A Cavachon Review
While doing some research before deciding to get my Cavachon, I found that it was very hard to find any real reviews or other information from actual owners of Cavachons. In order to help others better understand what to expect from the Cavachon breed, I have written a review based on my personal experiences with my own Cavachon!
My male Cavachon, Kasey, has been a joy to own from the very beginning. In this review, I’d like to describe the transition from the breeder to my home, his overall temperament, his physical characteristics and how housebreaking went. Most reviews don’t cover all these things, so I want to share as much as I can. I hope some of you will also share your reviews on this page as well. As you know, general breed characteristics can be the same, but each dog is special!
TRANSITION FROM BREEDER TO MY HOME
I’ve had him since he was eight weeks old and he’s just over a year old now, so I’ve watched him grow up! From the start, he has been easy going and lovable. As a case in point, I had him shipped via Delta Airlines from Iowa to my home in Ohio. The trip did not bother him in the least – in fact, when I opened the carrier, he happily scampered out to lick my face with his tiny tail wagging. He was relatively quiet during the first couple of nights when I first brought him home and it didn’t take too long before he was completely quiet during night (about 2 weeks). I kept him in a cage in my room during the night and occasionally, he would yelp to let me know to take him outside. During the day, I would block off the doors to my kitchen and move his cage there. That way I could keep an eye on him and not have to worry too much if he had an “accident” on the vinyl floor. I would leave the door to his cage open and he would “nap” in it when he was tired. All in all, the transition from breeder to my home went very smoothly.
OVERALL TEMPERMENT
Kasey is a lovable companion. He follows me around the house and enjoys being with me. When I sit on the couch, he jumps up and curls uponto my lap. I go to sleep at 10 every night and if I am late, he is there waiting for me (a creature of habit, I guess !). Yes, I do let him sleep in my bed. He is generally quiet until he sees a squirrel in the back yard, then he’ll let out a loud string of “hey, get out of my yard” barks. He has a hilarious repertoire of grunts, moans, and growls that he uses to get my attention or beg for a treat. He is very intelligent. In fact, he knows the difference between some of his toys. When I say “Go get your ball”, he actually brings the ball back! He knows several commands including: sit, lay, paw and dance. Finally, he loves getting his belly scratched.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
As I mentioned earlier in the review, Kasey is just over a year old now. He weighs about 18 pounds and he is 14 inches tall at the shoulder. He has mostly white, curly hair. I take him to the groomer roughly every other month because his hair will grow quite long (3″) if left uncut. I like to keep his hair about 1″ long on his body and 2″-3″ long on his tail. He has very expressive dark brown/black eyes that just melt you when he looks at you. His ears are very long – an attribute from the Cavalier – that tend to drag on the ground when he is sniffing about.
HOUSEBREAKING
Despite the fact that Cavachons are very smart dogs, it still took Kasey quite a while to get the knack of going to the bathroom outside. It probably didn’t help that I moved when he was 6 months old. But now, at just over a year, he is almost completely trained. I taught him to ring a bell attached to the door when he wants to go out. A little warning for you…this is a great trick to teach your dog, but if you aren’t around to hear the bell, you will run into problems. You may just want to teach your dog to bark! I taught him to go outside by first taking him out regularly and giving him a treat when he went to the bathroom. If he had an accident in the house, I would immediately take him outside and reward him if he went out there.
Overall, this is an excellent breed – these dogs make great companions who have tons of energy. I hope this review is helpful to you. Please feel to let me know if you have any questions.
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Very helpful website and comments! We’re looking at buying an 8 week old from a dog broker. We have a cat and 18-mo old at home. Anyone familiar with brokers and what to ask them about the breeder? Puppy is up-to-date on vaccines from what we’ve been told. My wife is a teacher so will have summer off to help train for next few months. Will this be a problem for the puppy if he has become used to her being home and she returns to work when he’s six months old? Having a cat and young child at home doesn’t sound like an issue?
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Andy,
They pick on little tricks very quickly,Belle is 15 months old and learned to sit,give her paw and now sit up pretty on her back legs and hold it for quite a while,and she learned this when only about 6 months.They love to play for long periods,longer than you feel like playing.Lots of energy.
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I hada sheltie and he was so smart and even tempered,never had to scold him,he listened to what we told him.Since his passing my wife and I decided to get a cavachon,the minute you see the face you stuck.Well she’s 15 months old and she is extremely smart,but so independent,but we love her.You just have to deal with the trouble she gets into.Constantly on the prowl to chew something,we have all kinds of chew toys which occupy her for a short time,but as a puppy,they have a short attention span,so we have to watch her closely.She has a crate that she loves,but when bored she;ll go in and start scratching her soft bed and gets holes in it to pull out the stuffing,so to protect the bed we lock the crate,it has a slide bolt on it.Well,she doesn’t like that so she will go over to the slide bolt and lift the lever in her teeth.She hasn’t figured out how to slide the bolt yet,but I have a feeling that may happen shortly.Not sure I like these smart dogs,but she is so sweet you can’t stay mad at her.Cavachon’s are such a great dog
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Hi I have been looking to get a Cavachon puppy andd the more I look into finding a puppy the more concerned I become. I live in Illinois and there are few breeders close to me. Has anyone done business with either Monarchy Cavachons in Maine or Timshell Farm in Arizona or does anyone have any bredder they have worked with that they felt really good with? I worry about health issuesI have researched and more so about puppy mills. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Debbie
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Linda Replied:
April 27th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
I used Hillcrest Cavaliers in Baileyville,KS They breed Cavachons & I got my Bella there 2 years ago. She is a delight, healthy, happy from the bolt out of her cage from American Airlines and continues to be such a joy.
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Dies anyone know how long a cavachon can live?
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We plan on buying a Cavachon but one of the people in our home is afraid of dogs, but she is pretty old, I am 10 and will probably get one in 9th or 8th grade depending on her health. My parents love dogs! so it should work out fine!!
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Anonymous Replied:
April 9th, 2014 at 10:39 am
It’s a shame my parents absolutely hate dogs and won’t let me have one
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How are cavachons with cats? i have a 6m old cat and want a cavachon pup, just wondered if any of the new what they were liek around cats, i spose if they are brought up around them it should be fone?
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Hello,
I have had my Cavachon for three and a half years. We got her at 2 months of age and she weighed about 2 pounds.
I would agree with every aspect of your description of her, except that I have had trouble potty training her. She also will whine and cry for no reason whatsoever. I do not think it’s anxiety and do not want to medicate her if it is.
Any input on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
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yeah they are tons of fun! just be gentle with them!
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they are also amazing at tricks mine probably knows about 20! and he learned those before he was even 4!!!!!!!
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Kristin Replied:
February 23rd, 2014 at 12:02 pm
We have had our Cavachon for 1 1/2 years and he is smart as a whip. He was house broke in a couple of weeks but I think our Golden Ret helped him too. Excellent dog. Ours talks all the time and does a ton of tricks. He is Great with other dogs and is so loving. Just wondering if anyone else’s talks all the time. It’s so funny, thinking it must be the breed…?
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Hi I have an 8 month old cavachon. He was house trained by 4-5 months old as we crated him. I do brush him daily and brush his teeth 3 times a week. He started getting eye stains. Which is very annoying. I use angel eyes, give him a face wash three times a week, and use angel diamond. I do feed him premium food — in fact he is a very fussy eater. I don’t give him any human food. I use natural dog food — I have tried many different brands and finally I am sticking with one — though he still does not eat very well. He is growing — he is about 8 pounds. He loves his walks and meeting new dogs and he loves to play. He is a wonderful addition to our family. We have two boys –aged 8 and 11 and our cavachon is perfect with them
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Susan Replied:
February 4th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Hi, great review, I was wondering, do cavachons come in different colours? I was thinking of getting one, but I didn’t know what colours they came in? Do you know?
Thanks,
Susan
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anonymous Replied:
February 6th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
i think some cavachons are black and white instead and they all have different spot patterns!
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Linda Replied:
April 27th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
They come in 3 distinct colors depending on the Cavalier they are breed with. They can be tri-color….white, brown & black; also black & white, or the toffee & white which is the most common.
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Anonymous Replied:
May 6th, 2014 at 10:38 pm
Our cavachon Bobby is 8 yrs old now. He had stains under his eyes starting when he was 2 yrs old. We asked the vet if it was okay to use angel eyes as we heard from other pet owners that it worked. The vet gave us the go ahead. At first we gave Bobby the mdose as recommended on the bottle with his food. Even though we stirred his food up pretty well, there was still a good amount of angel eyes left at the bottom of his bowl. So I decided to just put enough angel eyes to coat the food. I continued doing this for the recommended amount of time on the bottle. He hasn’t had the dark stains under his eyes since we completed the treatment. Angel eyes is expensive, but Bobby was worth every penny.
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Our Cavachon Zoey is about 15 monts old as of this post. Your description of a Cavachon hit the nail on the head – particularly about liking to have her stomach scratched, and making an amazing variety of sounds for a dog. She really is a good dog. She has a great personality, and is a lot of fun to be with. She also interacts very well with other dogs. Her one characteristic which some people might consider negative is her strong desire to do things with us. She wil howl like a banshee when we go out somewhere and have to leave her at home. For that reason, I don’t know if our Cavachon would necessarily be a good dog if we lived in an apartment. Other than that, she is a five star pup.
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U guys are rly helpful ! Im 11 and i just got a recent obbsession with dogs but my parents are not agreeing with me. I have a cat and no yard and im away a lot any advice? Thx
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Susan Replied:
February 4th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Hi, great review, I was wondering, do cavachons come in different colours? I was thinking of getting one, but I didn’t know what colours they came in? Do you know?
Thanks,
Susan
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Angie Replied:
February 5th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Cavachons come in white with tan ears and some can be fully tan/golden
Some can be black and tan, some fully white and some almost mahogany
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I have a wonderful cavachon, Rosie who is just 6 months old. She is beautiful and so friendly. I also had a dog flap put in and she can come and go whenever she pleases and almost never has an accident. She has bought so much joy to our house, wish I got one earlier.
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Anonymous Replied:
January 12th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Sorry my name is Chris.
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I have a cavachon and she is simply the best could never have asked for a better dog, so lovely nature and never causes havoc or disturbance in the house! And also loves attention from humans & other dogs and just wants to play!
Would totally recommend this if you are looking for a small, loving family dog with a brilliant nature that everyone goes crazy over.
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tom the cat Replied:
January 30th, 2014 at 6:46 am
i dont agree, it bit me #yolo
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anonymous Replied:
February 6th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
they will usually only bite if they feel like you are trying to hurt them! I have a cavachon and they are soo sweet and playful!!!!
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Susan Replied:
February 4th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Hi, great review, I was wondering, do cavachons come in different colours? I was thinking of getting one, but I didn’t know what colours they came in? Do you know?
Thanks,
Susan
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I have a cavachon and she is simply the best could never have asked for a better dog, so lovely nature and never causes havoc or disturbance in the house! And also love attention from humans & other dogs.
Would totally recommend this if you are looking for a small, loving family dog with a brilliant nature that everyone goes
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Fiona Replied:
January 31st, 2014 at 10:24 am
Very good review.
I have a Cavachon named Pounce and he sounds just like yours. He loves attention as well and may I say the television too.
I recommend letting your dog listen to classical music, it helps their knowledge and makes it easier to train your dog. My Pounce listened to ten minutes of Classical music off YouTube and learned to roll over in only about a hour! It also helps their behaviour I have found out.
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Tiffany Replied:
January 31st, 2014 at 10:28 am
Hello my name is Tiffany and I am 9. My mummy is getting us a doggie and she says cavechons r the best dog to get us.
Do you agree. I like your name though, my bff has the exact same name.
Her dog is a terrier and it bit me when I tried to patt it
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yo momma Replied:
March 31st, 2014 at 8:27 am
that yo momma!
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I have the same issue with my biscon , she seems to be always dry humping my arm or leg and constantly licking my arms.
Is this normal for female dogs?
How do I discourage her from doing this ?
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I would like to Thank Kasey for this site.My rescue female is a 1 year old that ,looks very similar to your little guy.She is 15 lb now ,in good health,always cheerful to EVERYONE, but extremely loyal to me.She is the heartbeat of our home,our in house comedian and the most loving giving pup I have ever had.She loves the snow,no matter how high.For the most part she is very quiet dog,content to be beside us,with a couple hours of playtime,fast agile romps.To the person who kicked this little girl in the ribs and broke two on one side and one cracked on the other,I hope you never own any pet ,ever again.You did not kill this little pups spirit,only your own.I am astounded how resilient Cavachons are,focusing so hard to please and give love.
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Susan Replied:
February 4th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Hi, great review, I was wondering, do cavachons come in different colours? I was thinking of getting one, but I didn’t know what colours they came in? Do you know?
Thanks,
Susan
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Great to see so many people,who love these little comedians.My Cavachon”Meo”,a 15month old female is the heart beat of our home.Perhaps someone could help me with a remedy for the small particles that irritate the urinary track.She has been put on special diet food by our vet but still has a high count on her last test sample.I started giving her a small piece of apple after meals,with the hope that this little bit of acid would help.My main concern with apple is if this could be bad for her teeth.I just want to add that I live in rather remote area and with limited guidence from our vet,I would appreciate any good advice.
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My cavachon treacle is 6 months old. She has been fully house trained from around 10 weeks. She had a few issues in her crate when both me and my wife were both away at work but for the last 3 months she has been brilliant.
She is a loving and caring dog who loves nothing more than playtime and a big long cuddle. I have found to vary playtime to avoid boredom of the dog as she is very smart. She is ok with other dogs after 30 minutes but loud barking does scare her slightly where I find she will come and sit next to me for protection.
When I first got treacle I was told by the seller that she would need brushing once a week at most. Treacle then proceeded to have very severe matts which then needed shaving out. We now brush her everyday and now she looks brilliant and have no matts to get out. (Will post picture at a later date).
Hope this answers any questions which people have and am happy to help answer any other questions people have
Luke and treacle
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Do cavachons have an odor. I know the bichons don’t but heard some of the spaniels do.
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Marc Replied:
December 18th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Mine has a mild odor. Took a few weeks to get used to. It gets more intense when he is excited or comes back home after a run outside. I use deodorant spray and mouth spray and it does a good job.
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Do Cavachons have an odor? The Spaniels sometimes do.
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Our Cavachon, Scout, is the greatest dog in the whole world! She is perfect in very way.
We just can’t recommend this type of dog too strongly. You won’t go wrong!
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Hello everyone, we’re thinking about getting a Cavachon after seeing one at street festival and talking with its owner. We’re just trying to find a good quality breeder that isn’t overly expensive within a reasonable distance of northern Virginia. The tips you guys have given have been quite helpful. However I do have a few of questions.
1. We both currently work away from home and we live on the 14th floor of a high rise building. We had adopted a 2 year old terrier mixed dog from a rescue agency and unfortunately had to return it because the dog whined and barked all day while we were away. It was awful for him, us and our neighbors. We learned that he had separation anxiety. We couldn’t even leave him in a car while running errands without him losing his mind. Obviously that’s an extreme case, but we do have a concern about experiencing a similar, even mildly behavior with any other dog. Have any of you had any experience with separation anxiety with your Cavachons?
2. I’ve had really good success with crate training a Shetland Sheepdog in the past. He pooped and urinated in his crate twice as a puppy and because he was near it for several hours before I returned home, he never did it again. By the time he was one years old, he was fully housebroken. I could leave him in the kitchen all day, with water, and he wouldn’t have an accident. I know that was probably rare, but how much time has it taken to housebreak your Cavachons? How long can they be left alone without being let out? Will we need to consider hiring someone to come by once a day while we’re at work to take him/her out for a brief walk until they are at a certain age?
3. As I mentioned, we currently live on the 14th floor of a high rise. Are Cavachons good in apartment settings where there are lots of people and other pets? We are planning to buy a home within a years time, but need to know if there might be any issues with their socialization and maybe even their housebreaking routine given we have to make our way to an elevator, etc.
4. Final question, how easy are they to train? Is using a trainer or attending an obedience class recommended?
Thanks to all who respond. Your insight will be very much appreciated.
Kelvin
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Susan Replied:
November 16th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Did you ever find a good breeder in Northern Va? We are looking too.
Thanks,
Susan
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Lynne Replied:
February 1st, 2014 at 9:50 am
I live in a coach home with only immediate access to a balcony, plus I work very long hours (at home)which can require at times,up to 12 hrs. troubleshooting problems. Since it would be hard for me to step way to walk my Amy, I got a doggy potty box. It works perfectly. Anyone who has a small dog and could have a long walk to get outside or trouble always getting your dog outside, I highly recommend this. I got Amy at 6 mos and within a month of getting her she was trained to go there. She is now a little over 3 yrs and is still using it with no issues.
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My Katie is a rescue from a Puppy Mill. We got her when she was 7 months. She is 6 years now. She was very skittish when we got her. I spent hours just sitting on the floor talking to her, waiting for her to come to me.
I also kept her on a leash next to me when we were house training. We gave her private obedience lessons to make sure she knew who was in charge. We also walked her daily. Her personality changed significantly over the 1st year. Today she trusts us implicitly. However, she still moves away when someone reaches for her. We allow her to come to us and let her leave when she wants.
She is an absolute wonderful dog and loves us unquestionably.
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They require alot of love and company. Please be sure that you can give them lots and lots of time before you get one…they are people dogs, and not meant to be by themselves very often and for long periods of time. They are great dogs!
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We have a Cavachon, Starshine, who is almost 3 yrs old now. She is the sweetest and most loving dog! She grew to 27lbs, but thinks she’s 12…When she hears a sound that she’s not familiar with, or when someone knocks on the door, she does bark until I check it out or let them in. I don’t want to discourage her “guard-dog” attitude, so I praise her for doing her job, and doing a good job. She does stop barking, and at times, tries to get the last word in. Be patient, and keep a loving tone in your voice when you praise her. They are exceptionally loyal dogs, and do not understand the abstracts of who’s here, what’s that sound, etc…They just know that something is there near you that wasn’t there before, and they want to protect you from it. Enjoy her!!!
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I’ve never owned a cavachon but I have a had a bichon for many years and know that they are VERY STUBBORN. Mine will just lay down whenever hes tired and doesnt want to move. I might suggest not giving him treats because it sounds to me like hes messing with you for a snack. Bichons and I have heard the same with mixes can be clever and stubborn and you have to be one step ahead of them.
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definitely as long as u can take care of him/her
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Sorry I forgot to put my name:)
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