Are you in the process of trying to find the perfect dog breed to bring home to your family? Owning a dog can be rewarding and one of life’s great adventures. Perhaps you have a family member with pet allergies related to certain dogs and don’t know how to work around that. A hypoallergenic dog can be a good choice for allergy sufferers!
A Cavapoo is a designer dog that is an ideal breed for first-time dog owners, families with young children who need a playmate, or seniors looking for cheerful companion dogs. Because of this, Cavapoo pups are considered one of the most popular breeds in the United States.
In addition to having great temperaments, a Cavapoo coat is also considered mostly hypoallergenic because of its Poodle parent genetics. We say “mostly” because experts urge that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, but some breeds do cause fewer allergic reactions based on dog saliva, fur, and dander.
In this article, we will discuss the history of the Cavapoo, its parent breeds, what to expect when owning a Cavapoo, and the breed characteristics. Keep reading to find the answers to all your Cavapoo queries!
What is a Cavapoo?
A Cavapoo is a mixed breed, or hybrid breed, meaning that their parent dogs are two different breeds that are combined to create a unique breed. This is different from purebred dogs, which are bred from the same two parent breeds. Cavapoo puppies are a mix between one Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent and a Miniature or Toy Poodle parent.
These dogs originated in Australia in the late 1990s, and have been loved for their friendly nature and high intelligence ever since. As a Poodle mix, you may hear this breed referred to by different names such as Cavoodle, Capoodle, and Cavadoodle.
Parent Breeds of a Cavapoo
To fully understand the background of a Cavapoo, we’ll break down the parent breeds below:
Poodle
The Poodle is the national dog of France. Over time this breed became increasingly popular in the United States as well, especially with the introduction of minis, toys, and hybrid breeding such as the Cavapoo. Despite the Poodle’s being the national dog of France, the breed originated as a duck hunter in Germany. The German word “pudelin” refers to splashing in the water, which evolved into the term “Poodle” over time. This explains why they are great water retrievers!
On top of being great retrievers, Poodles are known for their extreme levels of intelligence, trainability, and eagerness to please their owners. Because of their dedication to pleasing, most pet owners find that Poodles are a very adaptive breed, meaning they can easily adjust to many different environments. A Poodle is a highly active dog that requires plenty of daily exercise and playtime.
A Poodle has a single, dense coat of curly hair which makes them look just like a teddy bear. Their curly coat is often considered “hypoallergenic” because it does not shed as a normal dog would. Because of the curls and growth pattern, a Poodle sheds much less than any other breed and is a low-shedding breed.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
According to the American Kennel Club, The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has been a favorite of British aristocrats since the 17th century, when King Charles II seemed more concerned with breeding spaniels than ruling Britain! This is where their name comes from.
These captivating pups are the ideal pet because of their small size and regal personality. A Cavalier is affectionate with family, great with younger children, and able to adapt to any lifestyle their owner leads – whether that’s a lazy couch potato or a champion athlete.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat is silky soft. Usually, a Cavalier will have much longer hair than a Poodle. Their wavy coats require frequent brushing to keep their hair shiny and tangle-free. Their floppy ears are also a fan favorite, but prone to ear infections, so proper cleanings are important.
Breed Characteristics and Traits of a Cavapoo
Now that we have discussed the parent breeds of Cavapoo dogs, let’s discuss the characteristics that make these hybrid dogs so special! This designer breed combines all the lovable qualities of its parents into one amazing dog. Below, you will find more details on a Cavapoo’s temperament, size, coat, and health.
Temperament
A Cavapoo puppy is gentle with family members and small children, loves to socialize, and wants to be by your side at every moment. Just like their parents, they make excellent family dogs. Because they have two intelligent dogs for parents, a Cavapoo will be easy to train using positive reinforcement from an early age. A good breeder may begin to use these methods before you can take them home, which will make for an easy transition.
Depending on which parent your Cavapoo takes after more will determine the level of exercise needed for your pup. As we know, a Poodle can be a very hyper dog that requires a lot of stimulation and activity, while a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may be satisfied laying on the couch with their owner for the day. A good walk is a great way to get out that extra energy! Due to their smaller size, indoor play will be much easier than it would be with a full-size Poodle.
A Cavapoo is also prone to developing separation anxiety because of its love for its humans. The best way to prevent this is to promote proper socialization through visits to the dog park or long walks to explore and wear them out. It is very important to spend quality time with your Cavapoo, especially during the puppy days.
Size
When considering a Cavapoo, it is a good idea to reach out to your Cavapoo breeder to get information on the typical size of their Cavapoo puppies. Because this is a mixed breed, their size can vary based on which parent they resemble more. The size can vary depending on the Poodle parent because a Poodle can be standard, miniature, or toy size. The average Cavapoo weighs between 9 to 25 pounds and can be up to 14 inches in height.
Coat Type
A Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel have two very different types of coats. Depending on the dominant genes of the parent breeds, A Cavapoo can inherit a different coat type. If they favor the Poodle parent more, their coat will be curly and low-shedding. Or, if the Cavalier genes are stronger, the coat will be longer, wavy, and have moderate shedding levels. Typically, you can expect a Cavapoo coat to be very short, soft, and have a curly or wavy texture. A Cavapoo’s coat can come in various colors, such as chestnut, tri-color, bi-color, chocolate, cream, or fawn.
Regular grooming and brushing will be part of your life with a Cavapoo. To maintain a shiny, unmated coat, owners should brush their pups at least twice a week. It’s also a good choice to visit professional groomers for monthly or bi-monthly grooming sessions which include a bath, haircut, nail trimming, teeth brushing, and ear cleanings.
Health
Cavapoos are generally very healthy for a small dog breed. Of course, like all dogs, there are some health conditions that they are prone to. The most common health problems and genetic diseases that you will find in a Cavapoo are Hip Dysplasia, heart conditions, progressive retinal atrophy, cherry eye, Addison’s disease, mitral valve disease, and periodontal disease.
A reputable breeder will be able to perform tests on their breeding dogs for various diseases through DNA screenings. You can also ask for a health certificate, which ensures that the parent dogs do not have certain diseases, therefore they cannot be passed down to your puppy.
It’s also a good idea to ask your vet to check your Cavapoo for allergies because hybrid dog breeds are more prone to food and environmental allergies than purebred breeds.
Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic means that the object you are referring to is relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Typically, individuals can be allergic to a dog’s hair, saliva, dander, urine, and fecal matter. No dog is 100% hypoallergenic because no dog does not have saliva, urine, or fecal matter. Every dog and every owner is different, so it is important to note that there is no guarantee in these situations.
Cavapoos are considered a hypoallergenic mixed breed. The parent Poodle genes help to make the Cavapoo hypoallergenic because of the low-shedding coat type.
This means that if you are allergic to dog hair, you will have a less likely chance of having an allergic reaction to a Cavapoo’s fur. But, depending on the Cavapoo’s dominant genes and coat type will depend on how hypoallergenic and low-shedding a dog’s fur is. If your Cavapoo favors the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent, they will have a less hypoallergenic coat type.
Summary
If you are considering bringing home a new Cavapoo puppy, it’s important to do research before making such a big decision. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place when it comes to getting all the necessary information!
To summarize, A Cavapoo is a mixed breed designer dog with parents of a Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This means that a Cavapoo puppy will have traits that resemble each parent, similar to that of a human child! Cavapoos make great family pets and therapy dogs because of their personalities. A Cavapoo is known to be a social butterfly who is gentle with children, easily trained, and quickly adapts to different lifestyles.
On average, a Cavapoo is a small-sized breed, weighs between 9 to 25 pounds, and can be up to 14 inches in height. A Cavapoo coat type will vary based on which parent dog they resemble more. Cavapoos are considered a hypoallergenic mixed breed because of their low-shedding Poodle parent.
Because of the curls and growth pattern, a Poodle is considered one of the most hypoallergenic breeds, because their hair does not shed like normal dog hair. Regular grooming will be a big part of your responsibility as a pet parent.
Be sure to communicate with your Cavapoo breeder to make sure they are reputable and practicing safe breeding standards. This can include proper breeding facilities and health certificates for your puppy.
We hope you enjoyed this article on “Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic?” Keep following along for more helpful puppy information!
Sources