How To Tell What Coat Your Cavapoo Will Have

Starting your journey with a Cavapoo, a delightful blend of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle, brings with it a world of surprises, especially when it comes to their coat.

Will it be curly, wavy, or straight?

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Luxuriously soft or with a bit of a scruff?

Understanding the genetics and factors influencing your Cavapoo’s coat can unveil the mystery, ensuring you’re well-prepared for grooming, care, and lots of cuddles.

This article dives into the heart of what shapes your furry friend’s unique look, offering insights and tips to predict the type of coat your Cavapoo will sport.

black Cavapoo puppy clear shot — The black Cavapoo puppy with a clear shot one afternoon.

The 6 Ways To Predict a Cavapoo Coat

Genetics: Look at the Cavapoo’s parents. The coat type of the parents will often be mimicked.
Coat Texture at 6 Weeks: Puppies’ coat textures can indicate future coat type; curly or wavy coats often suggest a Poodle-like coat, while straighter coats hint at a Cavalier influence.
Amount of Shedding: Less shedding usually points towards a Poodle-like coat, known for being hypoallergenic.
Facial Hair: The presence of a beard or facial hair at a young age can indicate a curlier, Poodle-like coat.
Ear Hair: Thick, curly hair on the ears often suggests a coat leaning towards the Poodle’s characteristics.
Paw Hair: The type of hair on the paws can be an early indicator; more pronounced curls or waves on the paws often mean a curlier adult coat.

how to tell what coat a cavapoo will have — How to tell what coat a Cavapoo will have?

3 Types of Cavapoo Coat

A Cavapoo is a fascinating four-legged creature. Sometimes called a Cavoodle, the Cavapoo is a unique crossbreed of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle depending on where you’re hanging out.

These curly little guys have unique coats. The Cavapoo coat is strange compared to some other dogs out there, depending on if they take after the Poodle or the Spaniel more. It’s a bit fuzzy, definitely curly, and usually shorter than some other small dogs.

three cavapoo puppies — Three energetic Cavapoo puppies

Hair

The first type of Cavapoo coat is quite simply hair. While most Cavapoos don’t shed very much, Cavapoos with hair tend to shed the least.

Some Cavapoo puppies have hair for a coat. The hair is usually wiry and coarse, and it likely won’t shed very much. It doesn’t take much to care for a Cavapoo with hair. The hair is still curly and can even be challenging, but it’s by far the easiest to groom.

Fleece

The next type of Cavapoo coat is a fleece. When most people think of a Cavapoo, they think of the fleece coat. The fleece coat is likely one of the more discernible traits of the Cavapoo.

A fleece coat is wavy and loose, not tight and curly. It sheds more than other Cavapoo coats, but proper grooming will help. You might have to get your Cavapoo groomed more frequently if they have a fleece coat, but it shouldn’t be more complicated than hair.

Wool

Wool is the thing that sheep tend to be known for. You probably start thinking of sheep when you hear wool, which is understandable. However, a Cavapoo can also have a wool coat if it takes more after the Poodle parent.

A wool coat on a Cavapoo is tight and super curly. It barely sheds at all and is known for being allergy-friendly. Cavapoos with a wool coat resembling a teddy bear, which is one of their lovable qualities. Good grooming will maintain this look.

“Whichever type of coat your cavapoo has, brushing it regularly will help keep it in good condition.”

Veterinarian Dr Charlotte Stiles (DVM)

Cavapoo Coat Stages

apricot cavapoo — It can be tricky to tell the difference between a red, apricot or tan Cavapoo.

Like any other animal, a Cavapoo’s coat changes and adapts constantly. The Cavapoo that first comes through your doors as a puppy may change by the time it’s four or five. It will have the same face and be the same dog, but it might look slightly different.

Cavapoo coats change for a couple of different reasons. For one, they inherit a specific gene from their Poodle parent that can cause the coat color to vary. And the coat they have as puppies will change as they mature into adult dogs.

Usually, around six months, a Cavapoo’s coat will start to change. The change can be a long and slow process. It definitely won’t happen overnight. Some Cavapoos don’t fully develop their adult dog coat until they’re two or three years old.

A Cavapoo’s coat changes so drastically and quickly because the Cavapoo tends to take more heavily after its Poodle parent. Poodle breeds have particular genetics that makes the Cavapoo adapt to match.

One of the good things about the coat changing of the Cavapoo is that they can become low-shedding and hypoallergenic. So even if your puppy sheds a lot in the first few months of having it, it’s most likely that they won’t continue to shed.

Other Cavapoo Features

black cavapoo coat — Black Cavapoo coats are usually seen with black color noses and lips.

Besides their changing coat, Cavapoos have many other attractive qualities. They can be clingy and will probably want to sit on your lap most of the time. They’re tiny dogs, and they love their people.

Cavapoo’s are known for their intelligence, trainability, and stubbornness. All these traits combine in a sort of perfect storm that culminates in the unique image of the Cavapoo. Cavapoos are generally energetic and can adapt well to your lifestyle.

Double-Coated Dogs

Like many other doggies out there, Cavapoos are double-coated dogs, which means they have a top layer on their coat that’s usually harsh, coarse, and wiry. Beneath that, they have a soft undercoat.

These two coats don’t grow in unison, meaning they don’t grow to the same length. The undercoat tends to grow faster, while the overcoat is usually slower and longer.

Grooming can feel like a nightmare when you have a double-coated dog, but at least you know they’ll be warm in the winter.

How to Tell What Coat Your Cavapoo Will Have

When dogs have been crossbred, it can lead to unpredictable results regarding their coat type. There’s no way to know for sure, but it’s generally true that most Cavapoo’s have wavy or curly hair, which means that wool and fleece coats are most common among the little guys.

One way to predict the kind of coat they will have is to look at the parents’ coats, but this is only applicable if the puppy is not a first-generation Cavapoo. The Cavapoo’s coat will change as it gets older, so don’t get attached to the puppy hair.

a golden cavapoo puppy yawns — Tan and Golden Cavapoo puppies are similar in coat color. This one is yawning!

Before We Go

Cavapoos are known for their genial, playful personality. They are usually great with children, although little kids might annoy them. And they love people, meaning they typically love to obey and do an excellent job for their masters.

The Cavapoo is a great, cute, charming addition to any family. With their curly hair and curious faces, they bring so much life and energy to the room. And since their hair usually makes them look like a little teddy bear, it’s not hard to see why they’re such famous puppies.