Breeds / Small
Cavachon puppies
The Cavachon is a companion cross that takes the tolerant, people focused nature of the Cavalier and the playful sociability of the Bichon Frise. Two short walks a day suit it, and it is generally patient with children and other pets under supervision.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise
- Adult weight 4.5 to 9.1 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 10 to 20 lb
- Adult height 23 to 33 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
Source: https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel
A cross, not a breed. The Cavachon is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and a first cross of two purebred parents behaves differently from a later generation bred back to one side. Neither parent breed is free of heart or eye disease, so ask for cardiac and eye results on both parents rather than assuming the cross avoids them.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Cavachon puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Mitral valve disease from the Cavalier side, detected as a heart murmur on auscultation and graded by echocardiogram
- Syringomyelia and Chiari like malformation, diagnosed by MRI scan
- Patellar luxation, observed clinically in the first 18 months and graded on orthopaedic examination
- Hereditary cataracts, dry eye and corneal dystrophy, found on eye examination and tear production testing
- Bladder stones from the Bichon side, diagnosed by urinalysis and imaging
- Periodontal disease, found at annual dental examination
From Cavachon breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Cavachon puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Cavachon.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4.5 to 9.1 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.