Living With a Cavapoo: Energy, Affection and What to Expect

A Cavapoo is what you get when you cross the warmth of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the brightness of a Poodle: a sociable, adaptable family dog that wants to be part of everything.

If the Maltipoo is a shadow dog, the Cavapoo is a joiner. They are typically a touch larger, a touch more energetic, and just as affectionate, with a happy, people-loving streak inherited straight from the Cavalier side.

Temperament: sociable and easy to please

Cavapoos tend to greet the world wagging. They are usually excellent with children, relaxed with strangers, and quick to make friends at the park. That easygoing nature makes them forgiving of first-time owners, as long as the owner meets them halfway with company, routine and play. Size is the other thing worth settling early, and how big a Cavapoo gets comes down almost entirely to the Poodle parent.

They are also bright and eager to please, which makes training genuinely enjoyable. Start early, keep it positive, and a Cavapoo will soak it up.

Energy: more than people expect

This is the number families most often get wrong. A Cavapoo is not a lapdog that happens to look sporty. It is a sociable, moderately energetic dog that needs real daily engagement to be its best self.

• Two proper walks a day plus play, sniffing and some training keeps a Cavapoo balanced.
• Company matters as much as exercise. These are social dogs that struggle with long, silent days alone.
• A tired Cavapoo is a good Cavapoo. Under-exercised, they can get bouncy, mouthy and loud.

Coat and grooming

The soft, low-shedding, wavy-to-curly coat needs regular brushing to stay tangle-free and a professional groom every so often to keep it neat. Coat type varies from puppy to puppy, from looser waves to tighter curls, and the curlier the coat the more upkeep it asks for. As with any doodle-type dog, find a groomer who understands the coat before homecoming day.

Who a Cavapoo suits

Active family homes, households with children, and people who are around during the day tend to get the most out of a Cavapoo. They adapt to apartments if the exercise is real, and they travel well once they are used to it.