Cavapoos (Cavoodles) are known for their affectionate nature and they make wonderful family pets. These mixed breed doodles are the combination of the fairly chilled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the more energetic Poodle. We’ve had our Cavapoo Lola since September 2022 and we all absolutely adore her. But, whenever you’re considering bringing a new dog into your life, it’s important that you understand their needs and that you carefully consider whether you can meet those needs every single day for the rest of that dog’s life. One of the biggest things to think about is how much exercise they need. Different breeds of dogs need different levels of physical activity at different stages of their life. So, how much exercise does a Cavapoo need? Let’s take a look.
How much exercise does a Cavapoo need?
The Cavapoo needs a moderate amount of exercise each day of around 45 minutes. This can be broken up into a couple of short walks, one longer walk, or include exercise at home too.
One of the things that makes Cavapoos so wonderful is that they are just as happy to snuggle up on your knee all afternoon as they are to be taken out on walks. So, if you’re not feeling well one day, you can get away with allowing them to play at home and snuggle up. This works perfectly for our family with our Cavapoo Lola. I work from home running my websites and usually take Lola out for a half an hour walk in the morning, then my teenage daughter takes her for another walk after school. But, as a migraine sufferer, there are days when I’m just not physically able to take her out. She is quite happy to spend the day looking after me until my daughter comes home and takes her out.
The amount of daily exercise a Cavapoo will need will also depend on what stage of life they’re at.
How much exercise does a Cavapoo puppy need?
The general rule of thumb is that puppies should be walked for five minutes for each month of their age twice per day up until they turn one. So, a 4-month-old puppy should be walked for a maximum of 20 minutes twice per day.
Puppies can be extremely high energy and it might be tempting to take your Cavapoo puppy for a long walk in the hope that you’ll tire them out and they’ll sleep for the rest of the day. However, the danger here is that your puppy’s bones are still forming and over-exercising can lead to serious problems with their joints. Too much exercise at this point could even cause premature arthritis or hip dysplasia.
Until your puppy is allowed to go for walks, there are lots of things you can do at home so that they still get regular exercise. Things like playing tug of war or teaching them to play fetch are ideal, and puppies will often have spurts of energy running around like little lunatics in one of their favourite activities – the zoomies!
The first few walks you have with your Cavapoo puppy may not go as smoothly as you hope. They can often become overwhelmed by the big wide world or other dogs that they meet along the way. Just be patient and you’ll soon have a Cavapoo who jumps up in excitement as soon as they hear the word “walk”. I remember when Lola first encountered other dogs, she would shake in fear and we would have to pick her up and carry her home. Now, she loves to meet other dogs. These things just take time.
Taking your young Cavapoo to a puppy class is a great way to get them used to other dogs and you can also learn valuable advice from an experienced trainer too.
When can I take my Cavapoo puppy walking outside?
It’s really important that you don’t take your Cavapoo out for walks until they have had all of their puppy vaccinations. Up until then, you can exercise them at home.
How much exercise does an adult Cavapoo need?
Adult Cavapoos usually need around 30-60 minutes of exercise per day. This can be a combination of walks and exercise at home. Cavapoos make great family dogs as they love to go out for walks with the family as well as playing with the kids at home too.
How much exercise does a senior Cavapoo need?
The answer to the question how much exercise does a Cavapoo need really varies depending on the age of the Cavapoo. As dogs reach their senior years, they start to need less exercise. This is perfectly normal and isn’t usually something to worry about. Your vet will be able to check your dog over to see how they’re doing and advise you what kind of exercise they should be getting now they’re older.
Can you take your Cavapoo out for a run?
If you love to go out running, then you might be wondering if you can take your Cavapoo out for a run with you. Once your Cavapoo becomes a healthy adult, there’s no reason why you can’t.
Start off slow and build up so that your Cavapoo gets used to running and you know what kind of speed they’re able to manage.
Why your Cavapoo needs exercise
All dogs need exercise and the Cavapoo is no different. Here are some of the things that could happen if your Cavapoo doesn’t get enough exercise:
- Excessive barking
- Hyperactivity
- Destructive behaviour
- Whining
- Weight gain
- Toilet accidents in the house
- Restlessness
- Becoming withdrawn
Daily exercise can alleviate these problems so it’s really important to make time for daily walks.
Ways to exercise your Cavapoo
As well as daily walks were possible, there are lots of other things you can do to increase the amount of exercise your Cavapoo gets.
- A fun game of fetch
- Tug of war
- Hide the treat
- Agility
- Swimming
Toys to get your Cavapoo active
When asking the question how much exercise does a Cavapoo need, then we don’t need to focus solely on a couple of walks per day. There are lots of dog toys that move on their own which can be perfect for increasing your Cavapoo’s activity levels without adding any more strenuous activity into their day. You can even get remote-controlled dog toys!
Play with other dogs
Cavapoos are highly sociable and usually love to play with other dogs. If you have a safe area nearby where your Cavapoo can socialise and play with other dogs then this is a great way for them to get physically active. Just be sure to keep an eye on the dogs at all times and watch for any signs that they’re not happy.
Walking your Cavapoo in winter
It’s usually fine to walk your dog in the winter months, but small mixed breeds such as Cavapoos are more likely to feel the cold as their bodies are closer to the ground. Investing in a good quality, fleece-lined coat is a great way to keep them warm.
If it’s particularly icy, then take extra precautions to avoid your Cavapoo slipping and causing damage to their joints.
During particularly cold weather when the ground is freezing, consider buying shoes for your Cavapoo. These can help to prevent their paws from getting too cold.
Walking your Cavapoo in summer
On really hot days, you need to avoid walking your dog during the hottest part of the day as the hot ground can burn their paws. Try to take walks early in the morning and late in the evening when the ground is a little cooler. Also, make sure your Cavapoo has access to plenty of water and a cool, shady spot at home for them to cool down.
Cavapoo (Cavoodle) mental stimulation and enrichment
It’s not just a case of considering how much exercise does a Cavapoo need, you also need to make sure they have enough mental stimulation too. Cavapoos are highly intelligent dogs and they can get bored easily which can in turn lead to destructive behaviour.
There are lots of different ways you can provide mental stimulation for your Cavapoo.
Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys are a great way to keep your Cavapoo occupied.
Scenting and nose games
Things like snuffle mats can provide lots of mental enrichment for dogs who love to be kept busy. You can also use snuffle mats to slow down eating for dogs who like to guzzle down their kibble.
Chew Toys
Chew toys are ideal for calming down a dog after a walk. Make sure you buy chew toys that are durable and don’t leave your dog unattended.
Symptoms of over-exercising
It is possible for Cavapoos to over-exercise. They are such a fun-loving dog that sometimes they just don’t know when to stop, particularly when they’re puppies. It’s really important for you as their owner to know when to stop. Here are just some of the symptoms of too much exercise for Cavapoos:
- Excessive panting
- Extreme thirst
- Lagging behind
- Sitting or lying down and refusing to move
- Lameness
- Stiffness
Keep an eye on your Cavapoo when you’re out walking or exercising with them so that they don’t overdo it.
Time to rest
As well as ensuring your Cavapoo has chance every day to burn off their excess energy, it’s also vital that they get plenty of sleep too. A healthy Cavapoo should have the energy for daily exercise sessions as well as being able to get a good night’s sleep every night too. Lack of sleep can cause just as many problems as lack of exercise.
How much exercise does a Cavapoo need?
The health benefits of regular exercise are widely known and it’s important to make sure we make time to exercise our Cavapoos each day. But the amount of exercise your Cavapoo needs will depend on their age and their overall health. Generally speaking, a healthy adult Cavapoo should be getting up to 60 minutes of exercise every day alongside enough environmental enrichment and mental stimulation as they want.
