The small and hypoallergenic Cavapoo seems like an adorable choice for a companion, but if you are someone with a busy lifestyle, you may worry about how the dog will fare when you are not home.
Cavapoos can be left alone for up to 5 or 6 hours, but they can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. If your dog suffers from any medical issues, they may require more frequent contact and attention throughout the day.
Additionally, there are some other things to take into consideration when caring for a Cavapoo. Read on to find out about their behavior, maintenance requirements, and more.
Table of Contents
- Ideally how long can Cavapoos be left alone?
- Why you shouldn’t get a Cavapoo
- Are Cavapoos clingy?
- Do Cavapoos like to cuddle?
- Are Cavapoos high maintenance?
- Recommended website
- Conclusion
Ideally how long can Cavapoos be left alone?
Even if you are home often, there will be some amount of time in which your Cavapoo will be home alone. Ideally, a Cavapoo will be alone only for a couple of hours. However, they can be left alone for up to 6 hours at a time. It is possible to leave them alone for longer, even overnight, but only on rare occasions.
Cavapoos often experience severe separation anxiety. This can cause destructive behavior inside of the home and stress for the dog. A common solution is to put your Cavapoo in a kennel when they are left alone at home. However, the kennel must be big enough for the dog to move around for it to be an effective solution.
Using a kennel has its shortcomings. Being in such a small space for great lengths of time will cause even more stress for your Cavapoo. High stress can lead to the dog accidentally defecating in its kennel, which can lead to medical issues. Being in a kennel too often can also increase the separation anxiety and behavioral issues in your dog.
Whether you use a kennel or not, be sure to get as much physical energy out of your dog as possible before leaving them home alone. Tiring them out before leaving them alone can help remedy behavioral issues. This will also reduce anxiety and boredom while they are alone.
Why you shouldn’t get a Cavapoo
Cavapoos are a great breed choice for people who need a hypoallergenic dog or people with families so someone will likely be home to keep the dog company. However, even if you fall into those categories, there are still several reasons as to why a Cavapoo might not actually be the best dog for you.
Here’s a brief list of reasons why a Cavapoo may not be right for you:
- High energy level
- Requires lots of exercise (See dog walking torches here)
- Prone to heart disease
- Separation anxiety
- Sensitive to heat
- Excessive barking
- Needs regular grooming
- Requires regular ear cleaning to avoid an infection
Due to their high energy, Cavapoos need a lot of physical stimulation. Additionally, Cavapoos are quite well known for their clinginess.
If left alone for too long or too often, a Cavapoo will become stressed, which can increase any behavioural or medical issues they may have. If you work long hours and are often away from home, it will be difficult to give a Cavapoo the attention it needs.
That said, you really shouldn’t own any breed of dog if you work long hours and spend a great deal of time away from them.
Are Cavapoos clingy?
Cavapoos are clingier than some other dog breeds, simply because they were bred specifically to be companion pets. They do not like being alone.
Ideally, someone will be home with them, or they will have another dog as a companion if you have to be out of the house for any reason.
Smothering your Cavapoo with too much attention can cause them to be clingier. Although Cavapoos do love affection, be sure to give them time and space when they need it. Picking them up too often also encourages clinginess, so be sure to limit that as well.
I know it’s so tempting to constantly be fussing them, but you should try and give it some space to get used to being a little independent from you.
Do Cavapoos like to cuddle?
In most cases, Cavapoos enjoy cuddling. Even if they are not super enthusiastic about cuddling, they will still tolerate cuddles. There are some factors that may result in a Cavapoo being less cuddly, such as not being socialized properly as a puppy. At the end of the day, it comes down to your dog’s personality and their preferences.
Are Cavapoos high maintenance?
Cavapoos are known as a high maintenance breed. They require regular brushing and trimming to maintain their curly coat and to ensure dirt does not become trapped in their fur. A dirty Cavapoo is a smelly Cavapoo, so hygiene needs to be consistent.
They will also need to have their toenails regularly inspected and trimmed to ensure no snags in the fur. Additionally, it is important to get their ears cleaned to avoid an ear infection.
Unless you have experience doing these things and are comfortable doing them yourself, it is best to take your dog to an experienced groomer, which is another cost to consider when deciding if you should get a Cavapoo.
Recommended website
We found a lot of great information about Cavapoos on the Bean Blog which is almost entirely dedicated to one young ladies Cavapoo called “Bean”. I have used (with her permission) some of her images for this article.
Conclusion
Cavapoos are sweet and energetic dogs that love affection, but they struggle with spending lengths of time home alone. To ensure the best quality of life for a Cavapoo, they need to be with someone who can dedicate time and attention to their needs. If you are thinking of getting a Cavapoo, just be sure they are not left unattended beyond just a few hours.
Additional reading
If you need information on how long to wait before exercising your dog after eating, we have you covered.
