Gull Terr vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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 Gull Terr hails from Pakistan. Having been introduced to the country by the British Raj, the dog has always been valued for its guarding and fighting abilities.

The British army, on bringing English Bull Terriers with them, mated them with local dogs. The dog was in other words, created from the old bull terrier which became extinct, and the Bully Kutta.

The Gull Terr or Pakistani Bull Terrier as he is known is a rare breed of dog. Today they are usually found in rural areas of Pakistan as well as in the Indian Panjab area, becoming popular as both pet and watchdog. It is no longer used for dog fighting as this has been banned.

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.

As a medium sized dog, the muscled Gull Terr stands as 45 – 66cm in height and weighs in the area of 40 – 45kg.

The dog has a short, smooth coat which is white, but you may find some black spots on him. He has a egg shaped head, ears are naturally erect, dark slanted eyes, and he has a long tail which is held upwards. Muscled and agile, he is a powerful working breed and makes a good watchdog.

Temperament:

This is an aggressive dog breed, and first-time dog owners might want to have a more amicable kind of pet to start off with.

He is a fearless dog, somewhat aggressive and suspicious towards strangers and therefore wants to protect his owner from them. With training and socialization he can be good with children in the home, although he is inclined to be boisterous and stubborn. He has fierce protective instincts, even though he is considered not as aggressive as some other Pakistani dog breeds.

The Gull Terr will need an experienced dog handler. Even though he has been a fighter in his day, he is capable of being an excellent family pet as well. You won't have trouble training him as he is intelligent. He then becomes more obedient and more manageable. He is a very active dog and therefore he won't fit into city dwelling where there are small spaces. He needs a place to run and on top of that he will require a good deal of exercise.

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 Gull Terr love the attention he receives from his human family and he won’t flourish at all if he is put into the back yard for watch dog purposes only. He is a dog that needs to come indoors to be with his family.

He tends to be somewhat aggressive and this is why he isn’t looked upon as the ideal pet for first-time dog owners and those with young children in the home.

He is a confrontational dog, willing to enter into a fight with provocation. Strong willed he will require early training and socialization, and when he is brought up by a firm, consistent, kind owner, he can get over his aggression and become a loyal, devoted, protective and loving pet.

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.

Bloat:

The Gull Terr has a deep chest and this means he is more prone to bloat, a condition known as gastric dilation volvulus.

Your pet's stomach fills with air and this leads to decreased blood flow to vital organs. The stomach can twist and this is when the condition becomes life threatening as blood supply to the stomach is cut off. Instead of feeding him large meals, feed him smaller meals more frequently.

Deafness:

Deafness in your pet can be temporary or permanent, in one ear or both. There are are so many reasons why your pet could be deaf and it could be a birth defect, an infection or old age. Certain dogs such as the white coated Gull Terr are also more predisposed to congenital deafness.

Get him to the vet who will examine your dog’s ear canal for wax and debris and discuss the way to go for your beloved pet.

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.

Grooming:

Easy to look after with his short coat, the Gull Terr will only require a brushing twice a week to keep the coat shiny and healthy.

Because his coat is white, it can show dirt easily, and it will simply require taking a damp cloth and wiping the mark off him. You don't want to be bathing him often as this dries his skin out – rather just wipe the coat down.

Exercise:

Your Gull Terr is a highly energetic dog and he loves nothing more than to be involved in robust exercise and games. He is best suited in a home with large grounds and if you do opt to have him in the city, you will have to pay close attention to his exercise needs – lots of walks, runs, ball games, swimming and running with you as you cycle.

Diet:

You want to be sure that your energetic Gull Terr has a healthy diet full of important proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Protein is always important for a dog like this and you want to make absolutely sure that apart from his high quality kibble, you mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked chicken, fish, brown rice and vegetables.

When looking for a commercially manufactured dog food, look for high-quality animal protein as a top ingredient. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water available to him.