Our Dogs
The parents of our puppies. Our dogs have been genetically tested; their results are in the link under their photo. The results show their physical traits (color, hair type, size, etc.) and health conditions.
Benny "The Jet"Male miniature poodle, 13 lbs.
Benny's Genetic Results (he also does not carry CDPA from his parentage). He is clear of all breed relevant diseases. He has no copies of CDDY/IVDD. |
Gracie LouFemale F1 Cavapoo, 15 lbs.
Gracie Lou's Genetic Results She is clear of breed relevant diseases. She does carry CDDY/IVDD. This variant is found in almost all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because they are bred to have short legs. Cavaliers usually do not develop Invertebrate Disc Disease even while carrying CDDY/IVDD. |
Let’s Talk About Genetics…
Our genetic testing is done by Embark. We make sure that we don't breed carriers to carriers when breeding Cavapoos. For instance, Benny does not carry what Gracie carries. Genetic diversity is necessary, and it's important for us to know what our dogs carry so we can make the best possible choices in pairing dogs.
Invertebrate Disc Disease
All small dogs with short legs have a risk of developing Invertebrate Disc Disease. Type I Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a back/spine issue that refers to a health condition affecting the discs that act as cushions between vertebrae. With Type I IVDD, affected dogs can have a disc event where it ruptures or herniates towards the spinal cord. This pressure on the spinal cord causes neurologic signs which can range from a wobbly gait to impairment of movement. Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) refers to the relative proportion between a dog’s legs and body, wherein the legs are shorter and the body longer which is how a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is structured. From our research, we discovered it as very important to breed a miniature poodle with no copies of CDDY/IVDD or CDPA (Benny has no copies of these). His cavapoo offspring will have longer legs than a Cavalier due to Benny's genetics which lessens the chance of developing IVDD. Also, IVDD can be prevented with good owner handling. We suggest that all our puppies and dogs should be walked in a harness and not in a collar. Additionally, jumping should be minimized by giving your dog a ramp or steps to get on high furniture.