Even when it’s fully-grown, the cava-poo-chon still looks like a puppy – and it’s the latest ‘go-to’ dog in the current trend for small pets.
Bred by Arizona-based Linda and Steve Rogers, the cava-poo-chon is a cavalier King Charles spaniel and bichon frise mix bred with a miniature poodle.
The pair enlisted the help of a geneticist and reproductive veterinarian to develop the ‘tribrid’ – or triple cross.According to Ms Rogers, cava-poo-chon combines the best of the three breeds and are offered with a choice of colour and two types of coat: curly or very curly.
The dog’s small stature means it will never lose its youthful looks and Linda says there is no reason why the dogs can’t enjoy a 20-year lifespan.
However, the American Kennel Club refuses to recognise the cava-poo-chon as an official breed, with one expert describing some specially-bred small dogs as expensive ‘gimmicks’.
Dog trainer Steve Haynes, who is working with 50 first-generation cava-poo-chons, said: ‘There’s always been a market for these forever-ish young dogs. Until recently, specialised dogs like miniature Yorkies and miniature Maltese were the go-to dogs.’
