Finding a cavapoo

[polopolopolopoo]

I would really love to have a cavapoo puppy but no idea how to find a breeder. I know to steer clear of pets 4 homes, Facebook etc but how to find a reputable breeder when poodle cross not bred by KC reg breeders?

I want to do the right thing and not encourage puppy farms but where do I find a cavapoo puppy?

Thanks for any advice ☺️

I don't think there is such a thing is there?

KC reg breeders are meaningless in terms of dog welfare - look at the monstrosities of pure bred dogs the KC endorse.

KC breed pure puppies not crossbreeds.

I’d try posting on fb chat groups, going to your local park and speak to other dog owners, Googling…

And asking here! Maybe some Cavapoo owners can send you their breeders details?

I use common sense. And that includes looking on ‘scum tree’ and places like that that people on here hate. Fb is by far the best place to find a puppy imo. People on here endorse ‘reputable’ breeders by telling potential buyers to go to dog shows etc and ask around there. Or recommend people with actual websites about their dogs who make a living out of ‘improving the breed’. Ime these are barely better than puppy farmers, their dogs are generally raised, kept and bred in kennels for the purpose of showing and selling. Some of the most desirable ‘bloodlines’ from many different uk breeds are being been produced by highly recommended breeding KENNELS! How on earth does that make them reputable breeders? I prefer to go on Fb where I can full on stalk where my potential puppy is coming from. I have no desire for a show or breeding dog so I’ll look for a family pet that’s been bred. I’ll look for a Fb profile with pictures where mum has clearly been a much loved family pet for some time. Where the puppies have clearly been raised with care in the household with the children etc. Of course the parents should have had any necessary genetic testing, and the pups wormed/vaxxed/chipped etc. Then for me it’s a house visit, a potential vet check up pre purchase depending on the breed and circumstances (for eg anything susceptible to anything like hip dysplasia), and that’s it. As far as I’m concerned there is no more or less risk of buying a puppy from any platform at all as long as you use common sense. Of course if I was to admit on here that my last dog (full on Heinz 57) came out of a council flat in Liverpool (and the one before that off scum tree) they’d be called backyard breeders. But within 6 months of owning her I contacted them asking if there were any future planned litters because she is so amazing I want another one! Alas, 2 years on they’re still saying no :)

Just adopt a dog

Like it’s that easy, and why should she have to?

There's been quite a few litters in rescues recently - Many Tears, Pro Dogs Direct & Wallace Kennels (in Essex) have all had puppies for adoption recently - so I'd suggest checking out rescues as at least then they have been heathchecked, and the mothers will usually have been rescued too (although some are dumped litters without mum sadly).

I recently saw a cavapoo pup on Jerry green rescue or Pontefract dog rescuE facebook page. Can't remember which.

But as someone has said check FB, other platforms such as pets for homes. Their not as bad as some think, often the dogs are bred from family pets, just one litter etc. visit the home a few times. That's what I did and now have the most beautiful little Lhasa cross. Her parents were family pets.

I still stalk the owners on FB and the parents really are loved and cared for. I think doing it this way gives some idea of where the puppy is really coming from.

What @Ihatethenewlook said.

MN is very anti crossbreeds, it's ridiculous.

Saying that, poodles without the daft cut are great pets too! I'd have a cockerpoo, but I'd need to look into a cavapoo more carefully because of the breeding of the cavaliers.

hopefully your thread title will draw in some cavapoo owners, vets etc

I'd definitely look at rescues too, so many dogs being handed over now with CoL, I expect they'll end up with a lot of puppies & pregnant nitches, they may well have a lot of paperwork for them too.

And I agree with @Ihatethenewlook that some of these KC reg breeders are nothing more than breeding kennels. Really cold and sterile environments quite clearly for money.

I'd much rather visit the home of the owners. You get a feel for how much the animals are cared for and loved.

And my little dog came from a council house in South Yorkshire from a litter of 4. I'd love another from the same parents but no, dad had been neutered by the time pups were born and mum was getting neutered at a later stage. That was it, one litter and done.

Just do your research and shouldn't go far wrong.

This is all fantastic advice thank you all so much, I'm feeling a lot more hopeful now 😍

@rainydays365 I don't want to

I think a good super basic place to start is that the dogs have had the health tests mandatory for breeding a purebred version, so for the cav this would be eyes and heart tests at a bare minimum and the poodle, eyes tested, at a bare minimum. If the breeder can do this they’ve no care for the welfare or future health of what they are breeding. It really is the rock bottom starting place

Cavaliers aren’t a particularly healthy breed, they have some health issues that you can’t dna test for... it’s literally a case of knowing the health of their entire pedigree inside and out and making sure they’re old enough that they’d likely be showing symptoms and doing what tests you can before breeding from them.

They're also not always eliminated by outcrossing as they’re not singular gene issues.

So tbh, your best bet of a healthy dog with cav in it, is to find a cav breeder doing it all right.

I think the best place for you to start your research would be on Facebook, join a few breed pages and just read read read!
Best of luck finding your new pet. I’ve a cavapoo (and a cockapoo, shoot me now, MN police!) and she’s an absolute joy. Just the sweetest, most loving little soul. Unfortunately I can’t help on a breeder though, I got her as a 4 month old and the poor little dear had been passed from pillar to post so I don’t really know where she came from.

KC reg not a guarantee of anything, but at least you can check out properly what health tests the parents have had done. Cavaliers have serious heart issues and some other genetic issues, and I would hazard a guess that not many cavapoo breeders test the cav side for these. Same goes for other breeds with known health issues. That's why people are sniffy about cross breeds, it's not snobbery, generally. Imagine getting a lovely puppy and all falling in love to then discover that the dog has a serious life-limiting condition, not to mention the vet expense.

“Cavaliers have serious heart issues and some other genetic issues, and I would hazard a guess that not many cavapoo breeders test the cav side for these”

In fairness I think some do, but, the issue is that the testing only shows that they don’t currently have it. The sort of people breeding one litter from their pet for instance might, the problem is that if they go with 18 months to 2 as a first litter age (not unusual with other breeds) their dog could currently be healthy, so could it’s parents... but they could develop issues at 7 or 8 and it’s too late for the puppies, who may get a worse form of it.

Would you consider a cockapoo OP? We recently got a brilliant puppy from a lovely breeder in Yorkshire. Friends have been to her before and she's very caring and genuine.

@highandcoo yes I would 😀

What about a Tibetan Terrier? My dad and step brother have siblings from the same litter, they're 10 months old now. From a distance you'd think they're one of the poodle crosses, but they're from purebred KC registered parents. As they're less common, there's far less risk of ending up buying puppy farmed dogs.

They're a naturally low-shedding breed so, like the Poo mixes, need regular trips to the groomers (not cheap, so factor that in).

This is my dad's dog. He's currently in his cheeky teenager phase.

@bunnygeek what a cutie 🥰 What's his temperament?

Noticed a couple of cavalier puppies on many tears if you are not wedded to a cavapoo…