They adapt well to most environments, and their playful and calm nature makes them a great addition to most families with children.
Description of the breed
Height: 28 – 35 cm (males); 22 – 28 cm (females) WEIGHT: 5 – 10 kg (males); 4 – 89 kg (females) COAT: medium length, wavy coat COLOR: cream, fawn, chocolate, gold, chestnut, tricolor; may be solid or have white markings LIFESPAN: 12 – 15 years
| Characteristics of the cavapoo | |
|---|---|
| Attachment level | Tall |
| Friendliness | high |
| Friendliness for children | Yes |
| Loyalty to other pets | high |
| Exercise Needs | Medium |
| playfulness | high |
| Energy level | Middle |
| Learnability | high |
| Intelligence | Tall |
| tendency to bark | Low |
| Number of molts | Low |
History of the cavapoo
Over the past few decades, poodle crosses, including cavapoos, have become incredibly popular.
The idea behind this mix is to mix the traits of one breed, in the case of the Cavapoo: the good natured Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the low shedding and hypoallergenic traits of the Poodle.
While the Cavapoo’s sudden popularity may make them look like a newly created breed, it is believed that they were first bred in the 1950s in Australia.
Caring for your cavapoo
Cavapoo have soft, medium-length fur that can vary from wavy to curly. They shed very little, making them an ideal breed for those with pet allergies. But the lack of shedding doesn’t mean they don’t need regular brushing.
If the cavapoo is not combed at least once a week, their wavy hair can become tangled. In addition to being uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, mats can make the skin underneath them prone to infections.
Some owners trim the coat short to also prevent tangling.
Your cavapoo needs to have its nails trimmed regularly to prevent them from getting caught or broken on something. They also need their ears cleaned to prevent infection, as well as brushing and plucking the fur that grows in their ears.
Being a small breed dog, cavapoos are prone to dental disease. Brushing your cavapoo’s teeth daily (or as often as possible) with dog toothpaste can help keep your dog‘s teeth clean and healthy.
Tooth disease is not just a smelly cosmetic problem. The gingival tissue of your dog is vascular, from there bacteria can penetrate the bloodstream, which can lead to painful abscesses of the teeth and even to heart disease, known as endocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.
Proper tooth hygiene is especially important for breeds with poor teeth, such as kawapa.
Kawap can be quite energetic and excitable. They prefer to be in the brand of their owners and family, and not alone, so they will be in the seventh heaven when you return home.
Dogs are active enough to play with children, but, as with all pets, control when children play with your kawap. Since they are so tiny, there may be a risk of injury from a child who was too carried away during the game.
Despite their high energy, they require moderate physical activity, enough daily walks. This, combined with their small size, makes them suitable for urban apartment life.
Cavapoo is very smart and easy to study. As in the case of any breed, Kavapa can be easily trained in the main obedience with the help of encouragement. Since they are very attached to their owners, they are obedient.
A mark of the desired behavior with a delicacy or praise will help strengthen good behavior so that your Cavapoo knows better exactly how he should behave in order to please you.
For the same reason, this breed suffers from separation. Therefore, when you are looking for a coach, especially when there is a behavioral problem that requires a solution, be sure to ask certificates, accounting data, etc.
General health problems
Cavapoo is subject to diseases that are usually observed both in cavaliers of King Chalz Spaniels and poodles. As their popularity grew in USA, more and more breeders of Cavapoo appeared.
Authoritative breeders check their kawap, spaniels and poodles for these diseases and will not breed dogs that have a disease that has a genetic component.
Health problems, usually observed in Cavapoo:
- The most common is mitral valve disease, where the valve in the dog’s heart is deformed and thus does not completely occlude when closed: an eye disease that can lead to blindness: an orthopedic problem in which the recess in which the patella rests is shallow, resulting inallows the kneecap to pop up and out of place. Also known as skin allergy in dogs
- Syringomyelia/Chiari-like malformation: This is a condition in which pockets of fluid accumulate in your dog’s spinal cord: Infections and abscesses in your dog’s teeth, which can be painful
How and what to feed
Cavapoo is best fed with food designed for small to medium-sized, high-energy breeds. Although the weight range for this breed does not seem like much, for a small dog it is noticeable!
A 4kg Cavapoo is much smaller than a 10kg Cavapoo and will therefore require much less food per day.
Depending on the size of your cavapoo (and his level of activity during the day), he may need 1/2 to 1 gram of food per day. Although they have high energy levels, if they are overfed or given extra cookies every day (because they are just so damn cute), babies can put on extra weight. Your veterinarian will help you shed excess weight from your Cavapoo.
