How Much Do Cavachons Cost in 2023? [Complete Price Guide]

Cavachons are a designer dog breed that is a cross of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise. Four years ago, our Cavachon, Kirby, came into our lives. We did extensive research on breeders before finally driving from NYC to PA, paying $850, and returning with our newest family member.

First bred in the 1990s, Cavachons were meant to be small, fun dogs that fit into any family’s lifestyle. These days, Cavachons are considered a designer breed and can cost between $400 and $2,000. A top-quality Cavachon from show-quality bloodlines can cost up to $6,500!

Be wary of a Cavachon that costs below $600; there are plenty of unethical breeders that overbreed their dogs and keep dogs in cramped, squalid conditions.

They also feed lower-quality food and scrimp on vet care. They can therefore price their litters much lower than responsible breeders that only have a litter a year.

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What Factors Affect The Price?

Why the considerable variance in price, you might ask? From an affordable $400 to five times the price at $2,000? Or a whopping $6,000? Here are a few factors affecting the price of a Cavachon, or any dog breed for that matter.

Breeding Standards

The difference between an unethical breeder and a responsible one is of extreme importance. We cannot stress the necessity of doing your homework and ensuring you purchase only from ethical breeders.

To summarize, backyard and puppy mill breeders maximize profits by squishing all their dogs into cramped, often unsanitary conditions. They make their females breed as much as they can, having multiple litters a year. When a female is unable to breed any longer, she is disposed of. They mate for profit, not for the betterment of the breed.

They often feed low-quality food, resulting in malnourished puppies and dogs. They scrimp on vet care, and their puppies are often unvaccinated and untreated for various diseases.

Ethical breeders, on the other hand, breed for the love of the breed. They will offer advice and help throughout your pup’s whole life and have detailed sales contracts to ensure you give your puppy the best care.

They often have spay/neuter clauses and will check up on your pup regularly, especially at the start. If you, at any time, need to give your dog up, your breeder will get first rights. They will take back any of their puppies, regardless of the reason.

These breeders will have small, infrequent litters and avoid overbreeding females. They will feed high-quality puppy food and ensure the best veterinary care.

This higher standard of care comes at a cost. Expect to pay more for a well-socialized, healthy puppy from a good breeder.

Bloodline

Cavachons are a cross between two pure breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. A Cavachon that is a cross between two purebreds, AKC registered dogs will likely cost more than the offspring of two Cavachons.

Likewise, the puppies of two show-quality purebreds will cause the price to skyrocket, easily in the thousands.

Any responsible breeder would have AKC registration papers several generations deep. Check the documents of both parents and even grandparents thoroughly for an idea of your puppy’s bloodline.

Location

Where you live might affect the price slightly. Areas with a high density of breeders and an ample supply of Cavachons might have lower prices than other regions with just one breeder with a single litter each year. Supply and demand!

What Color Are Cavachons, And Does It Affect Price?

Because they are a mix of two breeds, it is difficult to predict the color of a Cavachon puppy, which might take after one parent much more than the other.

Cavachons are more commonly white-coated with apricot, tan, brown, red, or black markings. Their markings can be a combination of two or more colors!

A close look at the parents might give you an idea of the color. The color of a Cavachon rarely affects the price as they are a mixed breed and don’t need to conform to AKC breed standards.

Other factors like bone structure, temperament, and health are often valued more. Be wary of any breeder that asks for a higher price for a more popular color.

What Items Are Needed To Welcome A Puppy Home?

If you are preparing for the arrival of your new puppy, first of all, congratulations! Your next step will be to make a trip to the pet store and stock up on a few items that will help you care for your new puppy.

Cleaning Supplies

Pups will be pups, and accidents will happen before your new Cavachon puppy is reliably potty trained. An 8-week-old puppy will have trouble holding its pee for more than 3 hours at a time.

Keeping these few cleaning products handy will minimize the work needed to clean up after your pup and reduce the number of accidents.

Enzymatic cleaners: An invaluable gift to dog owners worldwide, enzymatic cleaners work at the biological level and attack proteins, starches, carbohydrates, and oils. Check and make sure the cleaner is certified pet safe.

Vacuum: Cavachons are hypoallergenic, low-shedding dogs, but despite this, there will be hair. Having a good vacuum cleaner will help you minimize the fur and dander your puppy sheds.

Odor removers: Dogs are creatures of habit. If your Cavachon has an accident on a rug, chances are, he’ll have another one in the same spot once he gets a whiff of his scent. A good odor eliminator can mask the “oops” and prevent him from marking over any old sites. We like the Rocco and Roxie Odor Eliminator, which is safe to use around pets and children.

Laundry detergents: Necessary for bedding, toys, and other fabrics your puppy will chew up or soil. Try finding organic and natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals and minimal toxins.

Furniture cover: A machine-washable furniture cover could help keep hair off your couch, assuming you, like us, allow your Cavachon on your furniture!

Grooming wipes: Hypoallergenic grooming wipes are great for wiping down your puppy’s paws after a walk or a play session outside. They are also great for cleaning butts after the puppy goes #2.

Air purifying bags: These bags containing charcoal can be placed near your puppy’s bed to absorb moisture, odors, and bacteria. We like these bamboo-activated charcoal bags by Vitscan that are safe for babies, cats, and dogs.

Puppy Checklist – Essential Supplies You’ll Need

When shopping for puppies, we like to stick to natural, organic materials. Such products do not use harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process that could hurt your puppy’s growing immune system.

In addition, these products are usually biodegradable and eco-friendly, helping us do our part for the environment!

Crate – Crate training, when done right, will ensure your Cavachon puppy has a safe place to sleep. It is also a critical potty training aid.

Puppies love to chew and can get in trouble chewing shoes, wires, and electronics. Keeping your pup crated for short periods when you cannot supervise him will keep him out of harm’s way.

Bedding – A mat or blanket will be needed to bed down the crate. If possible, use old bedding with no removable parts that your pup can chew off or swallow. Your teething puppy will likely annihilate his bedding, so maybe hold off buying an expensive dog bed until he stops trying to eat everything.

Leash – We favor leashes made from sustainable materials like hemp, bamboo, pine, and cork. Both Baloo’s Chews and Salt Dog have leashes made of hemp at very reasonable prices.

Collar – Pawsitive is our absolute favorite. They have organic, hypoallergenic hemp collars in multiple colors and sizes. In addition, for every collar sold, they donate one to a rescue! Don’t forget to add an ID tag with your telephone number, address, and puppy’s name.

Puppy food – “Puppy food,” not “dog food.” Puppies grow at a rapid rate and have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. During their first year of growth, getting adequate nutrition is vital for healthy physical and mental development.

Cheap puppy food is often laden with preservatives, growth hormones, chemicals, antibiotics, and other stuff you’ll want to avoid. Pick a high-quality, premium food meant for small breeds with a plant-based protein source or meat that is farmed or harvested sustainably. Ensure there are no fillers like soy, corn, or wheat. If your puppy is having problems with solid food, soak the kibble in a bit of water for meals.

Food and Water Bowls – Your pup will need his dining dishes. Avoid plastic, especially if not BPA-free, and choose from ceramic or stainless steel bowls.

Consider getting a slow feeder bowl such as this one from Pet Impact. Not only will it prevent your puppy from gobbling his food that might result in bloating and stomach problems, but it will also provide your pup with an interactive meal that will stimulate him mentally and enrich his mind!

Chews and Toys – It is tempting to shower your new puppy with toys, but he just needs a few toys to stimulate him. The Classic Kong stuffed with frozen peanut butter has been a favorite for 40 years, while there are plenty of interactive balls made from non-toxic chemicals that let your pup earn his treats.

Good quality dental bones can also help you keep your puppy’s teeth clean and are durable enough to hold up to the most voracious chewers.

Grooming Supplies – Shampoo, brushes, and nail clippers are all necessary for the proper maintenance of your puppy. As always, choose a hypoallergenic shampoo meant for puppies and use natural ingredients whenever possible.

Poop Bags – You’re going to have to pick up after your puppy! Keep in mind these bags eventually end up in landfills, so use only biodegradable poop bags and never plastic. We like these bags from Earth Rated that have a matching bag dispenser that attaches onto the leash.

Costs To Maintain A Cavachon For The First Year

Most people budget between $500 to $1000 as an initial cost to take home a new puppy. In addition to that, the monthly maintenance cost for a Cavachon is about $20 to $50, barring emergency circumstances.

Here are a few additional expenses you’re likely to have:

Remaining Vaccinations – Your breeder would have taken care of the first round of vaccinations, but you’ll have to keep up with the remaining vaccinations. This can cost $100 to $250 but varies from vet to vet and according to region.

Training – Unless you’re an experienced dog owner with an absolute angel for a dog, your puppy should eventually be trained in a formal environment. Puppies can attend puppy school till they are about six months, after which they can start attending obedience school.

Depending on the region and quality of training, puppy school can be about $100 to $400, while group obedience classes can cost between $30 and $80 each session.

Vet Visits – Be sure to budget any incidental expenses should your puppy fall ill and need extra medical attention. If you plan to spay or neuter your puppy, the procedure typically costs about $400 to $600.

Incidentals – Puppies will chew. You can minimize the damage by puppy-proofing your home, but unless you watch him 100% of the time, there’s no way to guarantee the little monster won’t chew up clothes, shoes, or anything he can get his jaws on. Be patient and know that this will pass. And be prepared to replace anything your puppy destroys!

Pet Insurance – In the event of accidents or severe illness, veterinary bills can run into the thousands. Like our own insurance, having pet insurance gives you peace of mind and allows you to make sound medical decisions unrestricted by your financial situation.

Monthly insurance can cost between $10 and $100, but most owners pay approximately $30 to $50. (Source)

Final Thoughts

Cavachons are loyal, loving dogs and are growing rapidly in popularity. The initial cost of acquiring a pup of this lovely breed might be intimidating at first, but once the dust settles, you’ll have years of enjoyment with your furball.

They cost way less in food and are less susceptible to illnesses and joint problems that larger breeds have. We wish you the best of luck on your search for the perfect Cavachon puppy!

Gifts for Dog Lovers

Do you know someone who loves their dog more than anything?

Then they’ll love these gifts! From kitchen accessories to stylish jewelry, we’ve got everything a pup lover could want.

Our selection of gifts for dog lovers is sure to have something perfect for the special person in your life.

Head over to our list of 50 Pawsome Gift Ideas for Dog Lovers to find that perfect gift!