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 them, and they are generally patient with children and other pets under supervision.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise
- Country of origin Not published
- 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
- Coat type Medium soft wavy
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
About the Cavachon
The Cavachon crosses the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the Bichon Frise. Adults are small, 4.5 to 9.1 kg and 23 to 33 cm, with a soft, wavy coat that may or may not shed depending on which parent they take after. The temperament blends the Cavalier's tolerance of people with the Bichon's playfulness, which gives a companion dog that is patient with children and other pets when the household supervises properly.
Two short walks a day suit them, and grooming means daily brushing with a clip every couple of months. Eyes and ears both need routine attention, and the white coat around the muzzle stains without cleaning. The important part of the purchase is the paperwork: ask for cardiac results on the Cavalier parent and eye testing on both sides, because neither parent breed is free of heart or eye disease and the cross does not escape either.
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 them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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
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.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 9.1 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Cavachon
Previous: Caucasian Shepherd Dog · Next: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- purina.co.uk for adult weight and height and coat type
- petmd.com for life expectancy and energy, grooming and the temperament ratings
- petmd.com for health notes
- Health notes from Cavachon breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/bichon-frise. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Mww113, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.