Cavapoos are a cross-breed of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and either a Toy or Miniature Poodle. They are considered designer or hybrid dogs and were one of the first back when the designer dog revolution began in the 1990s. They saw instant success in Australia and within a year or two, their popularity had spread to the UK and US.
Intelligent, loyal, playful, easy-going, energetic and just plain adorable, the Cavapoo pulls in the best qualities of their Cav and Poodle parents. They’re probably most popularly known for their allergy-free coats and shedding tendencies. from the Poodle side. Cavapoos are caught in the same shed debate as most other Poodle-mixes.
Do Cavapoos shed? Yes, but most owners report they’re extremely low-shedding, to the point that it’s nearly no-shedding because it’s such a minimal amount. Their coat type, DNA, generation, and the sire (dad) and dam (mom) they’re bred from can all impact their level of shedding. Regardless, they are a fantastic choice for those seeking an allergy-friendly breed.
Finding the perfect Cavapoo for your family isn’t tough, but you’ll need to know some important things.
We’ll be explaining what ‘Generations’ are and how they impact shedding, puppies losing their coats, how you can nearly eliminate shedding through a good grooming routine, and real Cavapoo owners share their shedding experiences!
Do Some Shed More Than Others?
The Cavapoos coat is soft and smooth to the touch. It can be curly like the Poodle, long, straight, wavier like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or a combination of both. The coat types not only look and feel different but also will have different shedding tendencies.
Even if a breeder tells you the dog will not shed, it’s a dog and it’s going to shed to some degree. Some Cavapoos shed more than others, and the secret is getting the one that sheds the least, and that has a lot to do with the coat.
To Find A Low-Shedding Cavapoo: Look for a that offers both F1 and F1b Cavapoos. Most owners and breeders report both as being low-shed. You want more of the coat properties of the Poodle rather than the Cav.
If you can determine that both parents of the puppy were low shed, you have an excellent chance of the puppy being low shed.
Experienced breeders often use generational breeding to bring out certain qualities in the dog. This is often the case with the dog’s coat. A Cavapoo is the result of mating a purebred Poodle with a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The parents are known as the P generation. The puppies, which are 50% Poodle and 50% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, are known as the F1 generation. So when you heard breeders or other owners talk about F1 Cavapoos, this is what they’re referring to.
Another common generation is an F1b Cavapoo, which is the result of mating an F1 Cavapoo with a purebred Poodle. These F1b puppies are 25% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and 75% Poodle.
F1bs are often wanted because they possess more Poodle, and Poodles are known for their hypoallergenic coat. F1b Cavapoos will also shed less than the F1 generation.
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How much an F1 Cavapoo sheds depends on which parent’s coat the puppy inherited since the pup is 50% Poodle and 50% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. If it has the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s straight or wavy hair, it’s going to shed more than if it has the Poodle’s shorter, curlier hair.
You may notice that your Cavapoo sheds more in the summer than the winter. The reason for this is because the days are longer and there are more hours of light during the summer months.
Dogs tend to shed more in daylight hours. You may find the dog needs more brushing and grooming in the spring and summer months.
Do They Lose Their Puppy Coat?
Cavapoos have a puppy coat, and it is entirely different from the coat they have as adult dogs. If there’s one quality that most people love about puppies, it’s their soft coat, and the Cavapoo is definitely no exception. The Cavapoo coat is a very soft and fluffy coat.
They have that coat until they’re about six to eight months old. You’ll want to brush your puppy’s hair almost daily to prevent it from being matted. If the puppy’s coat is matted, having it brushed or combed can be very painful for the dog.
Once your Cavapoo starts losing the puppy coat, it will really need to be brushed daily for about 20 to 30 minutes. You’ll probably notice it shedding more than normal because the soft fluffy coat is falling out and being replaced with a harder, denser coat.
Daily brushing is very important during this period to prevent the old puppy hair from being tangled in with the new adult hair growing in.
We recommend having a comb like this and a slicker brush like this one on-hand to help maintain their coat (both on Amazon).
There are other benefits of brushing the puppy daily. It’s a great bonding experience between you and the dog. It also gets the dog used to being groomed, which will make his trips to a professional groomer much easier on him and the groomer.
Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic?
“Hypoallergenic”, by definition, means ‘unlikely to cause an allergic reaction’. Dogs with certain types of coats, like Poodles, are often described as hypoallergenic because their coats don’t shed as much as other dogs and the owners are typically not bothered by allergies.
While Cavapoos fall into this category, there really is no dog that is 100% allergy-free, and this goes for the Cavapoo, too.
People with dog allergies assume their allergies are from the hair the dog sheds, but the allergies are generally caused by the dog’s dander, which is the dead skin cells shed by the dogs. Some just have much less than others.
While these dogs may not be free from allergy, they are considered to be allergy-friendly dogs.
Dog owners who suffer from allergies but want to own a Cavapoo should get one that has as much Poodle in them as possible (such as an F1b Cavapoo). The more Poodle in the bloodline, the more allergy-friendly coat the dog will have and the less the owner will be bothered with allergies and allergy symptoms.
Recommended Grooming & Brushing
The frequency in which your Cavapoo will need brushing and grooming will depend in large on the type of coat it has. You may not know the exact type of coat your Cavapoo will have until he reaches adulthood.
Depending on which genes the litter has, they can have different types of fur, and each type may require different grooming.
Most Cavapoos should have their hair combed and brushed every two to three days to prevent tangles and mats. If mats are allowed to develop.
They can get all the way down to the skin and be a real headache to remove. Once the mats get too bad and can’t be removed by just combing and brushing the hair, the dog may need to be shaved.
I recently had to remove some mats from my pups ears (it’ll never happen again…I felt terrible). I bought this de-matting comb (Amazon) before I brought him home as a puppy and never had to use it. It came highly recommended to me and now I know why. It worked wonders!
Almost any time a dog does not enjoy having his hair brushed, it’s because the dog has had a bad experience at some point in its life. Regular grooming can eliminate this from being the case.
Your Cavapoo should be brought to a professional groomer every four to six weeks for a trim. It’s also good to bathe the dog every two to four weeks in between the trips to the groomer.
The grooming routine should include:
- Brushing
- Combing
- Haircut
- Bath
- Nail trimming
- Ear cleaning
- Teeth brushing
- Tear stain removal
Because of their long ears, Cavapoos are very susceptible to ear infections, which is why it’s so important to keep their ears clean and dry. Puppies are also susceptible to developing plaque on their teeth, which can lead to dental problems and pain. Teeth brushing can help prevent that from happening.
If you’re looking for a dog that does not “blow his coat” twice a year or one that will not leave a trail of hair all over your home on a daily basis, the Cavapoo may be a perfect choice.
If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog, you may be a little disappointed because they are not any more hypoallergenic than any other dog. However, their allergy-friendly coats make them ideal choices for almost anyone.
Whether you’re considering getting a Cavapoo because they’re such cute, small and intelligent dogs or because of their allergy-friendly attributes, you’ll be getting a dog that should provide you and your family years of fun and enjoyment.
What Real Owners Are Saying…
“F1, virtually no shedding.”
“F2 ,he sheds…Although I have to point out, his sister, also F2 obviously, does not shed”
“I have Two F1s. One of them does not shed at all, the other one sheds when his hair gets long (roughly 3 months after grooming) but it’s a very little amount, hardly noticeable.”
“I’ve got an F1. Pretty much no shedding.”
