One of the most frequent questions you may see pop up is do Cavapoos shed? Since this adorable breed is thought to be hypoallergenic, that would have to mean that Cavapoos are non-shedding right?
The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. Cavapoos are mixed between two different breeds; the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which does shed frequently, and the poodle, which sheds less; therefore, Cavapoo shedding will align with the traits of the two parent breeds.
So, do Cavapoos shed their coat? An adult Cavapoo will typically need professional grooming every four to six weeks, and the amount of shedding will depend on the coat and fur type. A Cavapoo with a shorter, wavier type of coat like King Charles Spaniels will shed the most. A Cavapoo with a shorter coat like a poodle will shed less.
Our Cavapoo Rosie has more of a poodle-type coat, which means she has a low shedding threshold overall. She sheds less than a Cavapoo with a higher concentration of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in her fur traits, she still sheds enough to fire up the vacuum every now and again.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about Cavapoo shedding. Read on to discover more about the two Cavapoo coat types and how you can address shedding.
Does a Cavapoo Shed A Lot?
Although Cavapoos are popularly known as hypoallergenic dogs, it is not 100% true that this breed is non-shedding. The term hypoallergenic is a bit of a misnomer when referring to any dog breed since any vertebrate animal (and humans) shed skin cells and allergens from the surrounding environment every day.
A Cavapoo puppy will shed once it reaches the precipice of adulthood, but generally speaking, a Cavapoo will shed only when grooming practices occur. Even a straight coat Cavapoo that takes after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will only shed at random times of the year such as the changing of the seasons.
The amount of hair shed will depend on how often the Cavapoo is groomed. Since Cavapoos with a curly coat takes after the poodle parent, curly coat Cavapoos will feature low shedding; however, this can become a problem if you allow this type of Cavapoo’s fur to become matted or clumped. Make sure you have this type groomed regularly with a hairbrush like this one or by a professional groomer.
Cavapoos that take after King Charles Spaniels more so than poodles may shed more than the poodle variety. This is because this type’s fur is long and wavy throughout and not just concentrated on the back and tail. It should be understood that this breed will maintain traits that are indicative of both the spaniel and poodle parents, yet there are instances where shedding will become more pronounced for a Cavapoo that takes after the spaniel more than the poodle.
Why Does Your Cavapoo Shed?
As mentioned, the hypoallergenic debate is not a natural phenomenon with this breed, and in all honesty, I feel that this popular talking point is likely due to the good coat quality of this breed that comes from proper grooming– which you should certainly stay on top of!
A Cavapoo sheds because every breed of dog loses hair at different life stages and typically twice per year during the transition from cold to warm weather and vice versa. However, there are reasons why this breed may shed more than what people are led to believe, and this comes from the fact that a Cavapoo is a mixed breed.
Let’s take a look at each of these dog’s parent types to get a better idea.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known for its beautiful and shiny coat that features floppy and bushy hair around the ears and a cascading long coat around the rest of the body.
A typical Cavapoo will usually feature this parent’s genes on the back and tail area, however, if your Cavapoo has longer and finer hair around the neck and face, this is an indicator that your dog will likely shed more often due to the spaniel traits being more dominant.
Poodle
The poodle, or miniature poodle more specifically, forms the other breed type of the second parent of a Cavapoo puppy. The miniature poodle is known for its short and wavy hair that is not wholly smooth, yet bushy and curly without being long.
If your Cavapoo puppy features fewer amounts of longer, spaniel hair, then you can assume that your dog will not shed very often except in the spring to get rid of the slightly longer winter fur.
Cavapoo Shedding at Different Life Stages
A Cavapoo puppy will begin shedding around the 6-month mark and the shedding will continue throughout the dog’s lifespan. Due to Cavapoos being a cross-breed, a great way to tell how much shedding you are in store for is to understand which of the two parents the puppy takes after more.
A cross-breed puppy will begin to show dominant genetic traits at the age of six months.
According to research conducted by PLOS Genetics.
Therefore, you simply have to see how the puppy’s fur is growing and in what form to get an idea of the spaniel or poodle traits becoming dominant. Once a puppy reaches about 6 months of age, the soft and velvety coat will begin to fall off at a rapid rate. This is to make way for a thicker and more solid hair type that will last for years and respond to growth or clumping accordingly based on your dog’s overall health.
This type of dog can live anywhere from 12-15 years, therefore, you can expect your dog to reach old age toward the 10-12 year mark. Coats on older dogs can start to become much more matted and frail at this life stage, so be sure to brush your dog’s hair as much as you can, preferably each day, to keep the hair healthy and vibrant.
When Do Cavapoos Shed Their Puppy Coat?
As your pet grows in height and weight, you will begin to notice the low shedding give way to more increased hair growth. Many Cavapoo owners begin to notice quite a bit of shedding at the 6-month mark, and this can last for a few months as the puppy coat falls off and thicker fur becomes more apparent.
You can kiss the days of low shedding goodbye during this important transition. It is important to understand that this is a natural process and you will be delighted once your dog’s beautiful, permanent coat is on full display.
Do Cavapoos Coats Change as They Get Older?
All dogs will change coats as they get older, but the natural process of coat change is really only noticeable to a great extent when a puppy transitions into an adult. Apart from the seasonal coat changes that occur in the spring and winter, you will likely only notice a drastic difference in your Cavapoo’s coat once he/she reaches old age.
When dogs enter their final life stage, some of the luminosity of the coat’s color and shininess may turn a bit duller and thinner, we as humans can relate to this unfortunate fact of nature.
In old age, you can minimize this coat-thinning by brushing your Cavapoo often and ensuring that he/she maintains a well-balanced diet and receives plenty of exercise and outdoors times.
Can Cavapoo shedding caused by the wrong bathing products occur?
Undoubtedly, your Cavapoo’s frequent shedding can be due to irritating bathing products that irritate the skin and disrupt your dog’s mental stimulation and overall health. If your dog is frequently itching and scratching, this can cause increased shedding due to distress.
There is an important caveat to keep in mind when it comes to bathing a dog. If you are trying to prevent shedding dog hair, bathing can actually hasten the process at which your dog will shed. But even though you may have more fur to clean up, the quicker you can accelerate the shedding process, the faster your Cavapoo can grow into their new coat of hair.
But irritating products can actually accelerate shedding during periods that hair loss is not common. Therefore, you should make sure you use a non-irritating shampoo to protect your dog’s coat health.
When do Cavapoos shed the most?
Hair loss occurs the most during the stage when a puppy begins to transition into adulthood. Again, the amount of fur loss will entirely depend on the coat type of your Cavapoo. But in general terms, canines tend to shed the most during the early weeks of spring and autumn once a dog reaches adulthood.
During the spring, your Cavapoo will begin to lose longer hair to make room for shorter hair to maintain comfort during the warmer months. During the fall, your dog will shed shorter hair to grow a longer coat to maintain warmth during the colder months. Even if you have a poodle-type, this type of shedding occurs often, even if their shorter coat may not look much longer during the fall and winter.
What can I do about Cavapoo coat shedding?
By far, the best practice to make sure your dog’s shedding is kept at a minimum is to regularly groom your dog. Without proper bathing and hair combing, a Cavapoo’s hair can easily matt and clump, and the longer the hair remains matted, the more shedding you can expect. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to minimize the hair loss as much as possible.
I prefer to use the Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush by Hertzco for Rosie. This brush is effective for virtually all dog breeds due to its gentle feel and ability to remove loose hair and mats of hair without pulling a dog’s hair at the root. Additionally, this brush can remove underlying dander and dirt that can lay dormant on the top layer of skin, which makes this a perfect tool for people with allergies.
Cavapoo puppies respond well to frequent bathing as this helps to condition the dog’s skin and prevent predispositions to matting and clumping. I have also found success with Puppy Love Puppy Shampoo by Animology. You may find that pet shampoos can be irritating to a dog’s skin, especially a puppy’s skin, but this product is fortified with vitamin B5 and is pH-balanced to prevent irritation while renewing and protecting a puppy’s gentle skin.
Frequent bathing and grooming (and a sturdy vacuum) are the best practices to take to keep your Cavapoo’s clean and shiny and to prevent shedding as much as possible.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, this breed definitely does shed its hair, and the severity of the shedding is based on the different types of coats that become dominant after the puppy stage.
My Cavapoo Rosie has more poodle qualities than a spaniel, and I can tell you that her shedding is very rare. A Cavapoo with long straight hair may shed a bit more than poodle types like Rosie, but regular grooming can certainly help reduce this.
If you do not have a quality brush (see on Amazon), be sure to get one as I can tell you that this has helped to keep Rosie’s coat shiny and low in shedding. Dogs are unable to keep their coats in good health and appearance, so be sure to brush and bathe your dog often to keep the shedding at bay.