Cavapoos

Cavapoos are a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle.

Usually, the poodle parent is a Toy or Miniature Poodle, but larger Cavapoos might be the result of crossing with a larger Poodle-type dog.

They’ve become increasingly popular in recent years, alongside other popular Poodle crosses like Cockapoos, but they may actually date back to the 1950s. Part of their appeal is the vast array of colors and coat types that are possible from crossing these two breeds.

Their appeal is due to their fun nature and low tendency to shed. Cavapoos can inherit a hypoallergenic coat from the Poodle side of their DNA.

Cavapoo types and colors

Depending on the color of the parents, Cavapoo pups can come in a range of colors:

• cream

• apricot (a peachy-light brown tone)

• fawn (light brown)

• red

• chocolate

• gold

• chestnut

• white

They can be one solid color or a mix of two or three colors.

You cannot predict or plan a Cavapoo’s coloring before birth. Coat colors have also been known to fade, lighten, or change slightly as your cavapoo puppy matures; this is perfectly normal.

Cavapoos are usually small dogs, bred from toy or miniature Poodles and their diminutive size is usually seen as a desirable trait. You might see them advertised as toy Cavapoos, mini Cavapoos or Teacup Cavapoos.

Be careful though; unless you meet both parents, you’ve no real guarantee that your Cavapoo pup will stay small, as they could be bred from a larger-size Poodle.

Cavapoo temperament and characteristics

Cavapoos make excellent family pets because of their sweet and gentle temperament, combined with high intelligence.

But you’ll still need to make time for regular training and socialization to have a happy and well-balanced dog.

Some people are taken off guard by how high-energy these teddy bear-like little dogs can be, especially during the puppy stage.

The most important thing is to start Cavapoo training as soon as possible and combine it with lots of fun to keep their clever brains busy.

Cavapoo versus Cockapoo

There are lots of Poodle crosses to choose from, but the most popular by far is the Cockapoo. If you’re having trouble picking the right pup for you, check out our quick comparison of these two curly-coated crossbreeds.

These are only generalizations, though. There’s a huge variety in these traits from dog to dog, especially as they’re crossbreeds, so you never quite know exactly what you’ll get.

If you like the traits that Cavapoos inherit from Cavaliers or Poodles, consider some of these other crossbreeds as well:

• Cavachon – A compact mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with Bichon Frise.

• Maltipoo – A fluffy cross between a Maltese and a Poodle.

How much does dog insurance cost for Cavapoos?

The average cost of dog insurance for Cavapoos insured by us was $418 in 2021.

That’s quite a bit lower than the average for all breeds, showing that they’re a relatively healthy and common crossbreed that should be easy to find cover for. Get your price today.

Cavapoo health problems

Like many crossbreeds, Cavapoos benefit from ‘hybrid vigor’, meaning they have a healthy mix of genetics and fewer issues caused by overbreeding or inbreeding that we see in some pedigree dogs.

Thanks to those floppy Spaniel-style ears, Cavapoos can suffer from ear infections, particularly if they like to swim. Ear infections were the fourth most common Cavapoo pet insurance claim in 2021.

The cost could be much higher if they get them repeatedly. All our pet insurance policies are lifetime policies, with an annual vet fee limit that refreshes every year. It means you won’t run out of cover if you have to keep claiming for the same condition throughout your Cavapoo’s life.

A luxating patella, where the kneecap moves out of its normal position, is relatively common in Cavapoos. We saw 78 Cavapoo claims for the condition in 2021, and it’s expensive to treat.

More serious conditions that commonly affect Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are thankfully relatively rare in Cavapoos, but it’s worth being aware of them:

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a disease that can affect the eye. Cells deteriorate, or ‘atrophy’, leading to blindness. There are no effective treatments yet for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), but lifestyle changes can help your dog transition to a life without sight.

• Syringomyelia is a condition that basically means the dog’s brain is too big for its skull. Fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord form, causing pain. It’s common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, but thankfully rarer in Cavapoos due to their different head shapes and longer noses. We saw claims for 86 cases of syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in 2021, but none in Cavapoos.

• Mitral valve disease is a heart condition that can lead to heart valve degeneration. It might first be picked up when your vet notices a heart murmur. There’s no cure, but most dogs can be treated with careful monitoring, medication, and lifestyle changes.

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