Does Cavapoos appear in the list of dog breeds that are generally certified as being hypoallergenic?
That is what we are going to explore right now. This point about being hypoallergenic is something more people are taking into consideration.
A great deal is made surrounding the idea of certain breeds of dogs being hypoallergenic. Clearly, this is important if you suffer from various allergies. That is why they are so popular.
That is due to there appearing to be a rise in the number of people. They are realizing that they are allergic to various things, including their pets.
The Origins of the Cavapoo
The Cavapoo is a breed of dog that combines the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle. It’s a wonderful combination that then produces a dog that is not only exceptionally cute. But also with a wonderful temperament.
This breed is highly affectionate and loyal. But a dog being affectionate and constantly on the lookout for being cuddled can prove problematic for individuals with allergies.
That is where the idea of owning a dog that is hypoallergenic comes into its own. But it’s important to point out that being hypoallergenic involves a whole lot more than simply saying that a dog is, or in most cases isn’t hypoallergenic.
What Do We Mean By Hypoallergenic?
When it comes to the concept of a hypoallergenic dog breed. Then what we are referring to is something very specific in nature.
However, most people are drawn in by the idea of a dog not affecting their allergies. This is due to their desire to own a dog that is a cute and loving member of the family.
Basically, a dog can be classed as being hypoallergenic. Because it does not shed fur, or if they do then it is extremely limited. It is believed that the fur being shed is the thing people react to.
But the truth is that it’s a bit more involved than that. In fact, the fur itself is not the issue. It’s something else that is attached to the fur that causes the problem for people.
Instead, you need to pay attention to the amount of dander they produce as that is where the irritants survive.
The theory is that a dog that does not shed fur as much will then produce less dander. At that point, people should not have the same allergic reaction.
This is due to the dander having a tendency to stick to fur. It makes sense that if there’s less fur lying around, or coming loose, then there is less of the dander to fly around.
The Problem with Dander
Dander is something that dogs will release into the air when they shed fur or hair. You cannot really see the dander, but it is something that can affect people who are allergic. Actually, it’s the main cause.
Pet dander, is something that all animals produce. It actually consists of microscopic flecks of their skin, and we know that this is not the nicest of thoughts.
This dead skin is very light, and when your dog scratches itself, then they flick this dander up into the air. The problem is it can then float with it eventually landing on some surface.
Also, as it becomes airborne for a period of time, that also increases the chances of us inhaling it. Now, while that doesn’t sound as if it’s the best of things, it’s not something unusual. Actually, we do it with our own skin on a daily basis.
In short, if you own a pet and you notice dust around you, then chances are some of that dust is actually pet dander.
Also, keep in mind that this is only the stuff you see as it has gathered in an obvious spot. Imagine how much of the same stuff is in your home that you cannot see.
While this is no different from the way in which we shed skin cells on a daily basis, it’s the fact some people are allergic to it that can cause a problem.
It’s Not Just Dander
This is going to make matters worse, but the allergy people can suffer from with dogs is also linked to their saliva.
Also, every single dog sheds skin to a certain extent, so it can be argued that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic.
Instead, it’s more to do with how much they shed, or how much they drool. Basically, anything that is directly related to the dog being able to produce either flecks of their skin or their saliva could potentially cause a problem.
As you can imagine, there is a real sliding scale when it comes to how much a particular breed will either shed or drool.
If you are allergic, then it must be horrible to then have a breed that does both, and there are some out there.
But then, we are not interested about other breeds. Instead, we have to focus on one breed in particular, and that is the Cavapoo.
So, What About the Cavapoo?
So if we turn attention back to the Cavapoo, then the key here is the Poodle part of their heritage. If it wasn’t for the Poodle, then the Cavapoo would not be capable of even being discussed as being even slightly hypoallergenic.
Thanks to the Poodle aspect, the Cavapoo is not a heavy shedder, but they do still produce some shedding throughout the year. However, the Poodle side of things does help keep it in check.
The Poodle is the reason why all of the different Doodle breeds are viewed as being hypoallergenic. It not only hardly sheds, but it also hardly drools.
That means two of the main reasons behind dander being created does not really apply to the Poodle. The good news is they then bring that aspect through, to a certain extent, with the Cavapoo.
So, the Cavapoo is indeed hypoallergenic, but it’s not 100%. It’s not as good as the Poodle, but there’s no doubt that if you suffer from allergies that this breed of dog could be a wonderful one to own.
However, we have stressed at different times that this entire hypoallergenic thing is not as straightforward as we would like it to be.
For that very reason, we need to take you through the complexities to make sure you do indeed end up with the correct Cavapoo for your allergies.
But It’s More Complicated
But here is where things become even more complicated. Sadly, if you thought it would be a case of simply saying if a dog is hypoallergenic or not, then that’s not the case. It can also come down to a case of simple genetics.
Just how hypoallergenic your Cavapoo is will depend on the exact genetic makeup of that dog. You see, it’s not always a case of 50% of each breed. It’s way more complicated than that.
If you have an F1 Cavapoo, then it means a female Cavalier has been bred with a male Poodle. At that point, you get a straight 50/50 split when it comes to their genes.
However, if you have an F1b Cavapoo, then this is different. At that point, you have the offspring of an F1 Cavapoo mating with a Poodle. With that combination, you have a 75/25 split in favor of the Poodle.
What that then means for allergy sufferers is that you should not simply opt for a Cavapoo. Instead, you must make sure you are buying an F1b Cavapoo.
That is only because the percentage split of the Poodle heavily outweighs that of the Cavalier which is way back at only 25%.
That difference in percentage figures with the breed will certainly help people with allergies when it comes to their Cavapoo.
What we strongly advise is for you to make sure you know the genetic composition of the Cavapoo you are looking to buy.
This won’t matter if you are not allergic to dander or saliva. However, if you do have an issue, then it will make the difference between you being able to enjoy your new dog, and having to potentially rehome them because of allergies.
Our Overall Conclusion
While we cannot turn to you and say that the Cavapoo is 100% hypoallergenic, that’s because you cannot rightfully do that with any dog. However, what we can say is that the Cavapoo is a good dog to own if you know you suffer from various allergies.
They do not shed as much as other dogs, so the dander that they produce is kept to a minimum, even though it’s not non-existent. But then, even reducing how much they shed can make a huge difference, and that is where the Cavapoo is a winner.
You have the Poodle part to thank for making this a reality. With a reduced risk of allergies, then this could very well be the perfect breed for anybody who finds themselves in this situation.
However, we do stress the earlier point of making sure you have the correct mix. Focus on the maximum amount of Poodle in your dog to reduce that shedding and drooling as much as possible.
If you do that and suffer from allergies, then you should have no problem with your Cavapoo.