Cavachon

Size:

Grooming:

Exercise Level:

Trainability:

Barking Level:

Good with Children:

Good with other pets:

Affectionate:

Protective:

Height: 23 - 46cm M | 23 - 46cm F

Weight: 7 - 11kg M | 5 - 9kg F

Life Expectancy: 10 - 17 Years

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Introduction

A designer breed that originated in the USA, the Cavachon is a relatively new breed developed in 1996. He is a mix of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise.

The Cavachon breed has not been recognised by any major breed registry, but this small mixed-breed dog is a very popular choice because of his gentle personality and hypoallergenic trait.

Cavachon dogs are great for first-time dog owners and families with children since they are easy to train and eager to please. Their small size and adaptability make them great apartment dogs. They are friendly dogs even with strangers, making them good pets but bad guard dogs.

The Cavachon dog breed is high-maintenance because of his curly coat that is prone to matting. This small designer dog is an energetic indoor companion that does not need plenty of exercise. He has an average lifespan of 10–15 years.

Here is a brief background of the Cavachon if you are interested to own this sweet and intelligent lap dog.

History

The Cavachon dog breed may be classed as a hybrid or a designer breed instead of a pure breed. He continues to become a popular choice as a companion dog because of his cute appearance and great personality.

Cavachon breeders and enthusiasts have varying opinions on how Cavachon dogs should be produced, just like other hybrids.

Some breeders prefer to have first-generation Cavalier/Bichon crossing of F1 rather than producing second or third generations. They believe that the F1 Cavachon dogs have non-shedding coats and have a friendlier personality.

The Cavachon dog breed is not yet recognised by any major pedigree registries like the Kennel Club and American Kennel Club. However, breed clubs have been established in many countries to ensure that good breeding guidelines are followed.

What is a Cavachon?

The Cavachon dog breed is a designer dog that was developed in the USA in 1996. His parent breeds are the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise, which are both small and furry dogs.

Appearance and Grooming

As with other designer dog breeds, the Cavachon comes in various sizes and coat textures since no breed standard has been set yet. In fact, puppies of the same litter can look different from each other.

The Cavachon dog breed has a well-proportioned compact body that is not particularly muscular, but neither is it too slender. He is a cute designer dog with expressive dark brown eyes and a black nose. His ears droop on each side of his face.

With his parent breeds having fluffy and thick coats, the Cavachon dog breed is expected to have this type of coat too. However, the length, texture, and colour of his coat vary.

Some Cavachon dogs can have medium-to-long hair length. A few can have straight hair, and others can have wavy or somewhat curly coats. Their coat colours include white with black, apricot, or tan markings, red, brown, or tricolour.

Do Cavachon dogs shed?

Yes, Cavachon dogs do shed. How heavily they shed depends on the coat type they inherited from their parents. Those that have the same fur as the Bichon Frise are low-shedding. As for those who inherited the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's coat, they will shed moderately.

Are Cavachons hypoallergenic?

Yes, some Cavachons are hypoallergenic since they can potentially inherit the low-shedding and hypoallergenic coat of the Bichon Frise. However, not all are hypoallergenic.

Those that have the same coat as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which is not a hypoallergenic breed, are very likely to trigger allergies. They are not good for allergy sufferers.

Are Cavachons high-maintenance?

Yes, Cavachon dogs are high-maintenance in the grooming aspect, just like their parent breeds. Their curly coats need to be brushed daily or every other day to avoid matting. They also need to be taken to the groomers to have a trim every 4–8 weeks.

The Cavachons’ eye stains must also be cleaned every day with a damp cloth to prevent eye infections. Trim their nails weekly. Also include ear cleaning every week to prevent ear infections.

How big do Cavachons get?

Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise are small in size, the Cavachon breed will not grow to be a large dog.

Full-grown male and female Cavachon dogs grow approximately 30–33 centimetres (12–13 inches) in height and weigh 6–9 kilos (15–20 pounds). Cavachon puppies reach their full size when they are approximately 10 months of age.

Temperament and Intelligence

The Cavachon dog breed is an affectionate lap dog that builds a strong bond with his family. He cannot be left alone for long periods as he can suffer from separation anxiety and could get destructive.

The Cavachon dog is not for busy families wherein all members constantly leave the house. Rather, he will be great for households that can designate someone to stay with him whilst others are away.

Whilst Cavachon dogs bark at strangers to alert their owners, their kindness makes them terrible watchdogs. These small dogs get along with other dogs and pets without a hitch, especially if they are properly socialised.

The Cavachon breed has inherited the intelligence of his parent breeds. Paired with his eagerness to please, he is easy to train. Obedience and crate training are not issues at all. He would gladly participate in interactive games and other activities.

All of these traits make the Cavachon dog breed very popular. This designer breed is recommended for first-time owners, and they’re even used as therapy dogs.

Are Cavachons good family dogs?

Yes, Cavachons are great family dogs. They are fun-loving, gentle, and happy dogs that love human companionship. They are a joy to be around and would always want to be part of every family activity.

Cavachons are tolerant, patient, and good with children. However, children must be supervised and taught how to handle these small designer dogs to avoid injuries.

Do Cavachons like to cuddle?

Yes, most Cavachons like to cuddle as these lap dogs take delight in showing their love and spending time with their family. They will curl up and snooze on their owner’s lap during their downtime. Some may even trail their favourite humans around the house just to see what's keeping them busy.

Do Cavachon dogs bark a lot?

No, Cavachon dogs do not bark a lot. The presence of an intruder may trigger their yapping, but other than that, they are quiet most of the time. Their low barking tendencies combined with their high adaptability and compact bodies make them great apartment pets.

Nutrition and Feeding

A typical serving for adult Cavachon dogs is 1/2–11/2 cups of excellent-quality dry dog food per day. Since predicting the adult size of this dog breed is quite tricky, work hand in hand with a trusted vet and ask for advice regarding his food intake, both in amount and frequency.

Here are the typical calorie needs of adult Cavachon dogs per day:

Senior and less active: up to 470 calories daily
Typical adult: up to 530 calories daily
Physically active/working dog: up to 590 calories daily

Are you planning to feed your Cavachon home-cooked or commercial dog food? There isn’t any right or wrong answer here as long as you are providing him with high-quality food. For instance, you can prepare raw food or cooked food as long as it is fresh and not scraps or leftovers.

You also have to provide supplements as there may be nutrients lacking in commercial dog food. On the flipside, canned and/or dry dog food is a practical choice. However, you need to need to choose one with limited ingredients specifically formulated for small dogs.

For a healthy coat, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are necessary.

Health and Exercise

The Cavachon dog breed is generally healthy but predisposed to hereditary health problems from his parent breeds. This does not mean that your dog will inherit these conditions, but it is a good idea to be prepared.

The most common health issues in Cavachon dogs are:

Cataracts

Cavachons with cataracts will noticeably have cloudy eyes. The white film on the eye lens disrupts their vision and causes blindness. Older dogs are more vulnerable to cataracts than younger dogs.

Since no medication can cure this eye problem, surgery is the most viable option. But dog owners must first consult the vet to know if their dogs are good surgical candidates.

Atopic Dermatitis

It is a skin condition that causes itching in various parts of the body of an affected dog. This can be due to environmental allergens, flea infestation, or bacteria or yeast infection. The vet will prescribe anti-itch and anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate and stop the effects of atopic dermatitis.

The Cavachon breed is typically energetic at home, but not hyperactive. His energy level is low to moderate, so 30 minutes to an hour of exercise will do.

This small designer dog will enjoy short daily walks and then playtime with his owners in a fenced back garden. You should devote at least 30 minutes to physically and mentally stimulating activities for your Cavachon.

How long do Cavachons live?

A properly-cared-for Cavachon has an average lifespan of 10–15 years. The best way to ensure that your Cavachon puppy will live a long life is to provide him with a comfortable and loving home, healthy and balanced meals, and ample amounts of exercise.

Keeping up with vet check-ups regularly is also important.

Cost of Ownership

The Cavachon price can start from £1,500 to £3,000 for a well-bred pedigree puppy from a reputable breeder. Since small breeds like the Cavachon requires less food, you will only spend about £30 a month for your puppy’s food.

Buying his initial equipment like bowls, bed, lead, and others will be around £100–£400.

Although the Cavachon is a hardy breed, he is still susceptible to diseases. Vet check-ups are necessary to be updated with your puppy's current state of health. The cost for each session is around £30–£60.

A Cavachon puppy shouldn’t be without vaccinations as he is at high risk of contracting diseases. You will need to pay about £100–£150 for initial vaccine shots and £50–£60 for annual boosters.

Getting pet insurance is a great idea, so you don't get caught off-guard when your Cavachon puppy gets sick and needs to be confined.

A time-limited cover has a monthly payment fee that ranges from £15–£20. On the other hand, getting a lifetime package will add around £18 to over £80 to your monthly expenses.

Cavachon Breed Highlights

The Cavachon dog breed is a designer dog that is not recognised by any major pedigree registries.
Cavachon dogs are gentle and sweet-natured pets, but terrible guard dogs.
They can live in an apartment as long as they are exercised every day.
The Cavachon breed loves children and being part of family activities.
He can develop separation anxiety and could become destructive when left alone.
Cavachon dogs are great for first-time owners and can work as therapy dogs.