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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:
AlwaysLatte · 12/12/2021 17:37

We had a KCC and she was absolutely amazing. We were careful with the breeder we chose: lots of health tests, etc. But she suddenly dropped dead at 8. It was so traumatic. I think given the already inherent health conditions and then this shock (telling our children when they got home from school was SO hard) despite them being perfect dogs I wouldn't have another one. We have a different, large breed now.

Original poster
Blinkinname · 12/12/2021 17:48

@icedcoffees as mentioned in my op I looked after a ckc for six months here and they're considered good apartment dogs. I have a very large balcony and would use a dog toilet and have fresh grass delivered for it regularly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Blinkinname · 12/12/2021 17:52

@Ihaventgottimeforthis

I would say a high energy breed mix of spaniel & poodle will be challenging to manage without access to enclosed outdoor space, especially if you're planning on starting a family... Imagine having to get everyone out of the door for the early morning & late evening wees! Even worse if you had to negotiate stairs.
We don't plan on living here forever. Perhaps with a young baby but not toddler. We're on the ground floor and have access to miles of safe outdoor space within 20 feet.

I have thought through the having no garden thing. Thousands of people have dogs in cities across the world in flats/apartments. I wouldn't get a sheep dog but a ckc would be fine

OP posts:
Lifeisaminestrone · 12/12/2021 17:58

I wouldn’t go for a cavapoo - more likely to be even more poorly bred. Just wait for a while and get a decent cavalier. You may get unlucky but as my vet said when exploring the breed, all dogs come with a risk.

Many tears has a lot of rescue cavs but often need another dog at home.

Whatever you decide on, if planning to have a baby please socialise with them in early weeks and with crawlers. My DDog absolutely loves babies and little walkers but not crawlers!! I didn’t even think of crawling stage in socialisation!

They are truly loving but can be incredibly needy.

icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 18:26

[quote Blinkinname]@icedcoffees as mentioned in my op I looked after a ckc for six months here and they're considered good apartment dogs. I have a very large balcony and would use a dog toilet and have fresh grass delivered for it regularly.[/quote]
Unfortunately many (most?) rescues wouldn't consider that to be adequate at all, at least not in my area of the UK.

Having a secure, private garden was one of the basic requirements before they'd even consider you.

Original poster
Blinkinname · 12/12/2021 18:55

@icedcoffees Yes it's a real shame that rescues are so unnecessarily strict and would rather not rehome a dog. It's why I've been looking at getting a puppy. I'm a firm adopt over shop but have no choice.

OP posts:
kikipie · 12/12/2021 19:06

But a breeder should question the garden issue too. There are reasons why rescues, and breeders, are and should be, strict.

Arghlife · 12/12/2021 19:10

We havd a Cavapoo, she's lovely and gentle. Rarely barks and isn't yappy. Grateful with the children and other dogs, easy going

LondonWolf · 12/12/2021 19:16

I know multiple cavapoos - the dog du jour of The Lockdown. This is what I have heard repeatedly from stressed owners “he/she is so hyper sensitive and alert. They don’t tell you that about them do they?”

It’s true. Everyone goes on about no shedding, perfect family dog, lovely nature etc so loads of first time dog owners get them and then realise that they’re actually very hard work.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 19:27

Are you definitely allowed dogs where you live?
I only ask as when we were buying our first home, all the blocks we enquired about had no pet or no dog policies. It was a big consideration as we had two cats at the time; we ended up buying a conversion with share of freehold in part because of this. I also worked in a vets for a while & we had a really sad situation where a landlord gave permission for a cat, but it was actually against the rules of the building, & the lady had to rehome - she was devastated.

icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 22:20

[quote Blinkinname]@icedcoffees Yes it's a real shame that rescues are so unnecessarily strict and would rather not rehome a dog. It's why I've been looking at getting a puppy. I'm a firm adopt over shop but have no choice.[/quote]
But the point I made in my earlier post was that good breeders will be exactly the same.

I do know dogs live happily in flats in other countries but dog ownership in (for example) the states is very different to dog ownership here - just in terms of expectations and culture overall.

liveforsummer · 13/12/2021 03:44

I do know dogs live happily in flats in other countries but dog ownership in (for example) the states is very different to dog ownership here - just in terms of expectations and culture overall.

I'm in the UK and live in a flat with a dog, as do thousands of others in this city and in other cities in the UK. Round here nearly everyone has lively working type breeds rather than lap dog types too. You don't have to get everyone out the door to take your dog for a late night wee as suggested earlier in the thread. Why would you think it only happens in other countries?

LoveFall · 13/12/2021 03:57

I know Mumsnet hates the "poo" crosses, that some posters like to stress are mongrels. Maybe so, but being a mongrel has its advantages. If I was a dog I would for sure be a mongrel.

We have a 11 year old maltipoo. We care for him probably 80% of the time as he belongs to another family member. He adjusts beautifully to living in two homes.

As an aside, we did not pick him.

He is the most intelligent, loving, and responsive dog I have ever had the pleasure to know. He has a poodle coat and those lovely endearing maltese eyes.

I grew up with a miniature poodle who was also lovely but more high stung.

I would not hesitate to get another poodle cross, as long as they are health checked.

Talk to me about cavapoos (rather than King Charles cav?)
Bells3032 · 13/12/2021 04:39

My sister has a cavapoo. She was a bit mad as a puppy but is very chilled now and great with her two kids who were probably a bit young for a puppy at the time.

For the record she did her research, looked at reviews and checked she could meet the parents. Waited nearly a year for a puppy and drove up twice to collect her (they wouldn't let her go the first time due to health scare but it was fine). When they met her they wouldn't let the mum down on the floor of the house and couldn't meet the dad. She found it v dodgy but by that point had two kids desperate for the dog so went ahead. A few days later there was stories of ppuppies from there dying or parvo within days and within weeks it was shut down by council for not meeting basic needs of the dogs. It's reopened as another name though now. But she was so upset as she'd done her due diligence and waited patiently but turned out this company was posting false info and demanding Google etc remove poor reviews.

Thankfully at nearly 4 she's doing well and seems a great dog. But just be very very cautious.

sashh · 13/12/2021 05:16

Why not get a cav from a rescue? There are a few specialist spaniel rescues. You would know about any issues health and behaviour wise.

www.blisscavalierrescue.org/dog/jody-available/

Girlintheframe · 13/12/2021 06:00

Someone I know has a cavapoo. Lovely wee dog but an absolute bundle of energy. Definitely not chilled, also very barky

3WildOnes · 13/12/2021 07:51

@icedcoffees I really don’t think they are a puppy farm. When we visited years ago we saw mum with puppies in a house, all looking very healthy and loved. They showed us all the relevant health check for both cava mum and poodle dad.

icedcoffees · 13/12/2021 07:53

@liveforsummer well - what do you do if you have small children, no balcony or garden and your dog needs the toilet at 11pm or 6am?

Do you leave your kids home alone?

icedcoffees · 13/12/2021 07:57

[quote 3WildOnes]@icedcoffees I really don’t think they are a puppy farm. When we visited years ago we saw mum with puppies in a house, all looking very healthy and loved. They showed us all the relevant health check for both cava mum and poodle dad.[/quote]
Well, they look like one to me I'm afraid.

No mention on the website of what tests they do for any of the parents.
No comment about the number of bitches they own and how many litters they have each year(which must be quite a few if they're "council licensed")

Fancy websites are generally a huge red flag to me.

What health tests did they show you? Tests for clear hearts on the cavalier side for several generations? Hip, elbow and eye scores? Clear eye tests?

Wolfiefan · 13/12/2021 08:04

I agree about that site. They can bring the parents inside to meet you and say all the right things. Doesn’t mean they aren’t a puppy farm.
OP no way would a poodle cross suit you with no outside space.
Cavs do have awful health issues. That’s true I’m afraid. Syringomyelia (sp?) is awful too.

liveforsummer · 13/12/2021 08:11

[quote icedcoffees]@liveforsummer well - what do you do if you have small children, no balcony or garden and your dog needs the toilet at 11pm or 6am?

Do you leave your kids home alone?
[/quote]
I generally go down, stand at or just outside the door while ddog has a pew then go back inside. That's hardly leaving dc home alone. Op is on the ground floor so even easier for her than for me on the first

icedcoffees · 13/12/2021 08:20

@liveforsummer fair enough if it works for you. It definitely wouldn't be for me though - I love just letting the dog out in winter and being able to stay inside in the warm and dry Grin

liveforsummer · 13/12/2021 08:25

It can be a pain but I'd rather have to stick on a coat and shoes and stand out side for a 60 seconds a couple of times a day (that's all that's needed outside of walks) than not have a dog. I made the decision to get her knowing it would be needed. Thankfully she picked up toilet training and slept through the night very quickly. Lots of people on flats will use puppy pads although I didn't

RiskyCookie · 13/12/2021 08:26

We have one and she's fantastic. She's 4 now. Great with the children.

Wouldn't change her.

3WildOnes · 13/12/2021 08:36

@icedcoffees it was years ago when we visited so I can’t remember all the tests but they showed all of the ones that we had researched that we needed. Heart eyes and hips from what I remember, don’t remember elbows.