Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/cavajack

The Cavajack is a small and friendly hybrid dog breed that genuinely enjoys spending time with people. They’re very low maintenance, playful, and pleasant, but they’re not the right breed for every home. Because their parent breeds are so different, you truly never know what you’re going to get when you adopt a Cavajack. Folks interested in adopting this adorable designer dog breed must familiarize themselves with both parents before deciding if this is the right breed for them.

Breed Overview

The Cavajack is a designer dog breed that combines the loving and affectionate disposition of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the inquisitive and lively temperament of the Jack Russell Terrier. This hybrid is particularly interesting as the parent breeds are very different, not only in appearance but also in purpose and temperament.

Cavajack Characteristics

Cavajack Puppies

Unfortunately, there don’t appear to be any reputable breeders for the Cavajack breed. And quite frankly, if you do stumble across a breeder that advertises these designer dogs, we highly recommend staying away from them. Breeders with a focus on mixes tend to be irresponsible and in the business for all the wrong reasons. They often don’t do all the inheritable disease health testing recommended for each parent breed, which means the puppies are at risk of inheriting diseases that would otherwise be avoided with proper testing.

However, that doesn’t mean that Cavajacks don’t exist. You may be able to find one looking for a forever home in one of your local pet shelters or humane societies. We recommend checking with PetFinder.com, an online searchable database of animals needing a home in your area.

Cavajack Breed Origin & History

Since the Cavajack is a hybrid breed, no one really knows where they first originated. However, the beginnings of both parent breeds are well-known and documented.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were developed from English Toy Spaniels in Britain in the early 1900s. Jack Russell Terriers also originated in Britain, though they were first developed much earlier, in the 19th century.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Cavajack

The temperament of the Cavajack is almost impossible to predict, as the two parent breeds are very different from one another.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are loving and affectionate companion dogs. They were bred specifically to warm laps and keep royalty cozy on chilly nights. These pups are regal and loyal, with the attentiveness that comes with toy breeds and the athleticism commonly seen in spaniels.

Jack Russel Terriers, on the other hand, were bred specifically to assist hounds in fox hunting. They have huge personalities and just as much energy. These pups are playful and clever, though they’re prone to stubbornness, too.

A Cavajack is likely to be lower maintenance than many other hybrids and extremely fun to have around. Their child-like curiosity means they’ll almost always take you up on play sessions, but they do have a feisty and independent side, too.

Cavajacks bond very closely with their human caretakers and may be prone to developing separation anxiety as a result of these close bonds. They may resort to crying, panicking, barking, or whining when they’re left alone for too long.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Cavajack can absolutely make a great family pet. Their highly active nature, inherited from their Jack Russell Terrier side, makes them extremely adventurous and gives them a genuine love of the outdoors, perfect for families that spend a lot of their time in nature. Their tolerant and patient disposition from their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent makes them suitable for homes with children.

However, it is essential to remember that the exact personality and suitability for family life can vary from puppy to puppy since the parent breeds are so different in temperament. One Cavajack puppy may be content with lounging around the house and warming your children’s laps like their spaniel parent. Meanwhile, another Cavajack from the same litter will have the boundless energy and need for physical activity on their terrier side.

Potential adopters should maybe consider waiting until their children are a bit older before adopting a Cavajack. Jack Russell Terriers, in particular, are better suited for families with kids over eight. Younger children often are incapable of controlling their impulses and roughhousing, which can be overwhelming and frightening to energetic, easily excitable terriers.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

Cavajacks can get along with other family pets, but they may be slightly aggressive toward other dogs if they aren’t properly trained or socialized, beginning from a young age. Again, your pup’s suitability for having another furry family member may depend on which parent they take after more.

Jack Russell Terriers can be dominant with other dogs, especially those of the same sex. Additionally, their high energy may make them unsuitable for households with cats, who may tire very quickly of their canine family member’s activity level. Jack Russells also have a high prey drive imprinted in their DNA, which means they may pick on your cats and even injure or kill other small pets.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are more laidback and are generally very good with other dogs and even cats. Their genuinely sweet and good-natured temperament makes them the perfect companion for multi-pet and multi-species homes.

Things to Know When Owning a Cavajack

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Cavajacks don’t require a diet different from other dog breeds. The best food is one that’s complete, balanced, and formulated for your pup’s life stage. However, you may want to choose food designed for a toy breed, as the kibble will be smaller and easier to eat and digest.

You may want to talk to your veterinarian about how much to feed your Cavajack. Exact caloric requirements may vary depending on your pup’s energy level and how much exercise they get.

Exercise 🐕

A Cavajack’s exercise requirements will depend on which parent’s energy level they’ve inherited.

Jack Russell Terriers have a seemingly infinite amount of energy and will require at least one hour of dedicated exercise daily. This is in addition to as many play sessions as necessary to tire out your pup. If your Cavajack is more terrier than spaniel, you’ll want to ensure they’re getting physical and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. A bored Jack Russell can become very rowdy, vocal, and even destructive.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were born and bred to be lapdogs, so their exercise requirements are lower. They are generally happy with a half-hour walk and a short play session or two. This is a brachycephalic breed, meaning they are at a much higher risk of developing heat-related illnesses, so it’s best to plan all outdoor activities during the cooler times of the day.

Training 🎾

Training is a non-negotiable for a Cavajack, especially if they take after their Jack Russell parent. These pups should start obedience training and socialization very early. Jack Russells bore easily, so training needs to be short, entertaining, and fun.

However, that doesn’t mean Cavajacks don’t require training or socialization if they take after their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent. However, this breed is known to be eager to please, which makes them easy to train.

Cavajacks can excel at canine sports like rally, agility, and obedience, so you may want to consider putting your pup into these activities if you think they’d enjoy them.

Grooming ✂️

Regardless of which parent breed your pup takes after, the Cavajack has minimal grooming needs. If they have the coat of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent, they’ll need to be brushed with a bristle or pin brush to keep their coat tangle-free and shiny. If they have their Jack Russell parent’s coat, a weekly brushing should do the trick. You may need to invest in a stripping comb to get rid of dead hair if your pup has inherited the Russell’s rough coat.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Cavajack’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent is prone to several medication conditions that would typically require regular exams and screening. They can develop eye conditions like dry eye and cataracts, patellar luxation, mitral valve heart disease, and syringomyelia.

Thankfully, Jack Russell Terriers are typically much healthier. However, they can still develop eye conditions, patellar luxation, dental problems, and pulmonic stenosis.

Responsible breeders will typically test their dogs for health issues before mating them, but as we mentioned above, this is sometimes overlooked by breeders specializing in hybrid dogs.

Male vs Female

There isn’t much difference between a female and a male Cavajack. Unlike most other dog breeds, males and females are pretty much the same height and weight. A male may be slightly larger, but the difference is negligible.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cavajack

1. Cavajack puppies can have wildly different appearances.

Size aside, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Jack Russell Terrier don’t look alike. Puppies resulting from mixing these two breeds can either take on the silky, wavy, medium-length coat of their spaniel parent or the short, coarse coat from their terrier DNA.

2. Cavajacks are likely to be moderately intelligent.

According to Stanley Coren, an expert in canine intelligence, the parent breeds of the Cavajack both have an “average” working/obedience intelligence. This means that they can understand new commands in 25 to 40 repetitions and will obey the first command 50% of the time (or better). According to Coren’s list of intelligent breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel falls in 44th place, and the Jack Russell Terrier is not far behind in 46th.

3. Cavajacks may not be suitable for apartment life.

Don’t let their small size fool you into thinking a Cavajack would be a suitable breed to adopt if you live in an apartment. However, whether yours is ideal for apartment life will depend entirely on which parent they take after.

Jack Russell Terriers are generally not recommended for folks living in apartments as they need space to run and roam and can be a nuisance to close neighbors with their barking.

On the other hand, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels’ laidback attitude and affinity for snuggles over exercise makes them ideal for apartment dwellers.

Final Thoughts

The Cavajack is a fascinating designer dog breed that’s exceptionally challenging to pin down. Because the parent breeds are very different, it’s impossible to predict their temperament or appearance.

They may have the extremely high energy levels of their Jack Russell parent or be more laidback and content with snuggles like their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent.

Regardless of which parent’s DNA is more prevalent, Cavajack puppies still require training and socialization to grow into well-rounded and well-behaved adult dogs. Still, even with proper training, these dogs may not be suitable in homes with other dogs, pets, or small children.

What we know for sure is that the Cavajack is likely to be highly affectionate. They’re genuinely loyal and loving toward their humans, and for this reason, they may be prone to separation anxiety. Potential owners shouldn’t spend too much time away from home too often.

Because this breed is highly susceptible to health issues, potential adopters must do thorough research before choosing a breeder (if they can even find one). These breeders should be able to provide proof of health testing, and if they cannot, stay far away.

Featured Image Credit: (L) Eric Isselee, Shutterstock | (R) 5 second Studio, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster