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Kashon |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Great Britain <> France / Belgium -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen | |
This breed is also known as |
Bairn |
A brief presentation of the Kashon |
| The Kashon, also known as the Bairn, is a deliberate cross between the Cairn Terrier, a small but determined hunter of otters and foxes from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and the Bichon frise, an intelligent, adaptable and entertaining pet. The resulting hybrid is generally a friendly, affectionate dog of all ages, but can be overwhelmed when exposed to very young or unpredictable children. These dogs require a little commitment to grooming, but are well suited to apartment living as they don't need much space or daily exercise. |
History of the Kashon |
| The Kashon is a specific cross between an entertaining and affectionate pet known as the Bichon frise, and the Cairn Terrier, a tenacious little Terrier that was originally used as a pest control on farms on the Isle of Skye. |
A little of the Cairn Terrier |
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| The Cairn Terrier is descended from an ancient line of Terriers that hunted vermin such as otters and foxes along Scotland's wild, rocky coastline. All Scottish Terriers were simply grouped together under the title Scotch Terrier until 1873, when they were separated into the sub-categories Dandie Dinmont and Skye Terriers. The Cairn Terrier belongs to the Skye Terrier sub-category, along with the Scottish Terrier and West Highland White Terrier, and was first imported into the United States in 1913. | ||
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| Standard of the Cairn Terrier | ||
A little of the Bichon frise |
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| The Bichon frise is a small dog that is mostly solid white. This breed is the descendant of an ancient Italian Water Spaniel, the same Italian Water Spaniel that greatly contributed to the Poodle and Maltese breeds. Known as Bichon Tenerife and prized for their cheerful, affectionate dispositions, Bichon frise dogs often traveled with sailors both to rid the ship of vermin and to be used as trade items. From the 1300s to the 1800s, they were favored by one royal family or another, but when they fell out of favor with the royal family, these plucky little dogs were able to find success working the streets with organ grinders and performing tricks at circuses and fairs. The breed was first introduced to the United States in 1956, and was not recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club until 1972. | ||
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| Standard of the Bichon frise |
Appearance of the Kashon |
| The Kashon is a sturdy little dog with a cheerful, lively disposition. This hybrid is generally slightly longer than it is tall, and has a slightly rounded head that is a little wider 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 also very different, as the Cairn Terrier has small, straight triangular ears while the Bichon frise has floppy ears that sit lower on the skull than the Cairn Terrier's ears. Although the cross may inherit either type of ear, the majority seem to end up with medium-length ears that are set high and wide on the skull and fold forward or to the sides. This hybrid has a double-layered coat with a dense, fluffy undercoat and a coarse or wiry outer layer. |
Temperament of the Kashon |
| This engaging little dog has all the charm and courage of its parent breeds, is easy to train and tends to get on well with adults and children, but can become pushy towards other pets and has a very large prey drive. Interactions between these dogs and children must be closely supervised to ensure that no jealousy or possessiveness develops, and that 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 can often excel in figure training, agility classes and advanced obedience due to their high intelligence and willingness to please. Their intelligent, inquisitive nature requires constant mental stimulation, and if they're not given something to do, they'll find something to do. If left to their own devices with inadequate mental stimulation for too long, these dogs can become anxious, vocal and even destructive. |
Needs and activities of the Kashon |
| The Kashon is an energetic animal, but it doesn't require much effort to ensure it gets enough exercise, about 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day, preferably divided into two or three shorter exercise sessions. In addition to short, brisk walks, this crossbreed can benefit from alternative activities such as advanced obedience training, agility training and rally work. This dog is generally quite calm and can live very well in a large or small home, but should never be left outside unsupervised as it can be a tempting target for local predators. |
Maintenance of the Kashon |
| Choosing a Kashon hybrid as a companion means committing to a lot of grooming thanks to the thick, fluffy undercoat that traps loose hair and causes large tangles and mats to form if not carefully brushed and combed daily. This fluffy layer of fur can also be very difficult to dry after bathing, and moisture held close to the skin can cause uncomfortable skin reactions. It's important to remove all tangles and mats from this dog's fur before bathing, as any tangles present during bathing become almost impossible to untangle and may need to be cut out. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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