Cavachon Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

What exactly is a Cavachon?

A Cavachon is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise. It is not a breed in the formal sense. Dogs Australia is the registry that issues certified pedigrees for purebred dogs in Australia, and it publishes a standard for each breed it recognises; this cross is not one of them. For a buyer that means:

• No standard to measure a puppy against. Adult size and coat depend on the parents and can vary within one litter.
• No breed club. Nobody sets minimum health checks for these litters or publishes a reference price.
• No Dogs Australia pedigree. Member breeders' codes forbid crossbreeding without prior approval; that has its own section below.

Ads sometimes carry generation labels such as “F1”, meant to signal a first-generation cross of a purebred Cavalier and a purebred Bichon. These are breeder shorthand that no registry checks. University of Sydney geneticists, writing about Labradoodle research in The Conversation, explain that the first-generation offspring of two breeds is similar, in contrast to the substantial variation in later generations. A label is not a promise about coat or size.

Should you adopt or buy a Cavachon?

Adopt if you can be flexible about age. An adult Cavalier or Bichon cross in rescue arrives vet checked for a published fee, and you can see its coat and size, and have a vet listen to its heart, before you commit. Buy if you need a young puppy and are ready to do the checking that the lack of a breed standard and a breed club leaves to you.

If what you really want is a small dog of predictable size, coat and health screening, look at the parent breeds, which have breed standards and Dogs Australia registered breeders. Our Cavalier and Bichon Frise adopt-or-buy guides cover each side.

Why is there no Dogs Australia registered Cavachon breeder?

Because the codes Dogs Australia members follow forbid crossbreeding unless their state body approves it in advance. The national Dogs Australia Code of Practice (clause 16) says a member shall not permit its pure bred dogs to be mated to a dog of a different breed or a cross bred dog “without the prior approval of the member’s Member Body”. The Dogs NSW Code of Ethics (clause 17) allows such a mating only if it is for the health, welfare and/or development of a breed and the Board has approved it in advance; it adds that the prohibition does not apply to guide and working dogs. Dogs Victoria's code (20.1.15) says dogs “are not permitted to be mated to a dog or bitch of a different breed, to a cross bred dog or bitch”.

So Cavachon litters are generally bred outside that system. Some sellers belong to other registries, which Dogs Australia says are not affiliated with it and cannot issue certified pedigrees. That does not make every crossbreed breeder a poor one. It means the checks a breed club would push for are now yours to make. Dogs Victoria's health testing fact sheet puts it plainly: for a mixed breed you need to do twice the homework, because you need to know the diseases common in both breeds, and a cross may combine the health problems of both rather than avoid them. A Cavalier breeder and veterinary nurse quoted in a Cavalier buying guide on the Dogs Australia site goes further: in her view, it has been said crossbreeding makes a healthier dog, “which is not the case”.

How big does a Cavachon get, and what is it like?

Small. The two standards measure size differently, the Cavalier by weight and the Bichon by height, so the table shows what each actually says:

From the Dogs Australia Cavalier and Bichon Frise standards and the Dogs Victoria Cavalier and Bichon Frise profiles, read 12 November 2026.

Both parents are companion dogs. Dogs Victoria says Cavaliers are great family dogs, happiest as a family member rather than a kennel or outdoor dog, but easily distracted with very little road sense, so keep it on a lead near roads. It says the Bichon suits anyone who wants a fun and loving companion and is willing to keep up the coat. A cross between the two is likely to want life indoors, close to its people. Our apartment dogs guide and toy dog breeds guide cover small-dog life in more detail, and our Sydney guide to Cavalier temperament and care goes further on the Cavalier side.

Grooming is a real commitment. Dogs Victoria says the Cavalier coat needs regular brushing and a weekly bath, with ears checked weekly, and that a Bichon coat needs a thorough brush 2 to 3 times a week and a bath every week or so, or a professional groom about every two to eight weeks. Our Sydney guide to Bichon grooming and care goes through the practical options.

Is a Cavachon hypoallergenic?

No dog is hypoallergenic. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) says: “All dog breeds cause allergies, although some do not shed as much dander, and therefore less allergen is spread.” It also says the main source of dog allergen is saliva.

The two parents differ here. Dogs NSW, the state kennel body, says on its Bichon profile that the coat does not shed and “is non-allergenic”. That is the club's claim, not ours: ASCIA says “all dog breeds cause allergies”. Similarly, Dogs Victoria calls the Bichon low-allergy but still recommends spending time with the dog first. The Cavalier standard describes a long, silky coat free from curl. A puppy can take after either, so treat a “guaranteed hypoallergenic” promise as advertising. If anyone at home has asthma or a dog allergy, see a doctor before you choose a dog, spend long, repeated visits with the actual dog, and read our guides to hypoallergenic dogs in Australia and dogs that don't shed.

Does a Cavachon have heart problems?

This is the most important health question to ask about the Cavalier side. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Queensland says mitral valve disease (MVD) is a leading cause of death in the breed, and estimates that approximately half of Cavaliers have a murmur by the age of five. There is currently no DNA test for it, so screening is performed by a veterinary cardiologist. Dogs Victoria names MVD and syringomyelia (CM/SM) as progressive conditions in the breed, while noting not all Cavaliers are affected.

We found no study that has measured how often Cavachons develop MVD or syringomyelia, so nobody can promise a cross avoids them. What you can do: ask for the Cavalier parent's most recent heart check by a cardiologist, with the date, and ask whether it has been MRI scanned. Once you have your dog, ask your vet to listen to its heart at every check-up. Our Cavalier health guide covers both conditions in more depth.

Which health checks should a Cavachon breeder show you?

Checks for both parents, from each breed's own sources:

Sources: Dogs Australia Cavalier buying guide, Dogs Victoria and Dogs NSW Bichon profiles, read 12 November 2026. A buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

The Dogs Australia guide notes that MRI scanning machines are not available nationwide and are costly, so not every breeder can scan. Dogs Victoria warns that a claim of “clear of all hereditary disease” based on a DNA test alone should ring alarm bells, because many conditions, including MVD, have no DNA test. Dogs Australia suggests asking about hereditary conditions, viewing the test results and asking whether your vet can check the puppy before you buy. Our Bichon health guide covers the Bichon side.

Teeth deserve a mention. Royal Veterinary College research on 22,333 UK dogs found dogs under 10 kg had about three times the risk of dental disease of dogs weighing 30 to 40 kg. Ask your vet about a dental care routine from the start.

What does a Cavachon cost?

We cannot give you a breeder price we can stand behind. For purebred breeds we read the prices that Dogs Australia member breeders publish on their own websites and report the range. That method has nothing to measure here, because member breeders' codes forbid crossbreeding without prior approval, and there is no breed club guide either. Any figure on a listing site is one seller's asking price, not a benchmark, and a high price does not buy heart or eye checks. Ask what the price includes.

What we can show you is what rescues publish:

Reference only, not a quote. These are the fees each rescue published on the date shown; fees change and some dogs are priced individually, so check with the rescue. RSPCA NSW, RSPCA Victoria and RSPCA ACT each say their adopted animals are desexed and microchipped (RSPCA ACT: where appropriate), which you would pay a vet for after buying a puppy.

The purchase price is the smaller number over a dog's life. Grooming, dental care, food, insurance and vet visits, including any heart monitoring later in life, add up, so run it through the dog cost calculator and read our guide to cheaper vet care before you commit.

What do Cavachons in rescue look like?

It varies, and numbers change daily, so check the live listings. They may be listed as Cavachon, Cavalier cross or Bichon cross, so search under both parent breeds:

• Cavaliers and Cavalier crosses: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.
• Bichons and Bichon crosses: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.
• Small dogs of any breed: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.

An adopted adult answers the questions a puppy cannot: its coat has grown in, its size is settled, and a vet can listen to its heart. A good rescue will tell you how the dog is with children, other pets and time alone, and will usually have had it vet checked, desexed and microchipped. What you usually will not get is its parents' health history, so book a baseline vet check, including the heart, teeth and ears, in the first weeks. Our guides to adopting a dog in Australia and adopting a senior dog walk through the process.

How do Cavachon scams work, and how do you check a seller?

Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites, and fake profiles on social media and online marketplaces, for popular breeds and pets that do not exist, and that if a pet is very cheap it is likely a scam. It advises viewing the pet in person or on a video call with the breeder. A Dogs Victoria fact sheet says breeds and mixes in high demand feature commonly in scam ads, that ads may display microchip, source or membership numbers lifted from legitimate breeders, and that many scam websites use puppy photos downloaded from other websites. Checks to make before you pay:

• “Hypoallergenic” or “non-shedding” promises. ASCIA says all dog breeds cause allergies.
• “Healthier because it is a cross”. Dogs Victoria says a cross may combine the health problems of both breeds. Ask for the Cavalier parent's heart results.
• “Clear of all hereditary disease”. Dogs Victoria says a claim like this based on a DNA test alone should ring alarm bells. Ask for the specific results in the table above.
• Borrowed numbers. Dogs Victoria says to contact the organisation a seller claims membership of and check the number is valid and matches the breeder's name, location and breed.
• Copied photos. Dogs Victoria passes on the ACCC's advice to use a reverse image search to check whether the photos appear on other websites.

Because a Cavachon does not come with a Dogs Australia pedigree, the check that matters most is the one every breeder must pass: the state number. That is a breeder identification number in NSW, a Pet Exchange Register source number in Victoria, a supply number in Queensland or a DACO breeder number in South Australia. Look it up on the official register yourself and confirm it matches the seller and the microchip. Our puppies for sale guide sets out every state's scheme and what to do if you have already paid.

Is a Cavachon the right dog for you?

Be honest about three things before you apply anywhere: a grooming routine or budget for regular clips, a home where a small companion dog can live indoors close to its people, and the vet care a Cavalier cross may need as it ages, including heart checks. If you have very young children, an adult rescue dog whose temperament is already known may be the safer start. Not sure? Try the what dog breed is right for me quiz and the adoption readiness check, and compare with our guide to dogs for first-time owners.

Weighing other small dogs too? Other adopt-or-buy guides cover the Cavoodle, Maltese Shih Tzu, Shih Poo, Moodle and Havanese.

Find a Cavachon near you

Local guides to adopting each parent breed, with the rescues that serve each city:

• Sydney: adopting a Cavalier and adopting a Bichon Frise
• Melbourne: adopting a Cavalier and adopting a Bichon Frise
• Brisbane: adopting a Cavalier and adopting a Bichon Frise
• Perth: adopting a Cavalier and adopting a Bichon Frise
• Adelaide: adopting a Cavalier and adopting a Bichon Frise