Designer Dogs: What Is A Cavachon?

The problem with purchasing and owning a "designer dog" like a Cavachon, is that you can't be sure what traits you're going to get from the parents. Fortunately, both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise are, for the most part, very friendly, loving dogs. In addition, unless you have a heart of stone, you can pretty much rest assured that you're going to have an extremely cute puppy, and a just as cute adult dog. Unfortunately, the pros of owning a Cavachon pretty much end with the last point.

Now for the cons, and they are numerous.

First is price. Unless you adopt or rescue your new dog, you're going to pay a pretty penny for a mutt. None of the designer dogs are recognized by AKC, and frankly, are probably a long way from this happening (if ever). The main reason to pay for a dog is to know, for the most part, what you're getting. When you purchase a designer dog like the Cavachon, you will have no idea what the dominant traits will be, which brings us to point number two...

Second is potential health problems. The Cavalier is well known for being extremely pricey up front, and there are a myriad of potential health problems that could cost you an arm and a leg down the road. These health problems include: ear infections, skin problems, sensitivity to flea bites, heart problems, and hip dysplasia. The heart problems are a lot more common than breeders would like to admit, and you would probably be well served to have a small bankroll set aside to pay for this potential major problem down the road. Hip dysplasia is no laughing matter either.

Third is the flip side to the "extremely loving" I mentioned in the pros. These dogs require A LOT of attention and don't do well if left alone for long periods of time.

Fourth: These are not "Wash and Go" shorthaired dogs. They require quite a bit of your time for grooming, or quite a bit of your money to have them groomed by a professional.

Fifth: The Cavachons do better with older children. Not as well with young children.

Sixth: Like most small dogs, Cavachons are, for the most part, harder to housebreak than larger dogs. Patience is required.

Okay, okay. so you're not sure what kind of dog you're going to get. But, regardless of breed or muttness, getting rid of dog poop is a consideration for many dog owners. How about a "green" way to dispose of dog waste? Take a look at one of my other lenses: Biodegradable FLUSHABLE Dog Poop Bags. That's right, they're flushable! Now THAT is convenient!