How to Adopt a Cavachon in California

The cavachon is one of the more unique dog breeds you’ll find, and also one of the cutest ones. These dogs are a mix between the bichon frise and the cavalier King Charles and what makes them special is the fact that they’re one of the newer breeds around.

While they may be new, you’ll find that the cavachon is adaptable and perfect for California living because they can thrive in small apartments in San Diego or in the big mansions of Hollywood. The cavachon is also a great dog due to their great temperament and trainability.

While this may all sound great, it’s still not enough to go ahead and adopt a cavachon. Instead, it’s important to learn more about the adoption process and any health or grooming concerns that you have to manage with this unique dog breed. Plus, it’s important to know if they integrate well into families with small children and other pets.

The good news is that we’re here to help. In this article, we take you through everything you need to know prior to adopting a cavachon. Read on to learn more about how to adopt a cavachon.

What Are Cavachons Like?

Cavachons are adorable little dogs that do well in most environments due to their small size and spunky personalities. They tend to have white and tan coats with cute floppy ears, small black eyes, and a button-sized nose.

Cavachons are also on the smaller side, so you don’t need to worry about having enough space for them to graze. In fact, they’re small enough to live in apartments in Los Angeles, San Diego, and plenty of other cities in California.

Moving on to their personality, you’ll find that cavachons are smart and eager to please their human companions. This makes them easy to train and handle, so you don’t have to worry about rigorous or expensive training programs. Instead, a little bit of socialization and positive reinforcement is about all you need.

What’s more, cavachons don’t need a lot of exercise or mental stimulation, and they get along well with other dogs and small children. This makes them one of the best dogs to adopt in California.

What Is a Cavachon’s Temperament? Cavachons have a pretty relaxing temperament compared to some other breeds, so you’ll find that they’re easy to care for and get along with. One of the first things you’ll notice is that they’re gentle, kind, and affectionate. They love to play, cuddle, and spend time bonding with you – just make sure you have the time to spend with them or they might feel a little left out and unhappy. This is because they can be prone to separation anxiety if you don’t spend enough time with them. It’s also important to note that cavachons do like to bark. They may bark at strangers or even when they see you come home after a long day at work. If you live in an apartment building in Los Angeles, you may want to train them to not bark as often.

How Active Are Cavachons? Cavachons aren’t the most active dogs, but they do still need some exercise. Thankfully, you’ll only have to spend around an hour per day helping them exercise. We recommend a combination of walking them, playing with them, and training them to get rid of some of that energy. If you live in one of California’s suburbs or if there’s a dog park in your area, you can let them run around and play there as well. Cavachons don’t need a ton of mental stimulation, but they do need some. Fortunately, training them can be enough to keep their eager minds at ease. If you don’t want to go too deep into training, it’s a good idea to get puzzle toys and other similar toys to keep their minds entertained. Dog Training with Dog Academy

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What Size Are Cavachons?

Cavachons aren’t big dogs. You’ll find that they’re easy to fit into small apartments, big homes, and just about anywhere else. Typically, you can expect them to reach 15 to 25 pounds and around 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder in height. That said, as they get older and less active their weight can increase, so keep an eye on them to prevent obesity.

What Are a Cavachon’s Grooming Needs?

The best thing you can do for cavachon is brush them daily or at least a few times weekly. Not only does this help you prevent matting, but it also helps you bond with them. If you notice that their coats are dirty, you may also want to bathe them, and you should do this anyway every eight to ten weeks.

When it comes to their nails, give them a good trim every four to six weeks. You should also brush their teeth a few times weekly and check their ears for any signs of infection. Also, keep an eye on their shedding as it may pick up during the fall and spring months.

What Are Common Cavachon Health Issues?

Cavachons have a few health issues you have to worry about. While they don’t always develop these problems, it’s important to keep an eye on them.

For example, the breed has an increased risk of developing mitral valve disease due to their cavalier King Charles heritage. This disease increases the risk of heart failure. Other heart conditions are also possible, along with blood pressure and blood sugar issues being common in these dogs.

Unfortunately, health risks don’t stop there. This is because both parent breeds have a history of cataracts and patellar luxation; the latter results in joint issues in the knee and elbow. Skin allergies and dental problems are also common in this breed, so keep an eye on their dental health.

What Is a Cavachon’s Lifespan?

Cavachons are healthy dogs that can live for a long time with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and of course, lots of love. On average, they can live for 10 to 15 years without any problems.

Are Cavachons Good With Other Animals or Kids?

Cavachons are excellent with other animals and children. While they may be small, most cavachons can handle playing with toddlers and small children without too many problems.

That said, make sure you keep an eye on them when playing with children to keep them safe. Still, you won’t have to worry about them harming your child as they don’t have any aggressive tendencies.

When it comes to other animals, you shouldn’t have to worry too much either. If you notice any behavioral issues, socialization and positive reinforcement can always help. Also, if you have bigger dogs, keep an eye on how they play with each other.

Are Cavachons Good for First-Time Dog Parents?

Cavachons are some of the best dogs for first-time dog parents. Not only are they small enough to fit into most apartments in many of California’s crowded cities, but they’re also great with kids, other animals, and most living situations. What’s more, cavachons are easy to train, so you don’t have to worry too much about dealing with stubbornness and other behavioral problems.

How Do You Adopt a Cavachon in California?

Adopting a cavachon in California isn’t difficult, but it is a process that can take a few days. It all starts with finding the right dog.

Due to the cavachon being a new breed, it may take you a while to find one available at a rescue or shelter. For this reason, we recommend being patient and keeping an eye out for cavachons near you. Thankfully, we have some online adoption tools that can help you find them available for adoption in your area.

Once you find a cavachon, you still have to begin the adoption process. This involves filling out paperwork and meeting the necessary requirements.

In California, you have to be 18 years old and have a photo ID to adopt a dog. Rescues and shelters will also want to learn more about your living situation and do a home visit. Shelters and rescues will likely also contact references and want to learn more about your experience with other animals. Plus, any current pets need to be included in the evaluation as well.

Once you pass all of these checks, you can pay the adoption fee and bring your cavachon home. Overall, expect the process to take around three to five days once you find the dog.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Cavachon in California?

The average cost to adopt a cavachon in California tends to be around $100 to $300. There is a price gap because rescues and shelters may charge different fees or you may need to pay for surgeries or vaccinations.

That said, most counties regulate how much adoption fees can be. For example, Contra Costa lists the adoption fees at $155 for small puppies (under six months), $135 for dogs that are under six years old but older than six months, and $85 for senior dogs.

How Should I Train a Cavachon?

Cavachons are some of the easiest dogs to train. This is because of their people-pleasing personalities. You’ll find that they have no problem learning new commands and that they’re smart enough to learn some complex things that may shock you.

Still, it’s important to start with a strong foundation, so we recommend learning the basics with one of our obedience training courses. These courses will give you some direction and tips for training your cavachon.

Even if you don’t want to pick a specific program, the two main principles we recommend are positive reinforcement training and socialization.

Positive reinforcement training is a method that allows you to train your dog through positive feedback when they complete tasks or behave well. While you should reward them for healthy behavior, that doesn’t mean you should discipline them for failing a task or command because this can upset them and lead to stubbornness.

Socialization, on the other hand, is also simple but involves slowly introducing them to other pets, family members, and strangers. This isn’t a challenging task either, but you will have to keep an eye on them and introduce them slowly.

Find the Right Cavachon in California for You

Cavachons are some of the best canine companions you can adopt in California. Due to their small size and people-pleasing personality, you’ll find that they’re adaptable, easy to care for, and simple to train.

Plus, it doesn’t matter if you live in a small apartment in San Francisco because they’re small enough to handle most living spaces. You’ll also find that they’re easy to integrate into your family with a little bit of socialization.

That said, make sure you understand the adoption process before you meet with and pursue a cavachon in California. It’s important to show up prepared to prevent any issues or delays that can result in you losing out on your chance to adopt a cavachon in California.