Cavapoo Stud Dog: What to Look For, Health Testing, and Where to Find One

The decisions you make before breeding determine everything about the litter that follows

The Cavapoo has become one of the most sought-after companion breeds in the country — and for good reason. A well-bred Cavapoo combines the intelligence and low-shedding coat of the Poodle with the gentle, affectionate nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. But that "well-bred" part is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Finding the right stud dog for your female is the single most important decision you will make as a Cavapoo breeder. This guide walks you through every factor that separates a quality Cavapoo stud from one that will cause you problems.

Understanding the Cavapoo Cross

Before evaluating any stud, understand what generation you are working with.

F1 Cavapoo — First-generation cross: one purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent and one purebred Miniature or Toy Poodle parent. F1s tend to have the most hybrid vigor and predictably low-shedding coats. Most breeders consider this the gold standard for pet homes.

F1B Cavapoo — A Cavapoo bred back to a Poodle (75% Poodle, 25% Cavalier). The F1B produces a curlier, even more allergy-friendly coat. Popular for families with sensitivities.

F2 Cavapoo and Beyond — Second-generation crosses can produce more coat variation. Some puppies will have wavy coats, some curly, and occasionally a straighter-coated pup will appear. This generation requires a solid understanding of genetics to predict outcomes.

Health Testing: What a Quality Cavapoo Stud Must Have

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel brings warmth and personality to the Cavapoo. It also brings a serious set of breed-specific health risks. A responsible Cavapoo stud owner will have addressed all of them.

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)

MVD is the leading cause of death in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Responsible breeders follow the MVD Breeding Protocol, which requires that both parents be over 2.5 years of age and have cardiologist-confirmed clear hearts before breeding. If a stud owner cannot provide a recent cardiologist clearance, walk away.

Syringomyelia and Chiari-like Malformation (SM/CM)

A painful neurological condition where the skull is too small for the brain. OFA or BVA MRI grading is the gold standard. Look for a grade of A or B on the BVA scheme, or OFA Normal/Equivocal.

Hip Dysplasia

OFA hip evaluation or PennHIP is standard, particularly for larger Cavapoos where the Poodle parent may be Standard-sized.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

A DNA test that confirms whether the stud is Clear, Carrier, or Affected. A Carrier stud bred to a Carrier female can produce Affected puppies that will go blind. Always confirm PRA status before breeding.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

A DNA-based test. Carriers are generally safe to breed to clear dogs, but two Carriers should never be paired.

Coat and Furnishings Genes

Testing for the Furnishings gene (IC locus) tells you whether the dog carries the gene for the classic Cavapoo wavy or curly furnished coat. A stud that is F/F (two copies) will guarantee all puppies have furnished coats regardless of the dam. A stud that is F/f can still produce furnished pups but not with certainty.

Evaluating Temperament

The Cavapoo's reputation as a family dog depends entirely on temperament. A nervous, reactive, or aloof stud will pass those tendencies on.

When evaluating a stud, ask the owner:

  • Can I see video of the dog in different environments?
  • How does he react around strangers?
  • Is he confident around children?
  • Does he have any known fear responses or anxiety?

A quality Cavapoo stud is confident, curious, and relaxed in new situations. That temperament is heritable and it matters as much as any health test.

Size Considerations

Cavapoos come in two size categories based on the Poodle used:

Toy Cavapoo — Toy Poodle × Cavalier. Typically 8–15 lbs at maturity. Miniature Cavapoo — Miniature Poodle × Cavalier. Typically 15–25 lbs at maturity.

If you want a specific size range in your litter, the stud's actual measured weight and height matter enormously — especially for F2 and F1B litters. Ask for the stud's weight and the weights of his previous offspring when possible.

Coat Type and the Curl Gene

Two genes primarily determine coat outcome:

Furnishings (RSPO2) — The gene responsible for the furnished, non-shedding doodle coat. Dogs with two copies (F/F) always pass a furnishing gene to their offspring. Dogs with one copy (F/f) may produce some unfurnished puppies. Dogs with no copies (f/f) will have a flat, smooth coat.

Curl (KRT71) — Determines how curly the coat is. Knowing the stud's curl genotype helps you predict what range of coat textures to expect in the litter.

Any quality Cavapoo stud should have been tested for both. Ask for Embark or MyDogDNA results and look for the IC locus (furnishings) and CU locus (curl) values.

Questions to Ask Before Booking

  1. Can you provide full health testing documentation — cardiology clearance, SM/CM MRI grade, OFA hips, and DNA panel results?
  2. What generation is the stud and what is his breeding history?
  3. Do you have references from previous dam owners?
  4. What is your rebreeding policy if pregnancy does not result?
  5. What is included in the stud fee, and when is payment due?
  6. Do you use a written contract?
  7. Will you provide a signed stud service certificate for registration purposes?

Summary Checklist

Before booking a Cavapoo stud, confirm:

  • ☐ Cardiologist MVD clearance (both parents over 2.5 years per the MVD Protocol)
  • ☐ SM/CM MRI grade (OFA or BVA)
  • ☐ OFA hip evaluation
  • ☐ DNA clear for PRA and DM
  • ☐ Furnishings and curl genotype tested
  • ☐ Temperament evaluated in person or via video
  • ☐ Written contract with clear rebreeding policy
  • ☐ References from previous dam owners available

A Cavapoo litter from a health-tested, well-selected stud is a litter you can stand behind.