We paid thousands for designer puppies. Now we’re paying thousands at the vet
Key takeaways
- Designer crossbreeds now dominate Australian dog ownership, with the Cavoodle topping the list as the most popular breed.
- Designer dogs commonly cost several thousand dollars to buy and a single serious health issue can run into a five figure vet bill.
- What's next: Before buying a designer breed, factor in the lifetime cost, not just the purchase price.
During the pandemic back in 2019, there wasn't much Aussies wouldn't do to keep themselves occupied.
We tried viral recipes, broke daily step count records and even adopted a furry companion, commonly known as "pandemic puppies."
And there was one breed in particular that stole the hearts of almost every Aussie household, the Cavoodle.
According to PetPost, the Cavoodle alone is now the country's most popular dog breed.
Walk through any inner-city suburb and you'll lose count of the Cavoodles, Groodles, Spoodles and Labradoodles, the fluffy, low-shedding, teddy-bear crossbreeds that have become the default family pet.
How designer dogs took over, and what they're costing us
Pet Insurance Australia data shows the Cavoodle's share of its active policies grew by almost 72% between 2019 and 2026, climbing from 5.25% to 9.01%.
That means nearly one in every ten dogs Pet Insurance Australia covers is a Cavoodle.
Cavoodle are marketed as the best of both worlds: the low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat and intelligence of a Poodle, combined with the gentle temperament of a Cavalier.
As a Cavoodle owner myself, I can confirm that not only is Maple incredibly loving and affectionate, she's also too smart for her own good.
The love of my life. Image: Finder
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It's fair to assume that most pandemic puppy owners have adjusted to the cost that comes with owning a Cavoodle, however, recent figures show vet bills continue to take Aussies by surprise.
Pet Insurance Australia found that its single highest claims for a Cavoodle were $11,600 for a traumatic injury and more than $7,800 for heart conditions and for tissue trauma and fractures.
Gastrointestinal issues, foreign body ingestion, cruciate ligament injuries and allergies have also all produced claims in the thousands.
"An owner might look at an average claim of $600 or $700 and think they could comfortably manage that," said spokesperson for Pet Insurance Australia, Nadia Crighton.
"But when something becomes complicated or requires surgery, diagnostic imaging, hospitalisation or specialist treatment, suddenly you're potentially looking at thousands of dollars."
The lesson isn't "don't get a designer dog"
None of this means designer breeds aren't worth it. Despite how much she's cost me in her near 2 years of life, Maple was one of the best decisions I ever made.
What it does mean is that pet insurance should also be a part of the budget when you decide to bring home your curly-haired teddy bear.
You can compare a range of pet insurance policies and get a quote today by heading over to Finder's pet insurance comparison tool.
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