You’ve likely heard that you can tell how big a puppy will grow based on its paw size. However, while it’s possible to look at your Cavapoo and get a feel for whether they still have growing left to do, it’s impossible to know for sure from their paws alone.
So, when is a Cavapoo full grown, and what are the signs to look for?
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You can be sure that your Cavapoo is fully grown once they turn two years old. Although it’s impossible to know your puppy’s exact adult height in advance, knowing their lineage can help.
At What Age Is a Cavapoo Full Grown?
Cavapoos can become a full-grown size in as little as six months to as long as 24 months old. However, it tends to be on the lower end of this spectrum.
That’s especially the case for Cavapoos that will naturally be a smaller adult height, given that small dog breeds typically stop growing before larger dogs.
There’s an internal process that happens to determine when a Cavapoo stops growing, and that’s when the growth plates calcify. At that point, a puppy can no longer develop new tissue that causes them to grow.
Of course, Cavapoo owners can’t tell when their puppy’s growth plates solidify. But you’ll notice your dog’s slowed growth, especially after their first four months, as this is when they do their fastest growing.
The Four Cavapoo Sizes
When assessing the height of adult Cavapoos, they fall into three to four categories, depending on who you talk to. I’ll share all four categories for your reference.
Teacup Cavapoo Size
If you haven’t heard of a Teacup Cavapoo, you’re not alone—teacup-sized dogs are an emerging trend. Teacup Cavapoos don’t grow taller than eight inches and can weigh as little as five pounds.
I don’t recommend running to find a Teacup Cavapoo breeder, though. These dogs often suffer from congenital disabilities, development issues, and a high chance of injury because of their small size.
Breeders achieve the Teacup Cavapoo Size by breeding tiny Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs with tiny Poodles.
Toy Cavapoo Size
The Toy Cavapoo is traditionally the smallest of the Cavapoo breed—that is, as “traditional” as a relatively new, hybrid dog breed can be.
Toy Cavapoos grow up to 12 inches tall and weigh anywhere from seven to 13 pounds. They’re a mix between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Toy Poodle.
Even though they’re not teacup size, they’re still a small dog breed. So, they’re an excellent fit for people living in small spaces with little to no backyards.
Miniature Cavapoo Size
The Miniature Cavapoo ranges from over 12 inches to 16 inches tall. These dogs are slightly heavier, at 15 to 30 pounds, but still light enough for most people to carry them.
People who bring home a Mini Cavapoo can expect their puppy to grow larger than a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
As you’d expect, breeders achieve this Cavapoo size range by mating a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Miniature Poodle.
Standard Cavapoo Size
Standard Cavapoos aren’t as common, given that many people seeking these hybrid dogs are looking for a medium to a small canine companion.
Standard Cavapoos can grow as tall as 18 inches when breeders mix them with the Standard Poodle. There’s a limit on how tall they can get, though, given that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel remains on the shorter side.
If your goal is to bring home a Standard Cavapoo puppy, it’s vital that you have enough space in your home and yard for your dog to stretch their legs and play.
Multi-Generation Cavapoos
If you’re wondering, “When is a Cavapoo full grown?” and you have a multi-generational Cavapoo, this question becomes even more challenging. That’s because some breeders breed Cavapoos, mixing in an even greater range of potential sizes.
These multi-generation Cavapoos come with the following titles and corresponding genetic makeup:
- F1B: 75% Poodle, 25% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- F1BB: 87.5% Poodle, 12.5% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- F2: 50% Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- F2B: 62.5% Poodle, 37.5% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- F3: Varies according to F1B parents.
For reference, F1 is a first-generation Cavapoo. The reason that F2 has an equal split is that both parents are F1.
So, you’re probably wondering—how does this apply to a Cavapoo puppy’s growth?
The larger the amount of Poodle a Cavapoo has, the higher the chance it’ll inherit a greater variation in size. That size could be smaller or larger, depending on how much Toy or Standard Poodle is in the mix.
Alternatively, if the Poodle consistently is around the same size as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, there’s a good chance your Cavapoo puppy will have about that same size.
Nevertheless, the general rule of thumb is that the further down the line you go in multi-generational breeding, the more difficult it becomes to determine what size a Cavapoo puppy will become.
Helping Your Cavapoo Achieve Growth
As adorable as your Cavapoo puppy is, and as much as you’d like to keep them that way, it’s your responsibility to ensure you’re giving them the tools to grow to their full height potential.
Below are a couple of the best ways to do so:
Exercise in Moderation
It may sound counterintuitive, but you shouldn’t overexercise a Cavapoo puppy. That’s because their growth plates are soft and can’t tolerate long, intense exercise.
While every puppy is different, and I always recommend consulting with a veterinarian, the general rule is that giving puppies five minutes of exercise per month of age is safe.
So, if your Cavapoo puppy is four months old, you should be able to play with them for 20 minutes per day without worrying about damaging their growth plates.
Proper Nutrients
Feeding your Cavapoo puppy a high-quality diet of puppy food geared for their age is essential to their development and growth.
Some of the many nutrients that Cavapoo puppies require include:
- Fat
- Protein
- Calcium
- Carbohydrates
Puppies need more protein than adult dogs, requiring the most protein after they wean from their mom.
You should also consider how frequently you feed your Cavapoo. Puppies between two to three months old should have four meals daily, helping them get a lower dose of nutrients regularly throughout the day.
By the time your puppy is three to six months old, it can handle eating only three meals a day. After the six-month mark, it’s safe to feed your Cavapoo only twice per day without worrying that they’re not getting enough nutrition for growth.
How Does a Cavapoo’s Lineage Affect Its Size?
A Cavapoo’s lineage, particularly tracing back to its parents and grandparents, significantly impacts the likelihood of how big or small your puppy will grow.
The Cavapoo has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle parent. So, let’s start by exploring these breeds’ sizes.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Size
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, ranging from 12 to 13 inches from paw to the top of its shoulder.
It can weigh between 13 and 18 pounds, with males generally taller and heavier than females.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel varies little in size compared to the Poodle.
Poodle Size
If you’re looking to blame something for why it’s so hard to know how big a Cavapoo puppy will become as an adult, point your finger at the Poodle.
That’s because the Poodle comes in the following three sizes:
- Standard Poodle: Over 15 inches tall, weighs 40 to 70 pounds.
- Miniature Poodle: Between 10 to 15 inches tall, weighs 10 to 15 pounds.
- Toy Poodle: Less than 10 inches tall, 4 to 6 pounds.
So, breeders mix the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with any of these Poodle sizes to make the Cavapoo. To make the situation more complicated, it can be extra challenging to estimate the height of multi-generation Cavapoos.
The Bottom Line
Cavapoo puppies come with many joys, and you should prepare yourself for the joy of not knowing exactly how tall they’ll grow.
Now that you know the answer to “When is a Cavapoo full grown?” and if you’d rather know the exact height of the Cavapoo you welcome into your home, I encourage you to adopt.
Adopting an adult Cavapoo comes with many other benefits besides knowing how tall they’ll be; you’ll also feel good about rescuing an animal and open space at the shelter for another dog in need.
