Cavapoos are a wonderful mixture of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle. They are loyal dogs with a loving and affectionate nature, making them the ideal family dog. But are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic? This is one question that many allergy sufferers will want to answer before committing to the lifelong commitment of bringing a dog into the family.
What does hypoallergenic mean?
“Hypoallergenic” is the term used to describe something that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. It was initially used by the cosmetic industry in the 1950s to highlight products that were less likely to cause allergy symptoms.
Since then, the term “hypoallergenic” has been used for all kinds of things, including dogs.
Here’s the definition of the word according to Dictionary.com.
“designed to reduce or minimize the possibility of an allergic response, as by containing relatively few or no potentially irritating substances: hypoallergenic cosmetics.”
What are hypoallergenic dogs?
Hypoallergenic dogs are dogs that are generally less likely to cause an allergic reaction in someone who suffers from pet allergies.
What makes a dog hypoallergenic?
If you’ve got an allergy to dogs, then you might think you can’t be near any dog without your allergy symptoms kicking in. However, that’s not true. You may be able to spend time with a dog without it causing any kind of reaction.
Some dogs have fur that sheds, and some dogs have hair that doesn’t shed. Dogs with fur will naturally shed their hair without the need for grooming. Dogs with hair will need regular grooming as they don’t shed. Dogs that shed their fur will leave dander and it’s this dander that causes the allergic reaction in people with pet allergies.
Therefore, dogs with hair, who don’t shed, don’t leave that irritating dander behind. This is what makes the dog hypoallergenic.
What is dander?
Dander is pieces of dry skin in an animal’s fur or hair. All dogs (and humans) release some dander, but dogs that shed their fur release far more and that’s what tends to cause an allergy flair up.
A dog that doesn’t shed is considered hypoallergenic as they release so little dander into the air, meaning they are much less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
Are Cavapoos hypoallergenic?
Cavapoos are widely considered to be a hypoallergenic breed and they are a popular choice for people with an allergy to pet dander.
However, it’s important to point out that Cavapoos are only going to be good for people who suffer with a pet hair allergy. If you have an allergy to animal saliva, urine and faeces, then you’re probably going to find that you have an allergic reaction even if you do come into contact with dogs with low-shedding coats. If possible, it’s a good idea to spend some time with a dog before you commit to taking it home, so that you can be sure you’re unlikely to have a reaction. It would be pretty horrible for everyone involved if you brought a dog into your home only to find that you had a severe allergy and had to consider rehoming.
What type of Cavapoo is best for allergy sufferers?
As Cavapoos are a mixed breed between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle, they naturally take elements from each of their parents. But a Cavapoo puppy can be bred from a number of different combinations. Have a look at this table to see the usual parent breeds:
| Generation | Usual pairing | Estimated DNA % | ||
| 1st Parent | 2nd Parent | Poodle | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | |
| F1 Cavapoo | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Poodle | 50% | 50% |
| F1B Cavapoo | F1 Cavapoo | Poodle | 75% | 25% |
| F1BB Cavapoo | F1B Cavapoo | Poodle | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| F2 Cavapoo | F1 Cavapoo | F1 Cavapoo | 50% | 50% |
| F2B Cavapoo | F2 Cavapoo | Poodle | 62.5% | 37.5% |
| F2BB Cavapoo | F2B Cavapoo | Poodle | 81.25% | 18.75% |
| F3 Cavapoo | F2 Cavapoo | F2 Cavapoo | 50% | 50% |
| Multigeneration Cavapoo | Differs | Differs | Differs | Differs |
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a shedding breed and their fur sheds moderately all year round. You can minimise the risk to allergy sufferers with daily brushing and regular professional grooming, but it’s the Poodle gene that helps to create a hypoallergenic breed. Poodles are non-shedding dog and it’s this non-shedding gene that allergy sufferers should be looking for. The higher Poodle DNA %, the higher chance you have of getting a hypoallergenic Cavapoo. So, an F1BB Cavapoo is the best choice for allergy sufferers.
However, it’s important to point out that DNA is impossible to predict. There’s no way of predicting which characteristics a puppy will take from each parent. But by choosing a Cavapoo with a higher percentage of Poodle DNA then the chances are that you will have a non-shedding dog.
You can read more about the different types of Cavapoo here.
Do Cavapoos shed a lot?
The Cavapoo is a popular breed with allergy sufferers as it’s widely referred to as being hypoallergenic. But are Cavapoos hypoallergenic in all cases? As discussed above, this really varies depending on which parent the Cavapoo puppy inherits it’s coat from. As the Cavapoo is a mixed breed, there are lots of possible coat types. Wavy coats or curly coats will shed less than straighter coats as it’s the curly-haired Poodle gene that provides the non-shedding element.
Cavapoos that inherit straighter hair from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will shed much more than Cavapoos with a higher percentage of the Poodle DNA.
What causes an allergy to dogs?
People often don’t know that there are many different triggers for people who suffer with an allergy to dogs.
- Dander (microscopic pieces of dead skin)
- Urine
- Faecal matter
- Saliva
It can be difficult to know the exact trigger without being tested. An allergy to pet dander is the most common cause of an allergic reaction to dogs.
What are the signs you may be allergic to your Cavapoo?
The signs that you may be allergic to your Cavapoo are pretty similar to the symptoms caused by any other allergy:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy nose
- Itchy eyes
- Red eyes
- Watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
Are All Poodle Mixes Hypoallergenic?
Poodles are a popular breed for mixed breeding as they are generally intelligent, easy to train, and fun loving. But they are also known to be a hypoallergenic breed due to their curly, non-shedding coat. For this reason, all Poodle mixes can be hypoallergenic, but it depends on the DNA.
Any puppy born from a Poodle parent has a 50% chance of inheritibng the curly, non-shedding coat. As we’ve seen in the table above, the percentage chance varies depending on the exact DNA of a puppy’s parents.
How to minimise an allergic reaction to your Cavapoo
If you already have a Cavapoo as your canine companion, and you are experiencing an allergic reaction, then it’s worth trying out a few different ways to minimise that so that you can keep hold of your beloved family pet. Even if you’ve looked into the question, are Cavapoos hypoallergenic, and done all you can to minimise the chance of having a reaction, there are no guarantees that your Cavapoo won’t trigger a reaction.
Use a reputable breeder
If you’re planning to buy a Cavapoo puppy from a breeder, then it’s always important to use a reputable one. Any breeder worth their salt will be able to explain the exact Cavapoo generation of their puppies and be able to tell you what type of coat the puppies are likely to have once they reach adulthood. Remember, when you go to look at puppies, they will still have their puppy coat which usually changes at around six months of age when their adult coat comes in.
A good breeder will also allow you to visit and spend some time with the puppy in the run up to taking it home, and this can help you to determine whether you’re going to have a reaction or not. It’s not foolproof though as you’ll need to test this with the adult coat which won’t come in until you’ve had the puppy for a few months.
Regular grooming and bathing
If you’ve got an allergy to pet dander, then it’s really important that you groom your Cavapoo regularly. Daily brushing helps to prevent a build up of dander and keeps the dog’s coat healthy. Here are a few products that will help you to do this at home.
You should also bathe your Cavapoo every 4-6 weeks too, we use a professional groomer for this with our Cavapoo as she does a far better job than we do. But we do shower her when she gets muddy in between grooming visits.
Don’t allow your dog into the bedroom
As tempting as it might be to allow your Cavapoo to sleep with you at night, if you suffer from a pet allergy then this is definitely something to avoid. Pet dander infiltrates everything, particularly soft furnishings, so you don’t want it anywhere near your bed covers and your pillows.
Use a high-quality vacuum cleaner
Use a high-quality pet hair vacuum cleaner regularly to help minimise the dander nestled into your carpets.
Get a HEPA air purifyer
Pet dander is released into the air around your pet. An air purifyer draws out any impurities in the air and is definitely worth investing in if you’re suffering from some of the common symptoms of a pet allergy. Place it into the room where your Cavapoo spends most of their time for maximum results.
Consider laminate flooring
Carpets can really hold onto pet dander, whereas with laminate flooring, there’s nowhere for the dander to get embedded. Laminate flooring is also far easier to clean too whereas carpets and muddy paws do not go well together!
Take anti-histamines
Anti-histamines can work really well to fight off the symptoms of allergies.
Speak to your GP
If all else fails, it’s worth paying your GP a visit as they may be able to offer you other solutions to help you to manage your allergy so that you and your Cavapoo can live in harmony.
Other hypoallergenic dog breeds
If you’re wondering are Cavapoos hypoallergenic, then you might be wondering about other breeds that could potentially work well for an allergy sufferer.
- Poodle
- Bichon Frise
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Giant Schnauzer
- Havanese
- Shih Tzu
- Maltese
- Scottish Terrier
- West Highland Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Afghan Hound
- Lhaso Apso
Are Cavapoos Hypoallergenic?
The short answer to this question is that yes, Cavapoos are hypoallergenic. But, that comes with a few caveats. Some Cavapoos are likely to be more hypoallergenic than others, and this is just the way it naturally is with any hybrid breeds. Cavapoos with more of the Poodle gene are far more likely to be hypoallergenic than those with a more prominent DNA from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Cavapoos are wonderful dogs and make a great addition to families. The Cavapoo temperament is loyal, loving, affectionate and fun loving and they are just as happy to be out running around in fields as they are to be cuddled up on your lap. Just be sure to do your research before committing to a Cavapoo, particularly if you suffer from pet allergies.
