The Cavoodle is the smaller, calmer lap dog; the Spoodle is a bigger, more energetic dog that needs more exercise and close attention to its ears. Both are friendly, low-shedding Poodle crosses that live 12 to 15 years and train well. The real choice is between their other parents: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with a high risk of heart disease, and the Cocker Spaniel, a busy gundog prone to ear and skin problems.
Cavoodle vs Spoodle at a glance
| Cavoodle | Spoodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult weight | 5 to 12 kg | 8 to 20 kg |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Daily exercise | About 45 minutes | About 60 minutes |
| Energy | Moderate | Moderate-High |
| Shedding | Low | Low |
| Professional grooming | About every 8 weeks ($484 a year) | About every 8 weeks ($546 a year) |
| Trainability | 4 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
| Apartment living | Excellent | Excellent |
| Families with kids | Excellent | Excellent |
| First-time owners | Excellent | Excellent |
| Separation anxiety | Moderate | Moderate |
| First year cost | $8,024 | $5,766 |
| Cost each year after | $2,024 | $2,266 |
| Lifetime cost | $35,467 | $35,876 |
| Main health risks | Mitral Valve Disease, Ear Infections, Hip Dysplasia | Ear Infections, Hip Dysplasia, Familial Nephropathy |
Figures come from our breed profiles of the Cavoodle and Spoodle, where each one is explained and sourced. Costs are estimates in Australian dollars: the first year includes buying the puppy; yearly costs cover food, grooming and routine vet care; lifetime is our standard estimate. Ratings are ThinkPets ratings (how we rate).
Choose a Cavoodle if…
- You want a small dog for an apartment. Adults usually weigh 5 to 12 kg.
- You’d like a quieter companion that’s happy with about 45 minutes of exercise a day.
- You have young children: Cavoodles are rated excellent with kids.
- You’ll buy from a breeder who heart-tests both parents, because of the Cavalier’s high rate of mitral valve disease.
Choose a Spoodle if…
- You want a more active dog for walks, runs and play. Spoodles need about an hour of exercise a day.
- You’re happy with a dog that may grow to 20 kg if a Standard Poodle was used.
- You’ll keep up with weekly ear checks and drying, which matter more in this cross than almost anything else.
- You’d prefer to avoid the Cavalier’s heart risk. Spoodles cost less up front in our estimates, but a little more each year.
The health difference that matters most
A Cavoodle’s biggest risk comes from its Cavalier parent: mitral valve disease, a heart condition that affects about half of Cavaliers by age five, and syringomyelia. A Spoodle’s Cocker Spaniel parent brings long, heavy ears that trap moisture, plus a tendency to skin allergy, so recurring ear infections are the most common problem, as explained on our Spoodle profile. Ask a Cavoodle breeder for heart certificates for both parents, and a Spoodle breeder for eye and kidney DNA results and hip scores.
Size: ask which Poodle was used
Both crosses vary in size with the Poodle parent. A Spoodle bred from a Standard Poodle can be twice the weight of one bred from a Miniature, and the same applies to Cavoodles bred from a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Ask to see both parents and their adult weights.
Quick answers
Which is better for an apartment, a Cavoodle or a Spoodle?
A Cavoodle. It’s smaller and needs less exercise. A Spoodle can manage in an apartment with plenty of daily exercise, but it suits a house with a yard better.
Which is calmer?
The Cavoodle. Spoodles have a working gundog parent and more energy, so they need more exercise and something to do.
Which is more expensive?
Cavoodle puppies usually cost more to buy, so the first year is more expensive. After that a Spoodle costs a little more each year to feed and groom, and the lifetime totals end up close. See the table for our figures.
Do Cavoodles or Spoodles shed less?
Both are low-shedding but not hypoallergenic. How much an individual dog sheds depends on how much of the Poodle coat it inherits.
Which lives longer?
Both typically live 12 to 15 years. A Cavoodle’s lifespan depends heavily on its heart; a Spoodle’s on keeping ear and skin problems under control.
Read the full profiles: Cavoodle · Spoodle. Comparing other breeds? See Cavoodle vs Groodle, try our breed match quiz or see what popular breeds cost.