How to Buy a Cavapoo Puppy in the United States | PetzLover

What is a Cavapoo, and does one suit your home?

The Cavapoo blends two quite different companion breeds. Under its AKC standard, the Cavalier is a toy spaniel 12 to 13 inches tall and 13 to 18 pounds, with a silky coat free from curl and a friendly, non-aggressive temperament. The Toy Poodle stands 10 inches or under and the Miniature over 10 and up to 15 inches, both with a dense, curly coat. A puppy can take after either parent or fall in between.

PetMD calls the Cavapoo a good pick for first-time owners, comfortable in a small apartment or a house with a yard, and generally good with children who play gently. The catch is company: PetMD names separation anxiety as the cross's biggest behavioral concern, so if everyone is out all day, plan for a dog walker or daycare first.

Which health tests should a Cavapoo puppy's parents have?

Ask for written results. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club's 2023 health statement lists four tests a Cavalier needs for a CHIC number from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), and the American Kennel Club lists the Poodle tests its national breed club recommends.

The Cavalier club also lists optional tests, including DNA tests for episodic falling and dry eye curly coat syndrome, and an MRI scan for syringomyelia at the breeder's discretion. OFA does not record MRI results, so if a breeder has scanned the Cavalier parent, ask to see the radiologist's report.

What health problems can a Cavapoo inherit from the Cavalier side?

Two inherited problems make the Cavalier parent's records especially important:

• Mitral valve disease (MVD). PetMD calls it a leading cause of death in Cavaliers and notes that Poodles are also at increased risk. Studies cited in a 2021 paper in the journal Animals found heart murmurs suggesting MVD in 100% of Cavaliers aged 10 or older.
• Syringomyelia (SM). A fluid-filled cavity forms in the spinal cord, usually as a result of Chiari-like malformation, a defect where the skull meets the spine. A 2011 study in the Veterinary Record found SM on MRI scans in 25% of one-year-old Cavaliers and 70% of those aged six or older, all from dogs whose owners had noticed no signs. Early signs include yelping when picked up and scratching at the neck or shoulder, often on one side.

Those figures come from purebred Cavaliers, not Cavapoos, but PetMD warns that a Cavapoo can develop syringomyelia because of its Cavalier roots. Its list of Cavapoo health problems also includes hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, several eye conditions, dental disease and allergies.

Are Cavapoos hypoallergenic, and how big will one get?

Size comes from the parents. PetMD says the Poodle parent's size affects the adult size, so ask whether it is a Toy or a Miniature and what both parents weigh. Its adult range of 8 to 25 pounds shows how wide the spread can be.

Coats vary too, from straighter and wavy to tight curls. PetMD says Cavapoos have low-shedding coats but no dog is truly hypoallergenic, and the American Kennel Club says dander causes most dog allergies. If anyone at home is allergic, spend time with the puppy and its mother before you pay a deposit.

How do you spot a bad Cavapoo breeder or a scam?

• No heart paperwork for the Cavalier parent, or a claim that crossing removes the Cavalier's heart and spine problems.
• No mother on site, a meeting in a parking lot, or many different crosses always available.
• Hypoallergenic guarantees. No honest seller can promise an allergy-free dog.
• Deposits by Zelle, wire or gift card for a shipped puppy. In a 2024 case reported alongside a Better Business Bureau warning, a St. Louis buyer paid a $500 deposit and then the balance by Zelle for a Cavapoo puppy that never arrived.
• Puppies sold too young. Many states set a minimum sale age; Pennsylvania, for example, bans selling or transferring a dog under eight weeks.

How much does a Cavapoo puppy cost?

PetMD puts Cavapoo puppies from reputable breeders who provide health guarantees based on recommended genetic testing at typically $2,000 to $4,000, with prices varying by location. A much lower price usually means untested parents or a scam.

Rover's 2025 report put the upfront cost of bringing a dog home at about $1,150 to $4,420. Costs specific to this cross:

• Grooming about every six weeks, plus nail trims every four to six weeks (PetMD).
• Dental care, since PetMD lists dental disease among Cavapoo health problems.
• Heart checks as the dog ages, and pet insurance or a savings fund for heart, knee or spine problems.
• Help with time alone, such as a dog walker or daycare.

What should the contract and pickup include?

• A sales agreement with the price, both parents' names, copies of their test results, the generation and a health guarantee that says how heart disease and syringomyelia are covered.
• Spay or neuter terms for a pet puppy, and a promise that you will contact the breeder first if you ever cannot keep the dog.
• The vet record with vaccines and deworming, the feeding schedule and the microchip number to transfer into your name.

About 22 states have puppy lemon laws. In California, for example, a covered breeder must offer a remedy if a vet certifies an illness within 15 days or a congenital or hereditary condition within one year. Book your own vet exam in the first few days and ask the vet to listen carefully to the heart.

If no suitable litter is near you, post a Cavapoo wanted ad, consider adopting a Cavapoo, or read taking in a rehomed Cavapoo for an adult with a known size and coat.