A Cavapoo is a small, soft-coated companion that wants to be wherever its people are. Breeders set out to pair the Cavalier's gentle, affectionate nature with the Poodle's clever mind and low-shedding coat.
A Cavapoo is a small, soft-coated companion that wants to be wherever its people are. Breeders set out to pair the Cavalier's gentle, affectionate nature with...A Cavapoo is a small, soft-coated companion that wants to be wherever its people are. Breeders set out to pair the Cavalier's gentle, affectionate nature with the Poodle's clever mind and low-shedding coat.
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“We love Roger! Everything went very well in transitioning Roger to our house. Thank you!”
Madeline · Cavapoo
Apr 14, 2026
“I was very pleased wih the customer service and transition of Maddie.”
Johnson · Cavapoo
Jan 17, 2025
“Thank you Pawrade for connecting me with a great breeder. Cannot be happier with my new puppy!”
Victoria · Cavapoo
Nov 22, 2023
“Very informative and kept me up to date on picking up my puppy. I would suggest anyone that is wanting to get a puppy to try them out! Thank You for all your help!”
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Pawrade data: parents of puppies placed through Pawrade (breeder-reported)
Height
9–14 in
Lifespan
12–15 years
Energy
Moderate
Shedding
Low
Cavapoo Characteristics
Full-Grown Size
2 of 7SmallLarge
Grooming Needs
4 of 7SeldomRegularly
Good with Dogs
7 of 7Not ReallyYes!
Watchdog Ability
7 of 7LowHigh
Exercise Needs
4 of 7Couch PotatoHigh Needs
Your new best friend.
Cavapoo temperament
Personality and daily life
Temperament
Cavapoos are people dogs. They are gentle and playful, and happiest in the middle of family life. That closeness means many find being left alone hard, and it can show as barking or chewing. A walk and a food puzzle before you leave help, along with short practice absences from the first week.
Energy and play
Energy is moderate. A Cavapoo is playful but no running partner, and it needs daily walks and play plus something to think about. With that exercise and company, it settles into an apartment or a house equally well.
Kids and other pets
Most Cavapoos do well with gentle children and get along with other dogs and pets once socialized. They can be more fearful of other dogs, sounds and new situations than either parent breed, so gentle, early socialization pays off. Many bark at strangers or unusual sounds, but a Cavapoo is no guard dog.
Training
Training goes best with praise, treats and short, fun sessions. Harsh methods backfire, and a bored Cavapoo can turn destructive. Cavapoos tend to be easier to train than Cavaliers but harder than Poodles, and many love learning tricks once the basics are solid.
Pawrade data: parents of puppies placed through Pawrade (breeder-reported). Placements and reviews come from Pawrade's records.
A healthier start for a happier tomorrow.
Cavapoo care & grooming
Care and grooming
The routine
Coat and shedding
Low
The coat is soft, of medium length and wavy to curly, depending on how much Poodle coat a puppy inherits. It sheds little, but the hair keeps growing and mats easily.
Weekly
Coat and grooming care
Brush about three times a week and book a professional groom about every 6 weeks, because weekly brushing alone is not enough.
Brush its teeth at home, and book dental cleanings when your vet recommends them.
Body weightKeep them lean and cool
Keep your Cavapoo lean.
Heart checksRoutine vet checks
Ask for careful listening to the heart at every wellness exam.
Every milestone, together.
Cavapoo puppy milestones
Your Cavapoo's first 2 years
Before 8 weeks
Before your puppy comes home
Your puppy is still with its litter, and the weeks when it is most open to new people, places and sounds have already begun. No one can promise its exact adult size, because a Cavapoo's size depends on its parents and varies by generation.
Set up a crate in a room where the family spends time, or in your bedroom at night.
Stock up on small-breed puppy food, so regular small meals start on the first evening.
Pick up a slicker brush for a curly coat, or a pin brush for a straighter one.
Book an early first visit with a groomer, so grooming feels normal from the start.
Why it matters
A crate near people helps a new puppy settle, and you hear it at night if it needs to go out.
Cavapoo note
A Cavapoo is a people dog, so a crate close to the family suits it from the first night.
8–10 weeks
The first week home
Everything is new, and your puppy needs a bathroom trip first thing in the morning, last thing at night and after every nap. Tiny Cavapoo puppies can get low blood sugar, so regular small meals matter in these first days.
Take your puppy outside at each of those times, and praise it with a treat as soon as it goes.
Feed small-breed puppy food in 3–4 small meals a day, on a steady schedule.
Handle the paws, ears and mouth gently every day, so brushing, nail trims and vet checks feel normal later.
Why it matters
Small, frequent meals keep a tiny puppy's blood sugar steady while it settles in.
Cavapoo note
Cavapoos are prone to separation anxiety, so start short spells of alone time this week and build them up slowly.
10–12 weeks
Weeks 2 to 4
Your puppy is in the middle of its most important weeks for socialization, which run through about the first 3 months. What it meets now shapes how it feels about people, dogs and new places later on.
Plan a few short, calm meetings each day with new people, new sounds and friendly, healthy dogs.
Sign up for a reward-based puppy class, which can start at 7–8 weeks once your vet is happy.
Until the vaccine series is done, keep your puppy away from sick or unknown dogs, as your vet advises.
Why it matters
Good experiences in these weeks help prevent fear-related problems later.
Cavapoo note
Cavapoos tend to be warier of sounds and other dogs than either parent breed, so keep each new experience short, calm and rewarding.
3–4 months
3 to 4 months
Around 12 weeks, the baby teeth start to fall out as the adult teeth come in, and chewing picks up. The puppy vaccine series usually finishes at about 16 weeks, as your vet advises.
Keep only a few safe chew toys out at a time, and rotate them so they stay interesting.
Move shoes, cords and anything else you value out of reach while the teeth change.
Stretch the time between bathroom trips slowly, since a puppy can usually hold its bladder about as many hours as it is months old.
Why it matters
Chewing is strongest while the teeth change, so safe toys protect both your home and your puppy.
Cavapoo note
Small Poodle-type puppies sometimes keep baby teeth that need to come out, so ask your vet to check the mouth as the adult teeth arrive.
4–6 months
4 to 6 months
By about 6 months, the adult teeth are in and teething winds down. Your puppy is still growing, and the growth plates in its legs stay soft until growth is done.
Let your puppy play at its own pace, and save long, hard exercise and big jumps for later.
Ask your vet what kind and amount of exercise suits your puppy while it is still growing.
Keep up regular brushing and groomer visits, so the growing coat never gets the chance to mat.
Why it matters
Too much strenuous exercise can hurt a puppy's soft growth plates and lead to injury.
Cavapoo note
Kneecaps that slip out of place run on both sides of a Cavapoo's family, so tell your vet if you notice limping or skipping.
6–12 months
6 to 12 months
From about 8 months, many young dogs test limits and seem to forget cues they already knew. This teenage stretch is normal, and it passes with patience.
Keep training sessions short and fun, and use the treats and praise your dog likes best.
Give your dog a daily walk plus a food puzzle or a few minutes of trick training, because a bored Cavapoo can turn destructive.
Talk with your vet about spaying or neutering, since the right time depends on things like sex and expected adult size.
Why it matters
Consistent training, patience and daily exercise for body and mind are what carry a young dog through this stage.
Cavapoo note
Harsh corrections backfire with a Cavapoo, so stay patient and reward the behavior you want to see.
1–2 years
1 to 2 years
Your Cavapoo looks grown up, and most dogs are fully grown and settled into adulthood at around 2 years. Small dogs tend to finish growing sooner than large ones.
Ask your vet whether growth is finished before you add long hikes or dog sports.
Settle into an adult routine of meals twice a day, daily walks and play, and brushing several times a week.
Book a wellness exam with your vet at least once a year, with careful listening to the heart.
Why it matters
Careful listening at every checkup helps your vet catch a new heart murmur early, which matters with a Cavalier parent.
Cavapoo note
Many adult Cavapoos enjoy trick training, obedience and fetch, and AKC Canine Partners lets mixed breeds take part in AKC sports.
There is no Cavapoo breed standard, so size, coat and looks vary with the parents. Size depends mainly on the Poodle parent: Toy Poodle crosses end up at the small end of the range and Miniature Poodle crosses at the larger end. A Cavapoo's adult size depends on its parents and varies by generation, so each puppy's listing shows its parents' weights. The parent standards set the limits: a Cavalier stands 12–13 in at the withers, a Toy Poodle 10 in or under, and a Miniature Poodle over 10 in up to 15 in.
Colors and markings
Cavapoos come in apricot, red, cream, gold, fawn, white, black and chocolate, along with parti, tricolor, Blenheim-type and phantom patterns. Merle is outside both parent breeds' AKC standards. Expect some change as a puppy grows: coat color often fades or shifts with age, so a puppy's color is not a reliable guide to the adult color.
Colors listed by Pawrade breeders
Apricot
Black
Blue
Brindle
Brown
Chocolate
Cream
Fawn
Gold
Parti-color
Phantom
Red
Sable
Silver
Tan
Tri-color
White
A little history, a lot of heart.
Cavapoo history
History and fun facts
1950s
Accidental Cavalier and Poodle crosses probably date from the 1950s, but deliberate breeding and the first recorded litters came in Australia in the 1990s.
Breeders kept crossing the two for a small, friendly family companion.
2020
The Cavoodle became a favorite family dog in Australia, and in the UK, demand rose notably during the 2020 pandemic.
The AKC, UKC and other major kennel clubs do not recognize the Cavapoo, and no breed club sets a standard for it.
Hybrid registries such as the Designer Kennel Club list it.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Cavoodle, Reuben, was a 50th-birthday present from her partner, Tim Mathieson.
Reuben lived at The Lodge in Canberra and joined her at the Million Paws Walk.
Checked with care before travel.
Cavapoo Veterinary Health Report
Your puppy's Veterinary Health Report
Before your Cavapoo goes home, the breeder's licensed veterinarian gives it a full hands-on exam to PetPay's exam standards, and the results are recorded in its Veterinary Health Report.
The exam, a health certificate and a stool test for parasites all happen 3 to 5 days before your puppy leaves.
1This is an exam of your puppy itself, not a check of the parents' health, so it tells you about the dog you are actually bringing home.
2If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved.
3Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first.
4Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.
5A hard copy of the report travels with your puppy for your records, and a digital copy is in your PetPay account.
Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old and 2 lb before they travel. Every puppy also comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.
A Cavapoo puppy's price reflects what goes into it: its pedigree and registration, its coat and color, and the breeder's program. Every Pawrade puppy's price also includes the pre-travel exam by the breeder's licensed vet, the Veterinary Health Report and a health guarantee administered by PetPay. See today's price range for Cavapoo puppies on Pawrade's Cavapoo listings.
Typical asking price
$2,650
Based on 1,807 Cavapoo listings in the last 12 months
Both are small, low-shedding companions; the Cavapoo is usually larger and can inherit Cavalier heart and spinal cord conditions, the MaltipooMaltese liver-shunt and windpipe problems.
Most adult Cavapoos weigh 8–25 lb and stand 9–14 in at the shoulder. Size depends mainly on the Poodle parent, since Toy Poodle crosses stay smaller than Miniature Poodle crosses. Each puppy's listing shows its parents' weights, because a Cavapoo's adult size depends on its parents and varies by generation.
Some do, mostly Toy Poodle crosses, but with no breed standard no one can promise an adult weight. The size of the puppy's own parents is the best clue.
These are informal labels rather than official sizes, because no registry sets a Cavapoo standard. What drives size is whether the Poodle parent is a Toy or a Miniature.
Cavapoos come in many colors, including apricot, red, cream, gold, white, black and chocolate, and in parti, tricolor, Blenheim-type and phantom patterns. Puppy color often fades or shifts with age, so the adult coat can look different.
A Cavapoo is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Toy or Miniature Poodle. In Australia, where the first recorded litters were bred, it is called the Cavoodle.
Cavapoos sit in between, with moderate energy, and they are playful without being built for running. They need daily walks and play, plus some mental work such as food puzzles or tricks.
Suitable individuals can do therapy-dog work. Because Cavapoos can be more fearful than their parent breeds, early, gentle socialization matters for any working role.
Usually, once it is well socialized, because Cavapoos are generally sociable with other dogs. They can be more fearful of other dogs than their parent breeds, so keep introductions calm and gradual. Breeders on Pawrade socialize 90% of Cavapoo litters with small-breed dogs before the puppies go home. More than a quarter of Pawrade Cavapoo buyers already have another dog.
Usually, with children who handle dogs gently. Cavapoos can show more fear and aggression than Cavaliers, so supervise play, especially with young children. Most Cavapoo puppies on Pawrade meet children before they go home: breeders socialize 85% of litters with young children and 80% with older children. About a third of Pawrade Cavapoo buyers have children at home.
Generally yes, when socialized, because Cavapoos tend to get along with other pets. Fewer litters meet cats than other dogs, so if you have a cat, ask your breeder whether your puppy has met one.
Often, for a senior who is home a lot, since a Cavapoo is small, affectionate and needs only moderate exercise. Plan for the grooming, which stays high-maintenance for life.
Only for short periods at first, because Cavapoos bond closely and are prone to separation anxiety. Build alone time gradually from the first week, and give exercise and a food puzzle before you leave.
Cavapoos adapt well to apartments as long as they get daily exercise and company. Of Pawrade Cavapoo buyers, 75% live in a single-family home and a smaller group in an apartment or condo.
Wait until your vet says growth is finished, because the growth plates in a puppy's legs stay soft while it grows. Small dogs tend to finish growing sooner than large ones, so ask your vet what exercise suits your puppy now.
A complete small-breed diet, with puppies on 3–4 small meals a day and adults fed twice daily. Keep treats under a tenth of daily calories, and remember that frequent small meals help prevent low blood sugar in young puppies.
More than many owners expect, because the coat keeps growing and mats easily. Brush about 3 times a week and book a professional groom about every 6 weeks, since weekly brushing alone is not enough.
Start brushing, ear cleaning and nail trims at home as soon as your puppy arrives. Use a slicker brush for a curly coat or a pin brush for a straighter one. Book a first visit to the groomer early, so your puppy gets used to it while it is young.
Fairly easy, because Cavapoos respond well to praise and treats, and they tend to be easier to train than Cavaliers. Keep sessions short and fun, and avoid harsh methods.
Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, last thing at night and after naps, and praise it with a treat when it goes. Put the crate in a room where the family spends time, or in your bedroom at night, so you hear your puppy if it needs to go out. Keep sessions short and upbeat, because harsh methods backfire with a Cavapoo.
A puppy can usually hold its bladder about as many hours as it is months old, so a 3-month-old can wait about 3 hours. That rule of thumb holds up to about 9 months to 1 year of age, so stretch the gaps between trips slowly.
Many young dogs start testing limits and seem to forget cues from about 8 months, and this teenage stage can last until about 2 years. Keep training short and consistent, use rewards your dog loves, and give plenty of exercise for body and mind.
Trick training, obedience, food puzzles, fetch and neighborhood walks all suit them. Through AKC Canine Partners, a Cavapoo can compete in AKC sports open to mixed breeds.
Puppies travel only once they are at least 8 weeks old and weigh at least 2 lb. Most Cavapoo puppies go home at about 11 weeks, usually between 9 and 18 weeks.
Breeders report that they socialize 90% of Cavapoo litters with small-breed dogs, 85% with young children and 80% with older children. They also report getting puppies used to everyday sounds: 67% of litters hear the vacuum cleaner and 61% loud music or TV. Car or truck rides are part of the routine for 53% of litters, and pots and pans for 51%. Some breeders start crate training too, so ask about your puppy's routine. These figures come from what breeders reported for 1,004 litters. Keep it going at home, because the first 3 months are the main socialization window.
Start right away, because the main socialization window closes at about 3 months. Puppy classes can begin at 7–8 weeks, with the first vaccines. Gentle exposure matters especially for Cavapoos, which can be more fearful than their parent breeds.
Get small-breed puppy food for several small meals a day, safe chew toys, a slicker or pin brush, and a plan for short spells of alone time. Book a first vet visit and ask about the heart, eyes and knees. Set up a crate in a room where the family spends time, or in your bedroom at night.
Most puppies finish teething by about 6 months, when the adult teeth are in. The baby teeth start falling out at around 12 weeks, so expect extra chewing from then on. Keep a few safe chew toys out at a time and rotate them, and ask your vet to check for baby teeth that stay in.
Most puppies finish their core vaccine series at about 16 weeks, as your vet advises. Puppy classes can start before then, from 7–8 weeks, as long as your puppy stays away from sick dogs.
The Veterinary Health Report is the written record of your Cavapoo puppy's health exam before it goes home. The breeder's licensed veterinarian examines the puppy to PetPay's exam standards and records the results in the report. It is a full hands-on exam of your puppy itself, not a record of the parents' health.
The breeder's licensed veterinarian examines every Cavapoo puppy before it goes home, to PetPay's exam standards. The results are recorded in the puppy's Veterinary Health Report, and a copy travels with your puppy for your records.
The breeder's licensed vet gives each Cavapoo puppy a full hands-on exam before it goes home, to PetPay's exam standards. The vet feels both knees for a kneecap that slips out of place, checks both eyes for discharge and checks the bite. Slipping kneecaps and eye problems run on both sides of a Cavapoo's family, so these checks fit the cross well.
Before travel, every puppy follows PetPay's vaccination and deworming schedule as far as its age allows: deworming at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, and the distemper, parvo, adenovirus and parainfluenza combination shot at 6–8, 9–11 and 12–14 weeks. Bordetella and corona are given at the vet's discretion, and no vaccine is given within 3 days of travel. Rabies is given by a licensed vet on the schedule your state requires. Your own vet completes the series. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record.
If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.
Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. Hip dysplasia cannot be checked at the go-home exam, and vets listen for new heart murmurs from young adulthood, so a puppy exam cannot rule these out. The report is a strong early look at your puppy, and your own vet builds on it at every checkup.
Each listing shows the puppy's own parents' weights, because a Cavapoo's adult size depends on its parents and varies by generation. Parents of Pawrade Cavapoos typically weigh 10–25 lb (fathers) and 10–19 lb (mothers).
Right now, most Cavapoo puppies on Pawrade are listed within the typical range shown on Pawrade's Cavapoo listings. Each breeder on Pawrade sets their own price, and each puppy's listing shows it. A Cavapoo puppy's price reflects what goes into it: its pedigree and registration, its coat and color, and the breeder's program. Every Pawrade puppy's price also includes the pre-travel exam by the breeder's licensed vet, the Veterinary Health Report and a health guarantee administered by PetPay.
The Cavapoo is also commonly referred to as Cavoodle, Cavadoo, Cavadoodle, Cavalier Poodle, Cavapoodle, Cavipoo, Cavipoodle, Poodlier and Poodlier Spaniel.
Cavapoo note
