Aibu to get a puppy cavachon?

[Onynx]

A friend of my aunt has a litter of cavachon puppies. She has both of the parent dogs. Our boys have been begging us for a dog for years (12,9&5). I had a King Charles growing up, my mum currently has a bijon frise. Aibu to ask the drawbacks of having a cavachon (and first dog for the boys?) I am a sahm so would be home most days. Also the dog is bright red- is that unusual for a cavachon?

Um...that's not a reliable source 😂

That German Shepherd looks deformed

I don't understand how anyone can defend that sort of breeding.

Ah, my rescue pug? There are huge problems in that breed due to backyard breeders, which decent breeders are trying to eliminate, but people who don't care about the breed are making worse. My pug has no health problems whatsoever. He can run and jump, and breathe perfectly normally.

It seems like you need some help with reading though, as my post clearly says that owning one wasn't my choice (failed foster if you must know).

So no, I don't have a "fucking cheek". I'm very experienced in quite a lot of aspects of dogs, as a qualified behaviourist, nutritionist, shower, worker and competer. You?

Bodabing... very good bottom line.

I'd never heard of hybrid vigour or inbreeding depression. It's all quite interesting?

www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/the-myth-of-hybrid-vigor-in-dogsis-a-myth

What would your recommendation be? We have one cav, and would like to get another. We don't really care if it's a cav, a cavapoo, a cavashon etc (we are genuinely more worried in checking where it's come from, being full health checked, health of the parents etc) but would be good to have your professional opinion?

Why do you need to ask?

Get whatever dog you want!

Hi Curiosity, if you have a cav already then you know about Syringomyelia, a painful, horrid disease that can be tested by MRI scan once the dog is an adult. They also have mitral valve disease and hip dysplasia. So for example the Bichon also has Hip dysplasia reported so a mix of these two breeds stands as much chance as a pedigree of either of having the condition. They also have Legg Perthes. So chuck all that into a blender and you stand as much chance of a clear dog as a dog affected by one (or more) of the conditions.

That's a bit simplified but I advise clients that if a litter has been planned then the breeder has had time and should have had all health tests done before mating. After all planned breeding are generally sold not gifted. Only thing with crossing two different coat types of dog you may find grooming tricky but that's a bit out of my knowledge, perhaps there's a groomer on here.

Nature wise they're all great family dogs!

The problem with asking about specific breeds (or crossbreed or mongrols blah blah blah) is that you will find that at least one person will have had a positive experience and then someone else will have had a negative experience.

In general cavachons are healthier than cavaliers. If you have researched the breed and are ready for a dog, then go for it.

And don’t ask for dog help on mn!!

I have a beautiful crossbreed who is very healthy. I don’t like being lectured by people like ProfessorMoody about how unhealthy my ddog is and how I am a crap dog owner because I know for a fact both of those things are wrong.

Please tell me where I've said ALL crossbreeds are unhealthy? Some crosses are healthier than some pedigrees and vice versa. That's not my point at all. I have an incredibly healthy cross at the moment - hasn't seen a vet in 12 years bar vaccinations.

However, buying a puppy from unhealthtested parents, pedigree or not, is one of the reasons why so many dogs end up in rescue.

In my opinion it's not being a crossbreed that is the problem. It's just that the health issues in certain breeds can still be passed down, even if crossed with another breed. It doesn't just cancel it out.

If you want to buy, then make sure the parents are health tested for whatever common problems they may have as a breed, syringomyelia, mitral valve disease etc. If you're paying £££ for a dog, don't you want one that won't break?

There are plenty of pups in rescue too though. Mine was 12 weeks when I got her and is officially recognised as The Best Dog in the World. She isn't sure what she is but that's ok, and I'll have to take any health issues she (hopefully won't) develop as a consequence of her breeding; but at least I didn't pay some halfwit several hundred pounds to carry on breeding more of the same.

It's worrying how many people still don't understand how puppy farming works though.

I have a cavachon who’s 5 1/2 years old. She house trained very quickly and shredded small thing for a few months (typical puppy behaviour).

She’s very intelligent but a stubborn little git at times. She can be quite clingy but is very affectionate.

Her fur needs regular washing, brushing and grooming. If it’s not it gets matted very quickly, she also gets stains around her eyes no matter how much we clean them.

The cavachon photos might be the cutest dog photos I’ve ever see

It's worrying how many people still don't understand how puppy farming works though

Very worrying... It seems MNetters think if the pup is shown from a house they have been born and bred in that house. A puppy farmers dream!

Most think if the pup isn't viewed in the house or the breeder has 2 litters for sale they are puppy farmers.

There's no inbetween...

I agree it is very worrying when people can't gauge the situation for themselves.

MN is certainly not the place to ask about buying a puppy. Especially a cross breed 🙄

More cute cavachon pics.

Finally, a worthy response Nico
Flipping cute dog!

If you don't fit the criteria from a rescue then you shouldn't get any dog as they know what's best for a dog.

Not necessarily, I work for a rescue but wouldn’t pass their test as I leave my dogs for more than 4hrs.

We have an 18 month old cavachon & I have absolutely no regrets. I have 3 DS & they all love him to bits. Agree about regular grooming, but such a gentle, loveable dog. My parents had a King Charles cavalier who had heart problems (apparently an issue with that breed) - he died when he was 10. I’ve been told by a vet that with cross breeding you don’t get these breed susceptible illnesses. Can I also say - I fully support rescue centres, however we took on a rescue dog & it didn’t work out. The dog had history which we weren’t told about - the whole experience was really upsetting. I do think when you have a puppy it grows up with you & you know everything about it.

@nesssie I agree. We wanted a rescue dog but couldn't as I was pregnant. (I understand the logic behind them saying no. But we're not newbie dog owners and know exactly what we were getting into). As such the poor dog missed out on a lovely forever home with us. We went to a breed specific rescue instead and they had no problem with us having a dog. Said dog is now my child's best friend and he has a home for life.

Yes when I got my puppy I worked 3 days a week and was out the house from 8am. Dd was home at 3:20pm and we have a dog walker but a rescue wouldn’t let us have a puppy.