10-25 lbs
8-12"
Unknown
In the past few years, the popularity of designer mixes have been on the rise. The Cavottish is a small hybrid breed that was created from two purebred dogs; the Cavalier King Charles and the Scottish Terrier. Although these two breeds are quite different individually, when mixed together they create a calm, quiet and playful companion pet. These dogs have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and can do well living in apartments. They do not enjoy cold climates, however, and can also be stubborn. It is important to properly train and socialize your dog if you want to raise a confident and obedient pet.
The Cavottish is a new breed that was created recently in the United States by crossbreeding a Scottish Terrier with a Cavalier King Charles. Although not much is documented on the origin of these dogs, their parent breeds have interesting and ancient histories. During the 1600s, the Cavalier King Charles was a favorite breed of King Charles I of Britain, as well as King Charles II. The old version of the breed almost disappeared when Queen Victoria began breeding dogs who were a cross of the Cavalier, the Pug and the Japanese Chin. Roswell Eldridge, an American who was visiting England in 1920, was disappointed to find that the new version of the breed was taking over and that the original type was fading away. As he was unable to find the old version of these dogs, he decided to create a contest in 1926 at the Crufts dog show with a reward for the best looking male and female that were the old world version of the Cavalier. For five years he used the contest to draw attention and motivate the revival of the breed. These dogs went through a tough time during the Second World War, as it was nearly impossible to import stud dogs. Because of this, the breeders were forced to resort to inbreeding, which was the only way to maintain the breed. Scotland is the place of origin of the Scottish Terrier, where they were used as ratters in the 1800s. Not much more is documented on the history of these dogs.
These dogs shed a lot and will need regular coat care, such as periodic clippings and daily brushings. The coat of this breed can be different since they may take on the fur of either parent. The Cavalier King Charles is a fairly low maintenance pup and should be brushed a few times every week in order to keep the coat clean, shiny and tangle free. They will need to be bathed when necessary, which may be more often than others since they are quite active and adventurous outdoors. These dogs do not require trimming, but some owners choose to trim the fur around the feet to keep them neat. Scottish Terriers can be more of a challenge to groom, and will need weekly brushing. Use a hound glove, a stiff brush and a wide tooth comb for the face, as well as scissors. Bathe them as needed, but not too often as it can irritate and dry out their skin. Their coats willI need to be clipped either once every eight weeks if you choose to keep their fur short, or a few times per year if kept long. They can also react badly to flea bites and should be brushed with a flea comb. All dogs need their teeth brushed every day, or at least two or three times per week. Clean out your pet’s ears weekly, and trim the nails once or twice per month.
The temperaments of the Cavottish will vary between that of the Cavalier King Charles’ and the Scottish Terrier. This breed will be cheerful, loyal, courageous, smart and independent. They are friendly pets around family and friends, but they can be suspicious of strangers. Because of this, they will bark at people they don’t know and make great watchdogs. How well the Cavottish does around children will vary with the individual. The Cavalier King Charles gets along quite well with kids, but the Scottish Terrier does not and therefore it will depend on which trait it develops, as well as how they are brought up. Due to their independence and stubbornness, it can sometimes be tough to train this breed. Obedience training will require some consistent effort and the owner will need to prove that they are the leader of the pack. All dogs should be properly trained and socialized, even if it can be difficult to do, in order to create calm and confident pets that will respect and obey you as the owner.
These dogs love to swim and are very playful. They are active indoors, and can be happy living in any home, including apartments. Cavalier King Charles often develop anxiety, especially if they do not get out enough to experience the outdoors. Therefore, take them on walks daily. You should give the Cavottish between 30 and 45 minutes of exercise every day. However, some dogs may need more or less, depending on the individual.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 10/07/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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