Cavapoo vs. Cockapoo vs. Maltipoo vs. Cavachon: Which Small Doodle Is Right for Your Family?
Cavapoo vs. Cockapoo vs. Maltipoo vs. Cavachon: Which Small Doodle Is Right for Your Family?
An honest, side-by-side comparison from a Good Dog certified Cavapoo and Poodle-mix breeder.
By Boise Doodle Co. · Updated May 2026 · Reading time: ~10 minutes
If you are shopping for a small, low-shedding, family-friendly dog, you have probably found yourself caught between four very similar-looking breeds: the Cavapoo, the Cockapoo, the Maltipoo, and the Cavachon. They all weigh roughly the same. They all look like teddy bears in puppy photos. They all promise to be friendly, smart, and minimally shedding.
So how do you actually pick between them? The differences are real, and they matter — especially over the 12 to 15 years you will share your life with this dog. As a Good Dog certified Cavapoo breeder at Boise Doodle Co., we have spent years helping families decide between these four breeds. This is the most honest, side-by-side breakdown we can give you.
Quick-Glance Comparison
All four breeds are small (under 30 pounds), social, family-friendly, and bred for companionship. Here is the at-a-glance summary before we dive into each one in detail:
• Cavapoo: Cavalier + Poodle. Gentle, affectionate, smart, low-shedding, low-key. Best all-around family dog of the four.
• Cockapoo: Cocker Spaniel + Poodle. Outgoing, energetic, playful, low-shedding. Great for active families.
• Maltipoo: Maltese + Poodle. Tiny, cuddly, sometimes vocal, very low-shedding. Best for apartments and adult households.
• Cavachon: Cavalier + Bichon Frise. Sweet, mellow, low-shedding (no Poodle, but Bichon has hair, not fur). Closest temperament to a Cavapoo but less trainable.
Cavapoo vs. Cockapoo
The short answer
Both are wonderful dogs, but they have meaningfully different energy levels. A Cavapoo is the calmer, cuddlier breed — happy with moderate exercise and lots of lap time. A Cockapoo is more energetic, more playful, and needs more daily activity to stay balanced.
Size
Cavapoos: 7–25 pounds depending on Toy or Mini Poodle parent. Cockapoos: 12–30 pounds depending on Mini or Standard Poodle parent. Cockapoos tend to be slightly larger and sturdier on average.
Temperament
A Cavapoo is more likely to be the dog draped across your lap watching a movie. A Cockapoo is more likely to be the dog bringing you a tennis ball during the movie. Both are smart and sweet, but the Cocker Spaniel side adds drive and bounce that the Cavalier side does not.
Best for
Choose a Cavapoo if you want a calm, cuddly, gentle companion that also loves a walk. Choose a Cockapoo if your family is active and wants a playful sidekick that thrives on movement.
Cavapoo vs. Maltipoo
The short answer
Both are tiny, low-shedding, and affectionate. The biggest difference is size and vocal tendency. A Maltipoo is generally smaller (often under 12 pounds) and tends to be more talkative — sometimes prone to alert barking. A Cavapoo is usually a bit larger, sturdier, and quieter.
Size
Maltipoos: 5–15 pounds — true lap dogs. Cavapoos: 7–25 pounds depending on Poodle parent. Families with very young children sometimes prefer the slightly sturdier Cavapoo for accidental tumbles.
Coat
Both are very low-shedding. Maltipoo coats are usually pure white or cream. Cavapoo coats come in a much wider range: red, apricot, cream, black, tri-color, parti, sable, phantom.
Best for
Choose a Maltipoo if you want the tiniest possible companion and you live in an apartment with quiet neighbors. Choose a Cavapoo if you want a bit more dog with similar low-shedding benefits and a calmer overall vocal profile.
Cavapoo vs. Cavachon
The short answer
This is the closest comparison of the four. Both share a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent, so the temperament overlap is significant — gentle, affectionate, kid-friendly, mellow. The biggest difference is the second parent. Cavapoos are crossed with Poodles (smart, trainable, low-shedding). Cavachons are crossed with Bichon Frises (cheerful, social, low-shedding).
Trainability
Cavapoos generally have the edge. The Poodle side adds higher trainability, faster house training, and better recall. Cavachons are sweet and willing but often slower to pick up obedience and house training.
Coat and shedding
Both are low-shedding, but Cavapoos with curly or wavy coats tend to be even less prone to shedding than Cavachons. Both require regular grooming.
Best for
Choose a Cavachon if you want a slightly more relaxed dog and you do not mind a bit more grooming and a longer training timeline. Choose a Cavapoo if you want similar warmth and gentleness with the easier trainability and slightly lower shedding the Poodle adds.
Cavapoo vs. Goldendoodle (the Bonus Comparison)
We get this question almost as often as the others, so it deserves a quick mention. The Cavapoo is essentially the small-dog version of the Goldendoodle. They share the Poodle side and the friendly, family-loving temperament, but they are vastly different in size — Cavapoos top out around 25 pounds, while standard Goldendoodles routinely reach 50 to 70 pounds.
If you want the same friendly, low-shedding, family-friendly personality but you want a small dog you can carry up stairs or take on an airplane, the Cavapoo is the answer. If you want a bigger adventure dog, the Goldendoodle is your match. We breed both at Boise Doodle Co., so we are happy to talk you through either.
Side-by-Side Summary
• Most affectionate: Cavapoo (tied with Cavachon)
• Easiest to train: Cavapoo
• Lowest shedding: Maltipoo (closely followed by Cavapoo)
• Most energetic: Cockapoo
• Smallest: Maltipoo
• Best for first-time dog owners: Cavapoo
• Best with very young children: Cavapoo (slightly sturdier than Maltipoo, calmer than Cockapoo)
• Best for apartments: Cavapoo and Maltipoo (tied)
Why Most Families Land on the Cavapoo
After more than a decade of helping families pick between these breeds, we have noticed a pattern. Most families who research all four end up choosing the Cavapoo, and the reason is consistent: the Cavapoo is the best balance. It is small, but not fragile. It is affectionate, but trainable. It is low-shedding, but not high-strung. It is calm, but happy on a hike. It is rarely the most extreme answer in any category, which is exactly what makes it the safest, easiest pick for the average family.
That said, every dog is an individual and every family is different. If you want a more energetic dog, do not force yourself into a Cavapoo. If you want a 5-pound lap dog, a Maltipoo may be your match. If you love the Cavalier temperament but want something a little mellower than a Cavapoo, the Cavachon is a beautiful option.
How to Find a Reputable Breeder for Any of These Breeds
Whichever breed you choose, the rule is the same: buy from a Good Dog certified breeder. Designer breeds attract scammers and backyard breeders because demand is high. The Good Dog platform vets every breeder against a strict Code of Ethics, requires health testing, and protects every transaction. We covered the full breakdown in our companion posts, “Why Boise Doodle Co. Partnered with Good Dog” and “How to Spot a Fake Good Dog Listing.”
Boise Doodle Co. is a Good Dog certified breeder of Cavapoos, Bernedoodles, Mini Bernedoodles, Munchkin Bernedoodles, Goldendoodles, Schnoodles, and Poodles, based in the Pacific Northwest with nationwide delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is calmer, a Cavapoo or a Cockapoo?
Cavapoos are calmer on average. Cockapoos inherit higher energy from the Cocker Spaniel side and need more daily exercise.
Which is the best low-shedding small dog?
All four are very low-shedding. Maltipoos shed the least, with curly-coated Cavapoos a close second. Cockapoos and Cavachons are still low-shedding but slightly more variable.
Which breed is best with kids?
Cavapoos are widely considered the most child-friendly of the four — gentle, patient, sturdy enough to handle careful play, and rarely snappy. Cavachons are a close second.
Which is the smartest?
Any Poodle mix tends to be highly intelligent, but Cavapoos and Cockapoos are usually the easiest to train. The Maltipoo is also very smart but can be slower to house train. The Cavachon is sweet but the slowest learner of the four.
Which has the longest lifespan?
All four typically live 12 to 16 years when bred from health-tested parents. Cavapoos and Cavachons sometimes live slightly longer thanks to hybrid vigor. Maltipoos and Cockapoos are very close behind.
Ready to Meet Your Cavapoo?
If after all this you are leaning toward a Cavapoo, we would love to help. Visit Boise Doodle Co. on Good Dog to see our current and upcoming Cavapoo litters, our parent dog health testing, and reviews from adopting families across the country. We deliver our Cavapoo puppies nationwide.
Visit Boise Doodle Co. on Good Dog: www.gooddog.com
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