Cavachon vs Cavapoo

The Cavachon and the Cavapoo are mixed breed dogs, except both parents are known and are two distinct breeds. Another name for this type of mixed breeding is designer dogs or hybrids.

If you are looking to adopt a pup and the decision is between one of these two breeds, this article Cavachon vs Cavapoo will give you some real insights into the differences between the two, their temperaments, and the health issues of both breeds.

So stick around and read on about the cavapoo vs cavachon debate.

What Is A Cavachon, And What Is A Cavapoo?

These designer dog types have one parent breed in common: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Cavachon’s other parent is a Bichon Frise, and the Cavapoos is a Poodle (either miniature or toy Poodle). Nothing that states the sex of each dog has to be one or the other as long as one dog is a Cavalier King Charles and the other dog is either a Poodle or Bichon Frise.

Before we delve more in-depth into what separates a Cavachon from a Cavapoo, let’s make a straightforward comparison.

Cavachon Vs. Cavapoo Comparison Chart

Cavachon

Height:               Up to 13 inches.

Weight:              Between 10-20lbs.

Temperament:   Gentle, playful, and devoted.

Energy:              Average energy, indoor play.

Health:               Some hereditary illnesses.

Grooming:          Above average grooming, brushing daily.

Lifespan:            13-15 years (depending on lifestyle and any hereditary illnesses).

Cost of puppies: Expect to pay at least $600 to $2000

Cavapoo

Height:               From 9 to 14 inches.

Weight:              From 7-18lbs.

Temperament:   Energetic, playful, and devoted.

Energy:             Average energy, indoor play.

Health:                 Hereditary illnesses, a few more than the Cavachon.

Grooming:            Above average grooming, brushing daily.

Lifespan:              10-14 years (depending on lifestyle and hereditary illnesses).

Cost Of Puppies:  Expect to pay from $600 to $2000.

Cavachon Origins

The first Cavachon came from a mix of pure breed dogs, the Bichon Frise and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The first Cavachon puppy was born in 1996 in Berryville, Virginia, USA. Since then, this attractive little dog has become a firm favourite in many countries worldwide. The Major kennel clubs do not accept crossbreeds.

Cavapoo Origins

The Cavapoo is a mix of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the miniature Poodle (this can also be the toy Poodle); the dog’s alternative name is the Cavoodle.

First bred in Australia in the 1990s and then in the United States is now being bred worldwide. He doesn’t have a long history, but the parent breeds do, especially the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; he can trace his ancestry back to Charles 11.

Poodles also get to be the other half of many mixed breeds

Hybrid Dogs Genetics

It’s undeniable that mixing dog breeds like this can produce some stunning dogs, but what are breeders aiming to create?

The main reason is that by mating two healthy purebred dogs, the resulting puppies will be stronger and healthier than their parents. The name for this thinking is Hybrid Vigor. It often fails because the parents are not in prime, healthy condition, so their cute pups will not be either.

The other reason, which is more likely the real reason, is to produce dogs with the best attributes, looks, and personalities of the two parent breeds. For example, many people are allergic to dogs. If breeders can produce a mixed breed that hardly sheds, that has a ready market.

Most dogs chosen for this are attractive dogs in their own right, so mixing two dogs like that will only enhance their looks. Selective breeding has been going on for generations, where dogs are bred for specific work tasks. For example, suppose you consider hunting or working breeds. So it’s not much of a stretch to think of selective breeding for better-looking dogs with specific personalities.

Genetically, a cross-breed puppy from two purebred parents is designated F1s. Any new breed of dog is not immediately welcome into any kennel club. It takes at least three generations before they will consider them a specific breed in their own right. In the next 15-20 years, either or both the Cavachon and Cavapoo could be registered breeds with their breed standard.

Cavachon Vs. Cavapoo Appearance

The Cavachon and Cavapoo are small to medium-sized dogs with plenty of coats and floppy ears. Even though the  Bichon Frise and Poodle parent dogs are said to have hypoallergenic coats, it doesn’t mean the Cavapoo or the Cavachon will inherit that trait. First, because is no genuinely hypoallergenic dogs, and second, the Cavalier King Charles sheds masses of hair.

And the fact being no one can predict which of their parent’s genes puppies will inherit means you could have a high-shedding dog. If allergies are a real problem for potential parents of one of the puppies, this needs consideration.

The Cavachon and Cavapoo are similar in appearance, although both parents will instantly know which is which. The Cavachon can grow to 13 inches up to shoulder height and weigh 15 to 20 pounds. The Cavapoo measurements can vary because he can be a mix of either the Miniature Poodle or the Toy Poodle. He will weigh between 7 to 18 lbs and grow from 9 to 14 inches up to the shoulder, the smaller dog being the Toy Poodle mix. The life expectancy is pretty similar.

No kennel club applies breed standards to either of these mixed-breed dogs because they aren’t purebreds, so they can look quite different; even brothers and sisters are often entirely different.

Cavachon Coat

The Cavachon coat is generally medium to long; both parents have long coats. The hair texture is silky and can be wavy or straighter, with some colour variations. As we mentioned earlier, the aim is to inherit the Bichon Frise hypoallergenic coat, but this doesn’t always happen, and they can shed a lot.

The parent’s colouring can guide the different coat colours the puppies will inherit. Bichons are white, and the Cavalier generally has white in their coats, so expect a fair amount in the Cavachon coat. Other colours that can crop up are apricot, brown, red, and tan, and if the Cavalier parent has black in their coat, that colour can appear in puppies.

Cavapoo Coat

The Cavapoo coat is often short and soft, but some puppies have a wavy or curly coat. If they have the Poodle traits, their coats will not shed as the Cavalier King Charles’s coat but will continue growing and need cutting if you don’t want your dog to look like a fur ball.

There are various colours, tri-colour, white, chestnut, chocolate, tan, cream, gold, and even solid, primarily white and chestnut.

Both dogs have very dark brown eyes and floppy ears.

Cavapoo Temperament

The idea behind mixing dog breeds is for the offspring to inherit the parents’ most desirable features and personalities. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is well known for his playful, affectionate nature, whereas the Poodle is renowned for its intelligence and low-shedding coat.

The Cavapoo can be two distinct sizes, depending on which size Poodle parent is in the mix. The smaller of the two can be too fragile to be in a home with very young children, and even the larger version is still a little dog, so care needs to be taken to protect them from injury.

• They make a perfect pet for first-time dog owners. They are easy to look after and have a sweet personalities.
• The Cavapoo can live just about anywhere, apartment or a home in the country.
• This little crossbreed is friendly to other animals and doesn’t have much, if any, prey drive.
• They are prone to separation anxiety, so leaving them alone for any time will not go down well.

Knowing the Cavapoo suffers from separation anxiety, you can begin helping them get over it from day one of taking your puppy home.

Cavachon Temperament

It’s difficult to predict which personality your puppy will inherit, the Bichon or the Cavalier. But it’s fair to say there’s a good chance they will inherit the prevalent traits from both parents.

Cavalier Temperament

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a gentle, people-loving dog and is highly affectionate. They seem to be friendly to all things, humans and other pets. They might have a little of the prey instinct left in them, but generally, it’s never an issue with them.

Mixing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise’s genes will produce a friendly, happy little dog. Neither of the two parent breeds is a guard dog, so don’t expect the Cavachon to be one.

Cavies are the ultimate lap dog. If you sat all day, he would happily sit on you. They don’t possess super intelligence like other breeds, but they are curious enough. What they lack in intelligence, they more than make up for with love.

Bichon Temperament

The Bichon is a smart little dog and loves attention. He will strive to get attention from his owners by performing in front of them. They are demanding, and because they are attention seekers, sometimes that demanding nature can have negative connotations. Helping them learn the difference between why they seek attention is essential early in their life.

Wanting to please and show off to their owners does make it easier to train them.

Cavachon

Similar to Cavachon’s parents, he will be playful and affectionate. They will be happy to be part of an active family with children and other dogs or just as pleased with a single parent. They will be lapdogs, that’s for sure. With their genes, it’s doubtful they could be anything else.

Because they are small dogs and have low exercise needs, they can adapt to living almost anywhere. They will need attention, and as genuine people-pleasers, they will never leave your side if they get the attention.

Cavachon Vs. Cavapoo Exercise Needs

A Cavachon puppy needs early socialization to help overcome anxieties later in life. Socializing dogs means introducing them to new sights, sounds, people, and environments.

They enjoy being out and about on a walk, as long as it’s not too strenuous. The Cavachon has low energy levels, so don’t over-exert him. A 15-minute walk once or twice a day is more than enough for this hybrid dog. Their primary desire is to be a lap dog.

They will turn into special dogs with the right socialization and positive training. Harsh training or discipline will mentally harm this dog; a Cavachon cannot accept that kind of treatment. They need kindness and affection. They need to know when they have done wrong and be set guidelines, but an owner can accomplish this with love.

The Cavapoo is a more active dog than the Cavachon; however, most exercise needs can come from indoor playing. They still enjoy going for walks outside and must get outdoor exercise. A decent walk broken up by short jogs will work well for your Cavapoo’s exercise needs.

Fetch is another excellent way to give him the exercise he needs. If you take him outside your home to play fetch, ensure he’s obedient enough to come to you when you call him. The Cavapoo is not great with heat, and exercise needs tailoring to the weather. If it’s a hot day, walking is the best exercise.

Being part Poodle, the Cavapoo needs mental exercise as well as physical. So owners will need to pay attention to this unless they want their dog to become listless and bored.

Cavachon Vs. Cavapoo Health

A professional and reputable breeder of Cavachon and Cavapoo puppies will ensure the parents have been put through health screens to prevent passing the bad genes to future generations. But you cannot say that for all breeders.

Taking this account, many puppies will suffer from disease later.

Comparing the Cavachon to other crossbreeds, they appear to have fewer health issues and are generally healthy dogs. That’s not to say a Cavachon is free of genetic health worries because there are a few:

• Syringomyelia
• Liver Shunts
• Thrombocytopenia
• Anemia
• Cushing’s Disease
• Heart conditions: Mitral Endocardiosis Heart Murmur, and valve disease
• Skin problems: Atopic dermatitis and flea allergies
• Joint problems: Hip dysplasia and Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
• Eye conditions: Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy, and Eye Ulcerations

A Cavachon can suffer from allergies. If you notice your dog nipping or licking his paws and scratching incessantly, then he might have skin allergies. You should speak to your vet. They can run tests to determine what might be, making him allergic.

All cross-breed dogs are susceptible to picking up hereditary diseases from their parents, like the Cavapoo, King Charles Spaniel, and the Poodle. Still, there’s also the chance of those risks of inherited diseases being mitigated by cross-breeding. Predicting if a puppy will be free of any disease later in life can be challenging.

A Cavapoo does have some hereditary conditions. Reducing some diseases’ effects is possible with the best diet, exercise, and regular health checks. But there are still some common Cavapoo health problems:

• Tracheal collapse
• Epilepsy
• Congenital heart attacks and valve disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Luxating patella
• Eye problems
• Skin allergies

Once again, the breeder you choose plays a vital role in this. Before you buy any crossbreeds, the breeder must give you a complete rundown on the parents and even grandparents to establish any genetic risks for your puppy exist.

Regular health inspections of teeth and keeping them free from worm parasites, fleas, and tick treatments, are all critical for your dog’s health.

Cavachon Vs. Cavapoo Nutrition

Both the Cavachon and Cavapoo have similar dietary needs. They will eat about 1 cup of food per day. The Cavachon and Cavapoo need a high-quality diet with the correct protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

Having a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a parent gives them a propensity towards obesity. Even the Bichon Frise will become overweight without control over their diet. So never overfeed them; they love treats, so ensure that a maximum of 10% of their daily requirement is from treats.

Cavachon Vs. Cavapoo Grooming

The Cavachon is easier to groom because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise both have single, silky coats. He will require brushing 4 to 5 times each week to keep his coat free from tangles and debris. The Cavapoo, however, will need more ongoing maintenance. He’ll require brushing every day, thanks to his Poodle genes.

We don’t like the term hypoallergenic so much; there isn’t any such thing. The best you can say is low-shedding. Dander and saliva are the main culprits of allergies, not fur and hair. And as every dog comes with both skin and saliva, it isn’t easy to see how they can be hypoallergenic.

Final Words on Cavachon vs Cavapoo

As the Cavapoo and Cavachon are hybrid dogs, mixed breeds, and in the number of generations, it’s difficult to predict their temperament and appearance accurately. There are too many factors at play here.

If you love the idea of a Cavapoo, Cavachon as an adorable companion, or even both, then it’s essential to meet the parents and the puppies before you go ahead. Don’t expect pedigree because you won’t get one, at least for now. In a few years, who knows? We hope we help you solve the Cavachon vs Cavapoo debate.