Cavachon Care

The Cavachon, which is a hybrid of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise, is an eager, smart, and playful designer dog that makes a loving companion to owners everywhere. One of its best attributes is that Cavachon care doesn't take a great deal of time. Below you'll find plenty of details about owning a Cavachon: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to all your questions about raising your sweet little Cavachon, read on!

As quite a lively little crossbreed, Cavachon exercise requirements aren't too extensive. These dogs perform a lot of physical activity just running around being their happy little selves (though they're not known to be hyperactive), so they don't need a ton of dedicated "athletic" exercise. The typical adult Cavachon will need about 30 minutes of exercise each day; a couple of short walks, and perhaps a period of play, should be fine. You can begin exercising a Cavachon puppy at 2-3 months of age by taking it on very short (5-minute) walks, then increasing the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few precautions to consider when exercising your Cavachon: first, puppies younger than seven months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, and navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And when you take your Cavachon pup on walks, try to move at a slow, steady pace; this breed is small and short-legged, and a puppy will have to walk faster to keep up with you than will other, larger dogs. Regardless of its age, a Cavachon will need to be leashed when in public. These little dogs can actually be viewed as prey by large dogs and other predatory animals, so you'll need to have control of your Cavachon if a dangerous situation arises.

Safeguards aside, it's a good idea to give your Cavachon some exercise every single day. These happy little guys seem to live for play, and a lack of physical activity could affect their cheerful temperaments and make them quite disobedient and fussy. Daily exercise, then, is great for your Cavachon's peace of mind--and your own as well. Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out
• Dog Park: Your Cavachon will enjoy the company of other dogs
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Hiking: Excellent bonding excursion; just make sure the hike isn't too long and strenuous

When indoors, it's good to allow your Cavachon access to one or more (small!) balls or chew-toys that will allow the dog to burn off excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a consistent exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

The amount of care needed for these dogs in terms of shedding and drooling is pretty low overall. Cavachon shedding is almost non-existent--and the same can be said for drooling.

Cavachons have medium- to long-haired, wavy coats that are considered hypoallergenic, so they'll be great for allergy sufferers. Though hypoallergenic, they do shed hair and skin dander, but the amount of shedding is extremely low. Owners won't need to worry about regular vacuuming or lint roller use. Even so, Cavachons will need regular grooming to keep their wavy coats from matting and tangling.

And dogs of this breed practically never drool; perhaps a bit in anticipation of food, but that's about it. If your Cavachon is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a health issue, in which case a veterinarian's care may be required.

As with any breed, a Cavachon's diet is essential to its well-being and happiness. Also like other breeds, Cavachon food will need to have plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means your Cavachon needs premium food, particularly a brand formulated for small breeds. While more expensive and difficult to obtain, these high-quality foods contain the proper amounts of the above-listed ingredients that cheap generic foods--which contain mostly empty "filler" ingredients--simply don't have. If you're unsure about whether a food is high-quality, look for an "Association of American Feed Control Officials" seal on the food's packaging (almost all premium foods will have it).

And how much of this premium small-breed food should you feed your Cavachon each day? Not very much--so that high-priced bag will last a long time. The typical adult Cavachon, depending on its age and activity level, will need about 1½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Cavachon puppy food portions are a bit smaller: again depending on age, a Cavachon pup will need about one cup of food per day, divided into three meals (not two) per day until the age of six months. And it's recommended that when you start feeding your puppy at two months old, establish a regular feeding schedule so the pup gets used to eating at the same time every day; when you switch to two larger meals after six months, simply eliminate the middle feeding. For more info on feeding a Cavachon from puppyhood through maturity, see this chart:

If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions; though they seem small, they're ample enough for these little dogs. And constantly overfeeding your Cavachon may cause the dog to become obese, which can lead to digestive, breathing, and joint problems, not to mention a shortened lifespan. You can control your Cavachon's weight in several ways: by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Cavachon's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up 15-20 minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Cavachon is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. And just as with humans, the "move more, eat less" principle applies to canine weight loss: reduce your Cavachon's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

The best dog food for Cavachon puppies and adults alike is premium dry food, particularly the kind formulated for small breeds. (Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed and Halo for Small Breeds are two examples of such brands.) These high-quality foods contain nutrients designed for energetic, smaller breeds that typically have higher metabolic rates.

If their coats are allowed to stay somewhat long, your Cavachon should be fine in cold weather. They are not outdoor dogs but a romp in the snow will be a delightful activity to them. If you live in a hot climate, however, you should be sure to keep their coat trimmed so that they don't overheat if they are outside frequently.