9 things to know before getting a Cavachon

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Cavachons are the lovely offspring of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Bichon Frise dogs. As such, this designer crossbreed has a lot going for it, but its physical and temperament characteristics can still vary somewhat between those of its parents. Does this make it a good choice for a family pet? Is it the right dog for you? Let’s find out by going over the 9 main things to note about the Cavachon.

1. Cavachons are definitely quite intelligent but you’d be glad to know they are also easily trainable. Most of the time.

Like all gun dogs and hunting companions, the Cavachon is highly intelligent and has a pronounced people-pleaser personality. This means that it’s not just smart but is also very trainable. This is something that distinguishes gun dogs from other hunting breeds like scent or sighthounds as those can often be quite willful and headstrong. Not the Cavachon. While every dog can have a bit of an independent streak, the Cavachon is very easy to train with the right amount of obedience training early on in the dog’s life. You can also consider brain training for dogs to enhance their intelligence.

2. More than just smart, Cavachons are also very lovable and gentle

The term “gun dog” doesn’t necessarily elicit the idea of a gentle and lovable lap dog but that’s exactly what many gun dogs’ personalities are like. And, as a rather small descendant of gun dogs, the Cavachon has not just the personality but also the size of a lap dog. So**, if you want a dog that loves to nap in your lap after a nice play session, the Cavachon is a great choice**. Keep in mind, however, that this gentle and affectionate nature comes with a price. For the Cavachon doesn’t just offer love, it also needs love and attention in return. This means that if you plan on being away from home for long and frequent periods of time and leave your Cavachon home alone, you can expect to have to deal with your dog’s separation anxiety.

3. These dogs do like to bond with one person in particular but they are still great for large families

Like quite a few lap dog breeds, the Cavachon has a tendency to become overly close with one member of its family over the rest. This doesn’t mean that your Cavachon will ignore or dislike its other family members – a well-raised dog will still have plenty of love to give to everyone around it. However, you can very well expect for your Cavachon to bond extra well with someone, in particular, usually the one spending the most time at home, the one walking the pup and giving it treats, or the one feeding it.

4. With proper socialization, the Cavachon can be perfectly social, friendly, and outgoing too

Small breeds like the Cavachon have a reputation for being anti-social and aggressive toward other dogs and people. This isn’t something inherent to such breeds, however, and has more to do with the fact that people tend not to socialize small dogs. So, if you want a social and friendly dog that loves everyone it meets, all you need to do is socialize it. This simply means that you should get your dog to meet lots of new people, dogs, and other pets regularly and have positive interactions with all of them. If that’s done properly and early in the dog’s life, you can very well expect your Cavachon to get along with other dogs, cats, guests and strangers, as well as kids of all ages.

5. Barking can be a problem but it can also be dealt with relatively easily

Barking is another behavior often associated with small breeds. And the Cavachon does like to bark indeed. In fact, all gun dogs are actually quite vocal regardless of their size – communication with their humans is a part of the job, after all. So, if you want a loud watchdog, the Cavachon can actually work very well. However, if you want a well-behaved dog instead, simply go through the proper obedience training and no-bark training the way you would with a larger breed.

6. These dogs range from toy to small in size

Cavachons are always small but exactly how small can vary too. The exact size of the Cavachon will depend on the size of its parents. Most of the time, you can expect a Cavachon to range between 12 to 13 inches of height at the shoulder (30.5 to 33 cm) and anywhere between 15 and 35 pounds (7 to 16 kg). This means that a Cavachon can be either a small breed or a toy breed, depending on what you get.

7. As a small dog, the Cavachon doesn’t really need that much exercise but it’s still quite playful

Cavachons are very energetic and playful for their size but said size is still quite small. This means that you can expect a lot of playtime in the living room but limited need for outdoor time. Two walks a day are still a must, of course, but those can be short and just around the block – no need for major hikes or anything like that. There isn’t even any need for a yard, making the Cavachon a good apartment dog option.

8. Cavachons can be either single- or double-coated and can come in various colors

With the Bichon Frise being double-coated and the Spaniel – single-coated, the Cavachon can go either way. This means that it can shed more or less, depending on its coat. How mild or harsh the breed is on people with allergies can also vary based on the same thing. Whatever the coat type, however, the Cavachon will always have a medium-length or long coat that’s either wavy or curly. The colors can be any single-, bi-, or tri-color combination of white, peach, tan, sable, and black. Needless to say, good grooming is needed to prevent matting and entangling, as well as to reduce shedding.

9. Cavachons are pretty healthy overall and can have a very long life with the right care

This breed tends to have a pretty good expected lifespan of up to 15 years on average. Good care can get your dog well beyond that too. There are some potential health issues to watch out for, however, including:

With all that being said, it should be clear that the Cavachon is a great choice for anyone that’s looking for a small apartment dog. Smart and obedient, as well as playful, social, and gentle, the Cavachon can be the perfect dog for anyone who spends a lot of time at home and wants an interactive and lovable pet. If you are the more outdoorsy type of person, however, and you want a jogging or hiking companion, the Cavachon obviously wouldn’t be the best choice. The same goes for people who work away from home and would be forced to leave their pet home alone for too long. In essence, it’s more a question of whether or not you are the right human for the Cavachon rather the other way around.