Kashon

12-17 lbs
10-13"
United States
Bichon Frise
Cairn Terrier
Bairn, Kachon

 

The Kashon, also known as the Bairn, is a deliberate crossbreed between the Cairn Terrier, a small but determined hunter of otter and fox from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and the Bichon Frise, a clever, adaptable, and entertaining companion animal. The resulting hybrid is typically a friendly and affectionate canine with all ages but may become overwhelmed when exposed to very young or unpredictable children. These dogs do require a bit of a commitment when it comes to grooming, but they are well suited to apartment life as they do not require a great deal of room or daily exercise.
purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Bichon Frise and Cairn Terrier

Kashon Health

Average Size
Male Kashon size stats
Height: 10-13 inches Weight: 12-17 lbs
Female Kashon size stats
Height: 10-13 inches Weight: 12-17 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Cataracts
  • Atopic Dermatitis
  • Mitral Valve Disease
  • Craniomandibular Osteopathy
Minor Concerns
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Shaker Dog Syndrome
  • Corneal Dystrophy
  • Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
  • Hemophilia
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Epilepsy
  • Urolithiasis
  • Portosystemic Shunts
Occasional Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Radiographs
  • Blood Analysis
  • Neurological Testing

Kashon Breed History

The Kashon is a designer dog, an intentional crossbreed between an entertaining and affectionate companion animal known as the Bichon Frise, and the Cairn Terrier, a small, tenacious terrier that was originally employed as pest control on farms on the Isle of Skye. The Cairn Terrier is the descendant of a very old line of terriers that hunted vermin such as otters and foxes along the wild, rocky shores of Scotland. All of Scotland’s terriers were simply lumped together under the heading of Scotch Terrier until 1873 when the Terriers were separated out into the subcategories of Dandie Dinmont and Skye Terriers. The Cairn Terrier fits into the subcategory of Skye Terriers, along with the Scottish Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier, and was first imported into the United States 1913. The Bichon Frise is a small dog that is most often solid white. This breed is the descendant of an ancient Italian water spaniel, the same Italian water spaniel that contributed heavily to both the Poodle and the Maltese dog breeds. Known as the Bichon Tenerife and prized for their cheerful and loving dispositions, Bichon Frise dogs often traveled with sailors both to rid the ship of vermin and to be used as items of trade. From the 1300’s to the 1800’s they were favored by one royal family or another, but when they fell out of favor with the royals, these spunky little dogs were able to find success working the streets with organ grinders and performing tricks at circuses and fairs. This breed was first introduced to the United States in 1956 and was not recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club until 1972. 

Kashon Breed Appearance

The Kashon is a small, sturdy dog with a cheerful and keen disposition. This hybrid is typically slightly longer than it is tall and has a head that is slightly rounded and a little broader than most, with round eyes that can come in the dark brown or black of the Bichon Frise or the Hazel color of the Cairn Terrier. The ears of the two parent breeds are quite different as well, as the Cairn Terrier has small, upright triangular ears while the Bichon Frise has drop ears that are set lower on the skull than the ears of the Cairn Terrier. Although the crossbreed could inherit either ear type, the majority seem to end up with medium-length ears that are set high and wide on the skull and fold down to the front or to the sides. This hybrid has a double layer coat with a dense, plush-like undercoat and coarse or wiry outer layer. 

Eye Color Possibilities
hazel Kashon eyes
Hazel
brown Kashon eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Kashon nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Kashon coat
Black
brindle Kashon coat
Brindle
cream Kashon coat
Cream
gray Kashon coat
Gray
red Kashon coat
Red
silver Kashon coat
Silver
white Kashon coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Kashon wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Kashon Breed Maintenance

Choosing a Kashon hybrid as a companion means committing to a great deal of grooming thanks to the thick, plushy undercoat which traps shed hair and causes large tangles and mats to form if not thoroughly brushed and combed on a daily basis. This plushy layer of fur can also be very hard to get dry after bathing, and moisture that is held near the skin can cause uncomfortable skin reactions to develop. It is important to get all tangles and mats out of this dog’s fur before bathing them as any tangles that are present during bathing become nearly impossible to untangle and may need to be cut out. 

Brushes for Kashon
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Dematter
Dematter
Comb
Comb
Scissors
Scissors
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Kashon requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Kashon Temperament

This engaging little dog has all of the charm and pluck of its parent breeds, is easily trainable, and tends to get along well with both adults and children, but may become pushy towards other pets and has a very high prey drive. Interactions between these dogs and children should be closely supervised to ensure that no jealousy or possessiveness develop and contact remains peaceful. In most cases, these dogs are gentle, affectionate, and cheerful, but they can also display the boldness, bravery, and stubbornness characteristic of terriers. Kashons may often excel at trick training, agility courses, and advanced obedience due to their high intelligence and their drive to please. Their intelligent and inquisitive natures require consistent mental stimulation and if they are not given something to do, they will find something to do. If these dogs are left to their own devices with inadequate mental stimulation for too long, they can become anxious, vocal, and even destructive. 

Kashon Activity Requirements

The Kashon is an energetic animal, but they do not require a great deal of effort in order to ensure that they get enough exercise, just around 30 minutes of vigorous activity per day, preferably broken up into two or three shorter exercise sessions. Along with short, brisk walks, this crossbreed may enjoy alternative activities such as advanced obedience training, agility training, and rally work. This canine is usually fairly quiet and can live quite happily in either a large or small home, but they should never be left outside without supervision as they may be a tempting target for local predators.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
4 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes
activity minutes

Kashon Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
0.5 cups
Daily Cost
$0.70 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Kashon Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Kashon size stats at six months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
Female Kashon size stats at six months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Kashon size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 14.5 lbs
Female Kashon size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 14.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Kashon size stats at 18 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 14.5 lbs
Female Kashon size stats at 18 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 14.5 lbs

Kashon Owner Experiences

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