Cavoodles in high demand in the inner west

The people of the inner west are in puppy love with cavoodles. We asked local dog owners why the cavoodle is the most popular breed in the area.

Kent Hildred and Berni Oakfield, both from Newtown, play with their dogs at Sydney Park. Cavoodles are the most popular breed of dog in the inner west. Image: Monique Harmer

• Begging Folau immortalised in mural
• Deserted building to become senior’s housing

The inner west is barking mad for cavoodles, with the cuddly dog taking out the top spot for most popular breed in the area.

A hybrid of a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle, cavoodles are so in demand, buyers are paying from $4000 up to $10,000 at peak times like Christmas for a puppy.

Marlon and Eve Samson from Waterloo pose with their two-year-old cavoodle Larry at Sydney Park. They have a dog social group made up of mostly cavoodle owners from the inner west and central Sydney. Image Monique Harmer.

Purebreds and designer breeds are still top dogs in NSW. Statistics from the Office of Local Government and the RSPCA revealed the ten most popular registered breeds in NSW are cavoodles, followed by the Australian kelpie, staffordshire bull terrier and labrador retriever.

Among the many inner west cavoodle owners are Kent Hildred and Albert Thai of Newtown, who share a home with their two beloved dogs, Lyla and Fynn.

Kent Hildred from Newtown, and Marlon and Eve Samson from Waterloo play with their cavoodles at Sydney Park. Image: Monique Harmer

Kent Hildred from Newtown with his two cavoodles, Lyla and Fynn at Sydney Park dog park. Image: Monique Harmer

“My partner has an allergy to animals … (so) cavoodles were the best fit. They are non-shedding and hypo-allergenic,” Mr Hildred said.

“They are sweet, kind, intelligent, a good size for the inner west, (and) social animals … they suit the lifestyle for the typical inner west person.”

Although they looked into rescuing cavoodles, Kent and Albert purchased their puppies from breeders in Quakers Hill. “The demand for securing a cavoodle (through rescue) is very high,” Mr Hildred said.

Newtown cavoodle's Lyla and Fynn pose for a photo at Sydney Park in St Peters. Image: Monique Harmer.

Newtown cavoodle Lyla and Waterloo friend Larry pose for a photo at Sydney Park. Image Monique Harmer

Dr Sam Kovac, founder of Southern Cross Vets in St Peters said people in the inner west choose cavoodles because they lend themselves well to high density living, they love exercise but don’t need too much, and they don’t shed. He also said young couples look after dogs as a prelude to children.

“We see the typical young professional couple who have a go looking after a creature to test what it would be like to have a child.”

Cavoodles are bred to look like puppies their whole lives, Mr Kovac said. “People are drawn to that … (because) their dogs are more like family.”

A few local council’s over, in Canada Bay, the top dog is the greyhound followed by the cavoodle.