Cavapoos are quite similar to Toy Poodles and share many similarities with Standard Poodles, too. However, there are also many differences.
Poodles and Cavapoos have different personalities. Cavapoos are more gentle and patient, so they do better with young kids. Poodles are more vigilant and vocal. Poodles are famous for their intelligence but both breeds are bright and easy to train. Both are good pets for outdoorsy people but will also enjoy keeping you company at home. Poodles are less likely than other breeds to cause allergies, which is the deciding factor for many people.
Of course, it is important to remember that every pup is an individual, and his or her characteristics might render the breed irrelevant!
Cavapoo Could Be Better for You If:
- You have young children at home: Cavapoos are half-Cavaliers, and those pups are known for being excellent therapy and companion dogs. Poodles are more hyperalert, vocal, and independent. They are still great pets for kids, just less gentle and patient, in general.
- It is important for you that your pup is very owner-oriented and therapeutic.
- You prefer to avoid spending too much time and money caring for your pet’s coat. Poodles are more demanding in that regard.
Poodle Could Be Better for You If:
- You or someone in your household is allergic to dogs: poodles are among the breeds that cause reactions in fewer people than most other dogs, although no pet is truly hypoallergenic.
- You have a strong preference for a pet that does not shed: poodles shed very little, but their fur does need some regular care and maintenance.
- You have a strong preference for a certain type of fur and size of the dog: you can choose some characteristics of a Poodle but physical features are more uncertain with Cavapoos (a puppy could resemble either a Poodle or a Cavalier).
Overview of the Breeds
| Breed | Poodle | Cavapoo |
| Size | standard 15+ in (38+ cm) medium 14-18 in (36-46 cm) miniature 11-14 in (28-36 cm) toy 9.5-11 in (24-28 cm) | 10-14 in (25-36 cm) |
| Weight | standard 45-70 lbs (20-32 kg) medium 33-42 lbs (15-19 kg) miniature 26-31 lbs (12-14 kg) toy 14-17 lbs (6.5-7.5kg) | 10-25 lbs (5.5 -11 kg) |
| Life expectancy | 12-18 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat colors | apricot, black, brown, cafe-au-lait, red, silver, white | cream, fawn, brown, gold, white; can come in solid or two and tri-color |
| Exercise needs | moderate to high | moderate |
| Suitable for children | yes, great with school-age kids | yes, great with school-age kids |
| Hypoallergenic | generally, yes, but some people can still have allergies | no, but could be less allergenic than many other breeds |
Intelligence And Response To Training
Poodles are famous for their wit and high capacity to learn but Cavapoos are also highly capable and bright.
Poodles are in the top 5 easiest-to-train breeds:
- They retain new skills with few repetitions
- They respond to commands outside, in unfamiliar, noisy, and overstimulating environments, and when you talk to them from a distance.
- Poodles also do well with being trained by novice trainers, so there is no need for a professional trainer.
Cavapoos are also among the most intelligent dogs, thanks to their poodle heritage. They are not ranked separately, as a designer breed, but are known to be easy to train. They can be easier to manage for most households because they are less likely to get bored and restless.
Being owner-oriented helps the dogs of both breeds achieve high results.
Use positive reinforcement and never punish your pet in order to promote learning and having fun at the same time.
Temperament, Energy Level
Both breeds are dynamic, curious, and enthusiastic to participate in games, hikes, and any activities with the owner. Both Cavapoos and Poodles also require mental stimulation to prevent boredom and misbehavior that results from boredom.
Cavapoos tend to have a calmer disposition, thanks to their Cavalier half but they too can be very hyper. There is plenty of individual variation, too.
When it comes to exercise and hiking, high-intensity physical activity is not recommended for dogs of either of these breeds. They should be active as tolerated.
You should dedicate at least an hour daily to taking your pet of either breed on a good walk or an occasional hike of moderate intensity.
Grooming Needs, Shedding
Poodles shed very little. However, caring for their coats can be time-consuming:
- Your poodle needs a thorough brushing at least twice a week, or more, depending on how long you keep your pet’s coat. Daily brushing is ideal
- The coat needs trimming every few weeks. You could learn how to do it but many owners prefer to take them to professional groomers for bathing and trimming sessions.
Cavapoos’ coats could be long and quite straight or short and wavy. As a designer breed, a Cavapoo could resemble either parent breed more, which determines the quality of the coat.
- Most owners get their dogs’ coats trimmed by a groomer about every 6-12 weeks.
- Daily brushing is a good way to prevent matting, especially if the coat is curly.
- Cavapoos typically shed very little but they still shed some dander, like any other dog.
The Dog And Allergies
If you are allergic, a poodle is among the best breeds of dogs for you. Cavapoos are less likely to cause allergies than most breeds but poodles definitely win in this category.
Breeders often claim that poodles are hypoallergenic dogs but, in reality, there is always a chance that a person could develop allergies even to a hypoallergenic animal. When it comes to dogs, it is not clear what proteins in their bodies are responsible for allergenic reactions, or at least there is less clarity than in the case of allergenic cats. But an allergen can be shed through saliva, for example, so the fact that the dog does not shed fur is not always an important factor.
That said, a poodle might be a better option for a person with allergies but it is still best to spend some time with the dog to know for sure. Most people know within an hour or so if they are sensitive to the animal.
The Dog And Children
Responsive to training, affectionate, playful, and generally well-behaved, dogs of both breeds are amazing pets for households with children. A dog of either breed is likely to do very well in a home with older, school-age kids.
Poodles are more intellectual and restless, as well as more vocal and vigilant than Cavapoos and their parent half – Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. So, poodles are not always a great match for families with infants, toddlers, or pre-schoolers. Of course, there is always plenty of variation and dogs do adjust to the environment they live in. Cavapoos, however, do tend to be a better fit for households with young kids.
Of course, it is always important to supervise the interactions of very young kids and household pets, because even the most patient dog can react inappropriately out of fear or overstimulation – if a young kid corners their beloved pet, for example.
Potential Challenges
- Separation Anxiety:
Both Cavapoos and Poodles are prone to separation anxiety.
If you regularly spend long hours away from home, there could be some behavioral challenges, although it is fair to say that a dog of any breed is at risk. Cavaliers and Poodles are usually bonded with the owner and the family. Both breeds are also very intelligent and energetic, which also contributes to separation anxiety.
- Intolerance to Temperature Extremes:
Although neither breed is stoic when it comes to weather extremes, Poodles tolerate the heat a little better than Cavapoos do, and they are also a little more tolerant of cold temperatures.
Cavapoos are heat-sensitive, in part because they have mildly brachycephalic features inherited from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Cavapoos are also very sensitive to cold weather.
Poodles, however, are sensitive to hot weather. Poodles are also not great with cold air and water.
- Barking!
Cavapoos are very vocal dogs but poodles are even more prone to barking.
Poodles are more alert, independent, defensive, and restless, so they love to bark. That could be an issue with either miniature or standard Poodles. Proper training and positive reinforcement help address the issue – with either Cavapoos or Poodles – given the intelligence of both breeds.
To Conclude
Poodles – at least miniature and toy Poodles – and Cavapoos are fairly similar breeds. There is more variation with Cavapoos since they are hybrid-breed dogs.
Cavapoos are generally better with very young children, a little gentler, less sporty, and less independent than Poodles.
Poodles are ideal for people with allergies or those who enjoy being outside and training their dogs. Poodles are also pretty awesome for families with school-age children because they have the energy that the parents often lack!
