Dog breed

Cavapoo

The Cavapoo, also called the Cavoodle, is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a small Poodle. It usually weighs 3.6–11 kg, has a wavy or curly coat and a very friendly nature. It is not a breed recognized by the FCI, so size and looks depend on the parents. A puppy's health depends heavily on heart and neurological screening of the Cavalier parent.

Low shedding
Not FCI-recognised
a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle (usually Miniature or Toy), not recognized by the FCI

Weight: 3.6–11.3 kg
Height: 23–36 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: none (crossbreed)

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: BAVhah, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Cavapoo is made for companionship. From the Cavalier it inherits gentleness and a huge need for contact, from the Poodle brains and a love of learning. A veterinarian writing for Chewy describes it as a sociable cuddle bug eager to please its owner. It usually makes friends with strangers quickly, so it's no watchdog. It gets along well with other dogs and, with a sensible introduction, with cats too. It likes children, and its small size is less of an issue than with a Toy Poodle, though a puppy can still get hurt easily. The trickiest part of its personality is attachment: a Cavapoo wants to be wherever its people are, and many cope poorly with long hours alone. It does bark, but usually not to the point of being a nuisance if it gets enough exercise and activity.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Cavapoo for?

The Cavapoo suits families with children, apartment dwellers, seniors and anyone who wants a friendly, easy first dog and spends a lot of time at home. It does well with someone who works remotely. It's not for people looking for a watchdog or a running partner, or who don't want to pay for regular grooming.

Pros

very friendly and gentle
a good first dog
low shedding
happy in an apartment

Challenges

risk of heart disease and syringomyelia from the Cavalier side
needs regular haircuts
doesn't cope well with being alone
size and coat vary a lot

Size and looks

Size and looks: Cavapoo
Height at the withers	males 23–36 cm, females 23–36 cm
Weight	males 3.6–11.3 kg, females 3.6–11.3 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	curly
Colors	apricot, red, cream, black, Blenheim (white and chestnut), tricolor
Country of origin	none (crossbreed)
Classification	a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle (usually Miniature or Toy), not recognized by the FCI
Also known as	Cavoodle, Cavapoodle, Cavalier Poodle mix

Care and exercise

40–60minof exercise a day

4/5grooming needs

2/5shedding

The Cavapoo has moderate exercise needs. A Chewy veterinarian stresses that it does fine with daily activity, no marathons required: two 20–30 minute walks, a little off-leash running and play at home. It enjoys sniffing games, fetch and learning tricks, and short training sessions tire its mind nicely. The coat is long, wavy or curly and sheds less than most dogs', but that also makes it mat easily. Brush it several times a week, especially the ears, armpits and legs, and plan a haircut every 6–8 weeks. The long, hairy Cavalier ears need regular cleaning, since they're prone to infections. Watch its weight: Cavapoos love to eat, and extra pounds strain the heart and joints. A harness is better than a collar for a dog that pulls hard.

How much should the Cavapoo eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

A Chewy veterinarian gives the Cavapoo a lifespan of 12–15 years and lists allergies with recurring ear and skin infections, mitral valve disease, luxating patella and eye diseases as the most common problems. The two most serious burdens come from the Cavalier: the AKC describes mitral valve disease and syringomyelia, a painful defect linked to skull shape, in that breed. Crossbreeding doesn't automatically remove these problems, and in the large McMillan et al. (2024) study, crossbreeds lived shorter lives on average than many purebreds. So before buying, ask for a current heart echo and, if possible, an MRI of the Cavalier parent, plus eye exams for both parents.

mitral valve disease (MVD)A serious problem in Cavaliers that can be passed on to puppies; it affects the heart and shortens life.
syringomyeliaA defect linked to the Cavalier's skull shape that causes pain and scratching around the neck; it is diagnosed by MRI.
luxating patellaCommon in small dogs of both parent breeds.
eye diseases (PRA, cataracts)Inherited eye diseases occur in both Poodles and Cavaliers.
skin allergies and ear infectionsA Chewy veterinarian lists recurring ear and skin infections as a common sign of allergies.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

heart echo of the Cavalier parent
MRI screening for syringomyelia (Cavalier parent)
eye exam (ECVO)
patella exam
PRA-prcd DNA test (Poodle parent)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Cavapoo is one of the popular Poodle crosses created for families looking for a small, low-shedding dog. The idea was to combine the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's gentle nature with the Poodle's intelligence and coat. The cross has no standard and no club recognized by the FCI. The name Cavapoo is used to sell first-generation puppies, backcrosses to the Poodle and dogs from later generations, which differ in size, coat and health. In a 2024 British longevity study, “designer” crosses of this kind were placed in a single, very diverse group of mixed-breed dogs.

Fun facts

The name Cavapoo combines the start of “Cavalier” with “poodle.”
According to the AKC, the Cavalier parent weighs 6–8 kg, so a Cavapoo's size depends mainly on the size of the Poodle.
With no standard, there's no “correct” color: you'll see solid, parti-colored and Cavalier-style tricolor dogs.
A Cavapoo's long ears are usually thickly furred and need regular checks.

Frequently asked questions

Do Cavapoos shed?

They shed noticeably less than most dogs, especially if they inherit the Poodle's curly coat. Dogs with a straighter, more spaniel-like coat lose more hair. No dog is fully hypoallergenic, so anyone with allergies should spend time with the specific dog first.

How big does a Cavapoo get?

According to a Chewy veterinarian, 3.6–11 kg and 23–36 cm at the shoulder. Dogs with a Toy Poodle parent are smaller, those with a Miniature parent larger. The best guide is the weight of both parents.

How long do Cavapoos live?

The figure most often given is 12–15 years. Lifespan depends heavily on the heart: mitral valve disease, present in many Cavaliers, can show up in their offspring. That's why heart screening of the parents matters so much.

Cavapoo or Maltipoo: which should I choose?

Both crosses are small, people-oriented and low-shedding. The Cavapoo tends to be a bit bigger, calmer and friendlier with strangers, while the Maltipoo barks more often. With a Cavapoo, the key is checking the Cavalier parent's heart and screening for syringomyelia; with a Maltipoo, teeth, kneecaps and liver.