The Cavachon Community

The Cavachon is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise, producing a small, gentle and generally low-shedding companion dog. It is not recognised by the Kennel Club and cannot be KC-registered. Both parent breeds are known for their gentle, people-oriented temperament, and most Cavachons reflect this: they are warm, affectionate and sociable dogs well-suited to family life. The central health issue that any prospective Cavachon owner must understand is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's inherited cardiac disease. Mitral Valve Disease affects the majority of Cavaliers by middle to older age, and this risk passes to the Cavachon cross. It cannot be avoided by choosing a crossbreed: it is present in the Cavalier parent, and a puppy from an unscreened Cavalier parent carries it regardless of the cross. Syringomyelia, a neurological condition caused by the skull being too small for the brain, is similarly inherited from the Cavalier side. The practical consequence is that Cavachon insurance costs more than comparable small breeds, and ongoing cardiac monitoring is a realistic expectation as the dog ages. Non-time-limited lifetime insurance is essential. This is not a breed where you can self-insure or rely on cheaper time-limited policies. The Bichon Frise parent contributes a tendency to dental disease, skin allergies and a grooming requirement. Cavachon coats require professional clipping every six to eight weeks and daily brushing to prevent matting. This cost must be budgeted for before acquiring a Cavachon. For buyers, health testing of both parents is critical. The Cavalier parent should have current cardiac clearance under the British Veterinary Cardiac Society's MVD scheme and MRI Syringomyelia screening. The Bichon parent should have current eye testing. Any breeder who cannot produce documentation of this testing should be avoided. Purchase prices from responsible breeders typically range from £800 to £1,800. Monthly insurance costs £35 to £70. Lifespan is 10 to 15 years. The Cavachon is a gentle, adaptable and affectionate companion that suits a wide range of owners. It suits those who want a small companion breed with low shedding. It requires owners who go in fully informed about the cardiac health picture, insure comprehensively from day one, and budget for ongoing cardiac monitoring. Do that, and the Cavachon is a warm and rewarding companion. A Cavachon purchased from a breeder who has screened both parents rigorously, insured comprehensively from day one, and raised with proper training and socialisation is a genuinely rewarding companion. The breed combines the best temperament qualities of two gentle, people-oriented breeds. The health picture demands preparation and financial planning, but owners who go in fully informed find the Cavachon to be a warm and adaptable small companion throughout its life.