A cavapoo is what is referred to as a “designer” dog. They are not their own breed, but rather a cross between a poodle and a King Charles cavalier spaniel. Therefore, they can come in all different colors and even sizes. They are intelligent, loving, allergy-friendly and very trainable. But there are both good and challenging sides to owning one.
We got our cavapoo puppy, Toby, when he was just 8 weeks old. He came from a breeder. His mama was a spaniel, and his daddy was a toy poodle. There is a LOT that goes into any puppy, and we were not prepared for the work involved. But if you can get through the puppy training stage for your cavapoo, you will have a good dog for life!
Top Ten Things To Know about Cavapoo Puppies
1. Cavapoos are cuddly. They love your affection and attention. Unlike our previous dog, which was a beagle, they are not hounds. They prefer to stick close to their owners. They are pack animals, and you are their alpha. Puppies need constant cuddles and plenty of rest. They need to feel safe and loved.
2. Cavapoos get separation anxiety. So, be prepared NOT to leave them alone for long unless you want them to act out by chewing and having accidents. Puppies are like babies. They need to feel secure and be taken care of before you can expect them to grow into obedient toddlers, er…. dogs. With this in mind, a cavapoo would fit best with a family where one partner is either at home or part-time.
3. Crates are okay. When you first bring puppy home, make sure you have a comfy crate ready. Some people don’t crate their dogs, but we found it helped enormously with training Toby. A new house is big and scary. They need a place all their own that feels safe. Think of it like your dog’s bedroom. You wouldn't let your toddler wander around the house at night, and neither should your puppy. We only crated Toby at night, but as he got older, we would crate him for short periods of time when we left the house. It helps to play music or turn on a fan for white noise so voices or creaky doors won’t wake up your puppy. Consider giving your cavapoo a dog bed as well as a favorite soft toy (nothing they could ingest!). Include a blanket or towel, or even one of your old t-shirts for comfort.
4. A routine will help you both. Start a routine. Ask your vet the best times and amounts for feeding, potty and sleep patterns. We would start the day by taking Toby outside to potty. Then it was breakfast. Playtime. Potty. Lunch. Potty. Naptime. Potty. Playtime. You get the idea. When dogs start to understand what to expect, it’s easier for them to do what you want them to do: such as sleep, eat and play at the appropriate times.
Puppies can also be picky eaters. It’s not easy moving to solid food from mom’s milk. So, to get them interested in food, try this puzzle box feeding toy or this Snuffle Mat.
5. Contain & Train. We contained Toby to the sunroom while he was potty training. To do this, we put up a gate. The room had a wood floor and a carpet that could be rolled up. Don’t expect a puppy to potty train right away. You will have to teach them, much the same as you would teach a child. Be patient and get a good carpet cleaning solution! We also used the bell method. We would use Toby’s paw to strike a bell hanging on the door. Then we would say “Potty outside!” We would take him out and give him a treat if he went potty. Eventually, he would start ringing the bell when he wanted to go out!
6. Groom. As cavapoo puppies grow, so does their fur! It will get matted FAST! Brush them using a good brush or comb and pay attention to matted spots like the base of the tail and behind the ears. You will want to use a groomer if you don’t have the skills for haircuts. Also, we bathed Toby once every 2 weeks or so, but more often if he was really muddy.
7. Teach them their name. Our cavapoo, Toby, had no clue what his name was for the first couple of months. We would say his name and then give him a small treat. Eventually he figured it out. Anytime you want to train a puppy, use treats and get “excited” when they get it right—lots of hugs and happy sounds let your puppy know you are pleased. Here’s a book we liked for puppy training.
8. BE CAREFUL! Cavapoo puppies are surprisingly breakable. Toby broke his leg the second day he was with us, and it has never fully healed. Even after two years, he still limps and cannot run too much, or he will be in pain. It was devastating.
How it happened was my husband was holding Toby in a chair when I walked into the room with my coffee. Toby was so excited to see me, he leapt out of my husband’s lap and onto the floor. It happened in a blink and was only a couple of feet, but he landed badly and began screaming. I knew instantly he'd broken his paw.
We took him to the vet ER who sent us to a specialist. Toby spent a few weeks in a cast, but it didn’t fix his paw. The doctors said they might be able to fix it with surgery, but couldn’t guarantee anything. It was a hard, heartbreaking lesson, so I’m passing it on to you. DO NOT let your puppy jump off of furniture or play rough with them! They are not built for that. If you have small children or other pets, do not leave your cavapoo puppy unsupervised with them until they are older.
9. Cavapoos are smart. Toby would watch TV with me. His favorite show was 101 Dalmatians. He would watch the other dogs and perk up when they barked. He is now 2 years old and still loves watching TV! He also learned to potty train pretty easily after a few months. He has learned how to sit, shake, jump, roll over and fetch, too!
10. Cavapoo puppies are good with kids and pets. Toby loves children and visitors. And he instantly loved our old cat, Pudge. I honestly thought Pudge would terrorize Toby. He’s a 13 year-old grouch of a cat. But he actually loves to “play fight” with Toby! They never hurt each other, but will bat at one another and roll over and play-nip. It’s actually really entertaining, and I think the cat loves it as much as Toby does!
Top 10 Things To Know About Your Growing Cavapoo Dog
1. Cavapoos piddle. They get excited and let loose. They can’t help it. It’s a submission thing. Instead of letting it upset you, try to anticipate what sets off your cavapoo. Is it excitement? Fear? If yours is like Toby, then it is all of the above. We made an excellent purchase, these doggie belly wraps. We put them on Toby when a guest is coming over or any time we think his emotions might result in piddles. It’s been a life (and carpet) saver! For outdoors, you might want to invest in a small trash can and a poo picker-upper. A clean yard will make you and puppy happier!
2. Cavapoos need exercise. The zoomies are real! Expect your cavapoo to zip around at breakneck speed, especially right before bedtime. A bored cavapoo will whine and begin to act out. Keep them active with daily walks. If your schedule is tight or you are not very mobile, you can always get them moving in other ways. Here are some ideas:
Wrap their toys in a small towel or blanket. They love to burrow and dig them out! Here are some fun toys for cavapoos, but be sure you supervise them so they don’t eat anything they shouldn’t!
Get a treat dispenser like this strawberry scented one to keep them moving.
Try this burrowing toy! This is one of Toby’s favorites! We only bring it out of the closet to help him get some energy out before we crate him. It’s great exercise on cold days.
These balls are great for fetch.
3. Distract to help with anxiety. Cavapoos do better in a kennel when they have a small treat to lick to keep from getting anxious. We play calming instrumental music when we kennel Toby and give him a Kong filled with a spray treat. We also make sure to put a small amount of water in a dish so he doesn’t get too thirsty, but not so much that he’ll need to go potty.
4. Cavapoos are social! Take your little guy or gal to the dog park to make friends. Or invite family and friends over to play. They love that! Just be sure to remember the doggy wrap to save your friends from piddles!
5. Cavapoos love treats. For training, Toby likes Lil Plates. And for chewing, he enjoys Bully Sticks. (We use Cadet brand. Yes, they stink, but they are made from one ingredient and are easy on Toby’s digestion.) Just be sure to take them away when they get too small, or your cavapoo may ingest too much at once. Also remember not to overdo the treats. Cavapoos are very good at wrapping you around their little paw so limit treats to keep them healthy.
6. Cavapoos love to chew. While Toby never seems to like chewing on his toys for long, he did as a puppy. So be sure not to give him stuffed toys or toys with squeakers while he is unsupervised, or he may ingest them!
7. Invest in a harness. Collars work okay at home, but when we go on long walks, we use a harness on Toby. It keeps him from choking and makes it easier to walk him.
8. Cavapoos can be good travel dogs. Toby loves to travel. We took him in the car a lot as a puppy, and he became a very good car dog. For travel and vacations, this car crate works nicely for Toby. Also invest in a life jacket. We used to live on a lake and Toby loved boat rides. This life jacket was not only adorable, but includes a handle that makes it easy to grab your cavapoo if they decide to go for a swim.
9. Cavapoos BARK. Toby barks at almost any sound, be it bird, man or beast. Be patient with your cavapoo. They are really cowards, but they love you, and barking is their way to alert you. A stern “no” will usually let him know he can stop barking.
10. Cavapoos need care. Toby is only two years old, but he has a limp and is starting to get hazy spots in his eyes. (The doctor is not sure what is causing it.) But he is also resilient! Toby loves to run and play. He is loving, loyal and cuddly. If you are patient and have time to devote to one, I highly recommend a cavapoo!
Article by Stephanie Sanders
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