Cavachon

The Cavachon is a lively little dog that comes from crossing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Bichon Frise. This breed offers a wonderful mix of qualities: the Cavalier's cheerful personality and the Bichon's allergy-friendly fur. Every Cavachon has its own special traits from its parents, leading to differences in size, appearance, fur type, and color. Overall, they are playful, amusing, and loving companions.

Quick Info

Size
Small
Colours
Varies; can be any coloring that’s typical of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Bichon Frise, including black and tan, ruby, Blenheim, tricolor, or white.
Lifespan
10 to 15 years
Height
9 to 14 inches
Type
Toy
Hypoallergenic
yes
Weight
9 to 20 pounds
Family
Spaniel

Personality

The Cavachon's character is shaped by the qualities of its parent breeds, much like other mixed breeds. Overall, this mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise is a charming combination of playfulness and love. These dogs tend to create close connections with their families and love to snuggle with their owners.

History

The Cavachon was first seen in North America during the late 1990s. This breed was designed to be a small, sociable, and easy-to-train pet, making it suitable for different kinds of homes. Although the Cavachon is a newer breed, its parent breeds have a deep history linked to nobility. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was beloved by King Charles II, while the Bichon Frise has roots that trace back to the Spanish courts in the 16th century.

Ideal Owner

Cavachons are soft, happy little dogs that love being around people. They don’t like being alone, so they do best with someone who is often at home. Their ideal owner enjoys snuggling up together.

Exercise Needs

Cavachons are cheerful dogs, but they aren’t very active. They like to go for relaxed walks and have fun, but they don’t need a lot of exercise. To keep your Cavachon happy and healthy, mix short walks with fun games and training activities.

Space Requirements

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise mix is a small dog that can easily thrive in apartments or cozy homes. Still, they need to go outside regularly for walks and to relieve themselves.

Training

Cavachons are smart dogs that love to learn and show off for their owners. Using rewards during training makes it easy, whether you’re teaching them basic commands, fun tricks, or getting involved in activities like agility or musical freestyle. Since Bichons have a history as circus dogs, your Cavachon may find joy in learning tricks and entertaining you.

Grooming

The care needed for Cavachon fur can differ based on whether they take after their Bichon Frise or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parents. Some may be low-shedding and good for allergy sufferers, while others could lose fur in larger pieces. To avoid tangles and keep their fur healthy, regular brushing is important. If they have the special fluffy coat of a Bichon, considering a professional groomer could be a good idea.

Suitability for Family Life

Cavachons are great family pets because they are friendly and enjoy being around kids. They usually handle the excitement that comes with young children and create close connections with their loved ones. Although their small size means they need to be watched when around little ones, they usually get along nicely with other animals too.

Did You know?

Although no dog can be entirely free of allergens, Cavachons are often seen as a better option for allergy sufferers compared to many other breeds. This mixed breed, which comes from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise, is commonly called a "teddy bear" dog because of its fluffy, huggable look and friendly personality.

Similar Breeds

Bichon Frise
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavapoo
Löwchen

Need to Know

Suitable for first-time owners
Basic training required
Generally healthy breed
Enjoys light walks
Small dog
Some drool
Requires frequent grooming
Quiet dog