Discussing, The Pros and Cons of owning a Cavapoo. The Cavapoo, also recognized as the Cavoodle, is what you get when you crossbreed the Miniature Poodle and the Cavalier Spaniel. It’s a designer dog that was bred in America back in the 1950s to get a low-shedding dog. It’s now one of Australia’s most popular dog breeds.
As a low-shedding dog, the Cavoodle is perfect for people suffering from allergies. It’s known for its excellent temperament, and it’s an entertaining and highly trainable dog. This post attempts to share everything you need to know about the Cavapoo, so you may want to stick around.
Appearance
- The general expression of a Cavoodle’s face is usually friendly and inviting. They have relatively big eyes and long floppy ears, which makes them one of the cutest dog breeds around the world. Besides, they’re quite small but have a somewhat muscular build, making them ideal for children.
- As we’ve already established, the Cavoodle is a mixed breed, so you shouldn’t expect it to have a standard look. It can look more like a Poodle or more like a Cavalier. A fully grown Cavapoo is around 9 to 14 inches in height and could weigh anywhere between 9 and 25 pounds.
- As far as colors, Cavapoos come in an extensive range of colors that include gold, cream, fawn, chestnut, white, and chocolate. The Cavapoo can also be tri-colored. The Cavapoos’ coat tends to be quite short and soft. Their coats tend to be either wavy, curly, or somewhere in between.
- The Cavapoos’ coat is a lot like that of the Poodle, which means that they don’t shed. Their coat continues to grow, meaning that they require regular grooming. Ordinarily, the Cavapoo’s coat is kept short. One of the most popular haircuts given to Cavapoos is the teddy bear.
Temperament
- It makes sense for the Cavoodle to have an excellent temperament since both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Miniature Poodle tend to be friendly and outgoing dogs. However, other factors can affect a dog’s attitude that you should take into consideration.
- One of these factors includes the amount of socialization that the dog receives. If the puppy isn’t well socialized, it’s likely to have a bad temperament. When socialized correctly, Cavoodles tend to be quite warm, kind, and attentive. They’re very entertaining.
- However, there’s a pretty fine line that you must walk when giving a Cavapoo your attention. Given too much time and attention, the Cavoodle can become quite clingy and needy. In contrast, if you’re not giving it enough attention, you’ll find the Cavoodle to be distant and withdrawn from you.
- Generally speaking, Cavapoos crave love and attention. So if you’re not ready for a dog that wants to be with you all day every day, you should consider getting a low-maintenance dog such as the Boston Terrier, Dobermann Pinscher, French Bulldog, or the Manchester Terrier.
Health Issues
- There are several common health issues that Cavapoos are prone to. Before we cover some of these issues, we advise working with a known Cavapoo breeder if you choose to adopt a puppy.
- Hip Dysplasia – This is a hip socket malfunction that can be the result of genetic issues or under-developed muscles. It’s more common among large-sized breeds but can also affect other breeds. Hip dysplasia will lead to arthritis and lameness.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy – This is a group of genetic diseases that can affect cats and dogs. It’s an inherited disease and can cause blindness. Both the Spaniel and the Poodle are prone to it, which makes the Cavapoo prone to it as well.
- Slipping Knee Pads – This health problem is a dislocation of the dog’s kneecap from its normal position, and it’s the result of genetic malformation or trauma. Notable symptoms include occasional skipping, hindlimb lameness, and abnormal hindlimb movement.
- Mitral Valve Disease – This disease occurs when the mitral valve in the heart begins to leak. It’s also associated with the abnormal pumping of blood in the heart’s left side. The disease has symptoms such as heart murmur, and it could lead to heart failure.
- Ear Infections – Cavapoos have pretty long and floppy ears, making them very prone to ear infections. Should you decide to adopt a Cavapoo, you have to make sure that its ears are always clean so that the dog doesn’t have to suffer from this health problem.
Grooming Needs
- The Cavapoo is a low-shedding dog, which is why it’s an excellent choice for those who struggle with allergies. The Cavapoo is pretty easy to look after, but it’s still necessary to take your dog to a professional groomer regularly every four to six weeks.
- Depending on the genes inherited from the parent dogs, the Cavapoo’s coat can either be wavy or curly. We highly recommend that you brush your pup’s coat every couple of days. Brushing stops it from tangled and developing mats. We also recommend a bath every two to four weeks.
- If you can’t dedicate the time to take your dog to a professional groomer and you’d like to groom it at home, we recommend you buy high-quality clippers to make the process easier. If you can’t commit to the responsibilities as mentioned above, you’ll be better off looking at other breeds.
Exercise Needs
- One of the best attributes of the Cavapoo breed is that it doesn’t need much exercise compared to other breeds of dogs. However, this doesn’t mean that you can get away with not giving it any exercise at all. These dogs require daily walks, so make sure you consider that.
- Cavapoos are some of the best dogs to adopt if you live in a house that has a garden or a yard of some sort, as it allows the pup to roam around freely and get the amount of exercise it needs. If you live in an apartment or if you don’t have time for daily walks, consider a different breed.
Ease of Training
- The Cavapoo’s parent breeds, known for their intelligence and high trainability, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their offspring would share the same qualities. However, it’s essential to train the Cavapoo as early as possible, preferably the moment it enters your home.
- Why should you start training the Cavapoo early in its life? Because younger Cavapoos are a lot more capable of taking in your teachings than when they’re older. If you wait too long to train the dog, it’ll be tough to get it to do what you want, as it’ll be headstrong and unyielding.
- We highly suggest you socialize your Cavapoo as early as possible so that it doesn’t grow to be shy and distant. Moreover, you may want to consider doggy obedience courses. If you give your dog enough time, attention, and training, it’ll grow to be your sweetest, most endearing friend.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic – If you’re someone who suffers from dander allergy, a Cavapoo will be a perfect dog for you since it has a low-shedding coat just like a lot of Poodle crosses.
- Great Temperament – The Cavapoo is one of the kindest and warmest dog breeds that you can adopt. It’s also sociable, entertaining, good-natured, and excellent with the kids.
- Highly Trainable – Cavapoos are known to be rapid learners, so by providing short and consistent training sessions, the dog will find it easy to take in the thing you teach it.
- Very Adaptable – The Cavapoo is a small-sized dog, so no matter the size of your living space, the dog will find it easy to adapt, be it a spacious house or a small apartment.
- Highly Intelligent – One of the Cavoodle’s parent breeds is the Poodle, the second most intelligent dog breed in the world, which explains the Cavapoos’s high intelligence.
Cons
- Requires Regular Grooming – Cavoodles need to be brushed daily, cleaned weekly, bathed regularly, and groomed once a month. They’re high-maintenance dogs.
- Requires Attention – Cavapoos requires a lot of attention and a fair amount of exercise, which is why we don’t recommend buying them if you tend to have hectic schedules.
- Heat Sensitive – Cavapoos are highly sensitive to heat, which is why it’s advised not to leave them out in the sun for too long, or else they could die from overheating.
In Conclusion
Generally speaking, the Cavoodle is an affectionate, good-natured, loyal, and playful puppy that you’ll find extremely fun to have as a pet. Simply follow the instructions shared in this article, and you’ll find it to be your best friend in no time. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
