Cavapoo… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Even though you might find it challenging to say the word “Cavapoo,” particularly if you’ve got a bunch of Cavapoo puppies bouncing all over the place, truth be told, Cavapoos are great dogs and serve a purpose significantly more important than just bringing a smile to our faces!

You see…

The Cavapoo is just one example of a new trend in dog breeding where sophisticated breeders are actively taking a “proactive” approach to protect some traditional breeds that have been “damaged” due to excessive and irresponsible breeding.

These new ‘Hybrid’ or ‘Designer’ dogs, as they are often called, serve a huge purpose in adding genetic material to some of the more “threatened” breeds, thus improving the species’ overall health.

For example…

Humans have bred dogs like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for almost (or possibly more than) a thousand years. As a result, any natural evolution that would have prevented certain “weaker” treats from being removed from the breed naturally has instead, in some cases, been “promoted” due to an aesthetic preference by people.

And in the case of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, this “preference” for a small compact head has led to nearly 95% of the breed testing positive for Chiari Malformations, with almost 25% of these same dogs suffering from extensive symptoms!

Unfortunately…

There isn’t any way one prevents a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from developing this condition other than by simply not allowing this breed to continue breeding in its current form.

Enter hybrid breeds…

Like the Cavapoo, where responsible breeders have taken the best of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Standard or Miniature Poodle to create a healthier “hybrid” of the two breeds… AKA the Cavapoo or Cava.

So, what is the Cavapoo, exactly?

The Cavapoo is a crossbreed of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the standard or miniature Poodle.  Now the question ought to be,

Why did they mix a poodle with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

Well, first of all, it helps that mixing the two makes adorable puppies.

But beyond that, both the Standard and Miniature Poodle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are also great family pets, which is another reason why the Cavapoo “experiment” has been so successful.

Now since we’re talking about…

For a “mixed” dog breed, it only makes sense that we take a moment and briefly discuss the lineage breeds creating this “hybrid” or “designer dog” so that we might gain a better understanding of what your Cavapoo or Cavoodle puppy might look like (and yes, some folks do prefer to call Cavapoos, Cavoodles)

The Poodle…

Without going into too much detail here in this article, what we can tell you is that the Poodle is “generally” believed to have developed somewhere within Western Europe (the exact location is something that many folks will debate, which is why we’ll just say western Europe to avoid any issues).

The Poodle’s original purpose is another issue folks like to argue about.  Some claim they carried water, others claim they were companions of aristocracy, and idealists would like to think they were once hunters.

We at IndulgeYourPet lean towards those who believe they probably had some practical purpose before the aristocracy “hi-jacked” and made them more of a “showpiece” than an actual working dog.

At any rate…

The Poodle breed has been around for a very long time. There are pictures of Poodles dating from as early as the very first century, so we know they have been man’s best friend for a very long time.  It should be noted that the Miniature Poodle is a more recent strain of the Poodle family and didn’t appear until the 1800s.

The Cavapoo’s other ancestor…

On the other hand, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog that was developed for the “lap.”  This member of the toy breed was specifically bred to sit by the right-hand side of King Charles II, which is why they are still called a King Charles Spaniel even today!

First recorded in the 12^th Century…

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has been the victim of centuries worth of manipulative breeding, which, as we’ve already mentioned before, has left the breed to the point where very soon, it could be considered “unethical” to continue breeding them, which is why “Creations” like the Cavapoo or Cavoodle are a good thing.

What will the Cavapoo dog breed temperament be like?

Your Cavapoo could be feisty like a Poodle, or he might be lazy like a well-bred Spaniel. He may be an excellent and alert watchdog, or he may like to lounge on your lap – there is no telling with this mixture of genes.  He might be better titled a Cavapoo and more of a Cavoodle – you don’t know which genes will be more dominant when you buy a Hybrid Dog Breed.

What you can be….

Sure, your Cavapoo will be small and “probably friendly,” although poodles can be a little nippy if not socialized correctly. Obedience classes should sort that out early.  That said, we feel comfortable recommending these little guys for families, including those with small children, because, for the most part, these little guys will get along with just about anyone.

Cavapoo Appearance

While appearances can vary, your typical Cavapoo will have wavy fur that can get long and tangled, so you have to brush him regularly and bathe him often; so we give the Cavapoo three paws up for maintenance.  They will typically require regular trips to the doggy hairdressers to keep him trim and stop you from washing his butt every time he walks (Yep, that’s right!).

They’re also…

Going to be short (only about 8-15 inches) and usually weigh around 10-20 lbs.  Depending on their genes, they might have long or short ears, but they will always have a blunt snout.  Your Cavapoo will also inherit weepy eyes from both parents, so wipe them clean with a tissue and a little salt water daily to stop the tears from staining or becoming crusted to the fur around the eyes.

The good news is that…

The Cavapoo’s fur is generally considered hypo-allergenic, which could make a Cavapoo puppy the perfect choice for someone allergic to a different type of dog.

Unfortunately…

The Cavapoo (or Cavoodle, as you prefer) is still not a fully recognized breed by the American Kennel Club, and, as such, the Breed Standard has yet to be set. This will likely change shortly as moms and dads of the Cavapoo everywhere unite to take matters into their own hands and form grassroots efforts to get the Cavapoo recognized by the AKC.

There is a Cavapoo Owners Club in the UK already, and we suspect it won’t be long before we see a similar thing in the States.

Is the Cavpoo a healthy dog breed?

So far, so good! The point of these Designer breeds is to take the healthy aspects of each parent and discard the unhealthy genes, and so far, the Cavoodle has been mainly untouched, so we give the Cavapoo one paw up for health.  That said, both parents are heavily overbred and carry some fairly serious genetically inherited health issues that you should familiarize yourself with. The most common of these include:

• Entropion and cataracts, both eye problems that can lead to blindness…as well as Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
• Patellar Luxation can occur in these dogs when the kneecap comes away from the tendons,
• Mitral Valve Disease (heart problem)
• And Chiari malformations.

We should also point out that…

The Cavapoo is just one of many new and exciting dog “hybrids” out there.  So, if you are considering purchasing a Cavapoo puppy or looking for Cavapoo puppies for sale, you might also want to consider looking at other hybrid options.

Hybrid Dog Options such as:

• Aussiedoodle – Australian Shepherd and a Poodle,
• Bassetoodle – Basset Hound and a Poodle,
• Bugg – Boston Terrier and a Pug,
• CavaPom – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Pomeranian,
• Cockapoo – Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle,
• Goldendoodle – Golden Retriever and a Poodle,
• Irish Doodle – Irish Setter and a Poodle,
• Labradoodle – Labrador Retriever and a Poodle,
• PomaPoo – Pomeranian and a Poodle,
• Puggle – Pugg and a Poodle
• Schnoodle – Schnauzer and a Poodle
• Yorkipoo – Yorkie and a Poodle.

Now you may be thinking…

“Wow, that’s a lot of different hybrids to choose from!”

This is true and certainly, one way to look at this list.  Or you could also look at this list and say, “wow,” that’s a lot of different dog breeds that responsible breeders are trying to help out.

Because remember, the reason why these “hybrids” are being created is to try to protect the “traditional” breed from being destroyed by overbreeding.

This list should also…

Serve as a warning to anyone thinking about adopting a new puppy that they could become sick or injured one day.  This is why we here at IndulgeYourPet always advise any new pet owner to take a moment and see what it would cost to purchase a pet insurance policy.

Because of the last thing…

What you want to have to happen is for your pet to become sick and “rack up” a HUGE medical bill that you alone will have to pay!  That is unless you decided to purchase a pet insurance policy which could go a long way to minimize your financial responsibility and make getting the proper care for your animal a lot easier!

For more information about pet insurance and who we feel offers some of the best pet insurance policies, visit our article: Best Pet Insurance Companies.