As a crossbreed between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle, Cavapoos possess many of the traits of both dog breeds.
The Cavapoo breed has the KC Spaniel’s loyalty, friendliness, and companionability, paired with the Poodle’s brilliance and intelligence. But are Cavapoos barkers? And what can you do about your Cavapoo barking?
This is the topic we’re going to be exploring in this article. So, if you can’t wait to find out more about this floppy-eared-friendly fluffball, read on!
When do Cavapoos bark?
Did you know that the Cavapoo is quite an alert dog? Due to this trait, it’s common for Cavapoos to bark when they notice some kind of disturbance or unusual activity, like someone coming to your door or a car driving past.
An enthusiastic, playful little dog, many Cavapoos also bark while they are playing. Barking is how Cavapoos express their happiness and excitement!
Both of these types of barking are normal for any dog. Therefore, they do not usually constitute problem barking. Take look at my other post for more on How To Stop Your Dog Barking At Night
How much barking is too much with a Cavapoo?
The Cavapoo is also a pretty loyal and personable dog. The breed gets this from its King Charles Cavalier Spaniel side. Basically, Cavapoos still think they are lapdogs!
However, the Cavapoo’s undying loyalty can often lead to separation anxiety. What’s more, a Cavapoo who has separation anxiety is prone to barking and howling from the stress of being left alone.
The Cavapoo can also be excitable in general too. Some Cavapoos start to bark their heads off when they see a fly or hear a mere doorbell sound effect on the radio, for example!
These reasons for barking can be more challenging to manage and get you in a lot of trouble with your neighbors or landlord.
What can I do about my Cavapoo’s barking?
The way you need to address your Cavapoo’s barking will depend on why your Cavapoo barks in the first place.
If your Cavapoo barks in the course of play or out of happiness, there is no reason to stop this vocalization. Why would you? However, if your Cavapoo’s playful barking is disturbing other people, you should consider playing with your Cavapoo at a different time of day or in another area.
Perhaps your Cavapoo barks to let you know about things, like someone coming to your door. If this is the case, one solution is to restrict your Cavapoo’s access to their favorite vantage points when you know things will be busy.
Drawing the curtains on your windows when you’re expecting mail or a trash collection, for example, can go a long way in distracting your Cavapoo from barking at the mailman or trash collector. You could also move your Cavapoo to a different room.
This may seem obvious, but a Cavapoo will bark if its basic needs are not met. Maybe your Cavapoo needs to relieve themselves? Check. Or maybe your Cavapoo has run out of their food or water? Take a look at your Cavapoo’s bowls.
If your Cavapoo often runs out of food or water, consider using an automated food and water dispenser so that your Cavapoo has one less reason to bark. Then, whether you’re in, out, in the shower, or in the yard, you can rest assured your Cavapoo’s basic needs are being met.
What if my Cavapoo barks at home alone?
And then there’s Cavapoos who bark due to separation anxiety or excitability when you are out. This type of barking can be more challenging to deal with, and you may not see a difference right away.
Regardless of whether your Cavapoo barks due to excitability or separation anxiety, why not try tiring your Cavapoo out before you head off to work or school? High-octane games like fetch or Frisbee are ideal. This will make your Cavapoo more likely to want to sleep and chill out while you are out and less likely to have any energy left for barking at anything!
Did you know that licking has a tremendous calming effect on dogs? If your Cavapoo is barking from anxiety or alertness, giving them something to lick or chew is a great idea.
Try these
- Benebone Real Bacon Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy
- Petstages Dog Chew Toys – Safe and Long Lasting Chewable Sticks
- Pedigree DENTASTIX Treats for Large Dogs
You can spread paste-like foods like peanut butter, pumpkin purée, cream cheese, or unsweetened yogurt on a lick mat see here, or the base of your Cavapoo’s bowl, or stuff these foods into a treat toy like a Kong. For longer-lasting licking, you could even freeze these paste foods for your Cavapoo.
You can also distract your Cavapoo from barking by keeping them occupied. A long-lasting chew toy or complicated food puzzle toy see here is a good option for this sort of thing.
Then, just before you leave, fill the puzzle toy up or unwrap the chew toy and give the toy to your Cavapoo. Your Cavapoo should then be fully occupied for a little while and should be too distracted to want to bark at anything.
If your Cavapoo is barking because they hear noises in the street, why not leave the radio on to drown these noises out? Most dogs love to listen to classical music stations. Just make sure that the ads in-between don’t mention treats, walkies, or feature squeaky toys!
You can also find plenty of dog-oriented podcasts and playlists on providers like Spotify. So take a look and see if there’s any you think your Cavapoo would like!
Perhaps playing music or other audio doesn’t sufficiently distract your Cavapoo from the sounds outside. Another measure you can take to keep your Cavapoo from barking excessively is to close all the curtains in the area your Cavapoo is in.
This way, your Cavapoo shouldn’t be able to see anything worth barking at. Hopefully. Make sure to close all curtains so that your Cavapoo isn’t scrabbling up towards that one tantalizing chink of light, destroying the room in the process.
What if my Cavapoo still barks too much?
So, your Cavapoo still barks way too much when you leave them at home by themselves. You’ve taken all of these tips on board, and nothing has worked. So, what else can you do?
One thing many owners swear by is using a camera with their Cavapoo like this one. A camera with a microphone allows you to speak to your Cavapoo and tell them not to bark.
In addition, some cameras may have the option to record a message that automatically plays when the camera detects sound over a particular volume (i.e. barking), and a select few let you toss your Cavapoo a treat or two when they behave well. If you like this then read our Complete Cavapoo Guide: Must Read Facts here.
