Cavachon or Cavapoo, what's the difference in the two breeds?

There are many new hybrid dogs that have appeared on the scene over recent years and two of the most popular are the Cavachon and the Cavapoo. Both breeds are newcomers to the world of dogs and they have found big fan bases both in the UK and many other countries thanks not only to their adorable looks, but also because the Cavachon and the Cavapoo boast wonderful personalities too.

Cavachon origins

The Cavachon was first bred in the United States in 1996 by a breeder who used two pure breeds, namely the Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to create the delightful little dogs we see today. Often referred to as designer"" dogs or hybrids, the Cavachon inherited lots of their traits from both parent breeds which includes their kind personalities and adorable looks. Although not recognised as a breed by the Kennel Club, many local breed clubs have been set up to ensure good breeding practices.

Cavapoo origins

Cavapoos have been around for that much longer than their Cavachon counterparts having first been bred in the United States back in the 1950s when breeders wanted to develop a low shedding dog that people who suffered from allergies would be able to live with. Breeders crossed Miniature Poodles with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to achieve this goal and the endeavours were met with great success. Today, these charming small dogs have found their way into the hearts and homes of many people the world over, including in the UK.

Cavapoos are also classed as being ""designer"" or ""hybrid"" dogs and as such they are not recognised by the Kennel Club as a breed. With this said, many local breed clubs have been established throughout the world to ensure good breeding practices.

Cavachon appearance

Cavachons are charming small dogs that stand at anything from 31 to 33 cm at the withers and they can weigh around 4.5 to 9.0 kg. They can inherit either of their parent breed's physical traits, but in general most well-bred Cavachons have thick, fluffy coats that can be either curly or wavy. They have very cute faces with lovely expressive eyes which adds to their endearing looks.

Their coats tend to be soft, silky and quite long, much like their parent breeds and they come in a variety of colours which includes the following:

• White with black, apricot or tan markings
• Brown
• Red
• Tricolor
• White

Cavapoo appearance

Cavapoos are also small, compact dogs that can stand at anything from 33 to 45 cm at the withers which means they tend to be slightly taller than their Cavachon counterparts. They usually weigh around 5 to 10 kg which means they are also a little heavier too. Cavapoos can inherit more of their looks from either of their parent breeds with some dogs looking more like Poodles whereas others throw more to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the same can be said of their coats. The most commonly seen coat colours seen in Cavapoos are as follows:

• Black
• White
• Chestnut
• Gold
• Blenheim - chestnut and white
• Tricolour - black, white and tan

Cavachon temperament

Cavachons have earned the reputation for being affectionate and gentle dogs to have around because they are so people-oriented. They thrive on human contact and love spending as much time as they can with their families.

Cavachons are also known to be very social by nature which when added to their kind personalities makes them the perfect ""first dog"" for novice owners. Incredibly social by nature, a Cavachon is quick to greet everyone they meet, more especially when they have been well socialised from a young age. Because they form such strong ties with their owners, they never like to be left on their own for too long and being so intelligent, they are quick to learn new things with the downside being this includes both the good and the ""bad"".

They are better suited to families where one person stays at home because if left for any length of time, Cavachons are prone to suffer from a condition known as separation anxiety which sees dogs develop unwanted and often destructive behavioural issues around the home.

Cavapoo temperament

Friendly, loyal, affectionate, social and good natured, the Cavapoo is easy going and a dog that thrives on human contact never liking to be left on their own for too long. They are also known to be highly adaptable which means they are just as happy being kept in an apartment as they are in a country home. Cavapoos are a wonderful choice for first time dog owners because they are so amenable to learning new things and love nothing more than to please.

The downside however, is that because they form such strong ties with their families, Cavapoos are better suited to families where one person usually stays at home when everyone else is out. Like the Cavachon, they are prone to suffer from separation anxiety which sees these small dogs being destructive around the home.

Cavapoos are smart, having inherited their intelligence from both parent breeds as such they need to be kept busy both mentally and physically to be truly happy dogs. It is also worth noting that they are quite sensitive by nature which means they don't answer well to any sort of harsh correction or treatment.

Cavachon shedding

Cavachons shed steadily throughout the year only more so during the spring and the autumn much like other breeds. They are considered low shedders although they do still shed quite a lot of dander which can also trigger an allergic reaction in people.

Cavapoo shedding

Cavapoos also shed steadily throughout the year, only a little less so than their Cavachon counterparts. They too shed the most during the spring and the autumn when their summer and winter coats grow through. Like most other breeds, they shed dander which can trigger allergic reaction in people who are known to suffer from them.

Cavachon training

Being so intelligent, the Cavachon learns things quickly which means they are easy to train. The downside to this is they are quick to pick up some bad habits too. The upside is that Cavachons love to please and love the one-to-one contact they get when they are being trained which is one of the reasons why they are so great to train.

The key to successfully training a Cavachon is to always be consistent and to start a young dog's education as soon as they arrive in their new home. It's also important to set the right kind of boundaries so that a Cavachon understands what is expected of them. It's essential not to spoil one of these charming small dogs because they could end up developing a condition known as ""small dog syndrome"" which makes them harder to manage and live with.

Cavapoo training

Cavapoos are smart dogs having inherited their intelligence from their parent breeds too. Like the Cavachon, they are easy to train and being so amenable and eager to please it makes it that much more enjoyable for all concerned. It's important to lay down the right sort of ""ground rules"" from the word go so that a Cavapoo understands their place in the pack and what their owners expect of them.

Cavapoos are known to have a bit of a mischievous streak which should be factored into their training more especially when it comes to house training a puppy which can time more time and patience. The good news is that with time and a little perseverance, Cavapoos do learn to be clean around the house.

Cavachon exercise

Cavachons are high energy small dogs and as such they need to be given a minimum of 30 minutes daily exercise and more if possible and it should include lots of ""off the lead"" time. Being so intelligent, they also need to be given lots of mental stimulation to be truly well-rounded characters.

Cavapoo exercise

Lively, inquisitive and energetic, Cavapoos are highly intelligent which means they need lots of mental stimulation and daily exercise to be truly happy dogs. As such, they should be given at least 30 minutes vigorous exercise a day and more if possible with lots of ""off the lead"" time too so they can really express themselves as dogs like to do.

Cavachon children and pets

Cavachons have earned the reputation of being great family pets because they are so friendly and affectionate towards children of all ages. In fact, Cavachons are so social by nature, they get on with everyone and everything which includes a cat they have grown up with. They also get on with smaller animals and pets although care should be taken when the first introductions are made.

Cavapoo children and pets

Cavapoos too are known to make wonderful pets although they are better suited to households where the children are slightly older rather than toddlers. The reason being that toddlers and younger children can be a little too boisterous for Cavapoos to cope with. They are friendly and social by nature which in short means they usually get on with other animals and pets they have grown up with and this includes the family cat. However, care should be taken when a Cavapoo meets any new smaller animals and pets to make sure things go smoothly.

Cavachon health

Cavachons are known to suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are as follows:

• Excessive tear production
• Ear infections
• Skin issues
• A sensitivity to fleas and other biting parasites
• Heart issues
• Hip dysplasia

Cavapoo health

The Cavapoo is known to suffer from a few more hereditary health issues which includes the following:

• Syringomyelia
• Mitral valve disease
• Cataracts
• Hip dysplasia
• Luxating patella
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
• Skin issues
• Epilepsy

Cavachon life expectancy

The average life span of a Cavachon is between 10 and 12 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

Cavapoo life expectancy

The average life span of a Cavapoo is between 13 and 15 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

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