth, silky coat of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, while others have acquired the poodle’s cute wavy coat. Similarly, the coat’s color can be gold, white, chocolate, fawn, chestnut, etc.
Cavapoo Trainability
Due to Cavapoo’s gentle temperament and easy-going nature, they are effortless to train, provided if you have experience or willing to get one. And if your Cavapoo gets the kindness of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and intelligence of poodle, then mother’s luck is on your side.
Cavapoos are Great Family Dogs
Their loving nature is always a treat to watch. Cavapoos are not only friendly around children and other family members but also other animals. Their energy level and potential for playfulness are also very high, but they sure do not mean overly excited.
They love playing fetch and tug of war but only when they are bored or prevents kids from being tackled or knocked away.
Cavapoo Need for Exercise
Because of their cheerfulness, Cavapoos demand a constant need for exercise. But the exercise they need is minuscule. The best way to provide this is with a 30-minutes walk daily either in the morning or in the evening. And because of their small size, exercise has never become a problem.
Cavapoo Requires Less Grooming
Often Cavapoos inherit the coat from their parent poodle, which ultimately means less shedding and less need for grooming.
Less need for shedding certainly does not mean that you sit to relax, but some measures are still to be taken, like grooming twice a week and constantly checking for any tangles and mats.
Cavapoo is An Indoor Breed
Feeling worried that you do not have a spacious place or a cozy backyard? Then don’t, because all you need is a Cavapoo. This tiny breed has always been an indoor type, and its smaller size also does not require a huge backyard for exercise, but any moderate place suffices.
Cavapoo, Man’s Best Friend
Either you start your day proactively, or by letting the procrastination hit you, Cavapoo will always be on your side. As Cavapoos are regarded as companion dogs, no wonder why they are so much attached to their owners.
In the absence of their owner, Cavapoo spends their whole day looking out of the window awaiting their master’s return.
Cavapoos Are HypoAllergenic
For people with dog or cat allergies, keeping a dog has always been a sore sight, but with Cavapoo, it does not seem a problem. As Cavapoos drool and shed less, they are considered a hypoallergenic breed.
Cons
There is no such thing as a completely perfect, and neither is the Cavapoo:
- Not a Great Guard Dog
When it comes to guarding, Cavapoo miserably fails at this task. Extreme friendliness in the thing which gives him away. So, whether it be a normal person or an intruder, it will wag its tail in front of both. If you are thinking of buying a Cavapoo just because you want a watchdog, then do not.
- Separation Anxiety
A well-known problem in Cavapoo is separation anxiety, which stems from spending a lot of time alone. As Cavapoos loved being surrounded by people, time alone really take a toll on them. This anxiety leads to destructive behavior.
It certainly does not mean that you cannot leave your Cavapoo for even an hour; you surely can! Leaving him for 6-10 hours or even a whole day distorts their demeanor, but do not worry; it can be cured with the right training.
- Excessive Barking
Cavapoos are known for excessive and frequent barking. This can become quite a problem if you are surrounded by neighbors or have a major hustle and bustle right outside your house.
But it is true the Cavapoos bark for a reason. Whether it would be loneliness, attention, feeling uncomfortable, or notifying any crisis to the owner, they bark.
Cavapoo Training and Care
Acquiring the intelligence traits from its poodle parent, Cavapoo have a very high affinity for training. But because of their sensitive nature inherited from Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, we have to use a psychological trick known as “Positive Reinforcement,” which in layman’s terms means praising or rewarding when the desired task is executed perfectly.
For this, you need to make sure that the training session is a memorable experience. Avoid using aggression at any cost because it will only scare them away and negatively impact their minds.
Cavapoo has a very easy-going nature, so it will probably start enjoying the company of other breeds. But we have to limit these sessions so that Cavapoo can learn how to appreciate short-lived things.
Without training, separation anxiety can occur. This is where positive reinforcement comes in. Early training accompanied with good praises can do a lot more than just good. Cavapoo is also an athletic breed. So, without these proper training techniques, anxiety would build-up over time, and one day it would get released in the form of excessive barking, chewing, etc.
Cavapoo Health
Whereas Cavapoos seems very healthy and active from the outside, but there are many underlying diseases present in them. When there are so many benefits of being a crossbreed, there surely an exception also.
In this case, the anomaly is the health part. Since Cavapoo is a mixture of both Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle, it is like to get the diseases associated with them:
- Syringomyelia (SM): Build-up of fluids in-between the cavities of the spinal cord near the brain. This clearly suggests that how painful it would be. But it only starts exhibiting after 6 months of puppy age. The only viable treatment is through drugs or surgery.
- Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia (MRD): A genetic disease that can be detected during the puppy’s birth. This malady leads to the weakening or a complete loss of one’s eyesight. It is also non-curable.
- Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (MVD): As the name suggests, this disease has something to do with the heart’s mitral valve. This disease deteriorates the mitral valve, ultimately leading to the backward flow of blood in the heart except for outside the heart. It is a severe disease that requires immediate attention.
- There are others as well like, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, PRA, etc. But it certainly did not mean that your Cavapoo is going to catch that.
Taking Care of Your Cavapoo
So, how can you stop these diseases from starting in the first place? How can you prevent these scenarios? How can you take care of your Cavapoo? There is no such simple answer to this question than this:
By making a monthly or, more precisely, 6-months regular check-up of your dog. Moreover, Cavapoo’s large flappy ears should be cleaned properly to avoid an ear infection. Brushing their teeth with an authorized toothpaste regularly would also be a wise decision. This will prevent any periodontal diseases.
Cavapoo Diet and Nutrition
Choosing a perfect diet for your ideal partner has always been challenging, and now when you got to choose from the below four options, it becomes more difficult.
- Dry biscuits (Kibble)
- Canned/wet food
- Frozen
- Semi-moist
When you are choosing a diet, do always consider your lifestyle and your dog’s too. Using a frozen diet, even when you are not even at home, does not seem like a good idea.
So, find the perfect one and stick to it because changing a diet again and again can cause Cavapoo’s an upset stomach.
It would be best if you also looked out for any disease from whom Cavapoo is suffering. It would help if you also considered your dogs’ age and health, as they play a vital role in choosing the right food for your Cavapoo.
Otherwise, you could visit a veterinary and, and the doctor next to you will sketch-out a whole month free diet plan for you.
It would be best if you kept in mind that you never overfed your Cavapoo, which is not more than 10% of total calorie intake, with treats and snacks because they lead to obesity.
Thus, we can see that Cavapoo is a high-energy busy dog who spends most of his time running in small patches, exhausting himself.
For this, we need to make sure that we are using a high-quality dry kibble (1-1.5 cups) accompanied by a tailor-made dry food formula.
It certainly does not mean that every Cavapoo should eat high-quality dry kibble. Just like how the coat and color of Cavapoos are different, the same goes with their dietary system.
Adopting or Buying A Cavapoo?
If you are itching to get your hands on one of these beautiful creatures, do not worry because you will find hundreds of Cavapoo among the shelter and rescue room. There are dozens of organizations and agencies in the US operating with the sole purpose of rescuing these abandoned dogs.
They also rehabilitate those dogs who have bathed in the scars of high-kill shelters. Thus, there are many places where people can adopt from or even buy if they want to:
- Doodle Dandy Rescue (Texas): Founded in 2018, this self-less organization has been freeing poodles from their cruel state, rehabilitating and caring for them.
- Doodle Rock Rescue (Texas)
- Poodles and Pals (California): It is an organization which is based in Southern California. They considered themselves the best matchmaker in Southern California. Before handing out Cavapoo, they make sure that all pre-requisites like neutering, spraying, and vaccination are being done from their side.
Once rehabilitation becomes a success, they imbued them with new emotions, the ones they once have lost, and then embarked on new loving homes.
- Doodle Rescue Collective (Rhode Island)
The debate between adoption or buying has been going on for a long time now, one party thrashing the other. But I think it does not matter whether you buy or adopt Cavapoo. The only thing that matters is how you treat them, how much you love them, how much you care for them.
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