Best place to get a cavapoo puppy from?

[MaliaJacobs241]

First post on here. As said in the subject.
My family and I really want a cavapoo puppy from a licensed breeder who breads healthy and well cared for cavapoo pups. We have looked in many places for a great breeder. But thought best to seek recommendations from others rather than reading a website. We would preferably get our pup from the UK. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations of places they know that are good and trustworthy, comment on this post as I would love to check out the places and go with your recommendations.

A cavapoo is a mongrel/mixed breed. A KC reg breeder who is part of the assured breeder scheme won’t breed them. Looking for made up breeds increases risk of buying from a puppy farm. I think it sounds like you haven’t done your research and good breeders, whether pedigree or not, would want you to read up a bit more. Do you know about either breed and their personalities? Their common health issues? Why do you want a mix between a cavalier King Charles and a poodle? Are you in U.K. or randomly buying from U.K.?

I’d be careful as you don’t sound as though you really understand how easily tricked people are into buying badly bred pups and a reccomendation online on Mumsnet isn’t really going to cut it. Having helped rescue and treat puppy farm dogs, it can be truly heartbreaking to see. My suggestion is do some more real research, contact some KC assured breeders if you decide on one of those breeds (and check health test scores for dogs as well as meeting pups parents and relatives if poss) or potentially look at rescues (often have mixes, so you may well get a cavalier x). Both rescues and breeders tend to want to meet you but some of this is being done over video due to covid. Both will grill you about your actual knowledge and experience of dog owning to try and help you find the best dog for you.

Exactly what the pp said. The reason you can't find a great breeder is because registered breeders don't breed mongrels

Thank you both so much for your input. We really appreciate it.
We have looked into everything about a cavapoo and understand health issues and characteristics. Thank you

Also yes, will start contacting and see what happens, Thanks. This all really helps.

Can I ask, out of curiosity, why is it a cavapoo you want in particular?

Have a look and an ask in “ the doghouse “ board.
You will get “ don’t buy a designer no feel as you are driving the puppy farm trade “( true ) .. but also some pointers as how to avoid a farmed puppy.

There is a thread on there too which is a rise warning about a poor “backyard breeder” puppy. Back yard breeder - puppy farm by another name

I echo what @SmidgenofaPigeon says, what is it about a Cavapoo that actually attracts you?

No breeder of either Cavaliers or Poodles who genuinely care about the health and quality of their breed are breeding Cavapoos. The only reason a Cavapoo exists is because it looks cute and can make someone a bit of cash, it has nothing to do with the long term health of that crossbreed.

You would be better off looking for a pure Poodle, especially if it's the low-moult coat that interests you. A crossbreed can inherit a moulting coat as easily as the non-moult one. Poodles can be great pets, and don't have to be clipped into that showy fancy way either, a shaggy Poodle won't look that different to a shaggy Cavapoo with a Poodle-esque coat.

At least if you look for a purebred type dog you can go through the Kennel Club and look up both parents on Champdogs.

Why do you want that breed @MaliaJacobs241 ?

I do hate all this nonsense about them being mongrels. So what? Mongrels are generally healthier than pure breeds. It's complete bollocks about being KC registered etc. I bought my KC cavalier from a registered breeder; had all the documents blah blah blah - the reality is that this breeder was no different than a puppy farm; and pure cavaliers are riddled with health problems; anyone who cared about animals wouldn't breed them full stop. Their snouts are too short for a start; they have heart problems. I could go on. I loved my KC spaniel but I wouldn't have one again because it's cruel to breed them. Far better and kinder to get a mongrel such as a cavapoo. However, I have reservations about buying any dogs at all at the moment. It's becime big business during lockdown and I suspect there will be thousands in dogs homes after lockdown. I think breeding any dog at the moment is quite irresponsible; people are just after making easy money.

When you say you'd 'preferably' want one from the UK... please can you do a very quick Google of 'imported puppies' and have a serious think about what sort of breeder is happy to put a 8/10 week old creature through a journey like that?

Yes, do not buy any puppy from abroad. I'd be inclined to wait a few months until things calm down. When everyone goes back to work and the novelty of having a dog wears off. There will be loads in rescue centres or at the very least the prices will.have come down; they are currently obscene.

I have a cavapoo, I got her from a breeder that lives near me. Saw mum and dad.

She's the sweetest dog, loves cuddles, walks, great with kids. Best decision we have ever made.

@PatNextDoor

When you say you'd 'preferably' want one from the UK... please can you do a very quick Google of 'imported puppies' and have a serious think about what sort of breeder is happy to put a 8/10 week old creature through a journey like that?

It is illegal to buy a puppy or kitten less than 6 months of age in England unless you buy direct from a Uk based breeder or rescue centre (Lucy's law)

Nothing wrong with cross breeds/ mongrels or whatever we call them but it will be hard to find an ethical breeder who does the correct health checks
One thing that stand out is that you have researched cavapoos and feel they will suit you - so why wouldn’t a Cav or a Poo? Please don’t assume you will get the best of both breeds, you could get the worst.

And to people saying that the only reason Cavapoos are bred is to look cute: why do you think any dog was bred? They all had their specific reasons based around what we, as humans, wanted from them; Cavaliers were used as ladies' lap dogs; they were not bred with the well being of the dog in mind otherwise they wouldn't have been bred with skulls that are too small for their brains and often give them headaches; short snouts that make it difficult for them to breathe; heart defects; hip problems...

I believe Henley Cavapoos health test their dogs. Your best bet is probably to join a U.K. cavapoo Facebook group and ask for advice. Plenty of crossbreed dog breeders health test their dogs.

FYI poodle crosses are not mongrels, rather crossbreeds. You don’t really get true mongrels any more, they are the Heniz57’s, no discernible breed. You need to go further and look at true street dogs before you see “healthy” mongrel types as well - where they’ve actually had survival of the fittest.

Crossing a Poodle with anything doesn’t make health problems go away. It also doesn’t magically make a “hypoallergenic” dog either.

Personally I wouldn’t recommend Cavs at all at the moment, waaay too many expensive life-limiting health problems that can also be passed on to Cav crosses.

Not sure what a Cavapoo has that a pure Mini Poodle doesn’t and will be easier to source from a KC breeder.

All good breeders have wait lists now though so you may be waiting 10-18 months for a puppy.

According to Wikipedia a mongrel is a mixed breed dog so that would include a cavapoo. It doesn’t really matter but some people take exception to the word and it seems to have negative connotations