What is a Cavern Hill Zuchon?

Zuchons are the Hybrid between the AKC Bichon Frise and the AKC Shih Tzu.  There has been some confusion about this breed. An F1 is 50% Bichon and 50% Shih Tzu. In order to produce the healthiest offspring you must breed out the undesirable traits of each breed mentioned above. To accomplish this a responsible breeder must look for the health, conformation and personality of each dog. This means you are going into the genetics or heredity and variation of inherited characteristics of each breed. The only way to accomplish this is breeding the best of your line producing F2’s, F3’s and so on. This  is referred to as the quantitative genetics of continuous traits. That was almost 17 years ago.  Our puppies are F1's ~ F7’s. All of our Cavern Hill Zuchon puppies are registered!

How much does a Cavern Hill Zuchon cost?

The total purchase price is $2,000; all payments are non-refundable and come off the total purchase price. To adopt a puppy, we require a $350 deposit to hold your litter pick (held in order of deposit). Your remaining balance is split into two equal payments. The first payment is due when your puppy is 4-weeks and at the 8-week take home date; both payments are $825. If you're ready to begin your Cavern Hill Zuchon adoption process, click this link to start your Adoption Process.

How do I make my Cavern Hill Zuchon deposit?

We need two things - a completed contract (on our Adoption Process page) and your $350 non-refundable deposit. There are two ways you can do this. 
The fastest way is to provide us with your first/last name, email, and cell phone number so we send you a business invoice through PayPal; this can be sent through text at 828-448-2869 or email at [email protected]. The slower way is to mail us a personal check, but is not recorded  as a deposit until it is cleared in the bank; checks need to be made payable to "Cavern Hill Zuchons" and with "Zuchon Baby" written on the memo line.

What type of communication is there once we make a deposit?

One of our goals is to communicate well to put you at ease for when and how you'll be updated throughout your puppy's journey!

• Deposit Confirmation - you will receive a text message confirming we received your signed contract and deposit payment.  
• Birth - you will receive a text along with a group photo and the date by which we need your second payment collected. 
• 4-Weeks - you will receive a text confirming receipt of your first $825 payment along with another group video of the litter. 
• 6-Weeks - you will receive a text to schedule your pick-up date or finalize shipping (require a non-stop flight to be organized by you heading out of Charlotte, NC).
• 8-Weeks - puppies ready for their new homes. 

What is the temperament and size; and do you have a health guarantee?

Our Zuchons puppies typically triple their 8-week old weight as an adult. Zuchon temperaments are great with seniors, children, and love other animals.  All our puppies come with a Health Guarantee. Cavern Hill wants our babies to join your family healthy, happy and well adjusted. We begin our "First Steps" training with your baby at about 5 weeks of age.  They begin to learn simple commands like come, sit, shhh, go potty  Your baby will have the understanding of sleeping in his/her kennel (Crate). Please take your puppy to your vet during the first 7 days after you have picked him/her up. If in the event your vet finds a life threatening illness with your baby, please ask your vet to supply all health related papers to confirm his/her findings along with the vet organization he /she is apart containing all contact information. We will refund your monies or another puppy given. See our contract for more details. We at Cavern Hill also provide a "Life Long" policy. If for any reason you can no longer care for you puppy/dog you can return him/her to us in good health and with all original paper work and all health records.   We ask that you take you puppy/dog for a complete health exam with in 3 days of returning him/her. Because we want to protect our babies on site, we need a letter form your vet on their letter head stating results of this exam and that he/she is in good health. If in the event he/she should become sick before he/she is picked up and we are unable to provide you with a puppy, the deposit would be refunded or the choice of another puppy form our next litter given.  

What is the American Zuchon Kennel Club (AZKC)?

  AZKC strives to support  "Home Breeders" in an effort to produce quality, loving, healthy, intelligent, Zuchons who are well rounded and ready to  join there new families! The Zuchon hybrid is highly desirable and in demand as family pets. American Canine Hybrids Club was organized to maintain accurate records and pedigrees in these pets. Hybrid vigor has long been recognized by both animal and plant geneticists as being superior in many aspects. These hybrids deserve recognition and documentation, and the pet owner deservers certification attesting to the authenticity of their pet. Thus the owner of the American Canine Hybrid may be assured of the highest quality in  their pet being deliberately bred for the desired qualities! Don't settle for anything less!

Want to hear from testimonies from previous Cavern Hill families?

If you want to speak directly to one of our customers (Cavern Hill families), we'd be happy to provide you with their contact information upon request. Feel free to reach out to us. 

What tips can you recommend to a new Cavern Hill Zuchon adoptive parent?

Our goal at Cavern Hill Zuchons is to provide you with a healthy and happy puppy while supporting you in the transition.  One way we help our clients it to supply them with a puppy packet. This packet includes critical information such as feeding instructions, health records, proper training methods, as well as, noteworthy information such as when your pup first opened their eyes or got their first tooth, etc.  

Are Zuchons hypoallergenic?

Out of the top ten best hypoallergenic dog breeds, Bichon Frise is #10 and the Shih Tzu is #6. The combination of these make up the very healthy, intelligent, hypoallergenic, and loving little lap babies called the Zuchons. 

Should I be concerned with puppy mill puppies?

In recent years, puppy mills have hired puppy brokers to sell their stock who have multiple breeds available. I recommend caution of these brokers and that you inquire if they provide three to five generation pedigrees, have a health guarantee, and have the parents on-site? Unfortunately if the puppies are not well bred they often have health issues as they mature.