Talking breeds - Cavoodle

2 mins to read

Cavoodles, also known as Cavapoos and Cavpoos, are a mixed dog breed that you'll be forgiven for mistaking as a soft toy. Here's what you need to know about this affectionate breed.

GroomingJoint care

What is a Cavoodle?

As the name suggests, Cavoodles are a mix of Poodle and King Charles Cavalier breeds. With the sweet nature of the Cavalier King Charles, and the intelligence of the Poodle, this breed fits well into a family home, and responds well to obedience training. They are also a gentle, affectionate, loyal and entertaining breed that are often happily babied by all they meet – and accosted for cuddles on any given outing.

One of the sweetest looking canine mixes, most Cavoodles weigh in at a petite five to 12 kilograms, and 25 – 38cm tall, depending on their parentage (whichever breed genes dominate will impact their size.) In terms of colouring, Cavoodle puppies come in a wide range of colours – anything from apricot, black, black/white/tan, chestnut/white, gold, red, ruby or white, and their coat may be Poodle or Cavalier like, depending on their parents.

Cavoodle health issues

Being a mixed breed, Cavoodles are in a lower risk category for developing many health issues, as the healthier, stronger genes tend to dominate. That said, the diseases and conditions to look for include:

Mitral valve disease
Eye disease include cataracts and/or progressive retinal atrophy
Hip dysplasia or luxating patellas
Epilepsy

Shedding and grooming

Much like their size, a Cavoodle's grooming regime depends on the dominant genes. Those with a Cavalier coat need less brushing, but will shed, while their Poodle-coated counterparts will not shed much but will require daily brushing. Clipping them is a popular option as it keeps their coat more manageable – this should be done regularly to prevent matting. All Cavoodles should regularly have their ears checked as Poodle breeds are prone to ear infections, so keep an eye out for any odours or discharge.

Exercise and mental stimulation

In terms of exercise, being a smaller breed, they do not require a lot of exercise, but will benefit from a daily outing for their mental and physical wellbeing. Being sociable and friendly, they’ll generally get along with most friendly animals (though as with any pooch, their health, wellbeing and temperament will depend in the individual dog.)

Neither last nor least, Cavoodles do require plenty of mental stimulation and face to face time with their owners – a bored pooch, as with most intelligent breeds, will become destructive and unhappy. If you’re out for long stretches at a time, keep them entertained with plenty of toys to play with.