What to feed a Cavapoo puppy
A Cavapoo puppy — a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel crossed with a Poodle — is a small, fast-growing puppy that usually settles as an adult somewhere between a toy and small breed in size. A complete puppy food formulated for small breeds is the right starting point, fed in stages as they grow rather than left on one fixed amount.
Why small-breed puppy food fits this cross
Small-breed puppy foods are built with smaller kibble pieces sized for a small jaw, and with a nutrient balance that suits a dog expected to finish growing well under a large or giant breed's timeline — usually somewhere around ten to twelve months for a dog this size, rather than the eighteen to twenty-four months a giant breed can take.
Both parent breeds bring their own considerations: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are known for a hearty appetite and a tendency to gain weight if overfed, and Poodles are often chosen partly for a lower-shedding coat that some owners find easier to live with. A complete puppy food with a reasonable, rather than excessive, calorie density suits a Cavapoo better than one built for a large, high-energy breed.
Feeding through the growing months
Most small-breed puppy foods are fed in several smaller meals a day while young, tapering to fewer, larger meals as the puppy matures — the exact schedule and amount depend on the specific food, so follow the guidance on the pack for your puppy's current weight rather than a fixed rule of thumb.
A Cavapoo's coat, whether closer to the Cavalier's silky coat or the Poodle's curl, benefits from a diet with a reasonable fat content to support healthy skin, which most complete puppy foods already provide without needing anything added. Regular grooming does more for coat condition day to day than any single ingredient in the bowl.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Common questions
- When should I switch my Cavapoo from puppy to adult food?
- Most small breeds are ready to move to an adult food somewhere around ten to twelve months old, once they have reached roughly their adult size. Your vet can confirm the right time for your individual puppy, since growth rates vary between dogs.
- Is a grain-free food better for a Cavapoo puppy?
- Not automatically. Whether a food should be grain-free depends on whether your puppy shows a genuine sensitivity, not on the breed itself, and there is no evidence that Cavapoos as a group need to avoid grain. A vet is the right person to advise on this if your puppy has digestive issues.
- How much should I feed my Cavapoo puppy?
- Follow the feeding guide on the specific food you are using, based on your puppy's current weight, and check in with your vet at routine visits to make sure they are growing at a healthy rate. Amounts change quickly in the first year, so revisit the guide as your puppy grows rather than sticking to one fixed portion.
- Are Cavapoos prone to becoming overweight?
- The Cavalier side of the cross is known for a strong appetite and a tendency to gain weight if overfed, so measuring meals rather than free-feeding, and keeping treats to a small share of the day's food, is worth starting early rather than correcting later.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.