A Golden Cavadoodle, also commonly called a Golden Cavapoo, is approximately 50% Poodle, 25% Golden Retriever, and 25% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We like this blend because each breed contributes lovely traits to the temperament, and in our experience those child friendly traits can complement one another extremely well.
Golden Retrievers and Cavaliers are both breeds we value for family companionship, especially in homes with children. They tend to be people oriented, tolerant, affectionate, and eager to live closely with their families. Golden Retrievers and Cavaliers are well known for being exceptionally tolerant and well suited to families with babies and small children.
Where they differ dramatically is in their typical energy level and style of interaction.
Cavaliers are generally very low energy dogs. They are content to spend much of the day relaxing beside their people, wandering around the yard, sniffing, exploring, chewing a bone, or participating in short periods of play. They tend to be passive and easygoing rather than demanding. That can make them exceptionally easy dogs to live with, BUT active families may find a pure Cavalier more sedentary than they want.
Golden Retrievers are opposite to Cavaliers in energy level. Their history as hunting dogs contributes to a much stronger desire for activity, play, movement, and mental engagement. Young Goldens can be enthusiastic chewers, diggers, retrievers, and explorers. They often want considerably more exercise and interaction than a Cavalier. On the scale of dog breeds they are considered on the higher needs end of the spectrum.
Goldens reduce that excess energy as they mature, but they remain a much more active breed than the Cavalier. A Cavalier may be satisfied after a short period of gentle play, while a Golden may happily continue playing, retrieving, exploring, and interacting for hours per day.
That energy difference is one of the primary reasons we like combining the two breeds.
Our goal is to retain many of the qualities families love about Golden Retrievers while moderating some of the intensity and energy of Goldens. In our experience, Cavalier influence can bring a softer, calmer, more relaxed quality to the blend.
The Poodle adds another important piece.
We use Miniature and Moyen sized Poodles, which can contribute intelligence, trainability, athletic ability, and a lower shedding coat. The Poodles we select are very carefully chosen for stable temperaments and sweet dispositions. We prefer thoughtful, manageable Poodles that mature well and can settle comfortably in a family environment.
The three breeds blended together make a lovely balanced Golden Cavapoo:
The Golden Retriever contributes playfulness, sociability, enthusiasm, and willingness to participate in family activities.
The Cavalier contributes gentleness, passivity, affection, compliance, and a lower energy level.
The Poodle contributes intelligence, trainability, responsiveness, and lower shedding coat genetics.
We also appreciate something about Cavaliers that is misunderstood when people talk about canine intelligence. Cavaliers are not especially bright dogs, but they are extremely agreeable.
Cavaliers are not typically dogs that spend their day trying to invent a new way around every household rule. They tend to enjoy routine. Once they understand the pattern of the household, many are perfectly happy to follow it. That can make everyday training surprisingly easy. With Cavaliers it is easy to establish the potty routine, household manners, sleeping routine, and expectations. A Cavalier often seems quite content to keep doing what has already been established.
Highly intelligent dogs such as Poodles can be more work. Their intelligence can also make them creative. They may experiment, problem solve, and occasionally look for a different answer than the one their owner had in mind. While yes a poodle can quickly pick up a new rule, they are clever and quick to invent their own rules!
Golden Retrievers tend to fall somewhere between those two styles of thinking. They are intelligent and trainable, but they can also be enthusiastic and persistent about getting what they want. Goldens learn patterns very well and are usually happy to follow the rules.
The Cavalier can add a wonderfully agreeable and compliant quality to that combination.
We think that Golden Cavadoodles are the ideal blend for children
That does not mean every Golden Cavadoodle will have exactly the same temperament. Puppies inherit different combinations of genes even within the same litter, and temperament is also influenced by development, socialization, training, and environment.
That is why we evaluate our puppies temperaments individually rather than assuming the breed combination tells us everything about them.
Here at Safari Doodles we have blended these 3 breeds for many years. Our first litter of this Golden Cavadoodle blend was born in 2018. Our stud dog Thomas is a great example of a wonderful dog and great producer. Thomas is a Golden Cavadoodle stud of ours who is now retired.
Golden Cavapoos combine the playful, social personality of the Golden Retriever, the gentle and relaxed nature of the Cavalier, and the intelligence and lower shedding coat of the Poodle.
For families who love the personality of a Golden Retriever but would prefer a somewhat smaller dog with a more moderate energy level, we think the Golden Cavadoodle can be a particularly appealing combination.
Learn more about our Available Golden Cavadoodle puppies on our main web site for Safari Doodles
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