The Cavapoo is a very popular designer dog. Cavapoo dogs are a cross between two purebred dogs – a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy breed although larger than the King Charles Spaniel and about the size of an adolescent regular breed. The three types of Poodles are also used in the development of the Cavapoo, although the toy Poodle is the most common.

The most common and the club recognized name of the designer breed is the Cavapoo. However they have also been known as Cavoodles, Cavadoodles and Cavapoos, among other names.

What are Cavapoos?

The Cavapoo is a mixed-breed or hybrid dog bred in order to combine the best characteristics of the Poodle with those of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The hybrid is recognized by four hybrid dog registries. This includes the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR) and the Designer Breed Registry (DBR).

Cavapoos may vary in size and in color, but they will not vary much in personality and character traits. Cavapoo dogs were bred to eliminate as much as possible the allergies many have to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. So Cavapoo dogs are hypoallergenic (which means “low-allergy,” not “no allergies”) and very, very sweet. They come in different sizes and colors. Cavapoos have silky, flat coats. All Cavapoo dogs are either first or second generation crossbreeds. You breed two adult Cavapoos to each other in order to produce a second generation Cavapoo.

The colors can be tricolor, tan, brown, black and white, solid white, or solid black. Sizes are based mostly on the size of the poodle parent. Crossbreeding has resulted in a wider gene pool and puppies that have the best of both breeds. A crossbreed does not always produce the best of the two breeds. No breeder can control this entirely. So just know that one puppy might not be as hypoallergenic as another.

Cavapoo Sizes

Because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can vary a little in size and because all three sizes of Poodles (standard, miniature and toy) are used, the adult Cavapoo can be as large as a standard Poodle and as small as a tea cup size. The teacup Poodle is not recognized by the AKC.

All three of the sizes have the same body shape which is rectangular and well balanced. Their legs are long and straight while their chest is deep. They have a curly tail. Cavapoos usually live to be around 12-13 years old.

The most common size for Cavapoo Dogs is the toy. This comes mostly from the toy poodle which is a breed recognized by the AKC, the BKC, and the CKC. (American, British, and Canadian Kennel Clubs respectively). The teacup is probably one of the fastest growing sizes of Poodle and Cavapoo but it is not a separate breed recognized by any of the major kennel clubs. The Teacup Cavapoo can be either a first generation cross between a small Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a teacup Poodle, or a second or later generation cross between a toy Cavapoo couple.

Basic Cavapoo Facts

Cavapoo Puppies for Sale

The first place to look for Cavapoo puppy breeders and toy cavapoo puppies for sale is rescues and shelters. There are Cavapoo rescues around the country and you might find a puppy there that desperately needs a home. Other ways to find your toy Cavapoo puppies for sale include looking online on sites like this one or Petfinder.

Miscellaneous Cavapoo Facts

Adult Cavapoos come in many colors as previously mentioned but the all black Cavapoo and black Cavapoo puppy is somewhat rare. A black and white puppy is fairly common, but all black with no other color is harder to find.

The differences in coat can be dramatic depending upon the coats of the parents. Coat maintenance then will vary depending upon the parents. Shedding is much more common with the Cavalier King James Spaniel than it is with poodles. So your Cavapoo adult will need less grooming if they get their coats from the poodle rather than the Cavalier. Usually regardless of parentage, you should brush the Cavapoo once a week. If you see any tangles forming you might need to brush him more often and trim the coat at least a couple times a year.

The adult Cavapoo has some of the health issues of the Poodle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel including cataracts and heart issues. You should do your homework before acquiring a Cavapoo puppy and make sure the adult parents are healthy. Genetic testing is also a good idea.

Both parent breeds are highly intelligent, learn quickly and want to please you. They love to have fun and training can be fun if done correctly. The Cavapoo puppy is adorable and the adult Cavapoo equally so. This makes this designer breed very popular. The dark side of this is that the popularity of the hybrid makes them very attractive to the puppy mill crowd and to irresponsible backyard breeders. Don’t buy a Cavapoo in a pet store and do your homework when working with breeders. Insist on seeing both parents where they live.

Cavapoo Temperament

Cavapoo adults do very well with families and children. However, if you have a really small dog, teach your children not to be rough with them and to be careful around them. The Cavapoo temperament is one of the sweetest of any type of dog. In addition to this they are highly trainable as previously mentioned. They are usually very happy, good natured and friendly dogs.

The Cavapoo temperament does also have the propensity to be overly active or hyper. They need exercise; long walks will calm them down right away. They want to be with you all the time and they want to please you, so they are very happy to walk as long as you want to walk. Adult Cavapoos are so friendly that they do not know any strangers. This is great but you need to be sure no one walks off with your Cavapoo; do not count on him to be a watchdog for you.

Cavapoos are great dogs for individuals and for families as long as you recognize that they will want you to be with them every minute of every day. Remember they are very trainable, want to please you and are highly intelligent. Any size except the teacup does well with agility and obedience competitions.

They are great in apartments as long as you don’t have the largest Cavapoo. Condos and single family homes are just as good. The Cavapoo does not care as long as he can be with you. They don’t need a lot of room, just a lot of love. Don’t leave them alone as they need to be with people. Other dogs might be fine with more alone time, but Cavapoos long to be with people.