Cavapoo

What is a Cavapoo?

A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel crossed with a Poodle, usually a Toy or Miniature. Like the Cockapoo it is a cross rather than a breed, with no standard and no closed studbook. It is bred purely as a companion, and on temperament it delivers: this is one of the gentlest small dogs you can own.

The health picture is the part that needs care, and it is not optional reading.

History and origins

Developed in Australia in the 1990s, alongside the other poodle crosses, and popular in the UK since the mid-2000s. It is consistently in the top five most-advertised dogs here.

Appearance and size

23-35cm, 5-12kg depending on the poodle used. Coats run from wavy to curly, occasionally to the flatter Cavalier coat, which sheds. Colours: blenheim (chestnut and white), ruby, black and tan, tricolour, apricot, cream and chocolate. As with any poodle cross, F1b is the most reliably low-shedding generation.

Temperament and personality

Soft, sweet-natured and deeply attached. They are not a watchful or suspicious dog; they greet everyone as a friend. Well suited to quiet households, older owners and families with young children - provided someone is usually home.

Intelligence and trainability

Easy. They are biddable from both sides of the cross and respond to gentle, reward-based training. They are sensitive: harsh handling shuts them down rather than correcting them. Separation training is the priority and should start on day one.

Children and other pets

Excellent, with the usual supervision for a small dog. Low prey drive, sociable with cats and other dogs, and rarely reactive.

Health problems

The Cavalier parent is the concern, and it is a real one.

• Mitral valve disease (MVD) affects most Cavaliers eventually and often early. The Cavalier parent should be heart-tested annually by a cardiologist and ideally over five years old and clear, per the MVD breeding scheme.
• Syringomyelia (SM) - a painful condition where the skull is too small for the brain. Ask for MRI grading of the Cavalier parent. Many breeders do not do this. It is the single most important question you can ask.
• Episodic Falling Syndrome and Curly Coat / Dry Eye - DNA tests, both parents.
• From the Poodle side: prcd-PRA DNA clear and patella grading.

Also common: ear infections, luxating patellas, and dental disease in the smaller sizes.

Daily care routine

Around 45 minutes of walking, split. Daily ear check. Deliberate, structured practice at being alone. Teeth brushed several times a week - small dogs with crowded mouths need it.

Grooming and coat care

Brush every other day, to the skin. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks, £40-£65. The coat change at eight to twelve months is when most Cavapoos get badly matted; increase brushing through it.

Exercise needs

Two short walks totalling 45-60 minutes, plus play and training. They will happily do more but do not need it, which makes them a good fit for less active homes.

Feeding and diet

Two small measured meals, £20-£35 a month. Watch the weight: they are small enough that a few hundred grams shows.

Price

£900-£1,800. A litter from a properly MRI-scanned, heart-tested Cavalier parent will be at the top of that range and is worth it. Setup £300-£500; ongoing £85-£145 a month including grooming and insurance.

Buying advice

Ask three questions and insist on documents: has the Cavalier parent been MRI scanned for syringomyelia, and what grade; has it been heart-tested by a cardiologist in the last twelve months, and what was the result; and what are the DNA results for EFS and CC/DE. A breeder who cannot answer these has not engaged with the breed's real problems.