Pros And Cons Of Cavapoos – Is It The Right Dog For You?

The Cavapoo is a mix between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle. What you get is a cute little puppy who will be a loving member of the family. 

These dogs are also known for being hypoallergenic, which is a very desirable trait for people with allergies. But there are a few undesirable traits that Cavapoos have. To figure out if this is the breed for you, let’s look at the pros and cons of Cavapoos.

Pros

• They are loving dogs
• Sociable and great with children
• Non-shedding and non-drooling
• Intelligent and easy to train
• Good for first-time dog owners
• Adaptable apartment dogs
• Doesn’t eat a lot
• Healthy

Cons

• Prone To Separation Anxiety
• Difficult To Housebreak
• Expensive
• High Grooming Needs
• Barks A Lot
• Sensitive To Heat

The Cavapoo first appeared in the 1990s in Australia. It was created by breeding a Standard Poodle with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breeders wanted to combine the calm and friendly nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the intelligence of the Poodle. They also intended to breed the hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle.

In the last few decades, mixes of the Poodle with other dog breeds have become a trend. However, the Cavapoo is probably one of the most desired Poodle mix breeds out there. It is important to note that this mixed breed is not recognized by the AKC, due to it being a mix.

Pros Of Owning A Cavapoo

There are many positives to owning a Cavapoo. Here are only a few reasons why you should get this breed.

Loving Dogs

The Cavapoo temperament is known for its very loving and affectionate nature. Its Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent was bred as a lap dog for royalty throughout the years. Because of this, the Cavapoo can easily develop a strong bond with its owner that lasts for a lifetime. Cavapoos are perfect for people that want a companion dog in their life. This dog also loves cuddling up with you on the couch and keeping you company when you are lonely.

Sociable And Great With Children

Cavapoos are very social and like meeting new people and animals. They can easily make new friends with strangers and their dogs. If you are bringing a Cavapoo to a home that already has another dog or pet, you shouldn’t worry too much. These dogs are very friendly and have a low prey drive. Because of this, they are also great with children. Cavapoos are fun and love attention, so your children will love playing with them. Of course, you should still keep an eye on them because this dog is small and can be hurt.

Non-shedding And Non-drooling

The Cavapoo breed is desirable due to its low-shedding coat. This trait is inherited from its Poodle parent. Because of that, Cavapoos are considered hypoallergenic dogs. That makes them great for people that have allergies. Some Cavapoos are less hypoallergenic than others. To get the most out of their low-shedding coat an F1b Cavapoo, which is a mix of a Cavapoo and a Poodle is the best option. This is because 75% of their genes come from the Poodle.

Another great thing is that these dogs do not drool, so you won’t be expected to clean up after them. 

Intelligent And Easy To Train

Another great thing that Cavapoos inherit from their Poodle parent is their intelligence. These dogs are pretty smart and will learn all commands much more quickly than other dogs.

A part of the Cavapoo personality is that they are very eager to please. Cavapoos inherit this from their Cavalier Spaniel parent. The fact that they are so eager to please their owners means that they will make training much easier. This means that you can teach some very fun tricks to your Cavapoo.

That said, all dogs need to be trained and socialized from an early age, no matter how intelligent they are.

Good For First-Time Dog Owners

Because Covapoos are so lovable, sociable, and eager to please, they are considered great dogs for people that never owned a dog. A Cavapoo won’t get angry if the owner makes a mistake. They are easy to introduce to other family and friends. They are highly intelligent and will react better to commands given by their inexperienced owners, compared to other stubborn breeds. But they do require attention and you will need to make time to bond with them because they are prone to separation anxiety.

Adaptable Apartment Dogs

Full grown Cavapoo dogs can reach around 10-15 inches in height and 15-25 pounds in weight. They are considered small to medium-sized dogs and their size differs according to its Poodle parent. This makes Cavapoos great dogs to have in an apartment. Some Cavapoos are small enough to fit in pet carriers, so you can carry them with you.

They are also very adaptable dogs when it comes to their owner. They can be couch potatoes, or play around for hours on end.

Doesn’t Eat A Lot

Because Cavapoos are small dogs, they don’t require a lot of food to obtain optimal nutrition. Around 1 cup of food, every day is the average for this dog breed. This is a good thing because you won’t need to spend too much money to buy food.

Whenever you do feed your dog, you should always go for a high-quality diet. Including more protein and fewer grains in dog food is important. There are many good dog food companies on the market like Pedigree and Purina that are good choices for all dogs.

Healthy

The average Cavapoo lifespan is around 10-15 years. They are considered to be one of the healthier hybrid dogs. This makes them quite inexpensive dogs because you won’t have to spend money on vet bills. Even though they are relatively healthy, there are a few health issues that can affect Cavapoos. These include Hip dysplasia, Progressive retinal atrophy, Slipping knee pads, Mitral valve disease, and Ear infections.

Before you buy your Cavapoo, you need to talk to your breeder about any diseases its parents might have.

Cons Of Owning A Cavapoo

Even though there are many benefits of owning a Cavapoo dog breed, there are some things that you should keep an eye on.

Prone To Separation Anxiety

Because Cavapoos are so affectionate and bond with their owners, they are very prone to developing separation anxiety. This is a disorder that happens to dogs that are left alone for long periods of time. Symptoms of this disorder include non-stop barking, howling, whining, chewing, digging, and even defecating and urinating in the home. These Cavapoo behavior problems can make it hard for people who have busy lives to care for this dog. You should make sure to always have someone in the home to hang out with your Cavapoo to prevent them.

Difficult To Housebreak

Cavapoos can be difficult to housebreak. That means that you will have a hard time teaching them where to potty. You will need to start training very soon after taking it home to avoid accidents. The best way to housebreak it is to use crate training. When your Cavapoo puppy is resting in its crate, take it out and immediately take it outside for a walk and potty. Soon, it will realize that potty comes after the crate. Always give positive reinforcement after it listens to you.

Expensive

Even though they are a mixed breed, Cavapoos can be quite expensive. People like the traits of this breed so they are very desirable. The average price for a Cavapoo is around $1500 – $2000. This price can differ depending on the dog’s size, color, and parent’s achievements. That means that a Toy Cavapoo might have a different price compared to a Standard Cavapoo. Make sure to always get your Cavapoo puppies from a reputable breeder, and avoid puppy mills. You can also consider adopting a Cavapoo as the cheaper option.

High Grooming Needs

Cavapoos don’t shed a lot, but they still need regular grooming. Because their hair is wavy and long, it needs daily brushing. This will prevent the formation of painful tangles and knots. To properly brush your pup, you will need your own brushes. The dog also needs to be bathed and trimmed from time to time. You might need to visit a professional groomer for this. You should also trim your dog’s nails, clean its ears, and brush its teeth regularly.

Barks A Lot

Even though they are small and friendly, Cavapoos are known for their excessive barking. This behavior can come from separation anxiety, but it can also come from attention seeking. The Cavapoo energy level is high, so they will bark around in the house if they are not taken on a walk. Cavapoos also bark if someone approaches the door, so they can function as watchdogs.  If the dog sees that you react to its barking, it might learn it as a behavior to repeat whenever it wants attention. So make sure you get rid of this through training.

Sensitive To Heat

Cavapoos have a double coat that can insulate their skin during hot and cold weather. This means that they can keep cool during summer, and keep warm during winter. But if the dog is left outside for too long, it could overheat and suffer a heat stroke. Symptoms of overheating include excessive panting, dry and sticky gums, bruising and changing the color of the gums, lethargy, disorientations, and seizures.

Another thing worth mentioning is that shaving the coat won’t prevent overheating. In fact, it will worsen the coat and increase the chance of overheating.

The Cavapoo Pros And Cons – Is This Breed For You?

The Cavapoo is a very popular mixed dog breed. It is created by mixing a Poodle with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It was first created in the 1990s and since then has been adopted by many families around the world. There are pros and cons to owning this dog.

The pros of Cavapoos are that they are very affectionate, friendly, and loving dogs. They don’t shed a lot so they are great for allergy sufferers. They also don’t drool and don’t eat a lot of food. They are intelligent dogs and eager to please, so they are perfect for first-time dog owners. These dogs are also relatively healthy, so you won’t have to spend a lot of money on vet bills.

The cons of Cavapoos is that they are prone to separation anxiety. They are difficult to housebreak, require a lot of grooming, and are quite expensive to buy.

FAQ

How far should you walk a Cavapoo?

A Cavapoo can walk around 1.5 kilometers, or around 1 mile, in 20-30 minutes. This is the average for all Cavapoo dogs. If you have a mini Cavapoo, its exercise requirements might be lower.

Are Cavapoos diggers?

Cavapoos are very affectionate dogs and will bond with their owners. The problem is that if they are left alone they can develop separation anxiety. And yes, as part of this anxiety, Cavapoos can start digging.

Is a male or female Cavapoo better?

The pros and cons of Cavapoos are the same regardless of their gender. Male Cavapoos are more docile but they tend to mark their territories more. Female Cavapoos are known to be more assertive than males.