The Pros and Cons of Cavapoo Ownership
Your Cavapoo has an affectionate and loving nature, making them a great addition to the family if you have children.
The breed is also known as a Cavadoodle or a Cavoodle. It has been becoming increasingly popular over the last few decades.
Cavapoo History
Over the past few decades, the combination of poodles with other purebred dogs has become increasingly popular.
With the Cavapoo, breeders are mixing the low shedding hypoallergic traits of the Poodle with the excellent nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Cavapoos first appeared in the 1990s in Australia. These dogs have since become one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States and in England. Because of the Cavapoo being a hybrid, your dog is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. The breed does not have a standard.
To more understand where the Cavapoo came from, a look at the parent breeds is necessary. The Poodle came from the French and German border around the 15th and 16th centuries.
Poodles were associated with the upper class at the time and were used for hunting waterfowl.
Because of the Poodle’s adorable look, they became trendy dogs later on. So when the Standard Poodle was bred, the smallest pup from each litter was chosen and bred.
This breeding produced the Toy Poodle, which was first seen in America in the 20th century.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel came from Roman times and was used as foot warmers and lapdogs. From the 1700s on, these dogs were known as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because King Charles loved them.
The dogs were imported into the US around the 1940s, and in 1954 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Club was founded.
What Cavapoos Are a Mix of and Why It Matters
The Cavapoo is the offspring of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Toy or Miniature Poodle.
However, because the Cavapoo is not purebred, you won’t know which characteristic your dog will inherit from which parent.
One litter could take after the Poodle parent, while another litter may be more like the Spaniel parent. It’s often thought that a hybrid puppy will always have the best of both breeds. However, it doesn’t always happen that way.
The genes combine in ways and how they express themselves is not something that a breeder can always control.
So, this is something to remember when you pay for a dog that you have been told is hypoallergenic or is healthier than the purebred parents.
What Makes Up a Cavapoo
On average, your full-grown Cavapoo may reach 10 to 15 inches in height and weigh about 15 to 25 pounds. This breed easily adapts to apartment living.
You might want to remember that since your Cavapoo is a hybrid, how tall he’ll be is based on the parent’s pedigree.
Now some other factors which make up a Cavapoo:
Coat:
Your pet’s coat can be one of three different types of coat. The types of coats are fleece, wool, and hair. The fleece coats are the most common.
These types of coats have loose wave or curl. There isn’t much shedding, and the coats are soft to the touch. It’s a low-maintenance coat with clipping occasionally.
If your pup has a wool coat, it will also be low shedding and have curls that are tight. Because of these tight curls, the dander is trapped.
For people who are allergy-prone, this is the best type of coat. But these coats require daily brushing and regular clipping because the coat does grow.
If your pet has a hair coat, it will be rough and wiry. This would give your dog a Terrier appearance. A hair coat does shed the most out of the three types.
However, your dog will require less grooming because the coat doesn’t grow much.
The color of your Cavapoo can come in any range of colors. However, the most common colors are black, red, apricot, gold, white, Blenheim, black and white, or tricolor, white, black, or tan.
Personality:
Your dog is a gentle breed and is highly social. This type of breed loves everyone and is good with children. They are friendly, loyal, and get along well with other animals.
But because they are a small dog, children over the age of six are the best age.
Temperament:
A Cavapoo is a reasonably active dog who enjoys being outside. Your Cavapoo will want to be near you and won’t want to be left alone. Your pup will be loyal to you, too, and will thrive in a family home. Your pet will build strong bonds will all members of the family.
Intelligence:
The level of intelligence in a Cavapoo is high because the dog gets its intelligence from the Poodle side of the parent.
Not that the King Charles Spaniel isn’t intelligent, but the Poodle has the second-highest intelligence rating out of 195 breeds.
Because your pooch is so smart and eager to please, it makes training him easier. Your dog will respond better to positive reinforcement as opposed to negative reinforcement.
Life Expectancy:
The life expectancy of your Cavapoo is between 10 to 14 years.
Barking:
Unfortunately, one of the things these dogs are known for is excessive barking. The barking can be caused by attention-seeking, separation anxiety, or if someone just strolls past the house.
Because these dogs are so intelligent, they soon figure out that barking gets them attention. Before you know it, you will have an excessive barking dog on your hands.
Plus, excessive barking is one way they show emotions of happiness and excitement. Barking is used to express a range of emotions as well.
The barking issues depend on the temperament and training of the individual dog.
Health Issues
Some common health issues for this breed include the following:
Luxating Patella:
This is a malfunction of the kneecap jumping from its usual location. It’s common in small dogs.
Lameness and pain are caused by this condition, and your dog will raise his leg up if it happens to him. Reducing symptoms is the only treatment, but surgery is possible.
Progressive retinal atrophy:
This is a group of degenerative eye diseases that could affect your dog’s eyes and lead to blindness. The symptoms range from night blindness, reluctance to go down the stairs, being afraid to go into a dim or dark area, or to explore new places.
The cause isn’t understood, and owners need to help their dog adjust to changes in his environment.
Hip dysplasia:
This condition is hereditary. It involves the ball and socket of the hip joint that don’t merge properly.
Increased laxity in the hip is the result that causes degenerative changes. The condition may need surgery to be corrected.
Congenital heart problems:
This is a condition of the heart where pressure is created from the left ventricle when the blood pumps into the body. The wearing out of the valve is caused by the contractions and eventually causes leakage.
What Type of Owner is Best for a Cavapoo?
If you have a lot of energy and time to give to this intelligent and somewhat demanding dog, then this is the perfect dog for you.
These dogs are active and need to be stimulated both mentally and physically. Therefore, long daily walks are required for this dog.
This breed needs to be involved in all family activities because they love spending time with their owners. If you let your dog home alone very often, he can develop separation anxiety. This is not a dog who can spend long hours in solitude.
Pros
- Low shedding: Though there isn’t such a thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, the Cavapoo comes close because of low shedding. This dog inherits the low shedding trait from its poodle parent. However, there isn’t a guarantee that your Cavapoo will inherit these genes.
- Wants to please his owner: The Cavapoo was bred to show unconditional love and loyalty to its owner. So, it makes sense that your dog is eager to please. Your dog will do everything he can to do what is asked of him and make you happy.
- Sizing: Since the average Cavapoo is between 10 to 15 inches in height, it’s perfect for apartment living. The dog couldn’t be considered a lap dog, but they are portable and easy to take with you.
- Healthy: The Cavapoo is considered to be one of the healthiest dogs among the hybrid poodle breeds. If the parents are well-bred and come from a good bloodline, then a lot of the health issues can be avoided. If you buy a puppy from a reputable breeder, the health risk is also lower.
- Colors: You have a variety of different colors to choose from depending on their parents.
Cons
- Separation anxiety: This is the number one complaint about the Cavapoo. Some breeds do suffer from this disorder more than others, and this is one of them. The separation anxiety comes from the King Charles Spaniel’s side. So this is something to consider if you’re not at home much.
The anxiety can manifest as destructive digging or chewing or persistent whining, barking, or howling. Your dog could even urine or defecate inside your home when you’re gone.
Plus, if you have young children, this dog isn’t a good match because of the unlimited amount of time needed for the dog.
- Grooming: Your Cavapoo is going to need daily brushing to prevent knots and tangles. If you don’t prefer to do it yourself, you will need to take your dog to the groomer every four to six weeks. It could become expensive. Plus, the ears have to be regularly cleaned to prevent infections. Also, teeth need to be brushed daily to avoid periodontal infections.
- Housebreaking: You could have difficulty housebreaking because Cavapoos are known to be difficult to housebreak or potty train. If you have a low tolerance for accidents, or can’t be consistent, or work long hours, then this dog may not be the dog for you.
- Watchdog: A watchdog is one thing that a Cavapoo isn’t going to be. To these dogs, everyone is their friend. So if an intruder breaks in, the dog would be likely to lick them instead of protecting the home.
- Age: Puppies are more expensive than adults. The litter can be anywhere from 2 to 8 puppies. A puppy cost between $1,200 to $1,800. Be sure to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder.
Tips on Bringing Home a Healthy Puppy
When you’re looking for your Cavapoo puppy, finding a reputable breeder is more important than finding the right puppy.
When you find a good breeder, they will match you with the right puppy. In addition, the breeder will have all the health certifications needed to screen out as many health issues as possible.
You can also consider adopting an adult from a rescue group that rescues Cavapoos or a shelter. A lot of the health problems don’t show up in puppies, but when you adopt an adult dog, most of the health issues can be ruled out.
Also, since the average Cavapoo lives 10 or more years, adopting an adult dog will still give you many years together.
As soon as you adopt your dog or puppy, make a vet appointment for a health screening. The vet will spot any issues and set up a preventive regimen to avoid a lot of the health issues.
Do not EVER buy a puppy or dog from a pet store. These puppies most likely come from a puppy mill. The puppy will probably be unsocialized, unhealthy, and difficult to housebreak. Plus, you would be supporting the harsh treatment and cruelty of puppy mills.
Conclusion
Buying a puppy or dog from a reliable breeder or source can save you heartache and time. You want a dog that comes from good parents, and that is sociable and can be trained.
For more insightful information, click on the link below.
