Cavapoo Vs Poodle Breed Comparison [with Photos]

There’s a lot to consider when preparing to welcome a dog into your home. But arguably, the biggest choice you’ll make is the type of breed that’s right for your situation.

Cavapoos and Poodles are intelligent, loving dogs that’ll surely bring joy to your family. However, they differ in several areas. I’ll help you understand what they are so that you can choose the best fit option for you.

Table of Contents

Breed Appearance of Cavapoo vs. Poodle

Cavapoos are a mix of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and either a Miniature or Toy Poodle. As a result, they combine characteristics of both breeds, including:

Short snout
Button nose
Dark brown eyes
Silky, floppy ears

They come in a range of colors, including black, brown, red, gray, and white. Most Cavapoos come in a solid color, but some have tips of a different color around their muzzle, ears, paws, and chest.

In contrast, Poodles have longer features. Some of their most notable characteristics include:

Square outline
Long neck
“Leggy” appearance
Springy gate

Like Cavapoos, Poodles also come in many colors. Examples include black, white, apricot, silver, and blue.

cavapoo and poodle — A Cavapoo and a Poodle both posing for the camera.

Coat Types of Cavapoo vs. Poodle

Cavapoos and Poodles differ greatly in their coat type. If you enjoy cuddling with an ultra-soft and fluffy dog, Cavapoos are your best option. They have wavy hair, with some dogs even having curly hair, but it’s always soft to the touch.

on the road with Poodle — The Poodle loves to go with her owner on a road trip! (Image: Instagram/@poodle_power123)

On the other hand, Poodles have a dense, curly coat with a wiry feel. As a result, they need frequent grooming to prevent their fur from matting. So, you should aim to brush your Poodle every day and take them to a groomer at least once every six weeks.

Cavapoos should also see the groomer at least once every one and a half months. However, because they have a finer, wavy coat, you only need to brush them two to three times per week to keep their fur and skin in good condition.

Best of all, both Cavapoos and Poodles have hypoallergenic coats, so they may have a lower chance of causing an allergic reaction to someone in your household.

f1b cavapoo wavy coat sits on the grass — F1b wavy coat Cavapoo dogs are the most likely to be hypoallergenic

Size Difference in Cavapoo vs. Poodle

Cavapoos and Poodles both have a large size range. In the case of Cavapoos, it’s because breeders can either mix them with a Miniature Poodle (larger) or Toy Poodle (smaller).

Cavapoos range from nine to 14 inches and eight to 25 pounds.

So, when purchasing a puppy Cavapoo, it’s crucial to ask the breeder about its Poodle parent’s size. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have minimal differences in their sizes, so this plays a minute role in how big a Cavapoo will grow.

On the other hand, Poodles come in three sizes, as follows:

Toy Poodle: Up to ten inches; six to 10 pounds
Miniature Poodle: 11-15 inches; 15-17 pounds
Standard Poodle: 15-22 inches; 45-70 pounds

Therefore, Cavapoos typically fall between a Toy and Miniature Poodle size.

cavapoo and poodle sitting — A Cavapoo on a windy day, and a Silver Standard Poodle sitting on the grass.

Temperament and Personality in Cavapoos and Poodles

Cavapoos are affectionate dogs who love to play with humans and fellow canines. They have a good nature and form a strong attachment to their owners, much to the joy of a loving Cavapoo owner.

three behaved Poodles sitting — The three well-behaved Poodles sitting on a bed. (Image: Instagram/@poodlesintime)

Furthermore, Cavapoos make excellent family pets. That said, if you have young children, I recommend bringing home a Cavapoo that’s mixed with a Miniature Poodle instead of a Toy Poodle. That way, they’ll have a more robust stature to hold up against child play.

Poodles are also fiercely loyal dogs who love to please their owners. They have an impressive level of intelligence and get along well with strangers and other dogs.

While Poodles are also good with kids, Toy Poodles can undergo injury with young children around. Therefore, a tall Miniature Poodle or a Standard Poodle is ideal for families.

a tan cavapoo puppy stuts proudly — A Tan Cavapoo puppy struts proudly towards camera

Health and Longevity [Do Cavapoos or Poodles Live Longer?]

Poodles have a higher average lifespan than Cavapoos, with 12-15 years being the norm. On the other hand, Cavapoos can average up to 15 years, but they may live as little as ten years.

The reason for this likely comes down to size. According to research, smaller species of the same size tend to live longer than larger animals within that same species.

Following this theory, a Toy Poodle will live longer than a Miniature Poodle, and Miniature Poodles will live longer than Standard Poodles.

So, given that Cavapoos fall between a Toy and Miniature Poodle height, they may have a higher chance of outliving Standard Poodles but a lower chance of surviving Toy Poodles.

sunset walk with Poodle — A sunset walk with a black Standard Poodle. (Image: Instagram/@vegan_poodle_jet)

Breed-Specific Health Problems

Because Cavapoos are a mixed breed, they have a lower chance of encountering health issues than Poodles. Nevertheless, Cavapoos aren’t immune to disease.

So, some problems that your Cavapoo may encounter include:

Entropion
Mitral valve disease
Luxating patellas
Progressive retinal atrophy

Even though Poodles are purebred dogs, the good news is that they tend to have a higher rate of good health compared to other breeds.

Nevertheless, common health issues that can plague Poodles include:

Hip dysplasia
Addison’s disease
Gastric torsion
Thyroid issues

sad poodle — Poodles are smart and social – and a prone to separation anxiety. This can lead to problem behavior like excessive barking.

Poodle and Cavapoo Needs and Training

Poodles have among the highest intelligence ratings among dogs. So, they’re quick to learn obedience cues and love a good challenge.

Therefore, you should help your Poodle stay engaged during training by incorporating new training techniques and increasing the difficulty.

Since Cavapoos are 50% Poodle, they’ve also adopted this intelligence and eagerness to train. However, you might need to give them a push to get excited about it, given that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in them might make them prefer to rest in your arms.

poodle sitting on the lap — A super cute Poodle sitting on its owner’s lap.

Cost Comparison

Cavapoos, Miniature Poodles, and Standard Poodles have a similar average starting price of around $1,200. However, these dogs often sell for closer to $2,000, depending on their size, health, and the breeder’s reputation.

On the other hand, Toy Poodles can sell for a much higher price tag—as a general rule, the smaller the Poodle, the more expensive they become.

If you want to buy a show-quality Poodle, don’t be surprised if you see the price break $10,000.

Understandably, not everyone has $1,000+ laying around to buy a Cavapoo or Poodle. Therefore, adopting one from an animal shelter is both an economical and heartwarming option.

Cavapoochon in the garden with bluebell flowers around.

Final Thoughts

Welcoming a new dog into your home is always an exciting moment, and both Cavapoos and Poodles will shower you with love.

If you want greater control over the size of your dog, choosing a Poodle offers this flexibility. On the other hand, Cavapoos have a teddy bear-like appearance that’ll make children squeal with delight as you pass them on the street.

Regardless of which breed you choose, get your arms ready for lots of cuddles.