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

If you’ve heard of the Cavador, but don’t exactly know what it consists of, we are here to tell you about it! The hybrid breeds are getting pretty crazy these days, but we think this is certainly one that deserves some attention.

This dog takes characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever. Since these dogs vary so much in size and slightly in appearance, you can get tons of different possibilities in a single litter.

When it comes to personality traits, care, and other concepts, we aim to inform you about everything we know!

Breed Overview

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The Cavador has a very soft, sweet appearance with loving eyes and a cheerful demeanor. It takes the laid-back, gentle nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mixed with the adventurousness and loyalty of the Labrador.

We think this is one heck of a hybrid, as the personality traits greatly complement one another, and they’re cute to boot!

Cavador Characteristics

Cavador Puppies

When you go to see the litter of Cavador puppies, you might notice that many of them vary in size. That is because each puppy can take on more characteristics of one parent breed over the other.

If one of them takes more after the Cavalier, they might be more dainty, long, and bright eyed. If they take more after the Labrador, they might be larger than their littermates and have a more athletic body structure.

As far as personality is concerned, this pup will be very playful, but also have a gentleness about them that make them very good companions for growing kids.

It is very likely that some of these pups are the result of an accidental litter and weren’t bred intentionally or honestly. Be very wary about buying from people who are breeding dogs. Because they are a hybrid, there are no regulations, meaning that quality can really suffer as a consequence.

These people are not held liable to get proper testing or other certifications necessary to ensure a healthy litter of puppies. Use your discernment and definitely adopt from a rescue or shelter when you can, or make sure that the breeder can provide health records and give you a look into the living environment and parent breeds of the puppies. Steer clear of any breeders that can’t provide these things.

Cavador Origin & History

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog breed that, unsurprisingly, originated in England in the 1600s. They were likely bred from different types of small Spaniels and Asian toy dog breeds. They quickly became a favorite for people everywhere due to their docile nature and companionship capabilities.

The Labrador Retriever, on the other hand, came from Newfoundland, Canada during the 16th century. These dogs were designed to help fishermen and hunters on the water. These dogs have since gotten a great reputation as hunting dogs but have since been in the top 3 most popular dogs of all time according to the AKC.

It is really no wonder people were curious as to what would happen if they bred these two amazing breeds. The outcome is a docile, happy dog that makes a terrific family addition.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Cavador

Both of the parent breeds here are incredibly intelligent in their own right. Therefore, when you cross these two dogs, you’re going to have a heck of a smart pup!

That can make training extremely simple for people who want to have an easy-going dog that’s not too difficult to work with. So, if you’re wondering if these dogs are great for novice owners, we definitely say yes!

These dogs are good with just about anyone, so when you combine the two, you’re definitely going to get a social, people-oriented companion animal that just wants to be a part of everything.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

These dogs make incredible family companions! In fact, they couldn’t possibly be a better match! Not only do these dogs absolutely love going out on an adventure and seeing the world, but they are also just as content in the home with their families.

They are extremely devoted and loyal animals that will acclimate very well to a variety of different living situations. Whether you live in a small apartment or have many acres in the country, these dogs will fit in just fine.

Since they do have Labrador in them, they might be a little wayfarer at heart, but they very much are attached to their owners. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is such a people-oriented dog that is a shadow pup in most cases.

These pups will make amazing additions to just about any lifestyle because they are extremely amiable and accepting of strangers. They will love just about everyone they meet and greet everyone with a wagging tail.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

It is very likely that this dog will get along amazingly well with other pets in the home. Early socialization is important with any dog, so we highly recommend exposing them to a variety of situations and circumstances to acclimate them to pets of all kinds.

The more you desensitize them to this, the more accepting they will likely be. Labradors do have a slight issue with cat rivalry sometimes. So, if you are adopting one of these hybrid breeds from a rescue or shelter, cat testing is very important.

However, if they take on more traits of the laid-back Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, they will likely be more afraid of the small panther rather than aggressive toward them.

Things to Know When Owning a Cavador

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

There are no special dietary requirements for this particular hybrid. However, you should feed any dog a high-quality, protein-rich recipe that matches all their nutritional needs.

Neither of these dogs are necessarily prone to food allergies, but that shouldn’t make you select a cheap dry kibble off the shelves and call it a day. You should research any recipe you want to give your dog heavily to make sure that it gets really good reviews and it provides the nutrition that it advertises.

More and more pet parents are navigating towards fresh, homemade, or raw food diets instead. However, we highly recommend checking with your veterinarian before you make any final decisions on your dog’s diet.

Exercise 🐕

Exercise will be one of a Cavador’s favorite pastimes. When you grab the leash, they will jump with excitement. They will also love to go on adventures with you, like trips to the dog park and car rides to the store.

These dogs can keep up with the best of them, as they will have many attributes of the Labrador. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a more laid-back dog that doesn’t require as much exercise. However, Cavadors do still need some daily exercise in order to keep them healthy and at an ideal weight.

Training 🎾

These dogs should be incredibly easy to train! They have a very strong willingness to please and a focused demeanor. The Labrador Retriever is a classic hunting dog, meaning that they take direction extremely well and pay decent attention.

The Cavalier tends to be pretty chill, making them focus easier in times of training. However, they are a little harder to potty train than the labrador parent. So, you might find that this area is a little gray.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming can be a little different depending on the texture and length of their coat. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel tends to be a little wispy while the Labrador Retriever has a short but very dense double coat.

It is likely that they will shed pretty profusely and will require routine brushing on a daily basis. When it comes to fancy haircuts and all that other jazz, it’s very unlikely that you will need to do this.

Ultimately, you should bathe your dog once every 4 to 6 weeks. You should also make sure that their nails, ears, and teeth are completely taken care of.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Both the Labrador Retriever and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are decently healthy dogs. However, because this is a hybrid mix, it is unlikely that the parents went through any major genetic testing unless they are being bred by a reputable breeder.

Because there’s probably some unfamiliarity with the history, the dog can carry potential issues from either bloodline. The best thing to do is keep up with routine health checkups, so you can ensure your dog’s wellness.

If any issues should crop up, you can work diligently with your vet to find a suitable solution. The parent breeds can develop certain breed-specific issues and it’s important to be aware of what they are.

Male vs Female

Typically, when it comes to males versus females, you can tell the difference based on the broadness of the body and the largeness overall. Males tend to be larger than females and have more lean muscle.

However, in this case, since this is a hybrid breed, it’s very hard to tell the sex based on size alone. In terms of personality, each dog will be their own individual. There is no real way to tell how one sex will be over the other.

Keep in mind that females typically enter their first heat cycle around 6 months of age. Males also reach sexual maturity around the same time. It is incredibly important to spay or neuter your dog before they reach this stage to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cavador

1. Your Cavador might have webbed feet like the Labrador parent.

Labradors were bred to retrieve waterfowl for hunters, so they had to be able to swim well. The breed has webbed feet, and a Cavador could have webbed feet as well if it takes after the Labrador Retriever parent.

2. The Cavador is incredibly loyal and loving.

Both Labradors and Cavaliers are known for their love of their owners and their loyalty. So it makes sense that a combination of the two breeds would be loyal and loving as well.

3. Your Cavador may have a puppy look their whole life because of their big doe eyes.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have big eyes that give them a puppy-like appearance even into adulthood. If your Cavador takes after the Cavalier parent, they may always look like a puppy even as an adult.

Final Thoughts

Now you know all there is to know about the Cavador. If this sounds like a dog breed that might interest you, you can look at reputable breeders or local rescues and shelters to see if you can find this combination. Try not to buy from people who are selling hybrid breeds without much information about the dogs or for cheap, as they might in puppy mill or backyard breeding situations.

However, if you find one of these combos and you’d like to give it a whirl, you will certainly have a wonderful companion animal that can mesh with just about any lifestyle. If you’re a dog lover, the Cavador will likely be for you!

Featured Image Credit: (L) otsphoto, Shutterstock | (R) Eric Isselee, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster