Cavachon: Perfect Mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise?
Bichon frises and Cavalier King Charles spaniels are crossed to create cavachons. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognises both parent breeds as purebred, but Cavachons themselves do not. Rather, they are known as a “designer dogs,” which is just another term for a dog developed from two purebred parents of distinct breeds.
The intention of breeding these two purebred dogs was to produce a dog that would ideally be healthier and have the greatest qualities of both breeds. Is the Cavachon truly the greatest mix of the King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise? Let’s investigate!
Cavachon History
Because it is a cross between the bichon frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the breed is a relatively new . These dogs were new to us; their first known cross-breeder was a Berryville, Virginia, breeder who claimed to have started in 1996.
The goal of this specific dog mating was to produce a tiny breed with a hypoallergenic coat and fewer health issues for companionship. To produce a breed that is easy to teach, has a joyful, loving nature, and has a healthy constitution, breeders essentially aimed to combine the finest qualities of the bichon frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The European nobility has historically been fond of both the bichon frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
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Cavachon Characteristics
Cavachon Size
Although there aren’t many size standards for the breed because Cavachons are a cross between Cavalier King Charles and Bichon Frise parents, you can expect them to be on the small side; most weigh between 15 and 35 pounds and range in height from twelve to thirteen inches at the shoulder, though many can be smaller or larger.
Cavachon Lifespan
A Cavachon’s lifespan typically spans between 10 and 15 years. Remember that a dog’s lifespan can be impacted by a variety of things, including their diet and general health.
Cavachon Growth
Cavachons are small dogs, descended from Bichon frise and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parents. When fully developed, an adult Cavachon stands 12–13 inches in height at the shoulder and weighs 15–20 pounds.
We can anticipate that the Cavapoochon will grow the fastest in the first 50% of its adult weight based on observed dog growth patterns. This typically occurs around the six-month point in larger dogs. Since Cavapoochons are a tiny breed, we should anticipate that these pups will accomplish that milestone a little earlier. Their growth will begin to progressively slow down after they reach half of their adult weight, and around the time of their first birthday, it will plateau at their full adult weight.
Cavachon Appearance
It is hard to predict exactly what the puppies of a mixed breed, like the Cavachon, would look like. While some dogs may inherit traits from their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ancestry, others may resemble Bichon Frises.
They typically weigh between 15 and 20 pounds and are no taller than 13 inches. The AKC classifies the them as a toy breed due to its small stature. See how large your Cavachon puppy will grow to be by using our adult-size calculator by clicking!
The coat of a Cavachon can be colored or plain. Though many dogs might have coats that are a combination of white and apricot, red, brown, or even black, white is the most common colour.
Cavachon Coat Type
Bichon fries have two coats: an inner layer that is dense and silky, and an outer layer that is coarse and curly. Cavaliers, on the other hand, have a mixture of coats with long and short hair, the short hair usually being on the front of the legs.
They could choose to emulate one or the other. There are also Cavachons that have coats composed of softly waved, medium-length hair.
Due to their mixed-breed heritage, Cavachons can have a wide range of appearances. Cavaliers have long, wavy coats, and Bichon frises have long, curly coats. Although it is not unusual to see them with medium-length, slightly wavy coats, a Cavachon’s coat can be anywhere in between.
One thing you can be sure of is that they are small enough to qualify as a toy breed, if not a small one. Additionally, instead of having ears that prickle, their ears will hang. Remember that bichons have v-shaped ears, while Cavaliers have long, drop ears; a Cavachon might have either.
Cavachon Temperament
These dogs are typically playful, intelligent, and generally happy, just like their progenitors. They get along well not only with kids but also with other dogs. They do require lengthy walks at least a few times a week because they do not have adequate energy.
Your Cavachon puppy must be socialised early on for it to develop into an intelligent, submissive adult dog. Some may inherit their Cavalier ancestry and like chasing small animals, particularly when exercised in parks or woodland areas.
The absence of hostility exhibited by the this breed is one of its outstanding qualities. They may bark at strangers and have a territorial streak, but they hardly ever try to harm humans or other dogs. But for that reason, this dog is not a good security dog!
Cavachons cannot live alone for extended periods because they become extremely devoted to their humans. Many owners choose to have two of them that keep each other company since they get along well with other dogs.
Cavachon Health Problems
The bichon frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are the parent breeds to consider when discussing health concerns with cavachons. Cushing’s disease, mitral endocarditis, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, syringomyelia, and cataracts are among the medical disorders observed between the two.
Although this may appear like a large list of health issues, They are not certain to inherit these conditions. Actually, according to a lot of breeders, they are healthier than their parent breeds.
This is because crossing two breeds effectively increases the genetic diversity of each. Recessive features, such as those that could lead to disease, are therefore less likely to be inherited. It is still possible to inherit the parent breed’s health hazards.
All mixed-breed dogs are likely to have genetic problems, and they may inherit traits from one or both of their ancestors. These similar cardiac problems can manifest in Cavachons, as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed is predisposed to developing some heart issues.
Out of all the health problems that could potentially impact them, two are highly prevalent:
Mitral Valve Disorder
Dermatitis
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Cavachon Care
Like with any dog, you should schedule routine vet visits to identify any health issues early on. You can create a care regimen with your veterinarian’s assistance to keep your dog healthy.
Cavachons are fairly energetic animals. Yours should be happy and stimulated after a half-hour walk and some moderate exercises in between.
Every dog also needs the standard care that dogs need. Every day, check their ears for debris and bugs and clean them as your veterinarian advises. Usually once or twice a month, trim your dog’s nails to prevent them from getting too long. There shouldn’t be a loud clicking sound when they hit the floor. Your stylist can assist you with this.
Maintaining the dental health of your Cavachon will be your primary focus when it comes to their care. Small breeds are more likely to have dental problems; therefore, you should brush their teeth every day. You can learn the right technique for brushing your dog’s teeth from your veterinarian.
Cavachon Grooming
A Cavachon’s coat has to be brushed once a week to stay in excellent condition. It may also be necessary, at least occasionally, to trim the medium-to-long curls; if you are not skilled in this area, you may need to send your dog to a groomer.
It is advised to wash your puppy once a month or every six weeks, even though the breed is thought to shed very little.
It’s important to keep the hairs surrounding your dog’s eyes nicely cut to prevent eye problems like conjunctivitis. By using a moist towel or cotton pad to press the hairs away from the eyes, you can also train them to grow in a different direction.
Cavachon Training
All Cavachon puppies must receive early training and socialization to acquaint them with their surroundings, other people, and dogs. Despite the mild energy level of this breed, obedience training is still recommended to make sure your puppy develops into an intelligent adult.
Teach your canine companion to:
Giving this type of dog praise and treats is a terrific idea, but you don’t want to go overboard because of its small stature.
When it comes to how often you train, two or three 10-minute sessions are preferable to one 30-minute session. Even after reaches adulthood, you will need to reinforce their training to make sure negative habits don’t remain.
Due to their small stature, they will need more time and energy to learn them to toilet. In the early weeks, be ready to take your puppy out a lot!
Cavachon Feeding
For their age range, cavachons should be fed premium small-breed dog food. AAFCO rules should be followed when formulating kibble (and it will mention so on the packaging). A veterinary nutritionist develops and tests the best dog diets through feeding studies.
You can use the feeding recommendations on your favourite dog food to figure out how much to give your dog. If not, you may figure out how many calories your dog requires each day and change the portion size according to how much weight they grow or lose. You have two options for doing the maths: use an internet calculator or do it by hand. The latter might be a tad more precise.
The Cavachon diet is designed for tiny breeds with moderate levels of energy. If you overfeed them, they will likely put on weight, so you should maintain a regular feeding schedule and avoid leaving food available during the day. Also, restrict how many sweets they receive.
The dietary requirements for them will alter as they grow older, just like those of any other breed of dog. As there is far too much variance among individual dogs—including weight, energy, and health—you should seek your veterinarian’s advice regarding diet.
Rather than always keeping food out, measure your Cavachon’s food and feed them twice a day to keep them in excellent health.
Cavachon Toys
Toys: I would advise acquiring a couple of chew toys in addition to at least one cuddly toy for a Cavachon puppy. Ruby has taken a strong liking to chew toys like this bone as puppies are still learning how to use their tongues and going through teething. The Kong toy is the other essential.
For Cavachons, nothing is more important than spending quality time with their loved ones. These dogs don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, but keeping a dog or cat in the house will keep them from getting bored.
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FAQs
Although it is not unusual for certain cavachons to weigh more than 25 pounds, this is the typical range in which they weigh. These canines often stand 12 to 13 inches tall. A Cavachon’s coat is medium in length and might have curls or just a small wave
Their dispositions are wonderful; they are playful, affectionate, and kind. They lack willfulness, stubbornness, or aggression. They are also simple to train because of these qualities—or lack thereof—and their desire to please. They’re an excellent choice for those who are new to owning dogs because of all these features.
Although they do need roughly 30 minutes of exercise and movement every day, cavachons are generally low-energy dogs, according to Dogtime. As long as they can spend time with their loved ones, they usually have a good time wherever they go. They are not particularly adventurous, though.
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