Cavapoo vs Goldendoodle – Doodle Breed Comparison

Can’t decide between a Cavapoo and Goldendoodle? Both are certainly very cute but how about their temperament, their grooming needs, who needs the most exercise? There are lots of considerations to take into account when choosing which breed will work best for your family and lifestyle. In this article, we are going to take a look at both the Cavapoo and the Goldendoodle in order to give you an insightful breed comparison.

Cavapoos, a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle, are a small to medium-sized dog. Goldendoodles, a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, are a medium-sized dog who is most often bred using the Standard Poodle. Both can inherit the low shedding qualities of the Poodle.

We know that both these breeds can share qualities that they can inherit from the Poodle. We’re going to take a look at what differentiates them other than how they look. Many Doodles will inherit the low shedding qualities of the Poodle and in fact, is often a reason that they are chosen as the family pet. When it comes to the Cavapoo and Goldendoodle let’s take a look at whether that’s where the similarities end.

What is a Cavapoo?

A Cavapoo is a Poodle crossed with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and is considered a small to medium breed. They are usually crossed with the Miniature Poodle and, on average, stand between 9” and 12” inches tall. The average weight of a Cavapoo is between 9lbs and 25lbs.

They come in a variety of colors including cream, fawn, chocolate, gold, chestnut, and white. Cavapoos were first bred intentionally in Australia in the 1990s. They were bred as companion dogs and often have hypoallergenic qualities making them a great choice for those with allergies.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are renowned for their gorgeous ears and altogether adorable facial features. They have beautiful, soft, silky hair and they are every bit as regal as their name suggests. Despite their royal names, they are great family dogs, loyal and good with children too. Combined with the Poodle, it’s easy to see why the Cavapoo is so sought after.

What is a Goldendoodle?

A Goldendoodle is a Poodle crossed with a Golden Retriever and can be remarkably bigger than the Cavapoo. They are usually crossed with the Standard Poodle. Whilst the Standard Goldendoodle is the most popular the Miniature Poodle can also be used to create the Miniature Goldendoodle.

Occasionally even the Toy Poodle is used to achieve the very smallest Goldendoodle although this will need to be done over many generations. There are two reasons behind this, it is not advisable to breed two dogs of such different sizes due to problems that can arise from their incompatible skeletal structures. Secondly, you can never guarantee that the earlier generations will not inherit their size from the Golden Retriever parent.

The average height of the Goldendoodle is 24” to 26”. They will generally weigh between 30lbs and 45lbs. Colors can include tan, white, cream, red, or black. Take a look at our Goldendoodle colors complete guide to see the full range. Like the Cavapoo, they were bred in the 1990s and became very popular for families wanting a dog that didn’t shed much.

Golden Retrievers are a popular breed and from 2013 – 2020 have ranked in third place by the AKC. They come from a long line of working dogs used in both hunting and fieldwork although they also do make wonderful family dogs. Best known for their beautiful golden coats, these dogs are full of life and love.

Cavapoo – Quick Facts

  • Their coats can be straight, wavy, or curly and they can be furnished or unfurnished
  • They are friendly, loyal, easy to train, and love being around humans
  • They can adapt to any size home being a smallish dog but would benefit from their own yard or safe space to exercise
  • They have moderate energy levels but will still need consistent exercise. Cavapoos, once exercised, will be happy chilling at home
  • They can be prone to becoming overweight so it’s important to feed a good quality food, follow the recommended daily allowance and not overdo the treats
  • Bred as companions and lapdogs the Cavapoo needs to be around people. They don’t do well being left on their own for very long and can suffer with separation anxiety

Goldendoodle – Quick Facts

  • The Goldendoodle is often used as a therapy dog due to its smart and calm personality
  • They are known as affectionate, sociable, and very smart
  • They need larger living spaces due to being a bigger sized dog
  • They thrive in homes with a garden they can roam in safely and play with a ball or frisbee
  • Goldendoodles are big fans of agility and also love swimming
  • They can be prone to separation anxiety if they are left alone too much and too often
  • Goldendoodles need plenty of daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy

Cavapoo vs Goldendoodle: Health Comparison

Hybrid Vigor should go some way to reducing the chances of genetic and inherited conditions, especially in F1 breeds. However, this isn’t a guarantee and there are still many problems that your Doodle can suffer with.

There are some potential health issues that both the Cavapoo and Goldendoodle can experience due to them being prevalent in the Poodle breed. These can include:

  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Hypoadrenocorticism
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Epilepsy
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Thyroid Issues

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are also prone to certain issues. Here are some ailments that you may want to be aware of should you have a Cavapoo:

  • Syringomyelia (SM): This happens when the brain grows behind the skull and into the spinal column
  • Eye Problems: Conditions such as Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia can seriously affect dogs’ eyes
  • Heart Issues: Cavapoos can suffer from conditions such as heart murmurs and enlarged hearts

Here are some of the common problems Goldendoodles can suffer with as a result of their Golden Retriever parents:

  • Patellar Luxation: This can cause the dog’s kneecap to move out of place
  • Hip Dysplasia: This is when the ball and socket joint of the hip hasn’t formed properly, and they subsequently grind together
  • Cancer: This disease is sadly quite common in the Golden Retriever breed

These conditions aren’t exhaustive so research would be necessary to get a fuller picture before committing to either breed. Arming yourself with knowledge and signs to spot could potentially save precious time in the future should your Doodle fall ill to any of the above illnesses.

Cavapoo vs Goldendoodle: Temperament

A huge factor to consider when you want to bring a dog home is its temperament. Whilst it’s not possible to predict the exact personality of your new dog you can get an idea by looking at the parent breeds which can help to make an informed decision.

Cavapoos are generally considered to be loyal, friendly, affectionate, and smart – all characteristics found in both Poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They thrive from human contact and make great companion dogs. They tend to shadow their human families and can sometimes show clingy behavior as a result.

Goldendoodles are both child and dog friendly, energetic, playful, affectionate, and clever. Their working dog background comes from both parent breeds. This accounts not only for their high energy levels but their genuine interest in pleasing their humans.

Cavapoo vs Goldendoodle: Appearance and Grooming

Another consideration is the time and cost needed to keep their coat looking great. It’s impossible to judge which breed will be the highest maintenance because it will depend on the coat type your puppy inherits. This can be pure chance, an educated guess based on the knowledge of the breeder or purposely bred if the breeder has had genetic testing done.

Cavapoos can be wavy and curly but can also, less often, be straight-haired. The curlier your Cavapoo, the more intense their grooming regime will need to be. On the upside, it also means you will likely have a low shedding dog.

Likewise, the Goldendoodle coat can vary from straight to curly, and again, the curlier the coat the less potential for shedding. Their coat can be clipped to make it easier to maintain and brushing needs to be regular. The earlier you introduce the comb and brush to your Doodle the easier they will become accustomed to the routine.

Grooming comes down to the coat and not really the breed although the size will be a factor in terms of time and cost. Ultimately though, maintenance will depend on the coat type. Curlier coats need more grooming and need to be clipped more often but Goldendoodles will cost more to groom because of their size. They will also take longer to comb and brush.

Cavapoo vs Goldendoodle: Trainability

Cavapoos are crowd-pleasers so this puts them in a prime position for a successful training regime. However, they can sometimes have a short attention span so little and often may be the best course of action. Socialization is always an important part of training any dog and no less so for Cavapoos.

Goldendoodles are very similar. Along with their intelligence and desire to please they are loyal and attentive. This is always a good combination to make training easier.

Even first-time owners of both breeds should find training straightforward. This is a big bonus but doesn’t separate the Cavapoo from the Goldendoodle when you are looking to compare their training abilities.

However, as with any training schedule for any breed, you will get the best results by using a reward-based training plan, being consistent, and starting early.

Cavapoo vs Goldendoodle: Our Conclusions

We have looked at both the differences and similarities between Cavapoos and Goldendoodles. Some of their differences are subtle whilst others are more obvious like their appearance, size, and history.

Some things we just can’t compare such as their health. Not only do many of the conditions that can affect them differ there is no way of knowing whether they will or will not suffer from any of them. Then there are the glaring similarities such as their intelligence and loving natures.

Cavapoos are perhaps more flexible in terms of living arrangements due to being a small to medium breed. Goldendoodles need a larger home to roam happily around in. Both come in an array of colors and coat types depending on the features, genetics, and generations of the parents used in the breeding process. This will also ultimately influence how much grooming will be required.

In terms of exercise, Goldendoodles will need more being the bigger dog. However, both need daily walks and playtimes to be happy. Don’t forget to keep their minds active too, they are both clever breeds. Boredom can lead to both an unhappy and a destructive dog.

Training should be straightforward with both breeds due to their intelligence. Cavapoos can be clingy but both breeds can suffer from separation anxiety and don’t do well being left alone for too long or too often.

In the long term, the Goldendoodle is likely to cost a little more than the Cavapoo. By being the bigger dog, food bills and grooming fees are going to be higher even if that’s not substantially so.

Other than the common Poodle ailments to watch out for health issues can be different due to their other parent breed so it’s hard to compare the two. Cavapoos can live between 12 and 15 years of age whereas Goldendoodles live on average between 10 and 15 years.

All that said both the Cavapoo and the Goldendoodle make perfect family dogs and their potential hypoallergenic traits will always make them a popular choice.

Realistically, it all boils down to your own set of circumstances and preferences as to which would be the better fit for your home. Either way, we hope we have been able to help you decide which Doodle route to take.