What is a Cavapoo?
A Cavapoo is a hybrid dog that is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. Also known as Cavoodles, they are a designer dog breed and they are intentionally bred. This means they are not just a mixed-breed dog or the result of an accidental breeding. The parents are carefully chosen.
Learning about Cavapoo Rescue
As is true with all breeds, sometimes a home doesn’t work out, for whatever reason. People and dogs sometimes aren’t a good match. A family may have to move and they can’t take a dog with them. Someone can lose a job, go through a divorce, or have health problems causing them to no longer be able to care for a dog. Through no fault of his own, a dog may find himself without a home. In some cases a dog will be returned to the breeder, especially if there is a contract and the breeder asks for the dog to be returned if the owner can’t keep him. In other cases an owner will take the dog to the pound or try to find a rescue organization willing to take the dog and find him a new home.
To adopt a Cavapoo you can check with your local animal shelter to see if they have any Cavapoos available. It’s possible that they might have one occasionally. You can also visit Petfinder.com. Cavapoos aren’t purebred dogs, which makes the search a little more difficult, but you can search under Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and under Poodles for mixes. You may come across a Cavapoo using this kind of search. For example, if you click on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on PetFinder.com, you may come up with over 100 dogs available for adoption. You can put in your location and then put in characteristics that are important to you such as whether the dog is housetrained to narrow the number.
Most of the dogs shown will be mixes and you can browse the photos to see if there is a Cavapoo to adopt. You may even find several. You might have to drive a few hours but you can find Cavapoo rescue dogs this way. Be sure to call the shelter listed for the dog right away if you are interested to get more information and to let them know you would like them to hold the dog. Some shelters will only hold a dog for three days before they euthanize.
How to Adopt a Cavapoo
Once you have found a Cavapoo you would like to adopt, you will need to see the dog in person to make sure this is the dog you want. You should spend some time together at the shelter. Even if the dog is very cute, you need to see if you like the dog’s personality. Talk to the shelter employees and see if you can find out about the dog’s background. Does the dog have any behavior problems? Some problems are minimal and can be overcome. For instance, if the dog barks too much or jumps up on people, these are common issues, especially with young dogs, and most dogs can be trained to stop these behaviors. However, if the dog has a bad temperament or bites people, these are more serious problems and you should avoid taking home a dog who could hurt someone.
Keep in mind that most shelter employees and volunteers are very kind-hearted. They don’t like to say anything bad about a dog because they would like to see them adopted. But you need to be careful about choosing a dog that you can really live with for the next 12-15 years. Be sure to listen carefully to what people say about a dog.
If you like the dog and he seems to be a good match for you and your family, you can adopt a Cavapoo by following the shelter’s rules. Most shelters will require that you are 18 years old to adopt a dog and ask for ID. They may ask for proof of permanent residence such as a utility bill. In many states a dog has to be spayed or neutered before adoption, and must be current on their rabies vaccination. Some places also require a dog to have a microchip. Some shelters ask for more. You should ask the shelter what they require when you call about the dog.
Cavapoo adoption isn’t difficult once you have located a dog. If you have ever adopted a dog before, then you know what to expect. If this is your first time adopting a dog, it’s nothing to worry about. Shelters are usually happy to work with people in order to find a dog a good home.
Adopting Cavapoo Puppies
If you are interested in Cavapoo puppies for adoption then you may have a difficult time finding one. Most of the Cavapoos in shelters are likely to be young adults or older dogs. Cavapoo puppies are adorable and most owners will hold on to them. Owners who give up dogs for behavior problems usually do so when a dog is over a year old and they aren’t cute little puppies any more. Cavapoos are still cute after they are puppies! But that’s when an owner might realize that, because he hasn’t trained his dog, the dog isn’t housebroken or he chews on furniture or has other behavior problems. This happens with every breed. Again, these are issues that can be solved with some training but they can cause some owners to turn a young dog in at the shelter.
If you are interested in a Cavapoo puppy and want to raise a puppy from a very young age, you may need to purchase one from a breeder. Or you may need to be prepared to wait a while for a Cavapoo puppy to come into a shelter. Keep watching Petfinder.com to see if one shows up.
Helping Your Cavapoo Rescue Dog Adapt
Most rescue dogs are very good at adapting to their new home. There are some factors that can make a difference in how Cavapoo rescue dogs adapt – their age, how they were cared for in their previous home, their overall health, and their emotions and mental state. Young dogs usually adapt quickly, but an older dog who has lived with the same person for most of his life can take some time to settle in. He may be missing his owner and his old life.
Dogs who have been well cared-for usually make the change more easily than dogs who have had a harder life. If you are adopting a dog who has had a hard life, you will need to be patient and give the dog time to get used to things he might not have known before. He might not be used to sleeping in the bed or cuddling on the furniture, for example. With any dog, if you are changing his food, make changes gradually.
As you might expect, healthy dogs and emotionally secure dogs will adjust to changes easier than dogs who have some health or emotional problems. Many dogs who go through shelters, however, are already feeling insecure. A shelter environment is scary for many dogs so they are already feeling overwhelmed. When you take your Cavapoo rescue dog home, give him a few days to settle in before coming to any conclusions about his personality. It may take him a few days to relax and begin to open up. When he starts to feel secure in his new home, then you will see what your new friend is really like.
If your Cavapoo rescue dog does have some behavior problems that need work, such as barking or jumping on people, consider working with a professional trainer who can help you teach your dog better manners. A basic obedience class is also a good idea for many dogs, as is more socialization. Start slowly though. You don’t want to throw a lot of new things are your adopted dog all at once.
Rescuing a Cavapoo is a very worthy thing to do. Cavapoos are warm, loving dogs. Giving one of these dogs a new start in life can be good for both you and your new Cavapoo.
