Cavapoo Puppy Checklist

Before Puppy Comes Home

Preparing for Your Cavapoo Puppy

• Find an experienced groomer before pickup: Verify the Cavalier parent has a current heart clearance from a board-certified veterinary cardiologist before purchase. Identify a small-dog-experienced groomer before the puppy comes home. The Cavapoo requires professional clipping every 6–8 weeks, and a groomer without Poodle-style experience will not achieve a correct clip. Book the first appointment before the puppy arrives.
• Crate (sized for adult dog): Select for adult size. The crate is both a training tool and a resting space from day one.
• Orthopedic bed: Supportive bedding in the crate and in the primary rest area.
• Collar, harness, leash: Flat collar for ID, front-clip harness for walks during training.
• Grooming tools: Slicker brush, pin brush, wide-tooth metal comb for home maintenance between professional appointments. Start brushing immediately — the coat transitions to the adult coat at 8–14 months, and the transition period is the highest mat-risk phase. Build brushing tolerance while the coat is still easy.
• Pet insurance enrollment: Before the first vet visit. Most breed-specific health risks are covered if enrolled before any diagnosis. Do not delay.
• Training class registration: Enroll in puppy class starting at 8–10 weeks. Register before the puppy comes home so you have a confirmed spot.

First Week Setup

First Week: Vet Visit Priorities

• Breed-specific health discussion: Cardiac auscultation at every annual vet visit from year one onward. Ask the breeder about syringomyelia MRI clearances if available. Pet insurance enrollment before the first vet visit is non-negotiable for this breed.
• Complete puppy vaccination series: Core vaccines at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Confirm schedule.
• Microchipping: Essential — microchip at or before the first appointment.
• Exercise restriction guidance: Large-breed growth plates close at 12–18 months. Sustained running and jumping before that point risks orthopedic damage. Ask for puppy-specific exercise guidelines.
• Heartworm and flea prevention plan: Discuss prevention regimen appropriate for your region.
• Spay/neuter timing: Discuss with your vet. For Standard-size dogs, waiting until 12–18 months for growth plate closure is increasingly the recommendation, but discuss based on your specific dog.

Training

Starting Training Right

The Cavapoo is highly trainable — both parent breeds rank among the most intelligent dogs. Training is a genuinely pleasurable experience with this breed: the dog learns quickly, retains commands reliably, and responds enthusiastically to positive reinforcement.

Begin training from day one. A Doodle puppy is capable of learning basic commands at 8 weeks. Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes), varied, and positive. End every session on a success.

Enroll in puppy class immediately. Social confidence, basic obedience, and recall should be introduced in a structured class setting beginning at 8–10 weeks.

Coat handling from the first day. Build tolerance for brushing, ear handling, paw touch, and face care from the first week, always with treats. The grooming routine that begins now continues for the dog's life.

Recall training is a priority. Train recall with high-value rewards and consistent reinforcement. Use a long line in open areas until recall is proofed in many settings.

Separation conditioning. Many Doodles are prone to separation anxiety. Build alone-time tolerance gradually starting from the first week — short absences that the puppy successfully tolerates, building up over weeks. Never come home to a distressed puppy; use a webcam to monitor.