Cava-Tzu

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10-16 lbs
9-18"
​United States
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shih Tzu

The Cava-Tzu is a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Shih Tzu but tend to look a bit more like the latter, although it will depend on the dominant parent breed. The Cava-Tzu can be a variety of colors including black, brown, white, tan and ruby. They tend to be a combination of two or three of these colors. They are small dogs with males and females weighing up to 16 pounds and are between 9 and 18 inches in height. They are intelligent and playful dogs who make good family pets and are good with children and other pets. They are easy dogs to train and don’t need an enormous amount of exercise to keep fit and healthy.
Purpose
​Companion
Date of Origin
2000s
Ancestry
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Shih Tzu

Cava-Tzu Health

Average Size
Male Cava-Tzu size stats
Height: 9-18 inches Weight: 10-16 lbs
Female Cava-Tzu size stats
Height: 9-18 inches Weight: 10-16 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Mitral Valve Disease
  • Syringomyelia
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Eye Problems
  • Brachycephalic Syndrome
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Reverse Sneezing
  • Ear Infections
  • Dental Problems
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination
  • Fluorescein Test
  • Blood Work

Cava-Tzu Breed History

The Cava-Tzu is a combination of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Shih Tzu with the latter being regarded as one of the oldest breeds in the world. A Shih Tzu, meaning little lion dog, is a toy breed that dates back to ancient Tibet and China. Despite the name, the breed was never fierce and always regarded as a companion and lap dog. They are also known as the Chrysanthemum Dog and were prized by Chinese royals. They were bred in England in 1930 and the Shih Tzu Club of England was formed in 1935. During World War II American soldiers brought some Shih Tzu dogs home with them and in 1969 the breed was recognized in the Stud Book of the American Kennel Club. They are very popular lap dogs and regarded as loving companions. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was named after King Charles I of Britain who ruled in the 1600s and was always seen about the kingdom with his treasured dogs by his side. Queen Victoria also owned one of the breed but she sought to keep a variation in her kennels; they had a skull that was domed and were smaller with shorter, flatter faces. The Japanese Chin and the Pug were bred with her spaniels to produce the change. In the early 1900s, the effort was made to recreate the original small spaniel of the King Charles era. A dog named Ann’s Son became the breed standard for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed was officially registered in the Kennel Club of England in 1944 and they were added to the American Kennel Club roster in 1996.

Cava-Tzu Breed Appearance

Cava-Tzu dogs are small toy breeds weighing between 10 and 16 pounds and are usually around 18 inches high. They typically have two to three colors which can be black, brown, white, tan or ruby and their coats are fine, medium, silky and thick, needing a fair bit of grooming to keep looking neat. They have small round faces, oval-shaped dark eyes which usually have an alert expression, ears that hang down and a tail that curls back. Your pet will take on some of the characteristics of the parent breed. The Shih Tzu for instance has a heavy under bite, while the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has long, feathered ears and sometimes has feathering on their chest, legs and feet.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Cava-Tzu eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Cava-Tzu nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Cava-Tzu coat
Black
brown Cava-Tzu coat
Brown
white Cava-Tzu coat
White
pied Cava-Tzu coat
Pied
Coat Length
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
Cava-Tzu straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Cava-Tzu Breed Maintenance

Cava-Tzus need a moderate amount of grooming and will need their coats brushed around twice a week. Depending on the coat length, they may need to be trimmed every so often, especially the hair around the ears. They do shed a moderate amount but the breed doesn’t need to be bathed often, only when necessary and always with a dog shampoo so it doesn’t irritate the skin. The Cava-Tzu is not regarded as a hypoallergenic breed. Brush your dog’s teeth daily if they allow it. It helps to start young so it becomes a habit. They are prone to dental problems so good dental hygiene is vital. Clean the ears with a moist ball of cotton wool weekly while checking the nails to see if they need clipping should be done regularly.
Brushes for Cava-Tzu
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Scissors
Nail Clipper

Cava-Tzu Temperament

The Cava-Tzu is a very affectionate and loyal dog who loves nothing more than spending time with their family members. The get on very well with children and other dogs but are known to jump up when excited so smaller children may need to be monitored when around them. They are comfortable with strangers and enjoy being around most people especially those who play with them. They don’t need a lot of exercise but respond well to ball games and love going for walks but are happy to have a good nap afterwards. They adapt well to living in an apartment and won’t complain too much if left alone for short periods of time. They are suitable pets for older people or those who need to go out to work during the day. They don’t bark excessively and are easy to train, responding best to rewards and positive reinforcement. They are also happy to be carried around or cuddled on a lap.

Cava-Tzu Activity Requirements

A Cava-Tzu doesn’t need a lot of exercise and will be happy to play games inside an apartment or in a fenced in yard. Short walks to the beach or a dog park will be enjoyed but they do not need long walks. They tolerate the cold more than the heat so don’t walk them when it is very hot outside. The breed is prone to picking up weight, so even though they are happy to be carried around, exercise shouldn’t be neglected. They are intelligent dogs so will enjoy training and obedience classes. The breed is inclined to jump up when excited so training will help with that. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs more exercise than a Shih Tzu so it depends which breed your pet takes after more.
Activity Level
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
6 miles
Minutes of Activity Per Day
40 minutes

Cava-Tzu Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
Daily Cost
$0.75 - $1.00
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00

Cava-Tzu Owner Experiences

Boo-man
9 Years
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks
belly scratches
Food
Cuddles with cat
Think everything is food
Park
Play with his brother
treats
Sleeping
We adopted Boo-man about 5 years ago. We only had him and he was an extremely good dog. He cuddled with his stuffed animals, never barked at anyone, he ignored other dogs, squirrels, birds, etc. We once got home and our birds had gotten out. Boo-man was laying next to them and seemed just to enjoy the company, he didn't bother them at all. We got him a brother and he started learning more of how to act like a dog haha. He barks at other others occasionally. He seems to be happy to have a brother to cuddle with and play with. Boo-man is a great dog. He knows how to sit and shake when I give him treats. He loves attention and food. He's amazing with other dogs and kids. He's funny because when we have people over he always likes to lay in the middle of the everyone's way. But he doesn't bother anyone and he won't go to his bed until everyone is gone. I think he loves the company.
2 months ago
Joey Jo-Jo Jr. Shabadoo
3 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Short walks
Cuddling
Doing laps of the yard
Going outside when the neighbours dogs are out
Barking at birds
Occasional Car Rides
staring out the window
Sleeping
He's so cuddly! Licks compulsively (we call him Sir Licks Alot). Jumps up/licks on everyone. Will sit for treats ...the only trick he does. Scratches at back door to go out for the loo. He has a bit of a weight problem. We didn't realize we were overfeeding him so much. He went on a diet last November and was steadily losing weight until the last couple month (we think he has started getting table scrapes from our youngest child) We have 2 older kids (8 and 7) and he was supposed to be our last 'baby' then we ended up pregnant with our third child when he was 1. Our third is now 15 months and Joey has started peeing in the house in the past 6 months. We are not sure if it is the stress of the kids or jealousy of the baby. My husband is at the end of his rope with it though. But he is so freaking adorable and sweet!!!
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Kandy
14 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Watching her play with her sister cat
Walking
Throwing toys
She is brown with white accents on her paws face and belly. She loves to chase the cat waits for me to come home. She is adorable loves to nibble my fingers and her toys get lots of exercise lol. Love to see her playing in the snow and loves her walks. She is a barker and loves her beauty treatments at Petsmart
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Lulu
6 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My dog is 1/4 cavalier and 3/4 shih tzu. She is such a pretty good looking dog and is always happy to see people, she is very hard to train she can barely sit, but we're working on it. I love her do much, she is such a loving dog and wouldn't hurt a fly, seriously Haha.
4 months, 1 week ago
Hershey
3 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Nap
Play
Eating Snacks
Very sweet, gets along well with anyone he meets. He usually stays at home during the day and has figured out when he's about to be left here, so he tries to hide and gets sad. It's really cute, but we have to leave anyways. Overall it's a really great experience with a Cava-Tzu.
7 months, 4 weeks ago
Derby
13 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch tug of war, watch Independent play time
We are mid 70's and thin skinned so many bites from play, not agression. Puppy hood is making us quite tired. Progress every week. Easy to train and a joy.
8 months, 1 week ago
Ralph
4 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
They are very friendly and would rather lick then bite.
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Stella
Four Years
2 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
A joyful dog to have at home.
11 months, 3 weeks ago
Layla
9 Years
4 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing in the snow
Chase squirrels and stray kitties
Listening to me talk about my day
Shake
Speak
Hide & Seek
High Five
Going on drives
Tug-of-war
Playing fetch
She’s a loveable family dog and she’s super attached to her mommy. She knows basic commands which include sit, shake, high five, speak, lay down and occasionally she’ll roll over. She’s loves sleeping with me and going for walks. She gets super excited when she sees squirrels and cats and she has a cat brother of her own haha. Unfortunately, her pitbull sister crossed the rainbow bridge last month but Layla and her cat brother Leo are getting extra kisses and love each day
1 year ago
Noodle
6 Years
1 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Long walks in woods and fields and training
Very friendly with children, visitors and other dogs (even gets on well with the cat). Affectionate, quiet but with loads of energy. Playful and fun
1 year, 1 month ago
Cookie
1 Year
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Very Friendly and easy to train.
1 year, 3 months ago
Bailey
13 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
The best dog breed hands down! I love my Bailey!
1 year, 5 months ago
Milo
4 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
He's great, but can't get him to wee or poo outside. He's uses trainer pads all the time.holds it in until we return after a long walk.help !
1 year, 5 months ago
Tifa
4 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Light Rough Housing
Cuddling on the couch
Dog Parks
Napping
Fetch
She is super affectionate, very cuddly, and a big licker. She is 100% food motivated for all her training, will lay next to our feet in the kitchen while we cook, and will eat anything she can find on the floor that fits in her mouth, but she doesn't beg or grab food off the coffee table. And she is very good at the "drop it" command, it is never a fight to get something OUT of her mouth that shouldn't be there (but she will try to hide things and chew them in secret) She LOVES toys of all kinds - chewing them, chasing them, tugging, squeaking, etc etc. She spends most of her day sleeping/cuddling with short bursts of energy for 10-20 minutes. She isn't a huge fan of other dogs despite being socialized at the dog park since she was 4 months old. She is very submissive and will hide between my legs if a high energy dog approaches her. She's a 16lbs bundle of cute fluffy licky love!
1 year, 6 months ago
Dezi
15 Weeks
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Small, sleeps a lot, gets along with other pets! Likes cats, happy, smiley, lively. Perfect for a 11-15 responsible child looking for a first puppy!
1 year, 7 months ago
Sophie
5 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play
Walking
She is a very sweet girl and also somewhat lazy
1 year, 7 months ago
Charleigh
3 Months
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We have only had her for a short time but she is such a joy already. Very easy to potty train. She is extremely cuddly & has been doing well in a crate when we are not at home. She sleeps with us at night.
1 year, 10 months ago
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