If you’re searching for a fun-loving dog with a nice temperament that would make a great family pet, you may need to take a close look at the Cavoodle.
Also referred to as Cavapoos, they are the same breed with different names.
This mixed breed is made up of the Cavalier Spaniel and toy or miniature Poodle. If you’re looking for a smaller dog that is good with kids, the Cavoodle may be the right dog for you and your family.
Before choosing any breed of dog, it’s a good idea to find out as much as you can about the breed. This will help you find the perfect pet for you.
In this article, I will be going over everything you need to know about the Cavoodle.
We’ll discuss how this mix breed came into being, their temperament, some of the most common health problems that Cavoodles are likely to suffer from, amongst other things.
Let’s get started
Brief Introduction on the Cavoodle
The Cavoodle, also sometimes know as the Cavapoo is a mix breed dog with its parents being the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the toy or miniature Poodle.
They come in various sizes, depending on what type of Poodle is used in their ancestry.
In general, toy or miniature Poodles are used as this creates a smaller dog.
Cavoodles have become very popular in recent years as they are a small dog with a nice temperament and a hypoallergenic fur.
The first Cavapoo was bred over twenty years ago, and its popularity has increased as it became more widely known.
However, it can sometimes be hard to know precisely what a Cavoodle will end up looking as there are no formal breed standards in place for this mix of dog.
They can also vary a lot depending on whether they’ve been breed using a standard poodle, a miniature, or a toy poodle.
If you’re thinking about getting a Cavoodle, you should make inquiries about what type of Poodle was used during conception as it plays a significant role in deciding what size of dog you end up with.
Cavoodle Temperament
Cavoodles are energetic and lively; they are also smart and very affectionate.
They make a great companion for people of all ages. You’ll find that Cavoodles are very gentle dogs, which means that they are great with children.
They are also adaptable and can live in a small house or apartment as long as they can get enough exercise.
Cavoodles also make excellent guard dogs as they will always bark when visitors arrive but are never aggressive.
The breed can be very vocal and prone to anxiety. Early training, which includes socialization with people, as well as other dogs, is a must.
How Much do they cost?
Cavoodle’s are usually quite expensive, considering that they aren’t a pedigree dog.
You’ll likely have to spend between $800 and $1000 if you choose to get a Cavoodle.
Many people are surprised or even put off by the cost of this breed. Often people select non-pedigree breeds because they are cheaper, but this isn’t the case with the Cavoodle.
Are Cavoodles good family dogs?
Cavoodles are lots of fun and make fantastic family pets. They are great with children of all ages and love to play.
They also have high energy levels and can run around and play with children all day.
This breed is also affectionate and loyal. They enjoy being part of an active family and will participate in whatever activities your family is enjoying.
Whether that’s going for a jog around the park, playing football, or cuddling up and watching a movie.
They can get along just fine with other dogs in the family and can excel at coexisting with other dogs if they have been properly socialized from their early puppy age.
It is a general consensus that the Cavoodle is not a yappy breed and would only bark when necessary. This makes them a great choice for an apartment dog.
Check out this list for some of the best small dogs for apartment living.
Can Cavoodles be left alone?
Many Cavoodles suffer from anxiety and don’t like to be separated from their owners or left alone for long periods.
Some dogs even develop acute separation anxiety and will follow their owners around like a shadow.
You should condition your Cavoodle to be left alone for short amounts of time while still a puppy, and this will help to reduce their anxiety as they grow older.
If you have a full-time job and need to leave your pet alone for much of the day, a Cavoodle might not be the right type of dog for you.
However, this can be resolved by employing the aid or services of a dog walker, your relations, or neighbor to keep your Cavoodle company.
How big do they get?
When fully grown, the Cavoodle will be between twenty-five (25) and thirty-eight (38) centimeters or ten (10) and fifteen (15) inches to the shoulder.
The size will depend on the breed of the parents, so may vary slightly.
They generally weigh between eleven (11) and twenty-six (26) pounds or five (5) and twelve (12) kilograms.
Do toy Cavoodle exists?
Toy Cavoodles do exist. They are achieved by breeding a Cavalier Spaniel with a toy Poodle.
Cavoodles come in various sizes, as three types of Poodles can be used to breed the Cavoodle.
The three various variants of Poodles are; the standard, miniature, or toy.
The standard Poodle is medium-sized dog while the miniature and toy are smaller variants
Miniature Poodles are most commonly used for breeding Cavoodles.
This produces a small dog that’s a nice size for most families, which’s suitable for apartment living.
However, if you’re looking for a tiny dog, you can find a breeder that uses the toy poodle and a Cavalier Spaniel instead of a miniature poodle.
Standard poodles mixed with a Cavalier King Charles spaniel are less common but are a much larger dog.
Standard poodles aren’t usually considered a good mating match for a Cavalier.
Breeders often prefer miniature poodles as they have less breed-specific health issues than toy poodles do.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to take this into account when choosing which mixture to go for.
You should find out exactly which breed of the poodle was used to parent the litter before buying a puppy.
Grooming needs
Most Cavoodles have a coat that is similar to that of a Poodle.
This means that they are very low shedding and are great for people with allergies.
You’ll need to brush your pooch regularly as fur that’s shed will become tangled up in the dog’s coat. This should be combed out to avoid matting.
However, not every Cavoodle will have a low shedding coat. This is only the case if they inherit their coat from the parent that’s a Poodle.
Many Cavoodles will have fur that’s more like a Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
Yours will likely have a coat somewhere between the poodle and Cavalier.
Many Cavoodle breeders have worked hard to reinforce the Poodle coat trait, and they will have created a breeding line with a non-allergenic coat.
If you’re looking for a specific type of coat, you should search for a breeder specializing in the type of fur you’re after.
You should never assume that a Cavoodle will have a poodle-like coat.
Colors
Cavoodles come in a variety of colors. They are usually a solid color such as:
- Black,
- Gold,
- Tan,
- Cream,
- White or brown. Some are a mixture of white and brown.
Potential Health issues
The Cavoodle tends to be a robust breed of dog that’s long-lived.
However, they do suffer from a variety of health complaints that can be inherited from their parents.
The disadvantage of the bred is that both parent breeds have potential hereditary health issues. These can be passed onto the Cavoodle puppies.
In general, Cavoodles do tend to be hardy and are likely to live between thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) years.
Makes sure that you buy a puppy from a reputable breeder and check that it’s in good health before you make your purchase.
This is the best way to avoid getting a pet that will later develop health problems.
A reputable breeder would always have both of the parents tested for common breed-specific health problems and wouldn’t breed from an animal that was showing any sights of ill health, however slight.
The following health issues are common in Poodles, and Cavalier Spaniel as many Cavoodles also show signs of the conditions.
Syringomyelia
This is a condition that can affect bitches; they can have a test once they are two years old. Check that any puppy’s mother has been tested before you buy.
Dogs can also be tested annually for Mitral Valve Disease, which is a heart disease.
Hereditary cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and hip dysplasia are also common conditions, and tests are available for these.
Cavoodles are also more prone to certain types of cancers than other dogs, including oral melanoma and basal cell tumors.
They may also develop type one diabetes and skin or eye issues.
Another problem with Cavoodles is that they have short muzzles and are very sensitive to the heat.
If you live in a very hot climate, this may not be the best breed for you.
Steps should be taken to ensure your pet doesn’t overheat. Cavoodles overheat quickly and easily, and in some cases, this proves to be fatal.
Trainability
Cavoodles are generally considered to be intelligent dogs that are easy to train with a bit of time and patience.
Poodles are very smart dogs that have been ranked second in a list of the 100 smartest dog breeds.
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is almost quite an intelligent breed and features on the list as well.
When these two breeds are crossed together, it’s likely to create a dog that’s in the top third of the dog intelligence list src.
Cavoodles have the potential to learn many things, and can also pick up new commands fairly quickly.
However, they can also become bored easily if they don’t have enough stimulation. You should ensure that your dog has an interesting life so it could develop bad habits such as digging or chewing.
Conclusion
For a quick recap, the Cavoodles are lovely small dogs with excellent temperaments. They make excellent family pets as they are affectionate and fun to have around.
You’ll need to ensure that you keep your Cavoodle entertained and that you have enough time to spend with it.
They are non-shedding or low depending on the type of coat they inherit from their
This breed can easily suffer from separation anxiety and should never be left alone for long periods.
FAQs
Are Cavoodles aggressive?
Cavoodles are not known to be an aggressive dog breed and would get along just fine with strangers and other pets when properly socialized
Do Cavoodles shed a lot?
Cavoodles are a non-shedding or low-shedding mixed breed. This is highly dependent on the type of coat inherited from their parents.
The Poodle coat is non-shedding while that of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sheds occasionally.
