Cavapoo Breed Guide and Insurance Plan

Introduction to Cavapoos

The cavapoo is not a purebred dog, but a mix between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle. Therefore, the cavapoo is not an officially recognized breed by the American Kennel Club. These are playful and curious little dogs, sometimes called digdoodles and cavoodles. They are considered a designer mixed breed and have inherited some of the best traits from their parent breeds.

Cavapoos are very cute and make wonderful family pets. They do well in apartments and houses with more than one dog. If you are looking for a friendly and fun pup that is affectionate and calm, a cavapoo could be the perfect addition to your home.

Cavapoo Size

Cavapoos are small dogs that weigh between nine and 25 pounds when fully grown. They grow between nine and 14 inches tall as adults. A cavapoo puppy reaches its adult size at around a year, however most of the dog’s weight is gained when it is just six months old. There are only very small size differences between male and female cavapoos.

Here’s what you can expect your cavapoo to grow as it grows.

Cavapoo Characteristics

Cavapoos are playful, cuddly, low-allergen dogs that are good for first-time pet owners. They are easy to train and have a low prey drive, so they are not likely to chase animals. However, they require a lot of care and are prone to certain health problems.

Families with children and older adults often bring cavapoos into their homes because of their pleasant temperament and size. They are quite adaptable dogs, but they need a lot of activity and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.

As you get to know a cavapoo’s personality, here’s what to expect based on its breed characteristics.

Another thing to know about cavapoos is that they can get separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time or not socialized from a young age.

These pups are easy to train and athletic, which means they often excel in obedience and agility competitions. Since cavapoos are so friendly to everyone they meet, they don’t make good watchdogs and aren’t likely to bark much, even at strangers.

History of the Cavapoo

The history of the cavapoo dates back to at least the 1990s, when breeders in Australia mixed spaniels and Cavalier King Charles poodles. However, some records indicate that the first cavapoos may have been bred in Australia as early as the 1950s.

Breeders chose to do this cross to get the intelligence of a poodle along with the outgoing and calm nature of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. They also wanted to create a low-allergy dog ​​suitable for people who suffered from coat sensitivities and dander. Demand for cavapoos has increased since they were first introduced, and the breed is now very prevalent in the US.

Cavapoo Standard Information

Since cavapoos are not a purebred dog, the American Kennel Club does not provide information on the breed standard for this type of dog. However, there are certain physical traits that cavapoos tend to share due to their parent’s breeds. Additionally, cavapoos are recognized by other dog groups, such as the American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, Inc., International Designer Canine Registry, and Designer Breed Registry.

In terms of appearance, cavapoos have round, brown, soft, deep-set eyes set atop a small, short snout with a black button nose. These dogs have long floppy ears and tufts of hair around their mouths that somewhat resemble a mustache.

Cavapoos have soft, wavy curls throughout their fur and come in various color combinations. Their fur can be shades of grey, black, brown, red, tan, white and fawn. It is possible for a cavapoo’s coat to change color sometime between birth and full maturity. The coat can be a single color or a mixture of two or even three colors.

The final size of a cavapoo depends on whether one of its parents was a miniature poodle or a toy poodle. Some cavapoos look more like their spaniel parent, while others look more like a poodle. Either way, these dogs are absolutely adorable!

Caring for Cavapoos

Cavapoos, like all dogs, require loving care to stay healthy, strong, and thriving in their environment. Caring for a cavapoo is much like caring for any other small breed of dog, but it still requires a lot of time, effort, and dedication on the part of the pet’s parents.

Here are some general tips to best care for a cavapoo.

The best living environments:

• Good in apartments or houses with patios.
• Great for urban life
• Households with children, although very young children should be supervised
• Households with other pets
• elderly companions

Exercise type:

• hiking with people
• swimming in the water
• Fetch games in a fenced yard
• neighborhood walks
• Dog parks with other dogs
• Only moderate exercise is needed, not intense.

Mind Enrichment:

• Don’t stay alone for too long to avoid separation anxiety.
• Agility and obedience exercises for stimulation.
• Play time with children and other dogs.
• Indoor Play Toys

Training Strategies:

• Very trainable using positive reinforcement
• Teach to get along with other dogs
• Begin training sessions as soon as the puppy is vaccinated

Grooming Tips:

• very low shedding
• Brush twice a week
• Professional grooming every six weeks

Common Cavapoo Health Problems

Cavapoos are relatively healthy dogs that have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. They have inherited some of the health conditions of their parent breeds, which you will want to consider when bringing a cavapoo into your home.

Annual veterinary checkups can help catch problems early so you can choose the best treatment options. Healthy Paws pet insurance can help make vet bills more affordable so you can prioritize your cavapoo’s health without worrying about finances.

Some of the more common health problems that arise with cavapoos include the following:

• Progressive retinal atrophy that can lead to blindness
• Congenital heart disease, especially mitral valve disease
• Luxating Patellas (Patella Disorder)
• Atopy (skin allergies)
• dental disease
• Syringomyelia/Chiari malformation (fluid buildup in the spinal cord)
• Glaucoma
• Epilepsy

Diet and Nutrition for Cavapoos

Since there is such a significant size range for cavapoos, the food your dog needs will largely depend on how big the pup gets. Cavapoos generally need between a half cup and 1.5 cups of food per day, depending on their size and activity level. It is quite possible for a cavapoo to become overweight on just a few extra treats each day. Consult with your vet about the most appropriate portion sizes to feed your cavapoo, and stick to a regular morning and evening feeding schedule.

Where to adopt or buy cavapoos

Since cavapoos are a designer mixed breed of dog, many people assume that they must be purchased from a breeder. However, cavapoos have been around for a few decades, so you can also find them in shelters and adopt them from rescue groups.

If you are interested in this type of dog, you can start your adoption search with rescue groups for original breeds. A couple of examples are Cavalier Rescue USA and the Poodle Club of America Rescue Foundation.

However, reputable breeders can ensure that your new cavapoo puppy is a true cavapoo and not a mix of other dogs besides the Cavalier King Charles spaniel and poodle. Avoid puppy mills that offer deeply reduced prices on cavapoos at the sacrifice of the health and care of the dogs. Also, avoid breeders who won’t let you know the puppy’s parents or provide information about the health of the parents. Knowing the types of issues that affect parents can help you be proactive about the health of your own cavapoo pup.

Cavapoos are a unique type of dog due to their lineage, but there are other types of dogs that are similar to the cavapoo that you may also like to learn about. Poodles have been mixed with many different types of dogs due to the desirable characteristics of this breed. Therefore, you can find many different poodle mixes available from breeders and rescue shelters.

Here are some breeds similar to the cavapoo to learn more about:

• yorkipoo
• cockatoo
• maltipoo
• schnoodle
• cavachon