Cavapoochon: Full-Grown Size, Temperament, Pros & Cons

A cavapoochon is a small designer dog bred from three breeds: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Bichon Frise and the Toy or Miniature Poodle. Most adults weigh 10 to 15 pounds, stand 9 to 14 inches tall and live 12 to 15 years.

Linda and Steve Rogers of Timshell Farm in Pine, Arizona, developed the cross with help from a geneticist and a reproductive vet, aiming for a dog that keeps its puppy face as an adult (The Gazette). No major kennel club recognizes it as a breed, so size, coat and temperament vary from one litter to the next.

Cavapoochon	Quick facts
Parent breeds	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy or Miniature Poodle
Adult weight	10 to 15 lb; up to 18 to 20 lb with a larger poodle parent
Height	9 to 14 inches at the shoulder
Lifespan	12 to 15 years
Coat	Soft, wavy to curly, low shedding
Colors	Apricot, red and white, cream, white, black, black and white, black and tan, Blenheim
Exercise	About 30 minutes of walking a day plus play
Puppy price	Commonly $2,000 to $3,500 from a breeder
Kennel club status	Not recognized by the AKC, UKC or The Kennel Club (UK)

What is a cavapoochon a mix of?

Most litters come from a cavachon (Cavalier × Bichon Frise) bred to a Toy or Miniature Poodle. That makes a typical first-cross cavapoochon about half poodle and a quarter each Cavalier and Bichon. Some breeders now pair cavapoochons with each other in later generations. The two-breed crosses it grew out of, the cavapoo and cavachon, are compared further down.

How big does a cavapoochon get?

A full-grown cavapoochon weighs 10 to 15 pounds and stands 9 to 14 inches at the shoulder. The poodle parent sets where a dog lands in that range: a Toy Poodle parent gives smaller dogs, and a larger Miniature Poodle parent can push adults to 18 to 20 pounds. Males often end up slightly heavier than females.

Here is how the cavapoochon compares with its parent breeds, using AKC breed standard figures:

Breed	Height	Weight	Life expectancy
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	12 to 13 in	13 to 18 lb	12 to 15 years
Bichon Frise	9.5 to 11.5 in	12 to 18 lb	14 to 15 years
Toy Poodle	Up to 10 in	4 to 6 lb	10 to 18 years
Miniature Poodle	10 to 15 in	10 to 15 lb	10 to 18 years
Cavapoochon	9 to 14 in	10 to 15 lb	12 to 15 years

Small breeds like this one reach adult height at around 9 to 12 months and fill out over the next few months. To estimate a puppy’s adult size, see how to tell how big a mixed puppy will get and how to measure your dog’s height.

Appearance and colors

Adults keep a round face, large dark eyes, a short muzzle and long, feathered drop ears from the Cavalier side. The coat is soft and wavy to curly and grows all over the face, including around the eyes and ears.

Common colors include apricot, red and white, cream, white, black, black and white, black and tan, sable and Blenheim (chestnut and white). Puppy coats often lighten or deepen during the first year.

Cavapoochon temperament

Cavapoochons are affectionate, social companion dogs. Most greet strangers happily, get along with children and other pets, and bark mainly to alert you to visitors. They want company: dogs left alone for long stretches often develop separation anxiety, which shows up as barking, howling and chewing.

The poodle side makes them quick learners. Short, reward-based training sessions work best, and early socialization with people and other dogs keeps their friendliness from turning into clinginess.

Exercise needs

Plan on about 30 minutes of walking a day plus indoor play. Puppies need shorter, gentler walks. Cavapoochons suit apartments as long as someone is home for much of the day, and puzzle toys or short training games cover their need for mental work.

Grooming and shedding

Cavapoochons shed little, but their coat keeps growing and mats if you skip brushing. Brush two to three times a week with a slicker brush and a metal comb (see how to choose a dog brush), bathe every 4 to 6 weeks, and book a professional trim every 6 to 8 weeks to keep hair out of the eyes. Check and clean the ears weekly, since the long drop ears trap moisture.

Low shedding is not the same as allergy-free. The American Kennel Club states that “there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic breed” (AKC). If anyone in your home has dog allergies, spend time with the breeder’s dogs before you commit. For more options, see our list of dogs that don’t shed.

Diet

Feed a complete small-breed dog food that meets AAFCO standards, split into two meals a day for adults and three to four for puppies. Cut treats, fruit and vegetables into small pieces for their small mouths. Weigh your dog monthly: small dogs gain weight fast, and extra pounds strain the knees, which are already a weak point in this mix.

Health problems to know about

Crossing breeds does not cancel out inherited problems from the parents. Conditions to ask the breeder about:

• Heart disease, including mitral valve disease, which is common in Cavaliers, and patent ductus arteriosus
• Luxating patella (a kneecap that slips out of place)
• Eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and dry eye
• Ear infections from the heavy, hairy ears
• Seizures

Ask to see heart and eye exam results for both parents before you put down a deposit.

Cavapoochon pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Small and apartment-friendly	Prone to separation anxiety when left alone
Friendly with children, strangers and other pets	Needs brushing several times a week and a trim every 6 to 8 weeks
Low-shedding coat	Expensive: $2,000 to $3,500 for a puppy, plus grooming
Smart and quick to train	Can inherit heart, knee and eye problems
Moderate exercise needs	Size and coat vary because the mix is not standardized

Cavapoochon vs other designer breeds

The cavapoochon sits in a family of small spaniel and poodle crosses. The main differences come from the parent breeds:

Mix	Parent breeds	Coat	Energy	Best for
Cavapoochon	Cavalier, Bichon Frise, Toy or Mini Poodle	Wavy to curly, low shedding	Low to moderate	Small homes, owners who are home a lot
Cavapoo	Cavalier, Poodle	Wavy to curly, low shedding	Moderate	Size varies most with the poodle parent
Cavachon	Cavalier, Bichon Frise	Soft and wavy, low shedding	Low to moderate	A calm lap dog
Cockapoo	Cocker Spaniel, Poodle	Wavy to curly	Moderate to high	Active families

For more small crosses, see affenpinscher mixes and shih poo haircut ideas.

How to find a responsible breeder

Cavapoochons are still uncommon, which draws scams and volume sellers to puppy ads. A responsible breeder will:

• Show you health test results for both parents
• Let you meet the mother, in person or on a video call
• Keep puppies with the litter until at least 8 weeks old
• Give you a written contract and take the dog back if you can no longer keep it
• Ask you as many questions as you ask them

Rescues that handle small doodle mixes sometimes have cavapoochons or close crosses, so check them before you buy.

Cavapoochon names

Alfie, Archie, Bailey, Barney, Bear, Bella, Benji, Bertie, Bruno, Buddy, Buster, Charlie, Cooper, Dexter, George, Harvey, Hugo, Jack, Jasper, Leo, Lola, Marley, Max, Milo, Murphy, Ollie, Oscar, Poppy, Ralph, Reggie, Rocky, Ted, Teddy, Toby.

Cavapoochon FAQs

How much is a cavapoochon?

Breeders commonly ask $2,000 to $3,500 for a puppy, with rarer colors at the top of the range. Budget separately for professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks, vet care and pet insurance.

Do cavapoochons shed?

Very little. The Bichon and Poodle coats keep growing instead of shedding, so loose hair stays in the coat until you brush it out. That is also why they mat without regular brushing.

What does a full-grown cavapoochon look like?

A full-grown cavapoochon looks much like a large puppy: 9 to 14 inches tall, 10 to 15 pounds, with a round face, big dark eyes, long feathered ears and a soft wavy or curly coat.

Are cavapoochons good family dogs?

Yes, for families who are home often. They are gentle with children and other pets, but they do poorly when left alone all day.

How long do cavapoochons live?

Most live 12 to 15 years. Claims of 18 to 20 years are optimistic; heart and knee problems inherited from the parent breeds shorten some lives.