This unique crossbreed is made up of not two, but three different breeds. Here’s everything you need to know about the beloved Cavapoochon.
The Cavapoochon is a hybrid made up of the traits of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Poodle, and Bichon Frise. They are small dogs that have thick fleece-like coats and friendly, gentle personalities. Cavapoochons are charming little pups that love to cuddle and play.
Reading on will give you everything you need to know about the Cavapoochon. This article will talk about how the Cavapoochon came to be and rose to popularity. Next, you’ll learn about the Cavapoochon’s appearance and personality. Then, it will discuss what Cavapoochon puppies are like and how they grow. Finally, you will read about how to take care of a Cavapoochon and the common health issues that this breed may have.
Table of Contents
The History of the Cavapoochon
The Cavapoochon is a dog that is quarter Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, quarter Bichon Frise, and half Toy Poodle. This breed was first developed in 2001 by Steven and Linda Rogers. The Rogers had been breeding the Cavachon (a hybrid of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise) since 1996. The Cavachon quickly became popular because of its adorable appearance but still deterred some pet lovers due to its tendency to shed.
That’s when the Rogers couple decided to bring in the non-shedding genes of the Toy Poodle. They also wanted to have the Toy Poodle’s size genes to make the Cavachon smaller.
After some experimentation, the Cavapoochon was conceived. It was made for families that needed a smaller breed with fur that was perfect for owners with sensitive allergies.
Today, the Cavapoochon remains a rare breed. Steven and Linda Rogers are some of the few Cavapoochon breeders in the world. They are also famous because the Cavapoochons they breed have very few health issues.
Today, the Cavapoochon is extremely hard to find and is only produced by a select number of breeders. Purchasing a Cavapoochon can cost anywhere between $2000-$3000 US and that’s without any international shipping fees. So if you’re looking to have a Cavapoochon, you might need to do some budgeting.
Appearance
Cavapoochons are known as “the dog that never grows old” because of their permanent teddy-bear-like appearance. They look like adorable living and breathing stuffed toys! The Cavapoochon has big and round eyes that are expressive and can convince you to say yes to anything.
Cavapoochons surprisingly look like none of their parent breeds but instead look like a breed of its own. Some argue that they look more like the Poodle or the Bichon Frise but the Cavapoochon look is truly unique.
Size
The Cavapoochon is a small-sized dog. They grow up to be just 12-15 pounds in weight and 9-14 inches when fully grown. However, some Cavapoochons stray from their standard size and can grow to be a bit bigger, at 18-20 pounds in weight. This is usually more common for male Cavapoochons.
Cavapoochons were bred to be smaller so they’re perfect for families that love to travel. A Cavapoochon will fit perfectly in a shoulder-type bag or a medium-sized carrier. They fare well when living in small spaces like apartments or lofts.
If you’re looking to travel with your pup, a great type of carrier to use with a Cavapoochon is the EliteField Soft Sided Pet Carrier. This carrier comes in a variety of colors and sizes for your pup. It even has a built-in leash for added security. It has mesh openings to make sure your Cavapoochon stays cool and is made of materials that are water-proof and easy to clean.
The Cavapoochon’s small size also makes it an attractive show or influencer dog. Some would argue that the Cavapoochon is what’s known as a “bubble dog” because of its large round eyes and small stature. With a Cavapoochon, you have a chance to become the owner of the next online sensation!
Coat
What makes the Cavapoochon so popular is its lovely coat. As mentioned earlier, the Cavapoochon’s coat is thick and fleece-like. It’s just as soft as a sheep’s wool but doesn’t shed. Their coats have curly locks that make them look especially fluffy. The Cavapoochon coat is similar to that of a Poodle’s because it is hypoallergenic and safe for pet-lovers that might be allergic to dogs.
Their coats come in a variety of colors including apricot, black, black/tan/white, black/tan, Blenheim, cream, red, and sable.
Below are the different coat colors that a Cavapoochon can have:
- Apricot – Cavapoochons with an Apricot coat appear to have a light brown shade of color on their fur. This is the most common and popular Cavapoochon coat color because it makes them look the most like a teddy-bear.
- Black – Black Cavapoochons are covered in entirely black fur. Under natural lighting, this beautiful ebony shade can appear to have a blue sheen to it.
- Black, Tan, and White – This is one of the tri-color coat patterns that can appear on a Cavapoochon. Its coat will have dominantly black fur with spots of tan and white on the eyebrows, legs, chest, and muzzle.
- Black and Tan – This coat color is similar to that of a Black, Tan, and White Cavapoochon’s. A Black and Tan Cavapoochon has dominantly black fur with tan paws, eyebrows, chest, and snout. They are also reminiscent of a Rottweiler or Mini Pinscher’s fur.
- Blenheim – The Blenheim coat pattern is inherited by the Cavapoochon from its Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent. If the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent has a Blenheim coat, that increases the chances of the Cavapoochon having the same coat type. Blenheim Cavapoochon pups have either dominantly light brown coats with white on the face and chest or dominantly white coats with light brown spots on the ears, chest, and face.
- Cream – Cream Cavapoochons have coats that resemble an off-white color. Some Cream Cavapoochons appear to have entirely white coats when they age. This coat type makes them look similar to a small Labrador Retriever or a Labradoodle.
- Red – Cavapoochons with a red coat appear to have fur that has a shade that is somewhere between orange and brown. Despite its name, the red Cavapoochon does not appear to be red at all. When in natural light, this fur color looks similar to a chestnut or strawberry blonde hue.
- Sable – Cavapoochons with a sable coat may make them seem older than they are. Cavapoochons with sable coats usually have gray coats with black tips. However, they can also be cream or tan with the same black tips. Some sable Cavapoochons can appear to have darker coats if the black tips on their fur are thicker.
The Breed’s Personality
To better understand the Cavapoochon’s personality, you’ll first get to know the personalities of each of its parent breeds. The Cavapoochon has all the best qualities that a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, and Toy Poodle have to offer.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Personality
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the perfect lapdog. They’re gentle, cuddly, and affectionate pups. They spend most of their time taking naps in an effort to get all the beauty sleep they need.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very sociable dogs that love to spend their time with people. They do not take well to being left alone and tend to get anxious when there are no people around.
Despite being a dog that loves to sleep, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is still a sporty breed. They were bred to be hunters and have plenty of prey drive. They tend to enjoy spending time outdoors and will chase smaller animals like rodents or cats.
Bichon Frise Personality
The Bichon Frise is a very affectionate puppy. These dogs get along well with other dogs and children. Their personality makes them the perfect addition to any family. They love spending time with their pet owners more than anything.
Bichon Frises also have playful traits. They love to run around the house and play with toys. A Bichon Frise will be perfectly happy with about 30 minutes of playtime a day, as long as they get to play with you.
However, the Bichon Frise is also known for its strong separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is common among small dogs but the Bichon Frise takes the cake. Their separation anxiety often leads to fear-aggression, which is when they exhibit aggressive behaviors after being left alone for too long.
Toy Poodle Personality
The Toy Poodle is a dog with a very high IQ. Their intelligence is undoubted and they’re actually the second most intelligent dog breed in the world, only bested by the Border Collie.
Aside from a high IQ, the Toy Poodle also has a high EQ. These dogs have a great sense of empathy and can be sensitive to your emotions. A Toy Poodle will always know when you need to be comforted.
Their intelligence makes the Toy Poodle very easy to train and obedient. This also means that they require mental stimulation. Toy Poodles love puzzles and treat-dispensing toys. However, with a lot of intelligence also comes a lot of sass. Toy Poodles need pet owners that are firm with their words and actions.
Aside from intelligence, the Toy Poodle is also extremely loyal. Since they are so loyal to their families, the Toy Poodle tends to be shy around strangers. In worse cases, they can be aggressive. Toy Poodles need plenty of socialization early on in their lives so they can be used to meeting new people.
Cavapoochon Personality
Now that you know the personalities of each of the Cavapoochon’s parent breeds, you can have a better picture of what a Cavapoochon’s personality is like. The Cavapoochon is known to have all the best traits of its parent breeds: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Bichon Frise and the Toy Poodle.
To put it simply, the Cavapoochon is a playful, affectionate, and intelligent lapdog. A successfully bred Cavapoochon will inherit the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s love for lazing around and napping, the Bichon Frise’s need for playtime, and the Toy Poodle’s high IQ.
You can expect your Cavapoochon to be an amazing companion that you can bring anywhere and introduce to everyone. Cavapoochons will take naps with you, play games with you, and be loyal to you, always. Some Cavapoochons are so pleasing that they even get excited to go to the vet if it means that they get more attention and love.
In terms of personality, the Cavapoochon is flawless. These dogs are one-of-a-kind and will always live to please you. The Cavapoochon is surely more than a pet. This breed was made to become your best friend.
Care and Maintenance of the Cavapoochon
This section will discuss everything you need to know to make sure your Cavapoochon lives a healthy life. The Cavapoochon is a relatively low-maintenance pup despite being made from breeds that require plenty of maintenance. Reading on, you’ll see what you’ll need to take care of your puppy’s fur, diet, dental health, and physical fitness.
Grooming
Since the goal for the Cavapoochon’s creation was to make a non-shedding and hypoallergenic dog, grooming is simple. Cavapoochons only need to be brushed once a week to keep their coats healthy and free from knots and matting. Although, you can expect that your Cavapoochon will shed a bit, just not an amount that you will notice.
A good type of brush to use for a Cavapoochon’s coat is what’s called a slicker brush. A highly recommended slicker brush is the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. This unique model can remove any mat from your pup’s fur and even cleans itself at the push of a button.
The downside of the Cavapoochon’s coat is that it can be prone to catching dirt and dander. Their curly locks can become dirty quickly, so regular bathing is recommended. It’s enough to give your Cavapoochon a bath once a week to keep them clean.
To keep your Cavapoochon from getting allergies, it’s ideal that you use organic shampoo. Organic shampoos are formulated with natural and pet-safe ingredients that lessen the chances of causing irritation on your dog’s skin.
A great brand of organic dog shampoo is the Vermont Soap Pet Magic Dog Shampoo. This shampoo is not only safe for your pet, but will also leave your pup smelling like pleasing herbal fragrances.
Feeding
Cavapoochons, like any dog, need a healthy and balanced diet. When they’re puppies, a Cavapoochon will do well enough with two to three small meals of high-quality dry food. When they reach adulthood, they will need around three to four small meals of high-quality dry food.
A good type of dog food is the Taste of The Wild Dry Food with Roasted Venison. This dry food is calorie-dense and will work great for feeding your puppy small but frequent meals. It is formulated specifically for smaller breeds like the Cavapoochon.
Studies have shown that grain-free diets can lead to heart diseases. Since this brand is grain-free, it would be good practice to add boiled sweet potatoes to your puppy’s food because sweet potatoes are the perfect grain alternative for dogs.
If you want to go the extra mile for your pup, it’s a good idea to consider including wet food or home-cooked meals to its diet. You can easily find locally produced wet food for dogs in your area that will not only support your dog’s health but local businesses as well.
Should you opt to choose the home-cooked meal path, you can mix up your dog’s food with ingredients like yogurt, apples, oatmeal, meats, poultry, and fish. Cavapoochons usually need plenty of Vitamin A for their fur, bones, and teeth, so as a responsible pet-haver, you can create meals rich in Vitamin A.
Dental Care
To keep your Cavapoochon’s teeth healthy, you will need to brush it regularly. The ideal would be to brush your puppy’s teeth every three days, but they should be just fine with brushing their teeth just once a week. You can use the RADIUS USDA Organic Dental Solutions Adult Kit Toothbrush & Toothpaste as a starter kit. The toothpaste is formulated without chemicals and preservatives, so it’s sure to be safe for your puppy.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to brush your puppy’s teeth. Not all dogs enjoy having their teeth brushed but luckily, there are some easy alternatives. One of the easiest to use alternatives is enzymatic toothpaste.
Enzymatic toothpaste is formulated to taste and feel like a treat for your Cavapoochon. They come in various flavors that your puppy is sure to enjoy. Not only will your pup love it, but it will also keep its teeth and gums healthy. A great enzymatic toothpaste to try out is Virbac CET Enzymatic Toothpaste. Your puppy will enjoy every time they have to brush their teeth and you won’t have to worry about any puppy breath.
Exercise
As you now know, the Cavapoochon is not a particularly active dog. They don’t need much physical exercise throughout the day, but they do need a lot of mental exercises.
Your Cavapoochon will stay healthy enough with short walks every day and some playtime at home. Rather than focusing on keeping your Cavapoochon active, you will need to focus on keeping its mind stimulated.
A good way to keep your Cavapoochon from being bored is by teaching them tricks. You can start with some simple obedience training such as teaching your puppy to eat or sit on command. Once it’s mastered simple tricks, you can move on to more complex tricks or even agility courses.
Cavapoochons also love puzzles and treat-dispensing toys. Puzzle toys will usually require your dog to complete certain tasks before they can get a treat. A great example of a puzzle toy is the Spot Seek-a-Treat Flip ‘N Slide.
This nifty toy is designed to have colors that dogs can easily perceive and functions as both a treat-dispensing toy and a flip & slide dog that’s sure to get your dog’s IQ going. If you’re looking for something more simple, you can start your dog off with the Kong Classic Dog Toy. This simple toy will reward your dog with yummy treats with enough patience and effort.
What Health Issues Do Cavapoochon’s Have?
Like most hybrids, the Cavapoochon is prone to the same health problems that its parent breeds have. Since the Cavapoochon consists of three different breeds, it is prone to more health problems than most dogs. Below are some of the common health problems that Cavapoochons have.
Ear Infections
As mentioned in the grooming part of this piece, the Cavapoochon has thick and curly fur. This fur can also be found in their ears and make the puppy prone to ear infections. They inherit this trait and health issue from their Toy Poodle genes.
Ear infections are caused by trapped dirt and earwax left alone for too long in the dog’s ears. It leads to inflammation, redness, and smelly ear odors. Fortunately, this is a health issue that is treated easily. You can keep your dog’s ears from getting infected by cleaning it with a cotton pad that is dampened with an ear cleaning solution.
Ear cleaning solutions are formulated to easily take off the dirt that can be caught in your Cavapoochon’s ear fur. A good type of ear cleaning solution to use is the Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleaner. This solution is recommended by vets because of its alcohol-free and pH balanced formula.
Eye Infections
Much like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Cavapoochon is prone to eye infections. Your Cavapoochon is likely to develop dry eye syndrome with age, which can lead to nasty eye infections. You can tell that your Cavapoochon has an eye infection if their eyes are pink or red, have discharge, or have swollen eyelids.
A good way to treat eye infections in dogs is by keeping them clean. You can keep your Cavapoochon’s eye clean by wiping it once a day with a clean towel that’s dampened with warm water.
If your Cavapoochon is already showing symptoms of an eye infection, you will want to put a cone or e-collar on them until you can take them to the vet. This is to prevent your puppy from scratching their eyes and making the swelling or inflammation even worse.
Heart Problems
Cavapoochons usually inherit heart problems from their Bichon Frise genes. The specific heart problem that a Cavapoochon can have is Patent Ductus Arteriosus, which causes blood to be carried to their lungs and fluid build-up.
This disease usually comes up when the Cavapoochon reaches its senior years and unfortunately cannot be prevented if the gene is present. You can make sure that your Cavapoochon lives a long healthy life by getting its heart checked regularly.
If the disease is caught early, your veterinarian will be able to prescribe your puppy with maintenance medicine that will prolong their life and improve their quality of living.
Seizures
Some Cavapoochon can be prone to seizures due to their Toy Poodle genes. It is possible for your Cavapoochon to develop epilepsy, which is a condition that causes your dog to experience seizures.
If you find that your Cavapoochon has seizure episodes, it is important that you bring them to the vet immediately. Veterinarians can prescribe your puppy medicine to keep the seizures in control and lessen their frequency.
It is important that you make sure that your dog does not hurt itself during a seizure. You can do this by moving away any dangerous objects or furniture from around your dog and placing a pillow underneath its head during an episode.
Final Thoughts
The Cavapoochon is a unique and lovable dog. Since it has only been around for the last couple of decades, this breed is incredibly rare and can be hard to find. The Cavapoochon’s rarity, of course, does not undermine its lovable aspects.
The Cavapoochon is small, affectionate, playful, and intelligent. It has just about all the best traits that you can find in a dog, which makes them worth the potential struggles that raising them includes.
Having a Cavapoochon means having a dog that will need lots of love and care, but they will surely return that love tenfold. Should you find yourself lucky enough to come into possession of this breed, then you can definitely say that you are one of the luckiest people in the world.
Hey there! I’m Matt and I’m a content writer from the Philippines. I’ve raised over 10 dogs and 5 cats. I love taking care of my rescue dog Kewpie and my two rescue cats, Misty and Rosy.