Blog – Page 4 – Oodle Dog

Cavapoos are generally known as ‘small to medium’ sized dogs, but exactly how large do they get? If size is a factor for you, then it’s important you know just how big your Cavapoo will grow as it is impossible to gauge how big a dog will get by simply looking at its newborn size. Our guide breaks down everything you need to know about Cavapoo sizing so you can pick the best size for you. Cavapoos – also known as Cavoodles – grow to between 9 and 16 inches tall (23 to 41cm) and will weigh between 7 and 25 pounds (3 to 11kg). Those ranges are quite large and if size is important for you, it’s important to have a way to gauge how your puppy will grow. After all, you wouldn’t want to play with that gorgeous orange kitten only to find it grow into a full sized tiger! Our size guide breaks down the factors that influence size, how to work out how big a puppy will grow before you buy it and what to expect from your Cavapoo as they grow into adult dogs. How Big do Cavapoos Get? Generally, Cavapoos come in three sizes – toy, miniature and standard. The size is dictated by the parent poodle, which will either be a toy, miniature or standard poodle respectively. From there the size of the Cavapoo, genetically speaking, is fairly locked in. There are also teacup and micro Cavapoos. Teacup poodles are made from selective breeding of the runt of toy Cavapoo litters over several generations, and micro takes this one step further. Teacup and micro Cavapoos are not first generation – or F1 – Cavapoos. There are health risks associated with breeding such small doodles so our recommendation is to stick to the toy, miniature or standard sizes. We’ve put the Toy and Standard sized Cavapoos together in our Sizing Guide below so you can compare the relative size of the breeds. Toy and Standard Cavapoos Shown Approximately to Scale with Average Height US Male and Female If you select a Toy Cavapoo you’ll be in good company – this is the most popular size for a Cavapoo. You’ll also forever have your fully grown Cavapoo mistaken for a puppy by children and adults alike! The best way to have confidence in the size your Cavapoo will ultimately be by meeting the breeder and more importantly seeing the puppy’s parents! Seeing the parents of your puppy and meeting the breeder is a vital step for all prospective doodle owners for a whole host of reasons, not least because it helps you get a good picture of the upbringing of your pup. By seeing the mother and father you’ll see how big they are which will help you estimate the size your fully grown Cavapoo will become. If your breeder has had many litters before, it is also worth asking them for the size range from previous litters. Good breeders will offer support to new owners and will often keen in touch with them, so should have a good idea of how big their previously sold puppies finally became. In the table below you’ll see a summary of Cavapoo weights and heights between Toy and Standard sized. Toy CavapooStandard CavapooWeight7 – 13 pounds(3 – 6kg)13 – 25 pounds(6 – 11kg)Height9 – 12 inches(23 – 30cm)12 – 16 inches(30 – 41cm)Age at Fully-Grown7.5 – 11 months11 – 13 monthsTypical Fully-Grown Heights (to Shoulder), Weights and Age at Fully Grown for Toy and Standard Sized Cavapoos When Will a Cavapoo be Fully grown? The time it takes for your puppy to become a fully grown Cavapoo takes no more than about one year, but can take less for smaller dogs. You’ll find that puppy Cavapoos grow quickly and will have reached approximately 75% of their adult height after only six months. We’ve put together a typical growth chart for a Cavapoo below so you can see how they change month to month. We’ve put this as a percentage of their final height so you can see how quickly they grow. Remember heights for dogs uses the AKC (American Kennel Club) standard of measuring from the ground to the dog's withers. The withers is the ridge between the dog's shoulder blades. Cavapoo Typical Percentage of Fully Grown Height Month by Month We’ve found this super cute video showing the first 12 months for a Cavapoo. It’s well worth considering filming your puppy’s progression as they go through many impressive milestones as they mature! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Ocza44QCE What Makes Some Cavapoos Bigger than Others? The single biggest issue affecting the size of Cavapoos is genetics. They are born from a cross between a Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who have their own size characteristics. Neither are ‘big dogs’ but the size of Cavapoo can range quite significantly. Both parent breeds can vary in size, but the Poodle has the biggest range of sizes and usually, therefore, has the most significant influence on the size of the offspring. The Proud Parents of a Cavapoo - Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel The next factor which plays a role in the size a Cavapoo will become is how well nourished the puppy is. By ‘well nourished’ we mean being fed a quality diet, not the QUANTITY of food. Cavapoos seem hungry ALL the time and will be your best friend when you’re opening food packets, or working in the kitchen. They are usually so food focused in fact that you may question your own memory “Did I feed you yet?!”. A good quality pet food is essential to provide your Cavapoo with a balanced diet to make sure they develop into a healthy adult. But don’t overfeed or you’ll get a fat dog! The other key factor that plays a role in the eventual size of your Cavapoo is gender. Male dogs tend to be larger than females. This impact will be barely perceptible with toy Cavapoos, but will become more pronounced with larger dogs. Sizing the Best Cavapoo for You For many people the final size of a Cavapoo is not a major concern. Being small-to-medium sized dogs Cavapoos fit in with most lifestyles. But if size is a big factor for you then make sure you think about the size of the parents, consider the gender of your chosen puppy and make sure you feed your Cavapoo with a good quality and balanced diet. If you live in a small apartment or a small house then size will have a bigger effect on your choice of dog. Cavapoos generally do well in small spaces, but if you get a standard sized dog you will really notice their presence in a small apartment! Also, if you’re someone who wants to take your Cavapoo in a sling or even in a handbag, then size will also be a bigger factor. I wouldn’t fancy trying to carry a standard sized Cavapoo in a handbag! Standard, Miniature or Toy sized Cavapoos all share the same great personalities, love for people and the keen intellect they inherit from their poodle parent. Whichever size you chose you’ll be picking a great new addition for your family!