Cavoodle
Puppy Care Checklist: Everything You Need Sorted

Quick Answer: A complete cavoodle puppy care
checklist covers five areas: nutrition, vet care, grooming,
training, and social skills. Feed age-appropriate food 3-4 times daily,
book a vet visit within 48 hours, start gentle brush handling from week
one, and begin basic training at 8 weeks. This checklist covers every
step.

---

A proper cavoodle puppy care checklist is the
difference between panicking at 11pm and actually enjoying your new
puppy. (We’ve seen both.)

Indeed, most new Cavoodle owners have the same problem. They’ve read
20 different articles and still aren’t sure they have everything
covered. So we made this checklist simple, practical, and based on what
we actually see working in the salon every week.

Here’s everything your Cavoodle puppy needs – sorted by category so
you can tick things off as you go.

Cavoodle Puppy Care
Checklist: Nutrition

Getting food right from the start prevents stomach upsets, fussy
eating, and a lot of stress.

Your checklist:

• Ask your breeder what food they’ve
  been using (keep this for at least 2 weeks)
• Feed 3-4 small meals per day up to
  12 weeks old
• Drop to 3 meals per day from 12
  weeks to 6 months
• Switch to 2 meals per day after 6
  months
• Always have fresh water
  available
• Avoid grapes, chocolate, onions,
  macadamia nuts, and xylitol

Age	Meals Per Day	Portion Size	Expert Verdict
8-12 weeks	3-4	Small (follow packet guide)	Stick to breeder’s food
12 weeks – 6 months	3	Medium	Transition to your chosen brand slowly
6-12 months	2	Standard adult portion	Switch to adult food around 10-12 months

Often, owners switch food too fast. Always transition over 7-10 days
by mixing the old and new food. For full feeding advice, read our Cavoodle Feeding Guide.

Marine’s Pro Tip

“I can tell from a dog’s coat whether they’re eating well. Cavoodles
on good food have a soft, shiny coat. Cheap food shows up as a dry, dull
coat – and it mats faster too. You get what you pay for with dog food.”
– Marine, Head Groomer at WoofSpark

Cavoodle Puppy Care
Checklist: Vet Visits

Your vet is your partner for the first year especially. Don’t skip
anything here.

Your checklist:

• First vet visit within 48 hours of
  bringing puppy home
• Vaccination schedule confirmed
  (usually 8, 12, and 16 weeks)
• Worming treatment on schedule (every
  2 weeks until 12 weeks, then monthly until 6 months)
• Flea and tick prevention started
  (ask your vet for age-appropriate options)
• Microchip details registered in your
  name
• Desexing discussed (usually 4-6
  months for Cavoodles)
• Pet insurance sorted before any
  pre-existing conditions arise

According to the Australian
Veterinary Association, early health checks are critical for
catching issues before they become serious. Cavoodles can be prone to
heart conditions and luxating patellas, so your vet should know what to
watch for.

Cavoodle Puppy Care
Checklist: Grooming

This is the one most people underestimate. Cavoodles have coats that
need regular care – and the earlier you start, the easier it gets.

Your checklist:

• Introduce a soft brush in week one
  (just let them sniff it)
• Start gentle brushing by week two
  (30 seconds on their back)
• Handle paws, ears, and mouth daily
  (this makes vet and grooming visits easier)
• First professional groom at 12-16
  weeks (after second vaccination)
• Book regular grooms every 4-8 weeks
  depending on coat length
• Get a slicker brush and metal comb
  for home use
• Learn about your Cavoodle’s coat
  type (wool vs fleece – they’re different)

Grooming Task	When to Start	How Often	Expert Verdict
Gentle brushing	Week 1-2	Daily, 30 seconds	Non-negotiable – prevents fear later
Paw and ear handling	Day 1	Daily	Makes vet visits less stressful
First pro groom	12-16 weeks	Once	Puppy intro groom, not a full haircut
Regular pro grooms	From 16 weeks	Every 4-8 weeks	Shorter styles last longer between grooms
Home brushing	From 8 weeks	3-4 times per week	Prevents matting – especially behind ears

For everything you need to know about Cavoodle coat care, read our Cavoodle Grooming Guide.
Also, our Doodle Matting
Prevention Guide covers how to stop tangles before they start.

Marine’s Pro Tip

“The shorter the groom, the longer we can go between appointments.
The longer the groom, you’ve got to come back every four to six weeks.
Long haircuts are high maintenance because the coat mats very easily.
That’s not a sales pitch – it’s just how Cavoodle coats work.” – Marine,
Head Groomer at WoofSpark

Cavoodle Puppy Care
Checklist: Training

Cavoodles are smart. Really smart. Start training early and keep
sessions short.

Your checklist:

• Start toilet training from day one
  (reward outdoor success, ignore accidents)
• Begin “sit” and “come” commands at 8
  weeks
• Keep training sessions to 5 minutes
  max (puppies have short attention spans)
• Use positive rewards only (treats,
  praise, play)
• Start crate training in week one
  (crate = safe den, never punishment)
• Practice short alone-time from day 4
  (prevents separation anxiety)
• Enrol in a puppy school class by
  12-16 weeks

For toilet training help, our Cavoodle Toilet Training Guide
breaks it down step by step. However, the short version is this: take
them out every 1-2 hours, after every meal, and after every nap. Praise
like crazy when they go outside.

Cavoodle Puppy Care
Checklist: Social Skills

Cavoodles are naturally friendly dogs. Still, proper social skill
building between 8-16 weeks shapes their confidence for life.

Your checklist:

• Introduce new sounds (vacuum,
  washing machine, TV, doorbell)
• Meet different people (kids, adults,
  people in hats and sunglasses)
• Walk on different surfaces (grass,
  concrete, sand, tiles)
• Short car rides from the first
  week
• Meet calm, vaccinated dogs before 16
  weeks
• Visit the vet clinic for a “happy
  visit” (just treats and pats, no needles)
• Expose to grooming tools (brush,
  nail clippers, hair dryer on low)

Generally, the 8-16 week window is when puppies are most open to new
experiences. After 16 weeks, they become more cautious. So don’t
wait.

Common Mistakes New
Cavoodle Owners Make

Mistake	Why It Happens	The Fix
Skipping early grooming intro	“They don’t have much coat yet”	Start handling and brushing from week one
Changing food too fast	Wanting the “best” food right away	Transition over 7-10 days minimum
Too many visitors in week one	Everyone wants to meet the puppy	Limit to household only for 48 hours
No alone-time practice	Feeling guilty leaving them	Start with 30 seconds, build slowly
Waiting to start training	“They’re too young”	Basic commands can start at 8 weeks

One Kit. Everything Covered.

We built the Cavoodle Puppy Kit
because this checklist can feel overwhelming. Instead of buying pieces
from five different places and hoping you got it right, we’ve bundled
everything into one kit. Designed by groomers who work with Cavoodles
every single day.

It covers grooming tools, care guides, and the practical stuff no one
tells you about until it’s too late.

Get the Cavoodle Puppy
Kit

---

About the Author

Marine Ponchaut is the founder and head groomer at WoofSpark in
Cessnock, NSW. She’s groomed 450+ Cavoodles (and counting) across
16,472+ appointments. With 186+ five-star reviews and the only salon
still standing in Cessnock, Marine knows what new Cavoodle owners need –
because she hears it every day.

More about
Marine Ponchaut

---

Last updated: February 2026

This checklist has been updated with current vaccination schedules,
feeding tables by age, and Marine’s professional grooming tips based on
caring for thousands of Cavoodles at the WoofSpark salon.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I
need before bringing a Cavoodle puppy home?

You need a crate with bedding, puppy pads, food and water bowls, the
same food your breeder uses, safe chew toys, an enzyme cleaner, and baby
gates. Puppy-proof your home by removing toxic plants, securing cables,
and blocking off rooms.

How often should I
groom my Cavoodle puppy?

Start gentle brushing at home 3-4 times a week from 8 weeks old. Book
a first professional “puppy intro” groom at 12-16 weeks. After that,
professional grooms every 4-8 weeks depending on coat length. Shorter
styles need less frequent grooms.

What vaccinations
does a Cavoodle puppy need?

Cavoodle puppies typically need their C3 or C5 vaccinations at 8, 12,
and 16 weeks. Your vet will confirm the exact schedule. Don’t take your
puppy to public dog areas until two weeks after their final puppy
vaccination.

How do I stop my
Cavoodle puppy from biting?

Redirect biting to a chew toy immediately. Say “ouch” in a
high-pitched voice and stop playing for 10 seconds. Be consistent. Most
Cavoodle puppies grow out of mouthy behaviour by 6 months with regular
redirection and positive training.

When should I
start training my Cavoodle puppy?

Start basic commands like “sit” and “come” from 8 weeks old. Keep
sessions to 5 minutes and always use positive rewards. Enrol in a puppy
school class between 12-16 weeks for guided training and social skill
building.