Cavachon

Like most crossbreeds, the personality of a Cavachon depends on the parents and how they have been bred and reared, but both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise are affectionate dogs who bond closely to their owners.

The Cavachon is a toy companion dog who will enjoy training, games and being part of everything their owner does – and will want to go everywhere with them.

The Cavachon originated in North America in 1996 in a bid to create a small, fun, and trainable companion dog that had fewer health issues and would fit into any family’s lifestyle, no matter how small their home and garden.Where the intentional breeding of the Cavachon is fairly recent, the two breeds that brought the breed into being have a much deeper history. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel for one is the latest of the English Toy Spaniels, originally bred in the 1920s in an attempt to recreate the famous dogs of King Charles. Up until the 19th century, the King Charles Spaniel had a pointed muzzle but in the Victorian era it became fashionable to breed dogs with shorter faces and before long the King Charles became a flat-faced breed. However, in 1926 an American called Roswell Eldridge visited England and was saddened that he couldn’t see the dogs so often depicted in art, so he set to reinstating the longer snouted variant. This started a movement leading to the formation of the Cavalier King Charles Club in 1928 and finally in 1945, they were recognised as two separate breeds.

Toy dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.

The Cavachon will be happy with an hour’s walking each day, as long as they have plenty of games, training and owner interaction.

Health and common issues

One aim with crossbreeds is to dilute or eliminate any inherited health issues that may exist within the breeds. This dilution or elimination is only likely if only one parent is the carrier of any particular condition, and where this is a first cross (F1). As this can’t always be guaranteed, all parents should be health tested prior to breeding: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – sadly this is a breed that is prone to several serious health problems including eye problems, mitral valve disease and syringomyelia. It’s very important to get puppies from only the most reputable breeders. Bichon Frise – is a generally healthy dog but eye testing should be carried out.

Space requirements

This is a small dog who can live in a flat or a smaller property as long as they have access to the outdoors for toileting and walks.

Training cavachons

The Cavachon is a clever dog who will enjoy training as well as learning tricks and games. They should be trained to walk on a lead and harness and come back when called. They can excel in dog sports such as mini agility and heelwork to music.

Best family dog breeds

The Cavachon makes a fun companion and they suit families with older sensible children or children who would like to get into training or dog sports. They can happily live with cats and other small dogs.

Did you know?

• As the Cavachon is a mixed breed, it currently isn’t recognised by the UK Kennel Club.
• If socialised at an early age, the Cavachon can get along well with cats due to their smaller size.
• Cavachon’s are intelligent and curious, so they excel at learning tricks.