Do Cavapoos shed? Of course! There is no such thing as a completely non-shedding dog. Some dogs leave their hair all over the place, making it impossible to clean up. Others lose only a small amount of hair which makes them good company for allergy sufferers. Many factors impact the amount of shedding, so a better question would be “How much do cavapoos shed’’ and the answer to that is: it depends.
What is a Cavapoo?
A Cavapoo or Cavoodle is a mix of either a Toy or a Miniature Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with an average lifespan between 12 and 15 years.
Cavapoos belong to the category of small dog breeds, weighing between 10 and 20 pounds with a height between 9 and 14 inches.
Those bred from Toy Poodles are smaller, and those bred from Miniature Poodles are bigger in size.
Cavoodles are one of the designer or hybrid dogs that became popular in the ‘90s. Those terms are used to describe a crossbreed of two different purebreds.
Crossbreeding is usually done in the hope of eliminating certain health problems and getting the best traits of both parents.
Maybe you’re wondering: “Why should I get a Cavapoo?”.
These tiny dogs are perfect companions for a wide range of owners. They can be great family pets as they get along with small children and other animals, but they can also be amazing company to singles and elders.
They’re smart, energetic, and quick learners who easily master all kinds of commands and tricks with positive reinforcement training.
Cavapoos also tend to be very sensitive. They notice when their owners are in distress and do their best to comfort them.
The Cavapoo’s personality traits
The Cavapoo came to rule the world as a popular and well-loved mixed breed in just a few decades. This doesn’t come as a surprise since they have both looks and brains.
Such a combination of cuteness and personality can win over even the coldest of hearts.
They are very trainable as they are quick learners that pick up new tricks easily.
They’re usually extremely obedient and loyal dogs that like to spend every moment they can with their owners. Because of this, they are prone to developing separation anxiety, which can be avoided with early socialization and proper training.
If you live alone and can’t afford to spend a lot of time at home, perhaps the Cavapoo isn’t the best choice of pet.
Cavapoos tend to be very energetic and playful. They need at least half an hour to an hour of walking daily, lots of engaging play, and mental stimulation.
They get along with children and other animals. Small children can unintentionally hurt them, so you should always pay attention when they are together.
The Cavapoo’s rise in popularity
The Cavoodle, as they prefer to call it in Australia where this dog originated, was first bred in the 1950s.
From the 1990s onward, their popularity started increasing, and they became some of the most sought-after designer dogs in Australia, the USA, and the UK.
Many popular crossbreeds are Poodle mixes. The idea behind this is that combining the intelligence, low-shedding, and hypoallergenic traits of Poodles with the personality traits of other breeds would create great new puppies.
The impact of the lockdown in 2020 led to the increased need for companionship and thus increased the price of the most popular dog breeds.
The average price of a Cavapoo puppy in the UK went from £1,216 to £2,486 in 2020.
Cavapoo generations
For all future Cavapoo owners, understanding what the letters and numbers like F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, F2bb, or F3 mean is essential.
If you were confused by these designations while cruising the internet for information about your future doggy, here’s a simple explanation.
The ‘F,’ derived from Latin ‘filius’ meaning son, tells us the dog is a crossbreed and is not officially recognized as a separate breed.
The numbering after the ‘F’ tells us which generation a dog belongs to.
The letter ‘b’ stands for ‘backcross,’ and it tells us that the dog is the result of breeding a Cavapoo with either a Poodle or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
So F1 Cavapoos are first-generation puppies that came into being by breeding two purebreds. F2s or second-generation Cavapoos are bred from two F1s, and the F3 Cavoodles are multi-generational.
The main difference between them is their genetic makeup, which determines their physical and personality traits, but also any possible health issues.
The first-generation benefits the most from heterosis or hybrid vigor, an action of crossing two inherently different breeds believed to make their offspring healthier.
Even though they’re on average healthier than their purebred parents, Cavapoos can still inherit certain medical conditions from them.
Some of the hereditary health issues they can get from the Spaniel side are entropion, mitral valve disease, cataracts, and hernias.
If your puppy is unlucky, it can get epilepsy, patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, or progressive retinal atrophy from the Poodle side.
What are the Cavapoo coat types?
Photo from: @teddydavies2020
Cavapoos are double-coated dogs, meaning they have a dense undercoat filled with shorter hairs and a coat of longer hairs, often called the guard hairs, on top of it.
This allows them to handle both the heat and cold better. It’s also one of the things that makes them less prone to shedding.
When it comes to the color of their fur, there are virtually endless possibilities. A Cavapoo puppy can be anything from white, brown, and black to tan, peach, chestnut, bi-color, or even tri-color.
The color of the dog’s fur is inherited from its parents, so the color of Cavapoos’ coats can be explained by the large variations of color both their parents come in.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Spaniel can come in four standard colors, black and tan, black and white, Blenheim or ruby, while the Poodle can be more than ten different colors.
The most common are the bi-colored Cavapoos with different color combinations. The reason for this is that most Spaniels are bi-colored as well.
The rarest coats for Cavapoos are all-white, all-black, and tri-colored ones.
If you’re choosing a puppy based on their color, you should know that their coats tend to get lighter as they age. If you really want your dog to be a certain color, then get one in a darker shade of the color you like.
This way, any changes in the future won’t be too extreme.
Their coats also vary in hair texture. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has medium-length wavy hair, while the Poodle has a thick curly coat.
Therefore a Cavapoo’s coat can vary from wavy to curly and everything in-between. Some can also have straight coats, though it’s not very common.
Why are Cavapoos believed to be hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic dogs are dogs that shed a minimal amount of allergens which makes them tolerable to allergy-sufferers. Allergens are usually dander and dog hairs.
Many people suffer from animal-related allergies today, but they don’t let that stop them from getting a dog or cat friend.
Instead, they turn to dog breeds known for their low-shedding, and Poodles are some of the most popular dogs among them.
Since a part of their genes comes from the Poodle side, Cavapoos can also be hypoallergenic, but only if they inherit the Poodle’s fur.
On the other hand, if their coat is more like the Cavaliers, they won’t help your sneezing attacks.
What does the amount of shedding depend on?
All dogs shed, and Cavapoos are no exception. How much a Cavapoo will shed depends on a few factors:
1. genetics,
2. the dog’s age,
3. season,
4. nutrition,
5. bathing.
Genetics
The most important factor is genetics. How much a Cavapoo will shed depends on which parent’s coat they inherited.
Poodles are known as a preferred pet for people with dog allergies because of their low-shedding characteristics. On the other hand, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sheds just as much as any dog does.
Cavapoos whose hair resembles the hair of their Poodle parent shed minimally and are allergy-friendly.
There is no way for breeders to determine which genes puppies will inherit from which parent, so early cross-breeding can be a guessing game.
This unpredictability is most evident in the first generation or F1 Cavapoos, which, as we already explained, are the cross of two purebreds.
By breeding an F1 or an F2 Cavapoo with a Poodle, breeders get F1b or F2b Cavapoo puppies with more Poodle genes and are thus more likely to inherit their curly hypoallergenic coats.
The dog’s age
The age of a dog also plays an important role when it comes to shedding.
During puppy-hood, a Cavapoo’s coat is soft and fluffy as it protects them from cold and their adorable clumsiness. As they grow up, their coat changes into an adult dog’s harder and denser coat.
This process starts at about six months of age, and it is the most shedding they will do in their life.
If you’re living with someone who has a dog allergy or you’re just tired of the endless cleaning and vacuuming, just be patient, and it’ll pass soon.
Age-related shedding can be found in older dogs as well. However, increased shedding can also be a sign of health problems.
Seasonal shedding
The change in seasons for double-coated dogs like Cavapoos brings a change of fur.
The changes in temperature and the length of daylight throughout the year influence the amount of shedding in animals.
During spring, dogs shed their warm winter undercoats in preparation for summer, and in the fall, they shed their light summer undercoats and grow warmer ones for the winter.
Pets kept indoors are less exposed to those influences, but even they shed more in spring and fall.
Nutrition
The amount of shedding is linked to the health of the dog’s coat, which is a reflection of the dog’s overall health.
That means that nutrition has a significant effect on shedding. In particular, high-shedding can be a sign of protein deficiency as it leads to the weakening of hair follicles.
What you feed your dogs directly affects their health, so it’s extremely important to properly research the best diet for them.
Whether you decide to feed them dry kibble, wet kibble, organic, or natural dog food, be sure to read labels and make the portions appropriate.
Even though dogs can eat vegetables and grains, their diet needs to predominantly consist of meat for them to stay healthy and thrive.
You need to keep in mind that you may not be the one making all the food decisions, though. Many Cavapoos are picky eaters that easily get bored and tired of certain foods.
Bathing
Bathing frequency and products can influence shedding.
Bathing your Cavapoo too often dries their skin and makes them shed more. They don’t have a strong dog odor, so bathing them each month won’t make your nose suffer.
How to take care of your Cavapoo’s coat
If you want to make sure your Cavapoo doesn’t shed too much, you need to take care of their coats properly.
Cavapoos are considered high maintenance dogs. They require regular:
1. hair brushing,
2. trimming,
3. bathing,
4. teeth brushing,
5. ear-cleaning and
6. Nail clipping.
Getting them used to all of this while they’re young will make both of your lives easier.
Both the Spaniel and Poodle require regular grooming, so there is no surprise that their mix does too.
The type of fur determines the kind of grooming needed.
If your Cavapoo’s fur is more curly, you should brush it daily, and if it’s straight or wavy, twice or thrice a week should be enough. Regular brushing ensures there won’t be matting of the fur, which can be painful for your dog and a nightmare for you.
Brushing can also be a bonding technique. It helps your Cavapoo relax and shows them how much you care.
By getting your pooch used to this treatment, they won’t be too stressed when they’re in the hands of professional groomers.
Most Cavapoo owners take their little companions for professional grooming every four to six weeks for a trim. The most popular trims for Cavapoos are the Teddy Bear and the Puppy trim.
Owners with enough free time and the will to learn a new skill can take the matter into their own hands and do the trimming themselves.
If you are brave enough to take this task up yourself, make sure your puppy is brushed and bathed beforehand and that you have all the right equipment.
You shouldn’t bathe your pup too often unless they love jumping in puddles and running through mud. Once every three to four weeks is enough.
By bathing them too often, you wash away their natural oils, leading to the drying of the skin and an increase in pet dander.
A lot of people with dog allergies are actually allergic to dog dander and not dog hair. Proper grooming reduces the amount of pet dander in your living space and makes your Cavapoo more allergy-friendly.
Long floppy ears give Cavapoos extra cuteness, but they also make them more prone to ear infections and parasites.
Ear-cleaning needs to be a regular part of their grooming sessions. You can do it yourself with a cotton ball or a gauze, but you need to be very gentle and careful not to hurt them.
One of the most stressful parts of the dog grooming routine for both the dog and the owner is definitely nail-clipping.
It’s easiest to do it while holding your Cavapoo in your lap. You need to make sure they’re comfortable and can’t move around too much.
While clipping, be careful not to cut into their nerves or blood supply.
What’s the verdict?
You may have come into the world of Cavapoo facts only looking for a dog that won’t leave so much cleaning up to do, but you’ll surely come out of it as a fan of these adorable little pooches, whether you decide to get one or not.
If your love for dogs is bigger than your allergies and you feel you just need to have one of these puppies in your life, look into their background and make sure to do your part in making them shed less.
Cavapoos are excellent companions. Take the first step, pick a puppy, give it a cool name, and love your Cavapoo forever!
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