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Original poster

Talk to me about cavapoos (rather than King Charles cav?)

86 replies

Blinkinname · 12/12/2021 12:00

I've had my heart set on a king Charles cavalier but understand they can be riddled with lots of health problems that can be both hard for them to live with and extremely expensive to treat!

I wanted a king Charles cav as I looked after a friend's dog for six months and he fitted into our lives perfectly and seemed very happy with us . He was playful but chilled and coped well in our apartment (no garden but large terrace and lots of outdoor space on our doorstep). I also just fell in love with him. He was 3 and didn't have any health problems (yet?)

A friend with a long Charles said she wouldn't get one again and suggested we consider a cavapoo to try and avoid some of the worst health issues. Does anyone have a cavapoo? What are they like?

Just me and DP who are likely to keep WFH (DP always has and my contract has changed to say I mainly WFH now). No kids but want them soon ish

OP posts:
Confuseddotcom12345 · 12/12/2021 12:01

Watching as I am keen on this mix of cav and miniature poodle too but know little about them

Blessex · 12/12/2021 12:04

Yes we have a cavapoo and we love him. Very family friendly. Good fun. Intelligent. Cuddly. A great mix.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/12/2021 12:12

Trouble is, you can’t guarantee that you aren’t getting the ‘best’ traits of the mix. They can still inherit the ‘cava’ health issues 🙁, though I think in general they are healthier. The other problem you have is that these fashionable ‘pop’ hybrid mixes are often bred by puppy farmers and backyard breeders (because they are popular and demand high prices) who breed in high volume and scrimp on health testing/screening.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/12/2021 12:13

‘Poo’ not pop!

ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 12/12/2021 12:18

What if you 'Poo' inherits the Poodle hair but the Cav heart? That's how genetics work.

You would be much better getting a Poodle as they're generally very healthy and smart. If you can't/won't do that then get yourself a Cav from a responsible breeder who test their dogs and only breed from healthy pairs.

People who breed mongrels are only ever doing it for money, they're not improving breeds or breeding for the 'experience' - they're breeding for your cash.

Original poster
Blinkinname · 12/12/2021 12:21

Thanks @ChocolateDeficitDisorder. I would only buy a king Charles cav from someone who had done the checks but I understand those health problems can skip a generation or just pop up in the pups anyway.

And yes I think most breeders do it for money or why else would they bother?

Always a risk with any dog and any mix just interested in hearing about cavapoos I guess as an alternative

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 12:30

How are you going to make sure your cavapoo inherits the health of the poodle and not the issues of the cavalier?

A friend of mine has a cavapoo and he has all the energy (and the coat) of a poodle. He needs lots of exercise and regular brushing and grooming. While he's a lovely dog I wouldn't say he was particularly chilled or easy.

ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 12/12/2021 12:31

And yes I think most breeders do it for money or why else would they bother?

You haven't met any ethical breeders have you?

There is a whole world of dog-breeders out there who show or work their dogs and they only breed when they want a new dog for themselves and sell the rest of the litter to good homes. They breed to better the breed and spend way more on their showing/hobby than they ever will in selling puppies.

Try a breed club or check out the forums on Champdogs and you'll find them. They don't advertise their crossbreed/mongrel pups on Pets4homes or Gumtree - that's for the Greeders.

NashvilleQueen · 12/12/2021 12:36

I think Cavapoos can be a bit snappy and barky in my experience. They lack the more chilled temperament of either poodles or CKC spaniels. I'd go for a CKC or potentially a cockerpoo as they seem a bit more stable (tho can be much bigger).

icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 12:40

And yes I think most breeders do it for money or why else would they bother?

A good breeder who is doing all the appropriate health tests and care for the dam and pups won't be making much (if any) money from a litter, as they have to factor in so many things:

  • all the appropriate health tests for the dam
  • finding an appropriate sire that's had all the necessary health tests
  • funding all the pre-natal care, the cost of labour and post-natal care for the dam which won't be covered by insurance.
  • the cost of whelping kit and all the extra food for the dam as well as all the food for the puppies
  • flea and worm treatment for the pups
  • microchip costs (all pups must be microchipped by law)
  • funding the time off work to be with the puppies 24/7 to make sure they're all thriving

It's not cheap.

Original poster
Blinkinname · 12/12/2021 12:53

Thanks. Appreciate its not cheap and happy to pay. Have looked on Champ dogs and not much on there for ckc. Have seen some on pets4homes. On one litter dad has every health check going but not mum dog ...

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 13:05

Please do not buy a dog from Pets4Homes Hmm

icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 13:05

If you want a CKS why not go through the breed club? But be prepared to wait months/years for a litter.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/12/2021 13:09

Pets4Homes is not a reputable sales outlet

tabulahrasa · 12/12/2021 13:12

“Appreciate its not cheap and happy to pay.”

It’s not about paying more, people are pointing out that breeding done right isn’t really a big money spinner.

You don’t want to be looking for a litter, you want to be looking for a good breeder then waiting for breeder/s to have a litter.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/12/2021 13:14

You will probably have to wait for the right dog from the right breeder. Shortlist your breeders first and then find out if they are planning any litters. Breed club is a good place to start if going pedigree.

RSCPA advice about buying puppies, www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy/sales - avoiding puppy farms
www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy/breeder - good questions to ask breeders / things to consider re breeders

MrsMadderRose · 12/12/2021 13:16

Friend has one. He's affectionate and fun, but madly energetic, never sits still, very hairy and liable to wee on the floor.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:16

If you want a CKC get one - a cavapoo could end up being very poodle-like so unless you are also a big poodle fan you might be disappointed.
You'll need to check that a cavapoo breeder is doing the correct health tests on both parents too - some conditions are present in both breeds.
You'll have considerable additional grooming needs and costs with a poodle cross too.
Personally I'd look for a committed cavalier breed who is looking to improve the breed - it will be a longer wait but a pets4homes "breeder" who has puppies available immediately is very likely to be a puppy farmer.

3WildOnes · 12/12/2021 13:19

I find Cavachons a little more chilled than cavapoos. Not as highly strung. Henley Cavapoos seem like good breeders.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/12/2021 13:20

Visit the breeders if you can. I was able to visit several breeders, before I got my dog, all at the ‘planning stage’ (bitches not yet in season). I could go and look at the set up, meet the dogs, check their condition and temperaments (not just ‘are they friendly’ but do they have the sort of temperament I want in my dog - calm/active/playful/eager etc whatever), how do the ‘owners’ interact with the dogs and vice versa, what’s the puppy set up?, check the health paperwork for the bitches (actually look at the hard copies). I discounted quite a few at that stage.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 12/12/2021 13:21

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda

Visit the breeders if you can. I was able to visit several breeders, before I got my dog, all at the ‘planning stage’ (bitches not yet in season). I could go and look at the set up, meet the dogs, check their condition and temperaments (not just ‘are they friendly’ but do they have the sort of temperament I want in my dog - calm/active/playful/eager etc whatever), how do the ‘owners’ interact with the dogs and vice versa, what’s the puppy set up?, check the health paperwork for the bitches (actually look at the hard copies). I discounted quite a few at that stage.
I appreciate it might not be as easy to do that now though, post covid.
AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:30

@3WildOnes

I find Cavachons a little more chilled than cavapoos. Not as highly strung. Henley Cavapoos seem like good breeders.
I'm not convinced by their website; they mention that they take health testing seriously but don't specify anything they test for, & I couldn't see any info on how many litters they have had, amount per year/bitch, number of bitches etc.
Summer15coming · 12/12/2021 13:32

I have a Cava-Tsu (Cavalier / Shih-Tsu cross) and he's the perfect dog. Extremely social, loved humans and dogs, quiet, non-reactive, easily trained. A chewer though, so perhaps not 100% perfect...

Talk to me about cavapoos (rather than King Charles cav?)
icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 13:35

@3WildOnes

I find Cavachons a little more chilled than cavapoos. Not as highly strung. Henley Cavapoos seem like good breeders.
That's a fancy puppy farm.

They breed more than one mix (Cavapoos and Maltipoos).
They don't mention what health tests they do - they mention the KC assured scheme but neither of the mixes they breed can be KC registered anyway.

Don't be fooled by their fancy website.

liveforsummer · 12/12/2021 13:53

Mumsnet hates any poo breeds so you likely won't get a balanced response here but anecdotally every cavapoo I've ever met has been lovely, generally a bit more lively than a king Charles though with higher energy needs