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Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.
Now, I know what you might be thinking, “Wait, aren’t Cavapoos just the most charming and well-behaved dogs ever?”
And yes, most of the time they are little rays of furry sunshine.
But hey, even our lovable Cavapoos can have their fair share of behavioral hiccups, too.
From separation anxiety to excessive barking, we’ll explore the common Cavapoo behavior problems that Cavapoo owners face.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
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Do Cavapoos Have Behavior Problems?
Cavapoos are small-breed dogs popular for their smart, loving, and adorable traits.
Their sweet nature makes dog lovers fall in love with them so quickly that you’ll be surprised at how many dog owners have this breed at home.
Cavapoos are great companions for kids too!
They’re enthusiastic and full of energy, and kids just seem to love that kind of hype.
However, it’s also quite known that Cavapoos show some signs of behavior problems.
These problems in their behaviors usually range from excessive barking and fun jumping to separation anxiety and their tendency to engage in destructive behavior.
But to each their own even among dogs.
I say this since there are still many dog owners who share how smart and well-behaved their pets are despite the rumors that this breed typically shows signs of misbehavior.
This means that although behavior problems are present among Cavapoos, it doesn’t mean that all of them do.
These behavior problems will only manifest if they lack training and were brought up harshly.
Cavapoos, just like other breeds, need adequate love and care from their dog owners. They’ll be amiable and fun to have if you’re a responsible owner.
5 Most Common Cavapoo Behavior Problems
1. Separation anxiety
Most dogs including Cavapoos are very social animals and they absolutely hate being alone since they easily bond with their dog owners.
And because they are affectionate and clingy dogs, they easily get lonely when they’re left alone.
If you have other dogs aside from your Cavapoo, it’ll also seek their presence and attention, not just yours!
By the way, you already know that the Cavapoo is a crossbreed of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel and poodle, right?
Well, it’s an open secret that Cavapoos do inherit the poodle’s clingy nature and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s friendliness.
So don’t be surprised if your Cavapoo is extra clingy and loves being surrounded by friends. It’s just their nature, I promise.
This is the reason why it’s not good to adopt a Cavapoo if you’re constantly away and busy because they easily fall into depression due to separation anxiety.
When Cavapoos experience separation anxiety, they become more tense, and aggressive.
In more serious cases of separation anxiety, poor Cavapoo could even resort to eating non-food items too!
2. Destructive behavior
Cavapoos are very active dogs who love engaging in happy physical activities.
They’re also really smart and will usually invite you to play with them.
As energetic pups, Cavapoos become restless when they don’t get to use their energy.
If you don’t give your Cavapoo enough playtime and exercise, you best believe that it’ll turn to destructive behavior to try and do something other than moping around.
Chewing on non-food items like slippers? CHECK.
Digging on dirt and swimming in puddles? CHECK.
Scratching your beloved and expensive couch? CHECK.
Ripping toys apart? CHECK.
They’ll do just about anything to release their unused energy.
Improper training of your Cavapoo will also lead him to engage in destructive behaviors since he isn’t taught the right way to behave.
Training Cavapoo on do’s and don’ts inside your home helps him realize what he should and not do.
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3. Excessive barking
Now, barking is natural among dogs and sometimes people would be weirded out if a dog DOESN’T bark.
But excessive barking when there’s no reason for it? That’s a behavioral problem in need of attention.
Cavapoos usually shift to excessive barking when they don’t get what they want. And what do Cavapoos love all the time?
Their owner’s attention.
Separation anxiety is constantly lurking around these clingy doggies, and when they wanna be with their dog owner they’ll bark nonstop.
I’ve already mentioned that Cavapoos are active doggies, right? Well, this makes them get easily bored.
When Cavapoos are bored, they’ll do some questionable things. Ordinary, I know.
They’ll be barking endlessly until you come and play with them. That’s what ordinary clingy doggies do anyway.
If your Cavapoo hasn’t been trained properly, excessive barking will be his only way to express what he wants and needs too.
Since he won’t know the cues to express his mind, he’ll just become more vocal to make his point.
4. Aggression
If your Cavapoo hasn’t been socialized well, it’ll develop an aggressive tendency toward new faces.
It’ll be kinda hard for him to adjust to new surroundings, people, and other animals.
And he’ll be aggressive as a way to defend himself from any danger he thinks may jump on him.
Since Cavapoos are also very loyal and loving to their family, they become aggressive when threatened.
They tend to get easily anxious and scared, hence they easily get in a protective stance with aggressiveness in their mind.
5. Jumping up
With how enthusiastic Cavapoos are, jumping up is their usual way of expressing their excitement.
Food? They’ll jump up towards it.
New toys? They’ll jump up to reach it.
Dog owner coming back home? They’ll jump for a joyous greeting.
Cavapoo is also fond of jumping up to seek his dog owner’s attention.
If you aren’t being as attentive as he wants, he’ll jump on you til you’ve got no reason not to give him some love.
Again, lack of training really plays a huge part in this kind of behavioral problem.
If your Cavapoo wasn’t trained to behave, he’ll think that jumping up is the default way to catch your attention or express his excitement.
Understanding Cavapoo Behavior
Cavapoo’s basic nature and temperament
A Cavapoo is an affectionate and sweet breed of dog. They’re very friendly and love to please their owners.
Since they’re really smart doggies, they can be trained and taught well easily. A great friend to kids, Cavapoo is playful and jovial too!
Since they range from small to medium-sized, Cavapoo can be adopted by families living in an apartment or bigger house.
Both of Cavapoo’s parents have friendly, smart, and sweet natures which Cavapoo effortlessly inherits.
So yes, being affectionate and smart is already running through Cavapoo’s veins! You’ll just have to nurture them more through training.
Factors influencing Cavapoo behavior
Genes
As a crossbreed, Cavapoo has inherited several traits from his two parents of different breeds.
Let’s take for example Cavalier King Charles Spaniels’ friendly nature. They love interacting with people and animals and get upset when alone.
While poodles are sweet and smart doggies. They’re playfully active and can easily be trained.
These traits from a Cavapoo’s parents play roles in shaping his behavior.
Upbringing
No matter how jolly and smart the parents of a Cavapoo are, if he has a bad upbringing, his behavior will be equally bad.
I mean this in a way that hitting, shouting, or beating your young Cavapoo is the wrong way of disciplining and training it.
Being harsh on your dog, no matter the breed will only coax him to be anxious and more aggressive.
Gentle training and enough socializing with other dogs are the keys to unlocking your Cavapoo’s incredible nature.
Well-being
If a Cavapoo is in pain or suffering from any underlying health condition, it’ll be more anxious to be in its owner’s company.
It’ll be more clingy and will do obsessive behaviors to get rid of what he’s feeling and to also tell his owner that he’s unwell.
If your Cavapoo is healthy, I bet he’ll be more active and playful. He’ll engage in socializing and playtime with other dogs and people too!
How to Prevent Cavapoo Behavior Problems?
Early training and socialization
You should start training and socializing your Cavapoo once you’ve brought him home.
To make sure your Cavapoo grows up well-behaved and happy, it’s important to address any potential behavioral problems.
Train your Cavapoo with traits and praises each time he does something desirable. And firmly but calmly discourage him from repeating something improper.
Although Cavapoos are fairly smart dogs and they’re easily trained, you still need longer patience.
Cavapoos get easily sad and anxious when their owners seem displeased with them. So calmly handling misbehaviors is a must!
Expose and socialize your Cavapoo with other animals and people too! Bonding with them all the time will make him more confident on his own.
This will let him live free from separation anxiety since he’ll think that you’re not the only source of fun and attention he has.
Ensuring adequate physical and mental stimulation
Give your Cavapoo enough time to play and engage in activities that’ll feed his energetic and enthusiastic nature.
This breed is an active doggy. Cooping a Cavapoo up will only make him engage in destructive behavior.
He’ll be more prone to eat non-food items, and he’ll even think of chewing and scratching on your furniture!
I gotta tell you that you don’t wanna hear the excessive barking a Cavapoo makes when he is bored either.
Regular health check-ups
Regular health check-ups help you monitor your dog’s health and behavior.
Cavapoo with health issues tends to show behavioral problems in an attempt to relieve himself from the discomfort or pain he’s feeling.
Some would even be barking and jumping up to catch your attention as if to say, “HEY! I’m in pain!”
But a healthy Cavapoo just mostly enjoys fun playtime and comfy cuddles.
Building a strong owner-dog bond
Build a strong owner-dog bond with your Cavapoo so you’ll be in tune with how he’s feeling.
Building a bond together with your Cavapoo lets you understand his needs quickly so he won’t have to resort to destructive behavior just to communicate with you.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is my Cavapoo biting so much?
If your Cavapoo is still a puppy, the reason he’s biting so much is likely because of teething. Teething can be painful to your dog, and biting gives pressure on his gums which relieves the pain. But if he is already an adult, then it might be uncomfortable with the place it’s in or facing stress and anxiety.
Can Cavapoos be trained to be calm?
Yes, Cavapoos can be trained to be calm through socializing. When your dog has great social skills, he won’t become overly excited when meeting new animals or people.
Why do Cavapoos jump at people?
Cavapoos usually jump at people to get their attention. It’s somehow their way of greetings too. For anxious Cavapoos, jumping at people means they don’t wanna be left out as well.
Do Cavapoos bark a lot?
Cavapoos don’t bark a lot. However, Cavapoos with behavioral problems excessively bark to get the attention of their dog owners, or if they’re being threatened.
Why do Cavapoos dig so much?
Cavapoos only dig so much when they’re stressed or anxious. Unfortunately, quite a lot of Cavapoos experience behavioral problems that make them dig too much.
Are Cavapoos hyperactive dogs?
Cavapoos are hyperactive dogs because they are too affectionate and can easily get excited especially when they see someone they adore.
Can Cavapoos be left alone?
You can leave Cavapoos alone for a few hours before they come looking for their dog owners. They’re clingy, and if not trained properly, they experience separation anxiety when left for too long.
In Conclusion: Cavapoo Behavior Problems
Understanding and addressing all the common Cavapoo behavior problems discussed above will be super effective in having a happy and balanced life with your furry friend.
I hope that by implementing the tips and tricks shared in this post, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any challenge that comes your way.
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