The Cava Tzu is a designer dog bred from a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Shih Tzu. At first look, you will recognize the distinct features of a Shih Tzu, tiny with a recognizable underbite. But depending on which parent is dominant, a Cava Tzu can look different from other dogs of its breed. People interested in taking care of this dog breed want to know more about it. Hence, this guide is written.
Expand your knowledge about different dog breeds, including the Cava Tzu. These adorable dogs have unique appearances and temperaments that you will find interesting.
What Does A Cava Tzu Look Like?
A Cava Tzu acquires a combination of the physical traits of both its parents. When it comes to appearance, they are more like their Shih Tzu parents, with a distinct underbite. They also have fluffy, curly ears that are a trait they inherit from the Cavalier breed.
Cava Tzu is a designer dog that can come in different coat colors, from brown, black, white, ruby, and tan. The coat of this dog breed is also thick, curly, and silky. Who would ever resist the urge to hug this dog?
The Origin Of Cava Tzu
Cava Tzu, just like other designer dogs, is bred on purpose to attain the good characteristics of its parent breeds. Usually, they are direct descendants of two purebreds, named with a combination of the names of their parents. Regarding this trend, people are giving a mix of opinions, and many dog lovers are against it for several reasons.
But before anything else, check out the information on Cava Tzu parents below to know where it got most of its characteristics:
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
One of the parents of Cava Tzu is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a famous dog ideal to be a companion. The Cavalier breed was most popular during the 16th to 18th centuries, commonly seen in King Charles I and II’s royal courts, where it got its name.
This dog breed nearly disappeared, but in the 1920s, an American breeder revived the breed. The Cavalier loves to be surrounded by people as it is very social. One of its favorites is to sit on someone’s lap and get attention.
A Cavalier can be quiet, playful, noisy, energetic, and sometimes quiet in terms of behavior. It will most likely follow you around since it hates being left alone. This dog breed loves to eat, so it would go along with training if you give it some treats.
The Shih Tzu
The other parent of the Cava Tzu is the Shih Tzu, one of the oldest dog breeds today. Shih Tzu originates from China or Tibet and is known as a treasured companion dog back in the day. You can find them in old paintings and documents in Chinese and Tibetan history.
The reason why they are highly favored in the old times is because of their submissive personality. This dog breed is intelligent, has a positive outlook, and is called the lion dog.
The Shih Tzu first came to England in 1928 when a breeding pair from China arrived. The American Kennel Club recognized this dog breed in 1969. Today, it is still an excellent companion dog that pleases its humans. It is also very affectionate and loving, and it loves receiving love too.
Typical Size Of Cava Tzu
The Cava Tzu is quite small, especially that it is a descendant of the Shih Tzu and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The average height of a Cava Tzu is between 9 and 18 inches and weighs around 10 to 16 pounds.
Cava Tzu Temperament
Since both parents of the Cava Tzu are smart, they are also smart to react to your commands during training. This dog breed is eager to please its owners and is teachable enough to pick up commands easily. You will commend how submissive and obedient this dog breed is.
Aside from being obedient, the Cava Tzu is also loyal and affectionate. They like spending time with their family, making them ideal for households with young kids. Sometimes, they get too excited that they jump up, so make sure to monitor smaller children when they are around.
You can also tell that they are friendly dogs as they are comfortable around strangers. They also enjoy being surrounded by people, especially when they play with them.
The Cava Tzu loves playing ball games too. They love going for walks and taking a nap after. If you live in an apartment, this dog breed won’t complain even when left alone for a short time. People who always go out for work during the day could live with Cava Tzu without having a problem.
Another characteristic of this dog breed is that they don’t bark as much as other small dogs. Aside from that, they respond well to positive reinforcement and rewards. Cuddle them while watching your favorite Sunday night show, and they will love it.
Training And Exercise Needs Of A Cava Tzu
How Much Exercise Does The Cava Tzu Need?
The Cava Tzu is a little bit active. Due to its small size, it can easily adapt into apartment living, playing indoors whenever it can. To keep them healthy, make sure to take them for a walk every day. They also love going to a dog park and playing with you and other dogs.
When a Cava Tzu doesn’t get enough physical activity, it will become restless and show poor behavior. It could also become overweight. It might be unnecessary to have a backyard to take care of this dog breed, but they need to be free from their leash and have some fun. Be reminded that a Cava Tzu is a good jumper, so make sure to put up a higher fence in your yard.
Is It Easy To Train A Cava Tzu?
Yes, a Cava Tzu tends to be easy to train because it is intelligent and loves pleasing its human companion. It will react well to your commands and is very obedient, needing fewer iterations than other dog breeds.
But regarding house training, a Cava Tzu might require a longer time to learn. Start socializing and training it at a young age to avoid any misbehavior in the future.
When training your Cava Tzu, be consistent, firm, and fair. Training will allow you to correct some of its bad habits, like jumping on people incredibly when excited. You may use positive reinforcements such as treats, rewards, and praise.
Food And Diet Requirements Of A Cava Tzu
Since this designer dog is tiny, their food won’t cost as much as huge dogs. They usually require at least a cup of kibble daily.
But never use this as an excuse to give them inferior foods that utilize cheap fillers like corn and wheat. These dog foods are packed with empty calories that won’t benefit your pet. Instead, choose high-quality kibble that can supply their daily fat and protein needs.
You can also feed them wet food, but with the right amount. It is also best to balance the diet of your Cava Tzu by alternating kibble and wet food. Serving only wet food is not suitable for your furry friend as it is an extremely calorie-dense food. On the other hand, it is an excellent way to hydrate a Cava Tzu, especially during hot days.
Another tip is to limit how many treats and table scraps you give your pet. The Cava Tzu is fast to gain weight, so it is vital to feed them healthy amounts and kinds of foods.
Grooming
Grooming plays a huge part when taking care of a Cava Tzu. This dog breed features a thick, moderately long soft coat and a bushy feathering on its legs, ears, and tail. While these features make it look adorable, the abundant feathering on its body becomes easily tangled and are hard to maintain. Its hairs trap leaves, burrs, and twigs wherever it goes.
For this reason, you have to make sure to give it a quick comb every day. It will prevent knots on your pet’s coat.
Your pet will benefit from regular brushing, but if you are too busy to do so, you can get away with it twice a week. Just make sure to remove teasels and tangles before they get worse.
Health Problems
Crossbreeding reduces the occurrence of health problems of a certain dog breed. But, this doesn’t mean that cross-bred dogs like Cava Tzu are not likely to have health issues. These dogs are also susceptible to health issues such as disease syringomyelia, mitral valve, patellar luxation, eye problems, hip dysplasia, and brachycephalic syndrome.
3 Little-Known Facts About Cava-Tzus
1. A Cava Tzu Varies In Appearance But Looks More Like Shih Tzus
Since the Cava Tzu is bred from Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Shih Tzu, there are times when it looks different from other dogs of the breed. You can’t expect this dog to look exactly like a Cavalier or a Shih Tzu, either. But for sure, it will resemble more like a Shih Tzu than a Cavalier.
The temperament and appearance of both its parents are unique. So, depending on which genes are stronger, it will determine how your pet turns out.
For those who like to adopt a Cava Tzu that is more like a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in terms of looks, they exist. So, talk to a reputable breeder to find one.
2. Cava-Tzus Rarely Bark
Dogs bark for many reasons, including expressing emotion, calling out to other dogs, being territorial, or when trying to get your attention. But Cava Tzus rarely bark, making them polite houseguests. They also fit living in an apartment as they won’t irritate your neighbors.
3. Both Parent Breeds Have Royal Blood
This designer dog is a direct descendant of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a companion dog in English royal courts in the 17th century, and Shih Tzus, monarchs’ favorite in Tibetan royalty in the 9th century.
Are These Dogs Good For Families?
If you are planning to adopt a Cava Tzu soon, it is essential that you know if it is ideal for your household first. Fortunately, this dog breed is an excellent pet for families, regardless of how big your household is. They also interact well with small children. So if you have a toddler at home, there is no problem taking in a Cava Tzu.
A family with many members would also love to have this dog as they are playful. They constantly look for a playmate, giving you a whole day’s entertainment during your off days.
Older families could also take care of a Cava Tzu as they are very affectionate dogs. Since this dog breed is moderately active, older families can easily keep up. An overly energetic dog can be overwhelming for older individuals to take care of. They also fit living with individuals who live alone as they are excellent companions.
Young individuals who live alone won’t find it challenging to live with a Cava Tzu. These dogs can handle being alone for a while. It will allow you to leave home for work without worrying about a sulking dog.
Just like any other dog, this tiny furry friend can give you as much love and affection. So, if you are tired after work, it will quietly sit on your lap to allow you to rest.
Does The Cava Tzu Get Along With Other Pets?
If you are a certified pet lover, a Cava Tzu is an excellent addition to your family. Knowing that it is highly sociable and non-aggressive, it won’t cause trouble while taking it for a walk or even introducing it to your other pets. It highly depends on the other pet.
Only be careful when introducing it to your not-so-friendly cat and aging dog who had its last zoomie a long time ago. Overall, bringing a Cava Tzu over won’t cause too much drama in your home.
Conclusion
The Cava Tzu is definitely one of the many tiny designer dogs that most families will love. They can capture anyone’s heart with their adorable fluffy fears and unique smile.
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