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Cavapoo

The Cavapoo, or Cavoodle, crosses a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Poodle, usually a Miniature or Toy.

It is a crossbreed rather than a breed, and it is among the most popular crosses in Britain and Australia.

It typically stands 23 to 36 centimetres and weighs 5 to 11 kilograms, living twelve to fifteen years. Coats vary within a litter from curly to wavy to nearly straight, and only the curlier coats shed minimally — the low-shedding claim cannot be promised for any individual puppy. The health question that matters most is what comes from the Cavalier side, where two serious inherited conditions are very common.

Origin
A crossbreed, not a recognised breed
Size
23–36 cm; 5–11 kg, variable
Lifespan
12–15 years
Coat
Curly to straight; shedding varies and cannot be promised
Temperament
Affectionate, sociable and people-oriented
Health
Mitral valve disease and syringomyelia from the Cavalier side

Related: Cavalier King Charles spaniel · Poodle

3 cavapoo photos, newest first

Cavapoo feed
  • Teddy, a cavapoo

    Teddy

    Teddy sits in the daisies at sunset and waits to be told how good he looks.

    FrostyOtter · 6 days ago

  • Willow, a cavapoo

    Willow

    Willow was promoted to librarian managing an avalanche of blank books; unfortunately, a parade of rubber ducks heads the wrong way.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Willow, a cavapoo

    Willow

    Willow was told to stay. Willow negotiated.

    GentleFinch · 2 weeks ago

Living with a cavapoo

Ask about the Cavalier parent's heart and MRI status. Mitral valve disease affects a very large proportion of Cavaliers by middle age, and syringomyelia — fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord caused by a skull too small for the brain — is painful and common. Breeding schemes exist for both, and crossing to a Poodle does not automatically avoid either.

Signs of syringomyelia include scratching at the neck without contact, yelping when picked up, and sensitivity around the head and shoulders. Take them seriously.

The coat needs professional grooming every six to eight weeks plus brushing several times a week, or it mats to the skin.

No puppy can be promised hypoallergenic.

They are affectionate and dislike being alone; build up alone-time from the start.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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