We are going to answer what appears to be a very simple question here. Do Cavapoos shed? However, while we can give you a definitive answer of either yes or not, that’s not the full story.
So, we will dive into the story of shedding and your Cavapoo. By the end, you will be in a much better position when it comes to knowing what to expect if you plan on adopting this breed.
Why Knowing How Much They Shed is Important
But you may wonder why you would even want to know how much a breed is going to shed, and there’s an easy answer to that. This is often connected to allergies, and it’s something more people are becoming aware of.
People are interested in finding dogs that are classed as being hypoallergenic in nature as they feel it will help their allergies. There is certainly something in this, but we will explain why it’s not all as clear-cut as you may have hoped later on.
So, Does the Cavapoo Shed?
But let’s cut to the chase here and state that the Cavapoo does indeed shed, but not as much as other breeds. That may come as a relief to you, but an explanation as to what is going on will make things clearer for you.
This breed is viewed as being a relatively low shedder, but they are not non-shedding dog. The reason why they are a low shedder is due to the Poodle aspect in their genes.
Everyone knows the Poodle is amazing when it comes to not shedding, or extremely limited amounts, and the Cavapoo takes that side of the genes, and they really run with it.
This is a relief as the Cavalier Spaniel, which makes up the other part of their genes, is not the lightest of shedders. So, the Poodle is capable of canceling out so much of the shedding to then turn the Cavapoo into a dog that is pretty much hypoallergenic.
Now, there’s no exact way of measuring how much they shed. It does also depend on the genes and how much of the Poodle they have.
The Cavapoo Genetic Split
If you do suffer from allergies and want the least amount of shedding, then you need to make sure you have an F1 Cavapoo. That means you have a first-generation when it comes to breeding. Ultimately, it leads to an even split between Cavalier and Poodle, so it’s 50/50 in their genes.
The problem is when you go beyond that first generation. It’s entirely possible you could end up with a Cavapoo that is 75% Cavalier and 25% Poodle. In that instance, they will shed a bit more and also produce dander and saliva in slightly higher quantities.
That difference of 25% can completely change what is going on for you from an allergy point of view. So, if you do want a dog that is more hypoallergenic, then the F1 puppy is the only option that is going to be viable.
See, we told you that it was going to be a bit more complicated than just saying yes or no when it comes to shedding. But it’s going to get even more complex, but we will explain it all to you.
But it’s Not as Clear
So if you thought that the Cavapoo is full-on hypoallergenic due to being a relatively low shedder, then sadly it means you don’t have a full explanation of this hypoallergenic thing.
People mistakenly believe they are only allergic to hair or fur, but that’s not true. Instead, it’s dander and saliva that people are allergic to. Of course, it may only be one of those things, or it could be both.
Now every single dog in the world will produce some dander and saliva. They cannot help it as dander is simply old skin.
We, in effect, produce our own version as we shed skin on a daily basis, and your dog is no different. However, it’s the quantity that they produce that will play an important role in all of this.
A Cavapoo and Dander
So while the realization that every dog in the world produces the stuff people are allergic to, it’s not all bad news. A Cavapoo does produce less dander and saliva than most other dogs. Once again, we have the Poodle to thank for this.
What you have here is a breed of dog that produces less dander than normal, and sheds less. They also scratch less than other dogs, due partly to reduced skin irritation, and that’s important.
What this does is it means the dander they do create is not being spread or thrown into the air as much as other breeds. This means there’s less chance of you reacting to their dander, and then there’s the grooming aspect to make life even easier for you.
A Cavapoo and Saliva
So we also mentioned saliva, and you may know how some breeds don’t just produce some saliva, but rather they drool on a constant basis.
The good news is that your Cavapoo is not a heavy drooler by any means. In fact, it’s going to be more focused on feeding them rather than something that happens on a constant basis.
That’s great news for allergy sufferers as it does reduce the time where you could suffer from some sort of a reaction. Also, they don’t leave drool all over the place where you may come into contact with it, so that’s another real bonus.
Overall, what you have here is a breed of dog that should not really trigger your allergies, at least in any major way.
Grooming Your Cavapoo
If you want to keep shedding to a minimum, or at least control it somewhat, then grooming is where it’s at. By doing the correct things from a grooming perspective, it means your Cavapoo will also shed less.
At the same time, you can control the amount of dander that is being spread around, to a certain extent, and that helps your allergies. So, how do you groom your Cavapoo, and what should you do?
The problem with the Cavapoo, at least when it comes to grooming, is connected to the Poodle. Their hair is prone to becoming matted and ending up in tangles, so you need to counteract that.
It’s important you get a bristle brush that also comes along with a pin brush on the other side. That will make it easier to get the job done when grooming your Cavapoo.
You should also make sure you brush your Cavapoo both before and after you give them a bath. This will make it easier to avoid getting all sorts of tangles when bathing them. Not doing this will only make life harder for you.
Brush and groom your Cavapoo around three times a week to keep on top of things. Using the correct brush will help remove the dead hair, and also reduce the amount of dander they produce.
You should then notice a significant difference in any hair lying around your home, even though there would not have been too much in the first place.
Bathing
We just mentioned brushing your Cavapoo both before and after bathing, but there’s another important point regarding bathing your Cavapoo. Doing so on a regular basis will result in reducing the amount of dander they produce as it helps to deal with any skin conditions.
Most owners will recommend giving your Cavapoo a bath every four to six weeks. However, this does depend on how active they are, and clearly, if they dive into the mud on a walk then you need to deal with it.
Clipping and a Professional Groom
While you can do most of the brushing at home, it can be worth your while taking your Cavapoo to a professional every once in a while. This can also be timed with getting them clipped, and this can be done a couple of times in the year.
A professional groomer will really manage to get all that dead hair out that may be irritating your Cavapoo. Reducing this irritation is important to keep the dander down and, as a result, your allergies should not be flaring up.
Once again, some people will actually take their Cavapoo to a professional for grooming every six weeks. If you want to incorporate that with bathing them, then this could certainly be an option.
Overall Conclusion
So the Cavapoo does shed, but not in a big way. You have the Poodle part to thank for this as it does mean they shed less than they would do if we were looking at a 100% Cavalier.
But do keep in mind the points we made about dander and saliva. Sure, the Cavapoo does produce less than other breeds, and that’s great. However, they are not 100% hypoallergenic.
In saying that, cutting the potential for an allergic reaction by more than half is a huge thing, so if you do suffer from allergies, then a Cavapoo could be the perfect dog for you.