The Cavachon is a mixed breed dog. It is a crossbreed of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise dog breeds. Therefore, these Cavachon puppies inherited some of the best traits from both their parents.
Despite their status as a designer breed, these dogs are mostly found in shelters and Cavachon rescues. Moreover, they also make great apartment dogs and adapt well to any environment.
If you are looking for a playful and loving companion, the Cavachon can be your next adopted family member. Refer to the blog to know more about the traits and facts of Cavachon.
Many dog breeders intentionally began mixing the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise dogs in the 1990s. It was an effort to produce a new breed with a hypoallergenic coat and minimum health conditions. The first litter of Cavachon was born in 1996 in the United States.
This new dog breed possesses the characteristics that most people look for in a companion or family dog. Some of the best traits were their friendly nature, gentleness, small size, and low exercise needs.
The demand for the hybrid breed as a companion dog has typically grown throughout the US in recent years. However, Cavachons are not recognized by the American Kennel Club as a separate breed and don’t have official pedigree papers to document their lineage.
On the other hand, they are recognized by the American Canine Association by the alternate spelling Cavashon. Similarly, various national and international registries, including American Canine Hybrid Club and the International Designer Canine Registry, also recognize the dog as a designer breed.
The Cavapoo is another crossbreed of a Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Both the Cavachon and Cavapoo are relatively new breeds, their appearances, temperaments, and other factors may vary. Below given is the complete comparison of these two dog breeds.
Cavachon  | Russian Blue  | ||
| A mix of Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | A mix of Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | ||
| 13 inches or less in height | 9 - 14 inches in height | ||
| 15 - 20 pounds of weight | 7 - 8 pounds of weight | ||
| Playful, affectionate, gentle | Active, affectionate, smart | ||
| Low exercise needs | Average exercise needs | ||
| Weekly Grooming | Daily Grooming | ||
| White, apricot, red, or brown in color | Chestnut, or gold in color | ||
| Hypoallergenic | Hypoallergenic | ||
| Easy to train | Easy to train |
Have a look at the following physical characteristics of the Cavachon dog breed.
| General Appearance | |
| The Cavachon is a small, sturdy designer dog. Its intelligent expression shows its elegance and dignity. Moreover, it has cute, large, and rounded eyes with long and floppy ears. Despite its small size, the dog has a compact athletic look. | |
| Head | |
| The head is broad, rounded, not coarse, and covered with a topknot of hair. | |
| Neck | |
| The neck is long and carried behind an erect head. | |
| Tail | |
| The tail is set on a level with the topline. It covered gracefully over the back in line with the spine so that the hair of the tail rests on the back. | |
| Legs | |
| Its front and hind legs are compact and round, and the body is overall rounded. Similarly, it has a level back, large feet, and tucked belly. | |
| Coat | |
| This dog breed has a fluffy, thick, and curly medium-length coat. However, despite having a longer and thicker coat, they shed very little. | |
| Color | |
| The coloration of the coat and fur can vary, but it is most commonly found in white, cream, black, tan, or brown in color. Some coats are solid and have a combination of colors. |
A commonly used adjective used to describe Cavachon is ‘happy’. If you are looking for an aggressive breed or a guard dog, they are entirely the opposite. Instead, Cavachons are gentle, tolerant, friendly, charming, fun-loving, loyal, and affectionate dogs. They inherited these traits from both their parents.
“Is Cavachon a good family dog?”
They usually develop a strong liking towards a particular family member and are social when it comes to other dogs, pets, and children. Furthermore, this dog has its own preferences while sleeping. Most people ask, “Are Cavachons cuddly?”They enjoy cuddling and sleep in their owner’s lap.
Cavachons are also not overly energetic but love to meet new people and make friends easily. However, they are considered good watchdogs and bark at strangers or anything out of the ordinary. Moreover, this is known as a people-loving breed and can experience separation anxiety if left alone for too long.
Like other dog breeds, Cavachons also require usual canine care. Here are some essential tips for grooming your dog.
Weekly brushing is necessary to keep their coat in perfect shape and health. The owners are also required to trim their medium to long curls. But if you don’t have experience doing it yourself, bok routine grooming appointments involving bathing and trimming.
It is important to look for f;ea infestations and use the best flea treatment for dogs after consulting your vet.
The good thing is that this dog’s fur sheds very little. Thus, it is good for people with different allergies. Similarly, the fur must be clipped every 6 to 8 weeks because it grows faster.
Check their ears for pests, debris, or any other infection. Clean them daily or 3 to 4 times a week as recommended by your vet.
Always trim your Cavachon’s nails before they get too long. This session should be done once or twice a month.
Maintaining oral health is one of the major concerns when it comes to your Cavachon’s care. Brush the teeth daily because small breeds are more prone to dental issues. Consult a vet to instruct you on how to brush your dog’s teeth properly.
The hairs around the dog’s eyes need to be trimmed neatly to avoid any eye infections. You can also make them grow in a different direction by pushing them away from the eyes using a damp cloth or cotton pad.
Training is important for any dog. Similarly, early socialization is necessary if you want your puppy to be a well-educated and obedient full-grown Cavachon. They are quick learners and eager to please their owners.
Nevertheless, Cavachons tend to have short attention spans, so the training session should be kept short and fun. Try to be kind and gentle in training. Make sure the dog knows that you are the boss but never hit, yell or punish them.
Prefer to have positive reinforcement training and give treats to your dog when he follows a command. House training is not difficult, but you can also use crate training. Start with teaching them basic things such as how to walk on a leash and where to potty. The next could be the commands such as sit, stay, come.
You can also enroll in a training school that will not only make the training process easier. But it will also give your dog good socialization time with other pets.
Cavachons are best suited to living indoors. They do well in homes with or without yards, and it makes them a good choice for large homes and apartments. But these dogs must be kept inside the house during cold climates.
Also, they do well in homes where someone will stay with them throughout the day. The ideal household for them is where these puppies will be loved and receive a lot of attention. But young children should be taught not to pick up a Cavachon when they are fragile and small.
A Cavachon is a lively and active breed, but it has low exercise requirements. Moderate physical activity on a daily basis is more than enough for these dogs to burn off the excess energy. A short walk or a game of fetch can provide mental stimulation.
The best thing about this breed is that they do not need someone to play with it constantly. Instead, they are quite adept at keeping themselves occupied.
This dog is a moderate eater so try not to overfeed them. It is better to stick to a proper feeding schedule to help maintain healthy body weight. They should not be given big meals at a time but instead, give them measured amounts twice or thrice a day.
Most Cavachon adults do best when they feed commercial dog food. Small dogs require a high-quality dry dog food diet formulated according to their group, size, and energy level.
Moreover, this breed loves treats but does measure the overall daily calorie intake as they are prone to obesity. Their big appetite sometimes does not match their small bodies as they will gain weight quickly.
It can cause unnecessary stress on their joints leading to serious health issues like diabetes. Thus, it is always better to consult a vet to meet the dietary needs of your pup.
As a mixed-dog breed, Cavachons have the potential to develop health conditions from both their parent dogs. Below are some of the common health conditions they might suffer from:
Small Cavachons are more prone to dental disease and eye problems. The small dogs have more spaces for bacteria and debris to accumulate. Thus, daily toothbrushing and annual dental cleanings are the two best ways to treat dental issues. Similarly, small dogs can also develop certain eye diseases such as dry eye, eye ulcers, or cherry eye.
This breed can also suffer from medial patella luxation that is often known as slipping kneecaps in their hind limbs.
Some small, hairless, irregular growths called sebaceous adenomas are also seen in small Cavachons. The most common symptoms include new lumps or bumps on the dog’s body.
Another condition is collapsing the trachea where the dog’s windpipe might collapse. It may cause irritation and coughing.
Cavachons are extremely prone to the development of degenerative mitral valve disease. It is a type of heart disease that is often characterized by a detectable murmur.
This breed can also suffer from obesity and other joint diseases like arthritis. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on your dog’s height and weight.
This condition can affect your dog’s eye, where the lenses become thick and opaque. It leads to blurry vision and even blindness.
Lastly, different allergies and skin diseases are also quite common in Cavachons. It sometimes causes itchiness, causing skin or ear infections.
The Cavachon price varies from breeder to breeder. It may usually cost around $1100 to $2,200. However, the pricing can go as high as $7500.
It is usually difficult to find a breed-specific rescue for Cavachons as they are a mixed breed. Nevertheless, you can try a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Bichon Frise breed-specific rescues.
Some breed clubs offer a list of approved and licensed breeders, while sometimes you have to find reputable Cavachon breeders on your own. It is to make sure that you are adopting or buying a healthy and well-socialized dog.
The signs of a healthy Cavachon puppy are the following:
Remember, a reputable breeder will always provide you with all the health certifications and details beforehand.
The following are the interesting facts about the Cavachon dogs.
Choosing a lovable and easy-going dog can be extremely difficult as there are so many breed options available. If you are confused between choosing a gentle Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the playful Bichon Frise, the Cavachon might be the ideal one for you. It combines the best of both traits.
This dog believes to be a family pet and a wonderful emotional support animal. Mentally or emotionally disable individuals really need a companion who will love to spend time outdoors. Cavachons are considered lap dogs who love to cuddle and sleep with their owners.
Therefore, if you want a loyal and playful friend, adopt a Cavachon as your ESA. For this, you need a valid ESA letter from a mental health provider. In case you need a letter on an urgent basis, simply contact us at RealESALetter.com.
Cavachons tend to bark at strangers, but otherwise, they are fairly quiet dogs.
Cavachons are usually gentle and friendly dogs that make great family pets for first-time owners. Because of their loving personality, they can get along with other children and pets.
Yes, like other dogs, Cavachon also has a typical biting behavior. For this, you need to show your pup that human flesh is delicate and acts like it is painful when the dog puts its mouth on you.
Yes, Cavachons can appear lazy and disinterested when they are bored. If they are not showing interest in their favorite toy or game, it means something is wrong.
The average Cavachon dog sleeps for about 12 to 14 hours during a 24-hour cycle. It includes sleeping 8 hours at night and 4 to 6 hours during the day.
WRITTEN BY
Harper Jefcoat
Harper Jefcoat is a dedicated pet enthusiast and esteemed author at RealESALetter.com. With a profound passion for animals, Harper combines extensive knowledge and personal experience to provide insightful and informative content. Specializing in canine behavior and wellness, he strives to empower pet owners with the tools and understanding they need to nurture and care for their furry friends effectively. Harper’s writings reflect his commitment to enhancing the lives of pets and their owners, making him a trusted voice in the pet community.
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