The Straight Haired Cavoodle is usually the F2-generation Cavoodles obtained by crossing a Cavoodle with a Cavoodle. Generally, these puppies have straight, short hair like their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ancestor. They tend to shed seasonally and require regular grooming to maintain their coats. Less grooming maintenance is required overall compared to the fleece and wool-coated Cavoodles.
The Straight Haired Cavoodle can also result from first-generation breedings between a Cavalier King Charles and a Poodle parent. If the Poodle stud or parent carries one copy instead of two copies of the furnishing gene (responsible for producing the teddy bear coat of the Cavoodle and other ‘oodle’ breeds), half of the litter will be smooth coated like the Cavalier King Charles. Short-haired Cavoodles tend to be heavy shedders like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
Let us find out more about the Straight Haired Cavoodle.
Table of Contents
Can Cavoodles Have Straight Hair?
Cavoodles are hybrid dogs obtained by crossing a Poodle with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Like any designer or hybrid dog, Cavoodles can have a variety of coats. These include fleece-haired, woollen-haired and the Straight Haired Cavoodle.
Some F1 (depending on whether the Poodle parent carries one or two copies of the furnishing gene) and approximately 25% of F2 – generation Cavoodles (Cavoodle x Cavoodle) end up with straight coats that are like their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent. They may also have wavy but short coats. Often, straight-haired Cavoodles have short legs, a finer muzzle and drooping ears.
Straight-haired Cavoodles tend to shed seasonally. You must groom your Straight Haired Cavoodle weekly to prevent mats and tangles and remove the dead and loose hairs.
Regardless of their coat type, Cavoodles are lovable, affectionate, and sweet-natured dogs. They are also smart and easy to train. These factors make them popular as pets.
Why is My Cavoodle Straight Haired?
As mentioned before, Cavoodles are crossbred dogs, so the coat type of each Cavoodle puppy will depend on the dominant and recessive genes it inherits from its parents.
Therefore, some Cavoodles might inherit the Poodles’ tight, curly coat while others could have a straight or slightly wavy coat like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Their coat can also range from loose fleece waves to ringlets and everything in between.
It is important to note that some Cavoodle puppies will change their coat as they grow. In any case, regular grooming is essential to maintain your pet’s coat in healthy condition.
You can always ask your Cavoodle breeder about the type of coat the puppy’s parents or siblings from previous litters had. Some breeders specifically breed for coat characteristics like texture, colour, etc. The best Cavoodle breeders’ DNA test for coat traits such as shedding, furnishings (teddy bear coat type) and coat texture (wool, straight or fleece).
In any case, good breeders will always prioritise the puppy’s health and temperament over the coat characteristics.
Why is My Cavoodle Not Fluffy? Straight Haired Cavoodle Grooming Steps for a Fluffier Coat
While your Straight Haired Cavoodle is still a puppy, it might have a single, fluffy coat. However, as it grows, it may undergo several changes that can impact the coat’s texture. The Cavoodle’s straight hair may become thicker and stiffer.
These changes usually occur between the ages of 6 months and 1 year.
Another reason why a Straight Haired Cavoodle may sport dull, flat hair is due to factors like poor nutrition, stress, exposure to the elements, and underlying health issues like thyroid, etc. Other factors like humidity in your location can also impact your Cavoodle’s coat.
Here are some grooming steps you can take to make your Straight Haired Cavoodle coat fluffier:
- Bathe Your Straight Haired Cavoodle using a vet-approved shampoo to remove oil and debris.
- After rinsing thoroughly, apply a coat conditioner. This will help make the coat fluffier and bouncier.
- After rinsing the conditioner out, pat dry your Cavoodle’s coat to dry it.
- Next, use a slicker brush to eliminate mats and tangles.
- Finally, use a hair dryer on its coolest setting and continue brushing your dog’s coat upward and outward.
- Once this is done, go over the coat once again against the grain of the hair to make it fluffy.
- To prevent knots and mats, combing the coat down to the skin is important. Systematically separating sections of the coat and working your way through them will ensure knots and mats are kept at bay.
This can take some practice but once you know the grooming steps for your Straight Haired Cavoodle, you can ensure that your pet retains its fluffy coat after each bath.
FAQs – Straight Haired Cavoodle
Are black straight-haired Cavoodles rare?
Yes, black-coloured Cavoodles can be fairly rare. Many Cavoodle breeders in Australia focus on breeding red, ruby, chocolate, brown, cream, white and merle-coloured puppies. The black colour comes from the Poodle gene pool and occasionally from black and tan or tri-colour Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The black Straight Haired Cavoodle is also rare and, for this reason, sometimes costs more than other coloured Cavoodles.
Which generation of Cavoodle is the best?
If you want a more even and uniform mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodles traits, then go in for the first-generation Cavoodles.
If you want a hypoallergenic and low-shedding Cavoodle, go for F1-B or back-crossed Cavoodle which has a greater Poodle gene pool. However, don’t assume that all breeders use double-furnished poodles in their breeding programs. A poodle parent carrying a single furnishing gene and one copy of an improper coat gene will still produce short-haired Cavoodle puppies that shed.
Request to see the DNA testing of the parents to ensure you understand what coat types your Cavoodle puppy might inherit.
Do straight-haired Cavoodles shed?
Straight-haired Cavoodles tend to shed more than the F1, F1B and F2B Cavoodles as they have greater Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat traits. If you’re looking to adopt a low-shedding Straight Haired Cavoodle, find a breeder who DNA tests for coat traits, specifically the shedding and curl genes. To minimise the likelihood that your puppy will shed, find a Straight Haired Cavoodle puppy from parents that don’t carry any shedding genes and that carry two copies of the curly coat gene.
Can Cavoodles have straight hair?
Cavoodles who don’t inherit a copy of the curl coat gene from one of their parents, will have straight hair and be more likely to shed. Most Cavoodles from a Poodle parent will inherit one copy of the curly coat gene. However, not all Poodle studs carry two copies of the curly coat gene and can therefore produce some straight-coated Cavoodle puppies in their litters when paired with Cavoodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel females.
Why is my cavoodle straight hair?
Cavoodles can be born with straight hair like their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent. When Cavoodle breeders mix a Cavoodle with another Cavoodle to produce F2 Cavoodle puppies. It’s likely that 25% of the litter will have straight hair that sheds. Therefore, for those wanting a fleece or wool-coated Cavoodle puppy, buying from a breeder who DNA tests for coat traits is important.
Through DNA testing a breeder can predict what percentage of puppies in a litter will be straight-haired.
Will my Cavoodles hair go curly?
F1b Cavoodles will generally have either a fleece or curly wool textured coat. Whether or not your Cavoodle puppy’s hair will go curly depends on their genetics and the genetics of their parents. The curly coat gene determines if a Cavoodle will have a curly coat. Many poodles carry two copies of the curly coat gene and therefore all of their offspring will inherit at least one copy of the gene. Similarly, many F1 and F1b Cavoodle females will carry a copy of the curly coat genes, so it’s not uncommon for F1b and F2b Cavoodles to have two copies of the curly coat gene, resulting in a thick wool coat like a poodle.
Is straight or curly hair dominant in dogs?
In dog breeding the curly coat gene is dominant and therefore only one copy of the curly coat gene is required to override the straight-hair coat type. However, first-generation poodle mixes from a straight-haired dog with short hair such as a labrador and a poodle will produce F1 Labradoodles. Offspring of this crossing will often have a harsh wire-type coat that is low shedding, rather than a soft fleece that is non-shedding.
Furnishing genes are also important in determining how straight or curly a dog’s coat will be. If a dog inherits a furnishing gene from a poodle or ‘oodle’ parent, they will have scruffy hair on their face and legs like a teddy bear, as opposed to being short-haired like a labrador or spaniel in these areas.
Conclusion
Straight-haired Cavoodles are usually F2 generation Cavoodles (Cavoodles x Cavoodles) or Cavoodles having more of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s traits. They have straight short hair, droopy ears, pointier muzzles and short legs. They may shed seasonally or all year round.
We hope this brief guide gives you an insight into your Cavoodle’s coat type and grooming.
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