No matter you plan to get a Cavapoo or you already have one, it’s good to know what are the bad things about a certain dog breed. Ok, Cavapoo is not a dog breed but a mixed breed, a cross between Cavalier King Charles and Poddle but still, we all like to learn what we are facing.
Cavapoos are rather expensive dogs, the price can go up to 3500$. These are energetic and very intelligent dogs they need a lot of physical exercise and plenty of mental stimulation. Along with this, Cavapoos are lap dogs that require a lot of human attention so caring for them can be time-consuming. Cavapoos are prone to a certain number of diseases and conditions.
Although they are low shedding dogs, daily brushing is a must, and professional grooming every 4 weeks may be an additional burden on your budget. They are also prone to a range of behavioral problems like excessive barking, digging, separation anxiety. Not suitable for families with babies and very young children. Super sensitive to heat.
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Bad Cavapoo Breeders
The first thing when you decide to get a Cavapoo is to start searching for a reliable Cavapoo breeder. The more you dig, the more you will realize how tricky this task is.
Cavapoos are very popular dogs. People see them as a source of quick money. If you add the fact that many dog lovers are ready to pay a good amount of money for these cute and cuddle pooches, then you understand how many shady breeders are out there.
It’s not that simple to breed two different dog breeds. Great work and serious genetic tests are behind every healthy and quality Cavapoo litter.
If you come across a breeder that doesn’t take his/her job seriously and just looks at how to make money fast, please just leave, otherwise, you will be supporting puppy mills and people who literally abuse animals.
Once at Cavapoo breeder’s you should be able to see both mother and the father of the puppy and if the breeder cannot show your mother (as the puppy is no longer with her), leave immediately as this could mean that you are on the puppy farm instead of a reputable breeder’s.
Ask about the mother’s age, she should be at least 2 years old. Also, ask about the number of litter she has already had so far. This number shouldn’t be bigger than 3.
Next, a reputable breeder will be able to show you both parents’ ( even grandparents’) health certificates that testify that they are screened for genetic diseases and defects. A quality breeder will give you a puppy health guarantee and offer you life-long support.
There are more things to look for when choosing a reputable breeder so if you are interested in this topic do read our article How Much Does Cavapoo Cost? (Puppy Price , Ongoing Costs and Other Costs)
Cavapoo High Price
As we said at the beginning, Cavapoos are pricy dogs. There are several factors that affect the price. First, all crossbreeds that include Poodles are quite popular.
Cavapoos are extremely popular due to their sweet appearance and gentle nature. Plus they are very smart and easily adapt to life in any space, even in smaller apartments.
The average price of a Cavapoo puppy is somewhere between 1000-2000$ but it can go up to 3500$ depending on the breeder, puppy lineage ( is it F1 or F1b ), puppy age ( puppies older than 12 months are less expensive), trainability ( although older puppies may have a lower price, highly trainable adults can be quite expensive ).
Of course, besides the puppy cost, there are other costs associated with your Cavapoo like ongoing costs, vet bills, pet insurance, Cavapoo training classes, dog walkers, doggy daycare... If you would like to dive deeper into this topic do read our article about the costs of having Cavapoo
Time Consuming Crossbreed
Cavapoos are a mix of Cavalier King Charles breed from which they inherit a high level of energy and Poddle breed whose genes owe high intelligence.
When you put these two together you get a pooch that requires a moderate level of physical exercise and constant mental stimulation. In order to get what they need, owners need to invest a lot of their time and effort which some people may find exhausting.
Cavapoo Behavioral Issues
Although Cavapoos are not known as dogs that bark a lot, many Cavapoo owners will complain that their dogs are really vocal and bark in almost every situation. When do Cavapoos bark the most?
Well, if you Cavapoo notices that barking brings him the attention (either positive or negative) he will bark a lot. Cavapoos may bark in case of stress or discomfort or to inform you that someone is around your house ( they are good alarm dogs but not great watchdogs and guard dogs even less). These dogs can also bark if they are bored or left alone for a longer period of time.
Cavapoos are prone to separation anxiety. These are lap dogs, they really love to spend time with their humans, don’t like to be alone, especially not for a longer period of time.
To avoid this problem, crate training could be the solution but also be honest with yourself – if you spend a great deal of time out of your home and if you are forced to leave your dog alone every day, Cavapoo is not the pet for you.
Since Cavapoos are very smart pooches, without proper mental stimulation they easily become bored. If they are bored, they can develop different kinds of destructive behavior like digging, aggressive behavior, excessive chewing…
To avoid all this provide your dog with interesting toys, especially chewing ones if he has a problem with excessive chewing, teach him some new commands, provide enough physical exercise and good outdoor and indoor playtime.
If you are keen to know more about Cavapoo’s behavioral issues and how to solve them, please read our article ”Guide to Cavapoo Behavior Problems”
Although Cavapoos are recommended for novice owners, they are not good pets for families with babies or very young children. Young children are very noisy and lively and Cavapoos can be easily scared.
Cavapoo puppies are usually hyperactive at a young age but settle down around the 2nd birthday. But if you don’t know how to treat your dog and he gets attention for being hyperactive then it’s highly unlikely to settle down as these dogs really like to show off.
Cavapoo Health and Grooming Problems
Crossbreeds are pretty specific as the puppies carry a wide range of genes and every puppy in every litter is different and may have its own temperament and inherited issues.
Especially if you get an F1 Cavapoo puppy ( one parent is a purebred Poodle and the other parent is purebred Cavalier King Charles ) you don’t know what traits he/she has inherited.
So if you took a puppy from a shady breeder that didn’t run any genetic tests, you could end up with the dog with tons of health problems.
Cavapoos are prone to :
- progressive retinal atrophy
- heart disease like mitral valve disease
- luxating patella or kneecap problems
- skin/coat issues
- ear infection
Cavapoos are also very sensitive to heat (due to short muzzle) so never leave your dog outdoors on a hot day. Also, don’t let your dog live outside. Cavapoos are companion dogs and need to live indoors.
Regarding grooming – although Cavapoos are low shedders they still require daily brushing to prevent tangles and knots, plus you need to take your Cavapoo to the professional groomer every 4-6 weeks which may affect your budget. Cavapoo’s teeth need to be cleaned on daily basis as well as ears since they are prone to ear infections.
Conclusion
Cavapoos are expensive dogs with a high level of energy and very smart brain. In order to make things right, you really need to invest time and effort to train your dog, spend quality time with him/her, to provide enough physical activity and mental stimulation.
Although they are prone to certain diseases, if you buy a Cavapoo from a reputable breeder you will decrease the chance of getting a potentially sick pooch.
Even with all these bad things, it’s wonderful to have a Cavapoo as a pet!
