Why Choose a Cavapoo as Your Pet?
A dog is not just a pet; it is a fully-fledged member of the family. Therefore, finding the right one needs a carefully thought-out selection process. Your dog should fit into your family’s lifestyle and, most importantly, suit your personality and needs.
If you prefer or require a small dog, you’ll love the Cavapoo. These mixed breed dogs prove friendly and loyal and make excellent companion dogs for families with or without children.
Apart from being the perfect companion, the Cavapoo has many intriguing qualities. Here, we break down all you need to know about this aristocratic English-French breed to help you decide if the Cavapoo is right for you.
What Is a Cavapoo?
A Cavapoo is a mixed breed dog between Miniature Poodles and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This crossbreed, also known as a Cavoodle, has several lovable qualities inherited from its parent breeds, including friendliness, playfulness, a calm but energetic disposition, and a sweet temperament.
Cavapoos are kind, warm, and attentive but need their mother’s guidance and the proper owner training to maintain this temperament.
The Cavapoo dog breed makes an excellent companion dog and ranks as one of the most sought-after toy breeds. But be careful not to over pet this designer breed as it can turn petulant, needy, and clingy, wanting to follow you everywhere you go.
History of the Cavapoo Breed
Today, Cavapoos enjoy popularity, but they haven’t been around for that long. Dog breeders first bred the Cavapoo in Australia in the 1990s from the two well-known parent breeds—the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Mini Poodle.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels originated from King Charles Spaniels and gained fame as aristocratic designer dogs in the 17th Century. These hybrid dogs are intelligent, fearless, and social, with a decent lifespan of nine to fourteen years.
Poodles, on the other hand, come from these opposite ends of the spectrum. This French breed stems from French working dogs bred to retrieve waterfowl from cold waters on hunting trips due to their strong hunting drive. They are active, alert, trainable, and faithful and have an excellent lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
From these two distinguished dog breeds comes the Cavapoo. On average, Cavapoos weigh between 10-25 pounds and have a lovable teddy bear appearance with a curly coat, dark eyes, and cute button nose. They are intelligent and not too highly strung, making them suitable for most homes, even those with young children.
In addition, Cavapoos prove incredibly easy to groom, which makes them effortless and affordable to own. Importantly, they have a low-allergen coat, making them an ideal dog for allergy sufferers. This breed also makes the perfect first-time dog.
Caring for Your Cavapoo
Cavapoos are generally easy to care for due to their smaller size. They are healthy dogs with few health concerns.
Nutrition
Because of this small size, Cavapoos don’t require an overly large diet. All they need is 1-1.5 cups of high-quality kibble for breakfast and dinner to maintain a healthy weight. However, keep an eye on your dog’s diet to avoid health problems.
Grooming
Cavapoos have a beautiful curly coat that needs a regular trim to avoid matting. Occasionally, you may need professional grooming services once or twice monthly to keep their coats manageable. Use a slicker brush to brush this crossbreed’s curly fur’; keep it short in a puppy or choose a teddy bear cut.
Exercise
Although Cavapoos have a working dog background (because of their Poodle heritage), they only need moderate to light exercise to remain healthy. Two to three 15-minute walks daily coupled with a few at-home play sessions should do the trick.
Because they have an in-built hunting drive), you should try as much as possible to walk them on a leash to avoid them running off after small animals and birds.
Health Issues
Although this breed generally enjoys good health, like all other small dogs, they do have health concerns. Commonly occurring conditions that can affect your Cavapoo dog’s health include:
· Cataracts: Cavapoos are susceptible to cataracts, which lead to cloudy vision. Surgery should usually correct this condition.
· Epilepsy: This breed suffers from epilepsy, possibly because of its Miniature Poodle parent heritage.
· Hip Dysplasia: This condition affects the hip joint of the Cavapoo, reducing flexibility and mobility.
· Mitral Valve Heart Disease: This genetic disease affects the valve located between the left atrium and ventricle. The mitral valve flaps fail to close tightly, causing the blood to leak backward.
· Periodontal Disease: This condition causes an infection or inflammation in your dog’s teeth, weakening your Cavapoo’s teeth and support structures. It can result in gum disease and other complications if not treated.
· Syringomyelia: A condition caused by fluid build-up in the spinal cord cavities near the brain. Medication and surgery can treat this condition.
Training Cavapoo Puppies
The Poodle parents of this crossbreed are highly trainable, alert, intuitive, and friendly, and they’ve passed on these characteristics to this intelligent breed. Cavapoo puppies have a moderate activity level but need mental stimulation; they benefit enormously from positive reinforcement training. According to the American Kennel Club dog registry, they do not make good kennel dogs due to high separation anxiety.
Reputable breeders begin training early, and so should you. As soon as you bring home your Cavapoo puppy, you should begin training, starting in small steps and gradually developing the program from there.
Instill consistent training in your Cavapoo puppy from eight weeks and incorporate various dog sports to avoid ending up with an obstinate, withdrawn, sullen, and antisocial dog.
Cavapoo: Key Breed Points
· Personality: Calm, Bright, Lovable
· Unique Selling Dog: Companion Dog, Lapdog, Housedog
· Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
· Height: 9-14 inches
· Weight: 10-20 pounds
· Price: $1700-$7500
Final Word
If you are in the market for a lovable, alert, faithful, and friendly fur baby, look no further than the Cavapoo. These dogs are a small breed with a huge heart; they will enliven your home with their intelligence and gentle personalities. What’s more, they are hypoallergenic dogs, which means no allergies for affected people.
Looking for your next family pet and don’t know where to start? At Family Affair Puppies, we are a reputable breeder with a genuine passion for man’s best friend. We offer only healthy, well-socialized puppies that will add to your family, enriching your lives and bringing joy to your everyday lives.
Call 260-350-4840 today to speak to our friendly Cavapoo breeders to learn more about this dog breed and start your journey to owning your wonderful companion.
