It is hard not to smile when you see a big goofy Golden Retriever grin but the amount of shedding that these fluff monsters can generate can be enough to turn that smile upside down. Never fear though the rise of the Doodle hybrid can help.
In this article, however, we will go a bit further than thinking just about adding a purebred Poodle into the mix. We now have the luxury of a whole plethora of first-generation hybrids to choose from and today we will look at the adorable Cavapoo as an alternative means of “Doodling” the Golden Retriever.
Table of Contents
History of the Cavapoo
The Cavapoo is the result of crossing the irresistibly silky and floppy-eared Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Poodle. As Cavaliers fall under the “toy” size category for the most part they are crossed with Miniature or Toy Poodle to create a Cavapoo.
The Cavalier is a great match for the Poodle as both breeds have a working history that encourages smarts and energy, making for a delightful little pocket rocket doodle cross.
The Cavapoo has been noted as existing from around the early 1950s however it was the 1990s into the early 2000s when the Cavapoo along with many other Doodle hybrids really exploded in popularity.
For an even more detailed history of the Cavapoo, be sure to check out “Cavapoo Breed Guide: An In-depth View”.
History of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a gentle and affectionate big dog, that often sports a goofy grin. The breed originated in Scotland in the late 19th century and is thought to be descended from the Flat-Coated Retriever, Spaniels, Red Setters, Labrador Retriever, and Bloodhounds.
While initially, it was bred primarily as a gundog, most breed lines are now firmly bred to create domestic pets. The Golden Retriever is perhaps most identified for its long history as a preferred breed for guide dog training. While there is now more variety in guide dog breeds, the Golden Retriever remains popular and has also been recruited as a medical detection or assistance dog.
Not all Golden Retrievers will have a working life though, the vast majority are much-adored family pets, favored for their calm and loving nature.
What Do you Call a Cavapoo Golden Retriever Mix?
There is very little information about this cross being actively bred at present so we will have to put on our thinking caps to come up with a potential name.
We need a name that denotes the dog is a mix of Golden Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and a pinch of Poodle. We know that a Cavalier and Poodle make a Cavapoo and we know a Golden Retriever and Poodle makes a Goldendoodle and we know that a Golden Retriever and a Cavalier make a Golden Cavalier so…..
A mix of all three would be a Golden Cavapoo, Golden Cavoodle, or Golden Cavadoodle.
Why is the Golden Cavapoo Being Bred?
If someone was actively seeking to breed this cross it is likely they would be looking to introduce Poodle genes to reduce the high shedding associated with the Golden Retriever. It can be surmised that using a Cavapoo over a full Poodle may be to bring some of the best bits of the Cavapoo temperament into the mix.
Is a Golden Cavapoo Ethical Cross?
Some Cavapoos will be significantly smaller than their Golden Retriever counterparts. Unethical breeders could be tempted to try and use the smaller Cavapoo in the hope of making smaller dogs due to the perceived demand for this.
However, if both the Cavapoo and Golden Retriever are screened to be healthy and don’t have a huge size discrepancy this cross can’t be seen to be any less ethical than any other hybrid mixes out there.
The Benefits of a Golden Cavoodle
A Cavapoo Golden Retriever offers up the potential to be the ultimate companion pet. If a low-shedding example of a Cavapoo is chosen it has the bonus of potentially reducing the fallout from the hairy Golden Retriever. This means if you have always loved the thought of a Golden Retriever but can’t handle the shedding, there is still a way for you to have a variation of the breed.
Both the Cavapoo and Golden Retriever are well-matched in temperament which should make for fairly predictable traits in the pups. As the Cavapoo is smaller than the Golden Retriever it is also likely the hybrid pups will be smaller in adulthood, this may make the cross an option for those with reduced living spaces. This also means giving up less sofa or bed space when they want to snuggle, and they will want to snuggle!
The Cons of a Golden Cavadoodle
The Cavapoo Golden Retriever cross would be considered a Doodle as it is a hybrid including Poodle genetics, however, as the genetic make-up is now 50% Golden Retriever, 25% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and only 25% Poodle they may not have as pronounced Doodle features.
They are unlikely to have the dense curled coat of some Doodle hybrids and as a result, may shed more. They are more likely to visually appear like a Golden Retriever as that is the majority of their genetic mix.
Golden Cavapoo Statistics
Size and Weight
As there is not a great deal of information available right now about a Cavapoo Golden Retriever cross we will take a look at the average sizes and weights of the parent breeds to give an indication of what you can expect.
A Golden Retriever is a large breed and will generally be between 22” and 26” in height when fully grown and could weigh up to 80lbs. Generally, female Golden Retrievers are between 10 and 15% smaller than their male variations.
The Cavapoo on the other hand comes in a larger variety of sizes dependent on whether a Toy or Miniature Poodle was used in the cross. Generally speaking, they will be anywhere from 9” to 14” in height and weigh up to 25lbs.
In a Golden Retriever Cavapoo cross, it would be sensible for the Golden Retriever to carry the puppies to prevent complications of larger puppies being unable to be safely whelped by the smaller Cavapoo.
It would make sense to pick a Cavapoo on the larger side and a smaller Golden Retriever to try and achieve consistency in the size of the pups. Big size variations in parents can lead to health problems and large variations in a litter.
Based on the parent sizes we could estimate a Golden Retriever Cavapoo cross to be in the region of 14” to 22” in height and somewhere between 30lbs and 60lbs when fully grown.
Color and Coat Types
The Golden Retriever brings with it a dense, mid to long-length coat that will be flat or gently waved. Colors include cream, red, dark golden, light golden, and of course pure golden. The Golden Retriever unlike the Poodle does have a dense undercoat which contributes to the level of shedding it presents.
The Cavapoo, by comparison, comes in a whole variety of colors and marking presentations however most commonly will be lighter shades of white, brown, tan, red, and golden. This is due to many Cavapoo breeders picking lighter colored Poodles to compliment the colors of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
While the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat is fairly straight and silken, the addition of the Poodle often transforms this into a gently waved to curled coat pattern that gives the adorable teddy bear look.
If a Cavapoo was being selected to crossbreed with a Golden Retriever it is likely a lighter golden, tan, or white with a more curled variation of coat would be selected. This has the potential to ensure golden tones in the resultant litter and a denser curl would hopefully be maintained even with the addition of 50% Golden Retriever genetics.
Health
It can be difficult to say with certainty the health of these rarer hybrid crosses as there just isn’t enough of them to gather statistics. We can however look at any of the conditions common in both parent breeds which may have the potential to be passed on to the next generation.
There are some conditions that are common to both the Cavapoo and the Golden Retriever and these are listed below:
- Eye problems
- Ear problems (infections)
- Skin allergies
Of course, this is only what might be passed on and there are often treatment plans to manage any health problems that may arise.
Temperament
Perhaps the biggest bonus is of the Golden Retriever Cavapoo cross is the potential for a temperament that mixes the best of each breed. A well-bred Cavapoo is often sweet, social, and extremely energetic. The Golden Retriever by comparison is even more affectionate but slightly less hyper.
A mix of the two will be a loyal companion dog with plenty of energy to take part in play and exercise but equally will be able to settle and enjoy a cozy night on the sofa. What is not to love there?
Exercise Needs
As a Golden Retriever Cavapoo mix will likely be in the medium dog range, they will need daily exercise. While they can potentially live in apartments, it is recommended they get indoor play or training sessions to burn off some energy if they do not have free access to an outdoor space.
The Golden Retriever’s stamina will ensure this mix can keep up on more adventurous hikes and will make a great jogging buddy.
Feeding Requirements
The Golden Retriever genetics in this cross will likely make them very food orientated. It is recommended to keep this in mind and watch how many treats are dished out to prevent your pup from becoming overly chunky.
In terms of daily feeding, as a mid-sized dog, the Golden Retriever Cavapoo cross will likely require anything from 1 to 1.75 cups of good quality dry food split over two meals.