They are cute and playful! They are affectionate and gentle — a perfect dog for any family! Or is it? We forgot about allergy sufferers and the health problems they can have around dogs. What about the people who have runny noses, itchy eyes, or who sneeze when they pet a dog? They need dogs that are low-shedding and hypoallergenic. So, does that mean there are dogs that are hypoallergenic? Yes!
Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic? Now, that is the question!
We have the answer, but let’s start from the beginning.
Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic?
The answer can be a simple one — yes! And, it can be a bit more complicated — maybe. Before we give an explanation as to why there are two answers, we have to explain and understand what a hypoallergenic dog is and if there is a truly 100% hypoallergenic dog.
So, before we explain why Cavapoos are hypoallergenic and why Cavapoos might be hypoallergenic, we need to answer the question: what is a hypoallergenic dog?
What Is a Hypoallergenic dog?
A dog that doesn’t shed, a dog that sheds minimally, or even a hairless dog breed is a hypoallergenic dog. They are considered hypoallergenic because they do not leave a lot of allergens behind them that cause an allergic reaction in humans.
The allergen is a type of protein that is mistaken by our immune system as a foreign and dangerous substance, this puts our body in a defensive stance that sends “soldiers” or IgE antibodies to deal with the problem.
What Is An Allergic Reaction?
An allergic reaction happens because the dog’s hair and dander (dead skin) act as allergens which provoke a certain reaction in human bodies that are sensitive to these allergens. That reaction can be represented as sneezing, redness of the eyes, a runny nose, and itchiness of the skin together with urticaria — hives. A more severe allergic reaction can cause an obstruction of the airways, which can be fatal if not treated on time. This is called anaphylactic shock. But luckily, these serious reactions are rare when it comes to dog allergies or pet allergies in general.
The allergic reactions can get more serious each time a person comes into contact with the allergen. So, if you only had mild sneezing the first time you hugged your pooch, the next or the third time you can have proper rhinitis or urticaria after the hug.
What If I Hug a Hypoallergenic Dog?
A purebred dog or a crossbreed can both be hypoallergenic if they have a low-shedding or no-shedding trait. But there are no 100% hypoallergenic dogs. This is a fact because the allergens that cause the allergic reaction are not just dog hair but dog dander and dog saliva too. So, if you want a 100% hypoallergenic dog you will need a dog that has no saliva, no fur, and no dead skins that naturally fall off.
Which is, of course, impossible.
But there are dogs that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. And the Cavapoo is one of those dogs! Most of the time…
What Is A Cavapoo?
The Cavapoo is a mixed dog breed, made by crossing two purebred dog breeds — a Poodle (usually Miniature Poodle) and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They have been with us since the 1990s, and their country of origin is Australia. As a Poodle mix, they can have other Doodle names, like Cavoodle, Capoodle, and Cavadoodle.
This small type of dog can weigh from 9 to 25 pounds and can be up to 14 inches in height. The size can vary depending on the Poodle parent because a Poodle can be standard, miniature, or toy size.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the other parent dog breed. This dog is also a toy dog, but it is much larger than usual toy dogs. They can grow up to 13 inches and they can weigh more than 17 pounds. The standard-sized Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the largest toy dogs but they can also come in a much smaller size – a Teacup Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Their usual lifespan is between 10 and 15 years.
Cavapoo Appearance
The Cavapoo dog looks like a Teddy bear.
The coat of a Cavapoo dog can be curly or wavy and it is short and very soft. Depending on the dominant genes of the parent breeds, they can inherit a different coat type and they can be low-shedding or moderate-shedding. Their grooming requirements depend on this trait too. But, in most cases, they need regular grooming, at least twice a week.
They can have many coat color variations:
• cream
• fawn
• white
• chestnut
• tri-color
• bi-color
• chocolate
The color of the Cavapoo, once again, depends on the coat color of the parents. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel doesn’t have a lot of coat color variations (4 to be precise), but the Poodle has many coat colors (35 variations), so the color possibilities of their cross are countless.
The Cavapoo has large, round, black-to-chocolate eyes with prominent furry eyebrows and a short snout. They also have floppy ears, and they can have a more or less prominent mustache.
Their overall appearance is gentle and cuddly — like a Teddy bear, and you will certainly want to give this dog all the cuddles and love when you see it! And the chances are, that you won’t have to sneeze while you do it!
Cavapoo Temperament
Another amazing fact about Cavapoos is that they have an amazing temperament!
The Cavapoos are:
• friendly
• affectionate
• loyal
• trainable
• great with small children
• intelligent
You will enjoy spending each and every day with this adorable and affectionate Teddy bear dog! The Cavapoos fit and adapt well to both big and small living spaces, and they get on well with all family members no matter their age. But, like all dogs, they need proper socialization too. They are very friendly and gentle, but all dogs need to go through early socialization to learn what to do and what not to do when they spend time with children, other dogs, or other animals.
Of course, they will need a daily walk to satisfy their playfulness! They are not as energetic as some other dog breeds (for example another Poodle mix – Goldendoodles), but they have working dog breed blood in their veins too! They will want to run and jump, play tug of war, or just go to the park with you. All of this is needed if you want to keep your pooch happy and healthy.
Cavapoo Health
These are generally healthy dogs. They can have some health problems common to the parent breeds. This is especially common in the first generation of the Cavapoo puppies, aka the F1 Cavapoo generation.
The f1 generation is a cross between two purebred dogs. In the case of the Cavapoo, it’s a cross between a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a purebred Poodle. They have equal probability of inheriting possible health issues from both parent dog breeds.
The most common health problems are:
• Eye problems
• Heart problems
• Ear problems
These problems mostly come from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel part, but Poodles can be prone to hip dysplasia too.
Your best solution is to get a Cavapoo puppy from a breeder or a kennel that is well-known and reputable. You can also test your dog for various diseases through DNA screenings or you can ask for a health certificate from the breeder. The health certificate or health guarantee ensures that your puppy won’t have genetically inherited diseases because the dog’s parents don’t have these diseases either.
Cavapoo Trainability
Besides the question, are Cavapoos hypoallergenic, most people also ask the question, are they trainable? Well, it’s a yes and a yes!
The Cavapoo puppy has the intelligence of a Poodle and the eagerness to please of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These two dog breeds mixed together make an amazing crossbreed that is very easy to train. All you need to do is give them a lot of positive reinforcement and watch the magic happen.
These traits also make them excellent watchdogs that will bark and alert you to anything suspicious happening on your premises. The hunting instincts they get from their Poodle parent will make them even better at a job!
Cavapoos want to please their owners and make them happy, so they will do as they are told and follow all the instructions without a lot of fuss. But their affectionate nature and desire to be with their owner can make them prone to separation anxiety.
But with proper socialization, especially in their early stages of life, you can do wonders with your new Cavapoo friend.
How To Groom a Cavapoo?
Despite usually being hypoallergenic, Cavapoos still need regular grooming. The amount and type of grooming they need depends on the genes they inherit. We have to ask ourselves a question: which genes did our Cavapoo puppy inherit more of – those of a Poodle or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
If the answer is Poodle genes — they need professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. If you want to do it at home, you should groom your dog at least twice a week to stop their hair from getting matted. And you can always give all kinds of haircuts to your Poodle mix, just like you would give your Poodle a funky haircut.
If the answer is Cavalier King Charles Spaniel genes — your dog will need a daily brush, of at least 10 minutes to keep the silky, smooth fur typical of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in perfect shape and health.
It is also very important to always check the ears and wipe the eyes when you groom your Cavapoo dog. You need to check the ears for any kind of foreign objects that can cause health issues if not removed. And you need to wipe their eyes because Cavapoos are a type of dog breed that quickly develop brownish tear stains under their eyes.
They will require an occasional nail trimming and a bath from time to time. The number of baths you will need to give to your Cavapoo will depend on the time they spend outside and if they run through muddy puddles or dusty paths.
Is My Cavapoo Hypoallergenic?
This adorable mixed breed is a designer dog that is definitely more allergy-friendly than most dogs. But, because Cavapoo puppies have one hypoallergenic dog parent – a Poodle, and another one that is not hypoallergenic but a moderate shedding dog – a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the outcome is not that predictable. One thing is certain, a Cavapoo is not a non-shedding dog. They do shed, and they need either a professional groomer or regular home-based grooming to prevent matting or tangles.
In most cases, the Poodle parent genes are dominant and cause the Cavapoo to be one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds. But sometimes, for example, if the Poodle is not purebred, the hypoallergenic trait is not that dominant, which will cause your new Cavapoo puppy to be a moderate shedding dog.
The best chance of getting a low-shedding dog when it comes to this dog breed is to search for the f1b Cavapoo or even better — the f1bb Cavapoo.
The f1b Cavapoo is a mix of a Cavapoo and one purebred dog — usually a Poodle.
The f1bb Cavapoo is a mix of an f1b Cavapoo and a purebred Poodle.
Having an f1bb Cavapoo means your dog has the best chances of inheriting the low-shedding trait which means you have the best chances of getting a hypoallergenic Cavapoo puppy.
So, how can I find out if my Cavapoo is hypoallergenic, or are any Cavapoo puppies hypoallergenic at all? The answer is — check its parents. That is the best way to find out how much will your Cavapoo shed or how much pet dander it will leave all around the house.
How Much Do Cavapoos Cost?
The price of a Cavapoo puppy depends on its purebred parents, the crossbreed generation, and the number of Cavapoo puppies in the litter.
The usual price for an f1 Cavapoo puppy is between $1000 and $3000. This is the standard price range when it comes to most reputable breeders. You can find a Cavapoo puppy for less than $1000 if you search for non-registered breeders.
As for the f1b and f1bb Cavapoo puppies, they can be much more expensive. Because of the fact they have the most developed hypoallergenic trait, their price can be around $4000. But, these puppies are quite rare. If this price is too much for you, you can always check local shelters or rescue centers. You never know, you might find your perfect hypoallergenic Cavapoo in places like Adopt a Pet or Petfinder.
The Conclusion
The answer to the question of ‘are Cavapoos hypoallergenic’ is: yes.
The Cavapoo is considered a hypoallergenic breed of dog because of its low-shedding trait. Allergy sufferers that want to be dog owners should definitely check out the Cavapoo dog breed, especially if they can find an f1bb generation. Not only will they get a puppy that is hypoallergenic, but they will also get a puppy that is easy to train, affectionate, and loyal.
If you want to make sure your Cavapoo puppy won’t cause any allergy problems, you can try using an Air purifier. You should check out one of the most used air purifiers – the HEPA air purifier (you can find it on Amazon).
You will also be happy to hear that Cavapoos do not drool. So, you won’t have to worry about finding their saliva on every object in the house as a potential allergen.
If you would like to check out other dog breeds that can also have a hypoallergenic trait, there are many Poodle mixes out there, like the Labradoodle or the Cockapoo. .
But I believe Cavapoos have already taken your heart with their gorgeous dark eyes and Teddy bear looks. And don’t forget that they are hypoallergenic after all.