Curly Coated Retriever vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison

There isn’t much on the origin of the Curly-Coated Retriever and his history hasn’t been well documented.

The dog originated some time ago in the early 19th century, with some believing that the dog was in England during the late 1700s already.

It is thought that this dog, which is identical to the Labrador but with a tight, curly coat, descended from the Old English Water Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel and the smaller Newfoundland. This mix was later crossed with the Poodle and this is where the curls come into the picture.

The Curly-Coated Retriever gained substantial recognition in England during the mid-1800s and exported to the United States in 1907. The dog was also later exported to Australia and New Zealand and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1924.

The Cavapoo, known also as the Cavoodle, is a small dog – a mix of a miniature Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

He hasn’t got a long history, but each of the dogs he comes from – the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle – have longer histories. The Cavapoo started being bred in the United States, but he has a short history in America. In Australia, they were first bred in the 1990s.

Today, as a hybrid, the Cavapoo isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club but he is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club as well as the Designer Dogs KennelClub.

The Curly Coated Retriever is a medium sized dog standing at about 58–69cm and weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. The dog, mainly black or chocolate brown, is active and muscled and was used for hunting and retrieving waterfowl.

The coat has small, tight curls over the body except for the face and the legs. He has floppy ears and they eyes of the black dog are brown while in the liver-colored dogs, the eyes are amber or gold.

The tail is long. He has a wedge shaped head, and its the fact that the face is more long than wide which makes him easily distinguishable from other retriever breeds. Of course, it is the curly coat which is the dog’s most distinguishing feature.

Temperament:

The Curly Coated Retriever has been used as a gun dog, and today, like most retrievers, they make superb pets and are a lively, social and fun-loving breed. He becomes loyal and devoted to his human family members, making a splendid pet, but then he must be exercised.

Have him trained and socialized and he becomes an obedient, relaxed dog, eager to please. He is intelligent and self-confident and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He fits in easily to city and country life, but if he could have large grounds to run, play and swim, which he loves, he would be at his happiest.

The Cavapoo can be found in different colors and he can be blonde, white, brown, white or black or even tri-colored. Sometimes the coat can be a little bit curly but it can also sometimes be a long, silky coat from the Cavalier.

Dogs crossed with poodles, such as the Cavapoo, are known to be hypoallergenic, but there is really no 100% guarantee that he will be hypoallergenic.He has a round face with large, brown eyes and long ears. He can adapt easily to life in the city or in the countryside.

Temperament:

The Cavapoo is a small dog breed that has been bred to be an amicable pet. He gets along well with adults and children as well as other pets in the home. He stands about 28–33cm in height and can weigh anything from 5 to 12 kg.

He is an intelligent little dog, alert and inquisitive. Even a small, non-aggressive dog such as the Cavapoo can do well with training and socialization as he is quick to learn. With this socialization he becomes an obedient, affectionate, well behaved 4-legged family member.

Loyal and friendly, the Cavapoo thrives on human companionship and he just loves to be involved in everything the family is getting up to. He isn’t a dog that can be left on his own too long as this is when he develops irritating behavior patterns such as ongoing yapping and barking.

Curly Coated Retrievers are such fun dogs, full of personality, robust and active. He makes such a wonderful pet and is loving, loyal and protective. He is brave, courageous, independent and confident as well. He gets on well with children and loves to be part of all their games. He is capable of getting on well with other animals in the home.

He is an active dog and won’t fit in well with those who like to sit around all day. He wants to be active, and then loves to settle down with his human family at night. He is an excellent all-rounder and makes a loving, loyal pet.

Pet lovers who welcome a Cavapoo into their home aren’t going to be disappointed if they stick to their side of the bargain and provide their pet with lots of love and care.

The Cavapoo suits any kind of family because he is playful, loving, loyal and comes with a balanced and amicable personality.

Keep him happy with good food, clean water and lots of your attention and he’ll respond by being the perfect companion for you.

With good care, the average life expectancy of the Curly-Coated Retriever can reach between 10 and 12 years. However, there are some health concerns that your dog may have to contend with and which are common in most other dog breeds too.

Ear Infections:

Apart from hip dysplasia, bloat, dental decay and eye diseases such as cataracts, ear infections are a common canine health problem, particular when your dog has floppy ears and loves the water.

Ear infections can also be caused because of bacteria, ear mites, allergies and hair growth in the ear canal. Your pet will shake his head, maybe off balance and be scratching his ear. You might notice his ears are red and oozing. Get him to the vet immediately.

Parasites and Worms:

When you brush your dog, check for fleas and ticks. Worms too, can make your dog ill, and can actually be the death of a puppy. Worms can cause weight loss, a rough, dull coat and a generally run-down appearance. Your vet will be able to guide you as to what medications are available.

The Cavapoo is considered a healthy little dog who is active and energetic. Because he is a hybrid, he could develop illnesses associated with either of the dog types he comes from. However this is highly unlikely and you can expect up to 15 years from your Cavapoo if you feed him correctly and shower him with lots of love and attention.

One or two illnesses to look out for include -

Ear Problems:

Dogs with long, floppy ears tend to be more prone to ear infections. You’ll have cause for concern when you see your dog scratching his ears or shaking his head. There are one or two reasons why your Cavapoo may get an ear infection, and food allergies could be one.

A food allergy can bring about inflammation that can lead to infections. Moisture and excessive wax can also cause an ear infection. You can use cotton wool and some ear cleaner to remove dirt and moisture, but if in any doubt, speak to your vet or get your pet to the vet for advice.

Periodontal Disease:

Small dogs are more prone to dental disease, and your Cavapoo’s teeth should be brushed 2 or 3 times a week with a vet-approved special dog toothpaste and brush. This can prevent dental decay which can bring about a whole lot of problems with his teeth but also with other parts of the body.

Grooming:

The Curly Coated Retriever is a single-coated dog breed and this makes him a low maintenance dog. He doesn’t shed much and a good brush twice a week will keep the curly coat in good condition. There are some dog owners that trim the feathering around the legs, feet, tail and belly.

Diet:

The Curly Coated Retriever is an attractively low maintenance breed. Therefore he doesn’t require any special diet. He does well on a top quality manufactured dog food where protein is listed at the top.

These dogs are inclined to put on weight easily so you want to be sure to follow the directions on the packaging and not overfeed him. With his kibble, sometimes add in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken.

Raw meat can be expensive but if you can, try and include it into your pet’s diet to avoid nasty skin rashes and allergies. Always make sure that cool, fresh water is available to your dog and make sure the food and water bowls are regularly washed.

The Cavapoo doesn’t shed much so he won’t need that much grooming, although there are people who take him to a doggy parlor to see that the hair is trimmed into shape. If not, then a good brushing twice a week will ensure the hair doesn’t matt and that it remains free of lots of dead hair.

Diet:

With any dog, and not just the Cavapoo, you want a food that boosts energy and promotes longevity. The Cavapoo breed is energetic and lively, and it is this stamina of his that will require you feeding him top quality food that is rich in nutrients.

Small dogs have a higher calorie need than large dogs because their metabolisms are much faster. Protein and fat are important nutrients for small-breed dogs and these nutrients need to come from high-quality sources. Speak to your vet about the best food for your Cavapoo and always ensure that he has a bowl of clean water available.