You are excited because Mom and Dad finally said yes to you owning an animal! However, they mentioned that you need to pick a dog breed that does NOT shed because they do not want to deal with all of the endless piles of fur you will have to deal with. Your parents also mentioned that this dog needs to be scanty, or else it is a no-go when it comes to owning a dog. So now, you are left doing your own research on small dog breeds. More specifically, Cavachons, and you want to know: do they shed?
Cavachons do not shed a lot, and if they do, it is on the low-end side. In fact, the puppies of this breed can inherit the super coat of their parents, which is a crossbreed of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise.
Keeping that in mind, we are going to be covering a lot of the basics, such as how to take care of their coat correctly and what we could find out about them being hypoallergenic. It is essential to know all of this information so you can ensure to keep your dog in top-notch condition. So, let us learn all there is to know about this subject.
How Much Do Cavachon Shed?
Cavachons have long to medium length sized coats. With this, they are not going to shed a whole lot. If you are worried about cleaning every part of your house because of their coats, then fear not because it will not be an issue. However, their hair is prone to growing extremely fast, so most of these dog owners will take their animals to the groom every 6-8 weeks to get their coats trimmed.
Going more into detail, their fur is silky smooth and can be either wavy or straight, depending. The color of their coats also varies, as this will be anywhere between tan, red, white, red, apricot, brown, and sometimes with black markings. Either way, you are looking at a beautiful, non-shedding animal!
Are They Hypoallergenic?
Since they do not shed, they must be hypoallergenic, right? Well, yes, in fact, they are. Thanks to their parental genes from the Bichon Frise, they are considered a hypoallergenic breed by the Americal Kennel Club and the Kennel Club. This is one of the main accomplishments breeders have tried to get with both of their parental breeds, and it seems to have worked out in their favor very well.
Do Cavachons Need Regular Grooming?
Although Cavachons are a low-shedding breed, they still need to be groomed regularly. This is because their coats could be prone to matting and overgrowing, as mentioned previously. You do not want their skins to wind up having a bunch of furballs around them, now do you? This may be because they do not shed, and it will get tangled up in themselves as opposed to all over the floor, but who knows.
Always make sure you brush your dog’s hair at least once a day or every other day to avoid knotting. Some dog owners struggle with their paws on walks because they can get so tangled up. Overall, they have lovely temperaments that will make brushing easy. Some dog breeds simply hate being stroked, but these tiny animals will allow you to comb their hairs with no issues.
In terms of bathing your dog, it is wise to bathe them every 2-3 weeks. If your dog is an inside pup, it may be best to do so once a month, but if they like to roll around in the dirt and go to town, the amount mentioned above will suffice.
How to Groom a Cavachon
So, you may be wanting to groom your dog yourself but simply do not know how to. This will often save you a lot of money in the long haul. Some Cavachon owners prefer it if their dogs are left at the groomers for a while, and others are a do-it-all type person. In this part of the article, you will see a step-by-step process on how it is done.
Step 1: Gentle Massage
First and foremost, you will be starting by gently massaging your pet. This will help to relax your dog from anything that has been going on recently, or in general. As you are rubbing them, make sure to look for two things: flea bites and scratches or lumps underneath the skin. Cavachon’s are pretty sensitive to flea bites, so you may notice some swelling and skin irritation if fleas are there.
Step 2: Brush Their Fur
Brushing your dog’s hair will prevent tangling and eliminate loose hair. Make sure to use a soft brush. Start stroking from their head down to their tail. It is crucial to brush their coats at least once a day or every other day.
Step 3: Get the Tangles Out
If your dog has any tangles, it is best to use a metal comb. Clip the matted fur that simply cannot be detangled.
Step 4: Clip Their Hair
The next thing is cutting their hair. You can either do this of your own will or visit a professional groomer to style your fur baby’s hair. Make sure to trim around the ears, face, and paws to prevent overgrowth from happening.
Step 5: Clip Their Nails
Many times, dog owners will clip their dog’s nails and wind up getting the quick of the nail, which is the pink part of their nail that contains blood vessels. It is essential never to get that part, as it can cause bleeding to occur. For dogs with dark nails, watch for a chalky white ring.
Cutting just above the quick will allow this process to be more straightforward. Make sure you are using canine-specific clippers or guillotine trimmers to cut their nails.
Step 6: Brush Their Teeth
Brush your dog’s teeth daily. This will prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease. Not only that, but plaque can also build up over time and putting your dog at risk for bad breath. Buying a liver or meat-flavored toothpaste and using a canine toothbrush is the way to go.
Step 7: Clean the Ears
Cleaning the inside of the ears will prevent a couple of things—first, excessive buildup of earwax, and secondly, preventing ear infections from occurring. Using a saline solution, insert a few drops in each ear and gently give their ear area a massage. Allow your Cavachon to shake their head out afterwards.
Can You Overbrush Your Cavachon?
Dogs cannot necessarily be overbrushed, but if you stroke them in the wrong way, then this may cause some pain for your dog. Make sure you are using gentle and slow brushing to prevent harm from happening to your puppy. However, although you cannot overbrush your animal, it is wise to provide breaks for your dog instead of brushing continuously. Make sure you are going to take breaks as well as giving your fur baby a rest instead of continuing on.
Brush Burns
One way you can tell that you are brushing too deep is if your fur baby has brush burns. Signs of these include redness and irritation within the skin. If you believe your dog may have brush burns, then it is essential to seek a veterinarian’s attention. To avoid this, go over sensitive areas lightly, such as your pup’s legs and tummy.
Brush Types
Of course, when choosing the right brush type for your puppy is very important. You would not want to get something that suits their coat’s needs. Grooming sprays can loosen tangles, which will make brushing a lot easier. Here are some examples of that:
- Smooth-coated: Rubber curry brush (this removes loose hair effectively and gently.)
- Wiry-coated: Wire slicker brush.
- Long-coated: Pin brush or curved wire slicker.
Benefits of Brushing Your Dog’s Coat
Stroking your dog’s fur has a lot of benefits. These things include:
- Removing dead skin cells and irritants from their coats.
- Improves circulation, keeping your dog’s fur healthy.
- For longer-haired pooches, it prevents their coats from getting tangled and matted.
- Creates a stronger bond between you and your pup.
- It is relaxing for many dogs.
Final Words
To summarize what has been said, Cavachons have a lower chance of shedding than other dog breeds, thanks to their Bichon Frise parent. This is always a good thing to have, especially when you are trying to look for a hypoallergenic animal. Keeping that in mind, there are many things to expect when taking care of this pup, so make sure to groom it every 6-8 weeks and brush their hair a few times a week to prevent hairballs from forming.