Cavapoos – also known as Cavoodles – are a highly popular breed. Loved for their nature, low maintenance and fit with families, Cavapoos also have their fair share of downsides. In this article we dive into the pros and cons of owning a Cavapoo so you can decide if they are right for you. Here are the top Pros and top Cons of owning a Cavapoo:
| Pros | Cons |
| Great Personality | Separation Anxiety |
| Low Shedding | Grooming |
| Love to Play | |
| Highly Intelligent & Easy to Train |
Let’s dive deeper into these Pros and Cons so you can make sure a Cavapoo is right for you.
Pro #1 – What a Lovely Personality!
One of the most loved features of owning a Cavapoo are their warm and loving personality. They are sociable, LOVE people and just want to be with people constantly. If you like cuddles then you’ll find most Cavapoos will happily come and sit with you, with many going out of their way to climb on to furniture so they can snuggle in with you, and even sit on your lap.
For first time dog owners it’s important you know that not all dogs do this. In fact some dogs HATE being picked up and cuddled. Recent advice published by Dr Mia Cobb [1] includes a ‘consent test’ to check your dog is looking for a cuddle. While most cavapoos love a hug, sometimes they’ll just want their own space (like humans!) so it’s important to pick up on the subtle clues that show how they’re feeling.
Personality also plays a factor when you consider the environment your dog will be in. Do you have a family? Kids? Old people? As Cavapoos generally love people, are very eager to please and joining a people-rich environment will make them thrive. In fact sometimes I think our Cavapoo thinks she’s actually human herself…
So, if you have an environment where you have a people-rich environment, where your Cavapoo will get lots of attention and you enjoy hugs, Cavapoos make a great choice!
Pro #2 – A High IQ Dog
Cavapoos are also smart (there’s the poodle in them!). In his 2006 Book [2] Psychologist and acclaimed dog trainer Stanley Coren looked at a range of dog breeds and found Poodles were number 2 after Border Collies for their intelligence (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels came in at 44 out of 199) dog breeds. Even with fair mix, this still makes them one of the smarter of dog breeds, which makes looking after them so much easier.
Being smart which makes them relatively easy to train. They can remember commands and generally toilet train faster and easier than many other dogs. They are usually extremely food motivated – so expect them to hang around the kitchen when you’re making food with their puppy dog eyes. This makes it easier when you’re in training mode as food is a well is extremely compelling for training food motivated dogs!
Pro #3 – Love to Play and Exercise
Cavapoos love to play! My Cavapoo goes berserk (and I do mean berserk) when we take her for a walk. In fact we need to remember not to tell her before we’re absolutely 100% ready to step outside otherwise we’ll have her whining and getting excited until we do. It’s actually very funny to watch a Cavapoo that knows they are going for a walk and getting excited – it’s very cute!
Before you plan your 10 mile day hike with your Cavapoo, remember that size is a factor – smaller dogs from a toy poodle parent – will simply not fair as well as those from a full sized parent. Even the larger Cavapoos are not big dogs and certainly not built for long-endurance sports like the Siberian Husky or Australian Shepherd. Having said that, Cavapoos can usually manage a one mile walk without too much of a problem, but they’ll usually be pretty tired afterwards!
Young Cavapoos – like many puppies – are filled with bags of energy. It’s important to get rid of some of this energy and playing games with your young dog is a great way to do this. Chasing a ball, playing with rope or just playing chasey is a great way to give them some exercise. Kids are generally very happy to help with the games and it’s a great way to give THEM some exercise too!
Remember games don’t just need to be physical. Mental challenges are also a great way to exercise your Cavapoo. Training can be quite tiring for a young dogs as they focus their energy on obeying and carrying out commands.
While your Cavapoo will invariably calm down with age, they will still love periods of exercise. And not only is exercise good for them, it’s also a great way for you to connect with your dog and build strong bonds.
Pro #4 – No Shedding (Hurrah!)
I’ve been to friends’ houses who have their big gorgeous Labradors, then got home and spent ages removing all their hair from my pants, jacket, shoes… Labs are wonderful dogs, but like many hairy breeds they need constant clean ups around the house. 0ften owners have to decide whether to live with the hair, leave their dogs outside or be cleaning almost constantly. While this is a challenge for many breeds, Cavapoos don’t shed at all.
Part of the attraction for their poodle cross-breed is its hypoallergenic nature which comes from their unique type of fur. No shedding makes for a cleaner home so if this is something important to you, then here’s another big tick for the Cavapoo.
Con #1 – Separation Anxiety
The key downside of Cavapoos loving attention-seeking personality is they suffer from separation anxiety. They love to be around people, so it follows that take the people away and they’re not as happy. At best this will lead to them ‘moping’ around the house or sitting in their beds for hours on end, at worst this could lead to destructive behavior – chewing, digging, etc.
Good breeders of Cavapoos will enquire into the family life of the home their puppy will go to. People who work long hours and leave their dog at home for long periods are generally not well suited to a Cavapoo. It’s important to take into account your dog’s feelings and personalities and start on the right foot with a dog who will fit well into your family environment.
Another factor to consider is the alpha in the household. It’s natural that your Cavapoo will latch onto to a main person in your household. This will often be dictated early on by the amount of attention given by those in the family. The primary feeder, primary care-giver and cuddler-in-chief will generally be the one the Cavapoo locks on to. This can lead to some jealously with others (kids especially) although Cavapoos would definitely prefer to be with somebody even it they can get the attention of their favorite person all the time! Generally Cavapoos will give attention to everyone in the family – they are such sociable dogs after all.
Con #2 – Grooming
While we outlined the huge benefits of no shedding, there is a price to pay – you’re your hair doesn’t fall out by itself it’s inevitable you’ll need someone to cut it for you. Cavapoos need grooming every 4 to 8 weeks depending on their fur type and how quickly it grows. The poodle influence can lead to tight curls and depending on how the gene dice land, you might have to regularly take a comb through their hair to stop matting. Once you find a good groomer, they will often give you tips on how to keep your Cavapoo well groomed between their visits. This often means using special doggy conditioner and combing them regularly.
Part of your budget should be for grooming – while overall Cavapoos don’t cost a lot to look after compared to many other breeds, grooming will be an ongoing expense. Unless of course you feel brave and fancy learning to groom yourself…?
Cavapoo Pros and Cons Roundup
Whether Cavapoos are right for you requires careful thought about the pros and cons and what is most important for your household. Cavapoos are well desired pets and through the COVID-19 pandemic became highly sought after, but they’re not right for everyone. If your ideal dog is one that comes on long walks through the country, sleeps outside and is an ferocious guard dog – you might want to choose another breed. On the other hand if you’re looking for a loving indoor companion that loves nothing more than sitting in your lap while you watch Netflix then you might have found a winner!
[1] Cobb, M. University of Melbourne, Science can help dogs enjoy their best life https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/science-can-help-dogs-enjoy-their-best-life
[2] Coren, S., 2006. The intelligence of dogs. New York: Free Press.