Perdiguero de Burgos vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison

The Cavachon dog is a mix of the Bichon Frise and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. There isn’t much on the history of the dog but it seems as though certain kennels in Berryville, Virginia, in the United States are the first breeder of the dog, establishing the hybrid dog in 1996.

This attractive little toy breed has become one of the most popular cross-breed dogs to own in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe and other parts of the world. As it is a hybrid, the Cavachon isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), but it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).

The Iberian Peninsula is thought to be the place of origin for many of the pointing breeds of Europe, and the Perdiguero de Burgos hails from Spain. Known as the Spanish Pointer, the dog has contributed to the development of other pointer breeds.

The dog has been around since the 1500s and believed to be a descendent of the Perdiguero Navarro and the Sabueso Español.

Today's Perdiguero de Burgos is smaller and lighter so as to make it into a better bird-hunting dog.

The Perdiguero de Burgos has always been used to hunt deer but today it is used as a pointer of smaller animals and birds.

Cavachons are small dogs standing from 31 - 33 cm at the withers and weighing 4.5 - 9 kg. He has a medium-to-long silky coat which can be slightly wavy or even straight. The coat is available in several different colors – with white being the main color and he’ll have patches of apricot, tan and black or a mix of these colors.

Individual dogs will vary to some extent depending on which parent breed is more dominant, but they’ve generally got a compact, well formed body and short legs. People with allergies appreciate this breed as they don’t shed a lot.

Temperament:

The Cavachon isn’t aggressive at all and they are sweet dogs, enjoying being around children. Their wonderful nature makes them a great therapy dog as they love to charm and delight people. He is tolerant of the actions of children as well as being able to get on well with other dogs and cats in the home.

Even small dogs like the Cavachon however can benefit from training and socialization, and then he becomes a wonderful obedient little dog. He is actually more robust than he looks and this is what makes him such a good pet for children.

He is a social little dog and just loves his human family and doesn’t want to be left alone for any long lengths of time. His lack of aggression means you can’t really rely on him to be much of a guard dog although he will give you some warning with his barking.

The Perdiguero de Burgos is a large dog with straight, strong legs and a strong, musculr body. He stands at between 52 - 64 cm and weighs between 22 - 32 kg.

The short, smooth coat is white and liver and the coat is heavily flecked or speckled. The ears are Long and floppy, the nose dark brown, the eyes dark hazel and the tail long and fairly slender. The tail has always generally been docked.

The chest is deep, it has a strong, square shaped head with the muzzle being long and quite broad. This dog isn’t recommended for life in the city as they are active dogs requiring a lot of open spaces.

Temperament:

These are wonderfully calm dogs, being gentle and intelligent and with a quite, confident expression to them. Even on the hunt these gun dogs are calm and steady. He is obedient and intelligent, easy to train and patient with children and other dogs.

Training and socialization of this excellent dog simply makes him even more obedient, amicable, Loving and loyal, making him a splendid pet.

The sweet Cavachon is a balanced, happy, social dog and with his amicable nature and appealing looks, everybody wants him as a friend. He is fun and entertaining and makes a wonderful family pet and playmate for children.

He gets on well with other pets in the home too. Even though he is a small dog, he will require training and socialization as his cuteness tends to make him want to assert himself over his owner. With socialization he becomes the most awesome, loyal and devoted little companion.

Your Perdiguero de Burgos is such an amicable dog, making a splendid family pet. He can sometimes be a little reserved but he is never aggressive.

He can be stubborn but he is intelligent and responds well to training and socialization. He is lively, playful, energetic, calm and loving and he will be willing to join you when you go out jogging or riding your bicycle.

When it comes to grooming he is also pretty low maintenance, so you can see that when it comes to choosing a fantastic family pet, this easy-going, calm dog should be a top consideration.

Although a mixed breed such as the Cavachon is considered healthy, they can still have their share of health problems. Some of the common health problems that the Cavachon may have to contend with and which come from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise are ear infections, liver problems, hip dysplasia and eye problems.

A healthy Cavachon who has been fed well and nurtured can live to be up to 15 to 18 years.

Arthritis:

Arthritis is a disease seen in many dogs and it is inflammation of the joints because of wear and tear. You’ll notice lameness with your pet, stiffness, swelling, heat and pain and even depression.

Your pet may even display some aggressive behavior because of the pain, but this is excusable as this isn't an aggressive breed. Osteoarthritis is seen more often in senior dogs. Thankfully the good news is that arthritis can be managed by your vet.

All dogs can develop health problems, and with the Perdiguero de Burgos you will need to be made aware of some of the common heath problems there are -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly and the hips partially dislocate. It makes it very painful for the dog to get around. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, although diet and environmental factors can play a big part too. Rapid weight gain can also contribute to hip dysplasia as the extra weight puts strain on the joints.

Hypothyroidism:

This is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer can also cause hypothyroidism, and it occurs more often in large breed dogs. A common sign of low thyroid function in dogs includes thinning of the hair and a dull, lifeless coat. There is also weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also are inclined to have ear infections as well as skin infections. Your pet will need to get to the vet for blood tests and treatment.

Other health problems include eye problems, allergies, bloat and even epilepsy. Once you buy a puppy, it is your responsibility to protect him from some of the deadly diseases there are and take him to the vet for his puppy vaccines.

Exercise:

The Cavachon is a small dog, so if you have a nice sized garden, a lot of his exercise needs will be met. However he will still want a walk every other day and appreciate ball games in the garden. He can adapt to living in much smaller places but then he will certainly need to be exercised.

Diet:

Small dog breeds like the Cavachon have a quick metabolism and you want to feed him a top quality dog food high in protein and fat. Protein is important as it supports growth in puppies and promotes lean muscle mass in adult dogs.

Make sure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water available.

Grooming:

The Cavachon’s hair sheds very little, so grooming and brushing will only be required twice a week. His hair may need to be clipped every now and then to keep him well groomed. If you don’t have the experience or the required tools, a professional dog salon in your area will be able to do it for you.

The nails must also be clipped regularly and the ears kept clean and dry to prevent ear infections. His teeth will need to be cleaned at least 2 or 3 times a week with special dog toothpaste and toothbrush to prevent dental decay.

Exercise is of critical importance to these energetic dogs. That is why it is important for them to live in a home where there is plenty of opportunity to run, swim and hike. They’re way too energetic to be confined to a tiny city property.

Grooming:

The dog is an average shedder and the smooth coat of the Perdiguero de Burgos simply requires a brush-down twice a week. A rub down too with a chamois will be therapeutic for your pet and leave the coat shiny and vibrant.

Rubbing your pet down like this will give you the opportunity to feel for any unusual lumps and check for fleas and ticks. It is also your chance to check inside the dog’s ears. The ears are floppy and because the dog loves water so much, dirt, wax and moisture can be a breeding place for bacteria and painful ear infections.

Diet:

If you feed your Perdiguero de Burgos a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure you choose a high quality one that has been manufactured particularly for large, energetic dogs. Some of the poor quality foods have bad ingredients in them such as colorants, preservatives and worthless, toxic fillers that can have a detrimental affect on your pets health.

Try and include some tasty homemade food into your dog’s diet too. Tasty, nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and wholesome vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will do your pet the world of good. You can every now and then, also include some raw meat.

All a dog wants is a simple, wholesome diet like this as it ensures he doesn’t have any digestive upsets. Dogs like simplicity and consistency. Make sure your pet has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.