Cavachon

All you need to know about the Cavachon

The Cavachon breed is a petite and adorable result of crossing the Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These furry pups are known for their tiny size and silky coat that can have wildly different appearances! 

Since they are hybrids, they can take on the look of either one of the parent breeds, meaning two Cavachon pups can look nothing alike! Well, their cute face with huge loving eyes will definitely look similar!

Cavachons are playful, happy, and curious dogs that will get along well with anyone, be it other animals or little children. They are known for their athleticism despite being small. These pups are loyal and will do whatever they can to please their owners.

It’s not hard to imagine that you fell in love with a Cavachon immediately after seeing one! If you plan to adopt, read on to learn what you need to know about this breed.

Fast Facts

Group - Designer breed (non-official)

Weight - 10-20 Pounds 

Height - 12-13 Inches 

Hair Length - Short, Medium

Shedding - Moderate

Lifespan - 8-12 Years 

The Appearance of the Cavachon

The first thing you’ll notice when looking at a Cavachon is its size. These pups are tiny and will be only up to 12 inches tall when fully grown. 

They have a silky coat whose appearance may vary since the Cavachon is a mixture of two breeds with completely different coats. 

A Cavachon’s coat is usually short to medium in length and can be either wavy or curly. Both make these pups look adorable and cuddly.

Their ears are long and floppy. They add to the adorable cutesy appearance of this breed. They have large dark eyes that are simply irresistible. Seriously, one gaze from these gorgeous puppies, and you will immediately fall in love. Their eyes will melt anyone’s heart!

What colors does a Cavachon come in?

The Cavachon can come in colors that often mix the coat colors of its parent breeds: the Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Very rarely, you might find a Cavachon with a coat in a solid color.

The main coat colors that a Cavachon comes in are:

• Cream
• White
• Pied
• Sable
• Tan
• Black

Since it is a mixed breed, the number of colors you will find these dogs in is quite large. We are sure anyone will find the right pup for them if they want a specific color.

There’s not much to say about the colors, since anything goes! Looks are only a small part of the story though, what about the temperament of the Cavachon?

All about the Cavachon personality

Cavachon pups don’t excel in just the looks department. Their personality will win you over in no time as well!

Mixed breeds inherit their parents’ personality traits, which is the case with the Cavachon. Luckily, the Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel both have extremely lovable temperaments. This makes the Cavachon a perfect pet.

The Bichon Frise is extremely cheerful and merry. These dogs love showing affection. They are gentle and playful and also love spending time with children.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is quite similar, displaying a large number of positive traits! These pups are highly affectionate, and they love to play. They also make it their goal to please their owners!

These dogs inherited only the best personality traits of their parent breeds. The Cavachon is highly intelligent, gentle, and loves to play. These dogs have large amounts of energy and will enjoy any sort of activity with you.

The Cavachon makes for the perfect lapdog, and it will enjoy spending the day cuddling with you. They respond well to children and you can safely allow them to play with your young ones.

It is easy to spoil these puppies since they are so loving and cute. Make sure that doesn’t happen though, because it can become a problem later on! Some people call this the “Small Dog Syndrome” since it occurs with smaller pups more often. The best way to deal with this is to always be affectionate but firm at the same time!

Is a Cavachon easy to train?

Since these dogs are eager to please it makes sense that they are also quite easy to train. Their intelligence helps as well. 

Make sure to start your training as soon as you bring this pup home. Starting early and being consistent will basically solve everything for you. Reward-based methods will definitely bring you the best results, so always make sure to have a treat for your doggy ready somewhere!

Once you bring a Cavachon puppy home, you might want to put it in an enclosed space overnight. This is a good way to potty train them since they won’t soil the place where they sleep. Once your pup is awake, you just bring it outside, and it will quickly learn where it should poop!

While your Cavachon is still young, make sure to praise and reward it whenever it properly poops outside! That way it will learn how to behave properly much quicker! Praise it vocally, pet it or give it a treat!

If your Cavachon does something you think requires punishment, you should loudly scold it. Show that you’re displeased with your voice, but never ever physically punish your dog!

Following all of these tips should make your life much easier while training your Cavachon. 

How much Grooming does a Cavachon need?

When it comes to grooming, Cavachons do not require too much work. They normally have medium-length coats, although there are some with longer coats. They don’t shed too much so you won’t need to be on constant clean-up duty!

Although no dogs are completely hypoallergenic, Cavachons are as close to that description as any breed. If your dog allergies aren’t too severe, this is the pet for you!

Other than that, grooming is pretty standard. Expect to brush their coat three times a week on average. Bathing should be done as necessary.

Their hair does grow relatively fast, so it might be a good idea to make professional grooming appointments. You should do this every two to three months, which should not be a hassle to anyone. 

One pretty important thing is to keep the hair around the eyes of a Cavachon shorter. This will prevent the build-up of hair, which can cause various issues.

Remember to trim the nails whenever they become too long. You will know that when you hear them clicking on the floor, don’t worry.

Cavachons are small and delicate dogs, so always be careful how you are handling them while grooming. These dogs do not like extreme weather conditions. During the summer months, you may need to apply sunscreen to the nose, ears, and other sensitive areas on your puppy’s body.

The Living Environment of the Cavachon

Cavachons are not too picky about their living environment. They will adapt anywhere and won’t need a large outdoor area to play and be active. These dogs do love going outside, but they adore their time on the couch equally as much!

One thing you should avoid is leaving your Cavachon alone for extended periods of time! A few hours is fine, but anything longer than that can become an issue. Everything a Cavachon needs to be happy is attention! If you lead a more active lifestyle and spend most of your days outside the house working, this might not be the best dog for you. 

These dogs also love being around young children. They will play with them constantly and sit on their laps while cuddling. They even don’t mind noise or any type of commotion, so if your kid is loud, that won’t be an issue. Cavachon pups are fragile, so be careful that your child doesn’t pick your pet up roughly. 

So, the company of people is the key to this breed’s happiness! It seems simple enough. But how healthy are they?

The Health and Nutrition of the Cavachon

Typically, Cavachon dogs do have the potential to develop health problems that plague their parent breeds. However, being a mixed breed helps their overall health.

• Dental diseases are those that small dog breeds are prone to since they have more spaces for bacteria to accumulate. Make sure to brush the teeth of your Cavachon regularly using a vet-approved doggy toothpaste!
• Other conditions these dogs are prone to include medial patella luxation, which is an issue that makes the knee of your dog pop out. This will mostly happen with the hind legs.
• Tracheal collapse is another health problem that occasionally appears in these dogs. It is a respiratory condition that can cause severe breathing problems. If you notice that your dog is coughing, vomiting, or wheezing, it might be a sign of this condition.
• Another issue that is quite common with smaller dog breeds is the appearance of small lumps or bumps on the skin called sebaceous adenomas. These lumps are usually benign and nothing to worry about. Still, if you notice any, it is best to notify the vet.

Obesity can also become an issue with Cavachon. It can sometimes result in the development of arthritis as well. This is why you should oversee nutrition.

Always make sure you feed your Cavachon the best quality dog food. Consult with your vet about which is the best one. You should adjust the amount of food based on your dog’s size, age, and activity level. Feed it two times per day and measure the food correctly.

Where does the Cavachon come from?

The history of the Cavachon breed is actually quite short since it was first mixed quite recently. Breeders started mixing the Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for the first time during the 1990s. 

The result was the first Cavachon in 1996, a breed known for being everything a family dog needs to be. By careful selection of positive traits, breeders got a friendly, intelligent, gentle, and small dog!

In recent years, this mixed breed became quite popular around the world. We can’t blame people for falling in love with these gorgeous pups!