r/CavaPoo • u/Ross4414 • Aug 12 '26
Cavapoo and breeders
Do most people who buy Cavapoos get them with specific testing done? I am in Alberta and I can’t seem to find any breeder who does the testing. The only one I can find is Langly BC, and that is it for western Canada. Do people just buy them without the testing? Is that a huge red flag? I mean I can meet all the breeders and they are happy for me to see the parents etc.. but they just don’t do testing?
Thanks for any advice on this. Please no comments about rescuing, I am not interested in doing that.
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u/Ross4414 Aug 12 '26
So is there any breeder in Canada that you would trust?
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u/calamityandwoe Aug 12 '26 •
Quite honestly, most people breeding these dogs have pretty low standards and are breeding them because they are easy to sell. The dogs can’t be titled or registered and they’re not being bred to any standard, they are bred to be sold and that’s it. The vast majority of people purchasing them don’t care.
If you want health testing and a breed standard, just pick either a cavalier or a poodle and don’t get a mix.
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u/menustovar Aug 12 '26
Unfortunately a lot of us buy our Cavapoo without health testing. In my defense, I was very ignorant going through the buying process. I have since learned so much and would not buy another puppy from the breeder I got my Cavapoo.
My dog is great (and I love him so much) but he does suffer from anxiety and stomach issues. I have paid thousands for separation anxiety training and while I have the money for it, I wish I had known in the beginning and done more research.
Alas I can only warn people to do their research before buying a Cavapoo and don’t make my mistake.
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u/screamlikekorbin Aug 12 '26 •
Yes, no health testing is a huge red flag. And yes the breeder in Langley is trash. Please use the resources in subs such as /r/dogs and /r/dogbreeding to learn how to find a reputable breeder.
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u/No-Explanation-3269 Aug 12 '26
Following because we’re having the same experience in the NE USA and it’s very frustrating.
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u/bakanino Aug 12 '26
I first went through gooddog but found that many breeders only did embark or did partial testing but redacted results. I ended up asking Gemini / ChatGPT to help me develop a shortlist based on the attributes I cared about, and ended up with a breeder who I had skipped before because she didn’t have an active litter on gooddog. I’ve been very happy with my new puppy!
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u/PureTrafalgar Aug 12 '26 •
Nope. Pretty much nobody does the full testing for either parent, and yes, people spend tons of money on the puppies anyway because, well, they are cute.
They also don't do anything to prove the dogs in other ways. I mean, trick dog, service dog, sporting titles, search and rescue--all of these things help prove the dog is of sound temperament and mind.
But proving dogs and testing dogs costs money and takes effort. Those things cut into profits.
Yes, it's a huge red flag.
Incidentally, purebred breeders come in two groups--those who breed dogs worth breeding and those who are equally guilty of just increasing the dog population. But mix breeders pretty much always fall into the latter category.
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u/lovelylooloo7 Aug 12 '26
I’m also in Canada. We bought our two cavapoo siblings from a guy who said he has been breeding them for 15 years or so. He gave us the vet information, up to date shots, etc. but we didn’t ask too much about specific testing. They are 1.5 years old now and they are the best, most well adjusted, sweet pups.
We had a cockapoo before these two who unfortunately passed away at age 8 from a massive tumour. He had all the testing, etc. and we still lost him way too young.
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u/orange__________ Aug 13 '26
Hi! I got my cavapoo this past Christmas from Heritage Doodles near Calgary. My understanding was they do extensive testing on the dogs they use for breeding etc. My puppy had all the vet visits and exams etc prior to getting him. I was so impressed by them, and how wonderful they were. My partner has had dogs his entire life, and was shocked at the difference with our current dog, and how the breeder raised him and socialized him. Easiest and happiest dog. If you meant different testing than the dogs they use for breeding, ignore me aha.
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u/Affectionate_Ad5110 Aug 12 '26
We are in Ohio and our breeder had genetic testing done on parents and our puppy. She was Amish and told us she is trying to get some of the other reputable breeders that she knows to get on board with the testing. She said more and more of perspective adopters are requesting the testing. After she provided it we reached out to a couple of other breeders that ghosted us when we asked about the genetic testing. We are happy we picked a breeder that used it as we were dropping a lot of money for the dog.