“Toy Poodle Bichon Frise Mix”
Also known as Bichon Poos, Bichpoos, and Bichon Poodles, Poochons are a cross between Toy Poodles and Bichon Frises. The Poochon’s teddy bear looks and affectionate nature has endeared to many dog lovers. Among the most popular of the Poodle crosses, Poochon is an excellent family pet choice for both families and singles. Their intelligence and temperament make them easy to train, and are good candidates for apartment dogs.
Breed Features
First bred in Australia, the sprightly Poochon aimed to combine the best traits of its parents. Poochons are a small breed of dog, often growing to about a foot in height and weighing up to 16 pounds. They have almond eyes, a short snout, and long, floppy ears.
Their distinguishing characteristic is their wooly coat, which resembles the wiry texture of Poodle fur. Although Poochons commonly come in white like a Bichon Frise, they can have coats in other colors such as cream, apricot, dark gray, and black, which they’ve inherited from their poodle forebears.
Besides its familiar Poodle-like fur, the Poochon also frequently boasts of the Poodle’s trademark intelligence and obedience, while keeping the friendly if mischievous playful disposition of the Bichon Frise. Poochons share the same average lifespan as both their parent breeds at about 12 to 15 years.
Meet the Parents
The Poochon frequently embodies the best traits of its parent dogs. Toy Poodles are a small variant of the famous breed—arguably with one of the most recognizable silhouettes among all dog breeds. Poodles are more than just the epitome of fabulous; their intelligence is remarkable, a result of their past history as working dogs.
As one of the world’s oldest pure breeds, the Poodle traces its origins to continental Europe. First emerging in Germany, Poodles as we know them today, were standardized in France, where they became popular. Toy Poodles, meanwhile, were first bred from standard Poodles in the 18th Century.
Bichon Frises, meanwhile, have fur that forms a familiar circular shape, which makes them look like teddy bears when groomed. These white dogs have an affectionate and playful personality that complement their baby-like cuteness, which is often paired with a feisty and mischievous attitude. Barely a foot tall at the shoulder, Bichon Frises are small dogs that do not shed, making them ideal for families who lived in small spaces.
Bichon Frises were first developed in the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. They and their related breeds were popular with sailors around the Mediterranean, who spread them around Southern Europe.
Personalities
Poochons in general are known for their affectionate personalities. A sociable dog by nature, the Poochon is a friendly and approachable dog that can be kept well around children and even other pets. Poochons are also natural cuddle bugs and typically enjoy constant physical contact with family members. They make great pets for people who like to snuggle with a cute animal, and they are always eager to curl up on the bed or couch with family members.
Poochons are remarkably patient animals and can tolerate the antics of the various people—young and old—and animals in the household. Once adopted, they quickly come to love their new families and often greet their pet parents with a happy disposition at all times. This has a downside, however, in that they are likely to feel nonchalant and skittish when left without anyone to interact with. This is a pet that will need constant attention and affection from its family.
Like most mixed breeds, Poochons are hardly a completely predictable type of dog in terms of personality. How much of their temperaments they get from one parent or another is heavily dependent on which of their genes are more dominant, which can be spotted early on through a careful observation of their behaviors as puppies.
Poochons are playful, sweet, and extremely cuddly dogs. They are like Velcro’s that stick with you wherever you go. Every time is cuddle time with Poochons; may it be in your bed, couch, or on your lap. They are natural charmers and incredibly kid friendly dogs. If you have a large family with seniors and kids, this cute little doggie is a perfect suit.
They are likely to be friendly towards strangers but when trained, they can be efficient watchdogs as well. They can bark excessively to warn you of anything suspicious. Poochons are extremely social breeds. They need constant socialization with humans and with other dogs. Make sure to give ample amount of your time to this affectionate pup.
Grooming Needs
Both the Bichon Frise and the Poodle are known for their haircuts that give them their familiar cartoonish silhouettes. The Poochon shares their hair texture—and the associated maintenance chores that come with it.
Poochon’s fur can get dirty and long quickly. Therefore, they should receive a haircut once every two months or if their fur starts to cover their eyes. They would also need a daily brushing regimen and periodic baths to keep their fur from becoming crusted and matted up.
Like their parents, Poochons do not shed as much as other dogs. Although they may not truly be hypoallergenic, they leave little dander behind to exacerbate any existing allergies. Their infrequent and scant shedding make them ideal dogs for people who want to keep a home tidy; they don’t leave a lot of hair around to vacuum up.
Poochons are average maintenance when it comes to grooming. They have medium length, semi thick coat that needs scheduled grooming to keep them slick and clean. You need to regularly brush their curly mane to prevent it from being tangled.
Bathe them when necessary. Brush their teeth to keep it healthy. There are special dental treats that you can feed them that can keep your pup’s teeth and breath clean. Check their ears for infection. Poochons eyes’ are prone to tears. Wipe it with cloth to prevent tearstains in the fur near their eyes.
Diet
All growing pups should be fed with healthy and nutritious food to ensure a healthy and long life. Make sure to buy the best dog food for your dog. Poochon pups also tend to gain weight when overfed, so better stick to a feeding pattern.
A Poochon’s dietary needs will change from their puppy years to adulthood. A monthly visit to the veterinarian is a must to consult for diet recommendations.
Training
Much like the Poodle and the Bichon Frise, the Poochon has a reputation for intelligence. With the appropriate training and discipline, the Poochon can be trained to adapt to apartment living and can even be taught to do an assortment of tricks. Training is one of the easiest aspects of living with a Poochon; they learn quickly, are incredibly eager to please, and respond well to reinforcement thanks to their peaceable temperament. When training a Poochon, always have a large amount of snacks as a reward for a job well done.
Their intellect, however, comes with a need for constant mental stimulation. Poochons may feel anxious and jittery in the absence of something or someone to play with. In this state, they can be prone to barking excessively or begin chewing on household objects. Giving them a chew toy and taking them out for a daily walk is one way to keep them mentally occupied while curbing and preventing problem behaviors.
Discipline is an important part of any dog training regimen, and Poochons are no different. Much like other toy breeds and mixes, Poochons are quite susceptible to “small dog syndrome,” in which small dogs that have been excessively pampered take a domineering attitude toward the family and others. When taking in a Poochon, you shouldn’t overindulge them. Fortunately for owners, the Poochon’s natural inclination to please make establishing a training regimen for them early on quite easy.
You will not have any problems in their potty training and teaching them new tricks. As a dog owner, it is important that you train them while their still young. Teach them to socialize with other dogs, people, and kids at an early age.
Some Poochon pups tend to be nervous around new people. This can result to inappropriate snipping and excessive barking. You must train them early to avoid these unpleasant behaviors. Training them will keep them physically healthy and mentally stimulated.
On the good side, you can develop a much stronger bond with your loyal companion when you train them personally.
Socializing
Proper training plays a crucial role in helping your Poochon develop their social skills around visiting humans and other animals. While a Poochon dog can be as loving and loyal as any family member, they can be very anxious around visitors if they are unaccustomed to them. Left unaddressed, this can often lead to barking problems.
Poochons are naturally wary of other dogs, and a poorly trained Poochon may not respond well to dogs and other visitors. Extra pent-up energy and unfamiliar situations like traveling can also contribute to their social anxieties.
Patience and a lot of reinforcement play a significant role in helping train Poochons to adapt to new conditions with ease. They should be trained while they are still puppies to help them get accustomed to newly met individuals and strange environments. With time, you Poochon may come to greet humans and other pets happily.
Playtime
Both as puppies and as grown dogs, Poochons are an almost limitless fount of doggy energy. Much like many other dog breeds, they do get the zoomies—periods where they become lively and full of energy that they express through running around. Poochon dogs love playtime, which make them excellent companions for active people of all ages. A Poochon looks forward to a broad category of stimulating games and puzzles. Games of fetch are more likely to get you tired before it does the Poochon.
Poochons love to run around and require a lot of exercise. However, they cannot always handle longer adventurous walks due to their tiny size. To compensate, you can take them instead for more frequent, shorter walks.
This boundless energy does pose a few challenges for small-space living. Despite their small size, a Poochon need a lot of exercise. They would need a regular walking schedule of at least half an hour each day to help them fully adapt to small-space living.
Health Concerns
Poochons were originally bred to eliminate many of the health risks that Poodles had, including Addison’s disease and gastric dilation. However, they share the same susceptibility for tooth and gum infections as Poodles and Bichon Frises. As they grow old, they may also suffer from joint and sight issues—progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, especially. They may also become vulnerable to skin ailments. Much like their parent breeds, Poochons also have a tendency toward developing epilepsy later in life.
In general, first-generation Poochon breed are healthier than either of their parent breeds, though upon two or more generations, they become just as prone to the health issues their ancestors faced. Size also matters. Larger Poochons have a significantly greater chance of growing up healthy.
Because of their vulnerability for oral problems, Poochons need to have their teeth cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of plaque and maintain a clean-smelling breath.
Some Poochons are prone to have health issues like:
- Patella Luxation – is the dislocation of a dog’s kneecap. This condition is common in toy miniature dog breeds.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a genetic condition wherein the cells in the dog’s retina “atrophies” or die by itself. This could lead to poor vision to complete blindness. However, it is no longer a hopeless disease. It is now curable, and treatments are available.
- Addison’s disease is a type of hormonal disorder caused by defective adrenal glands. This gland has a big responsibility in your dog’s bodily systems.
- Epilepsy/ Seizures are non-voluntary convulsions of the dog’s body due to loss of muscle control. It could be in the form of little twitches or wild shaking that could lead to loss of consciousness.
- Vaccination Allergies happens when your dog develops allergic reaction to certain vaccines. This could happen after the first few hours of vaccination. Your dog may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and puffiness around the face.
- Separation Anxiety- when neglected, Poochons develop a mental condition called separation anxiety. They can become extremely lonely and refuse to eat because of their depressed state. Make sure to always pamper them with a bunch of positive vibes and regular doses of attention.
Most first generation breeds do not inherit their parent’s health conditions.
But when they do, some inherited conditions from the Poodle and Bichon Frise include Addison’s disease, Cushing syndrome, Von Willebrand disease, Legg Perthes, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, skin problems, bladder problems, and vaccination sensitivity.
Furthermore, Poochon puppies are small and prone to fracture when dropped. Over excited kids may easily injure them. Proper care and supervision is needed to avoid these circumstances. Make sure to schedule a yearly visit to your trusted veterinarian to ensure your dog’s overall welfare.
Forever Homes
Besides being a terrific family dog and starter pet, Poochons are also one of the best types of apartment dogs, capable of living in relative comfort in a tiny apartment provided that their other needs are adequately met. Before getting one, you must first ask yourself if you are capable of meeting many unique needs.
Fortunately for many prospective owners, Poochons are not especially expensive dogs to keep around, needing very few specialist services.Ideally, single adults and families with older children make the best forever homes for a Poochon. Families are especially ideal as they provide the Poochon with near-constant companionship.
Because of their separation anxiety, they can be very hard to leave alone. Families have the upper hand by having someone always around to give the Poochon the appropriate care and affection on demand. This doesn’t mean that they’re strictly a family dog. A single owner can find a good companion in a Poochon if they can provide it with enough time and attention each day.
Time is often the biggest investment you’ll need for you to adopt a Poochon. The ideal home for a Poochon is one that can accommodate its boundless energy—which can be satisfied by a number of things from daily walks to ample playtime. You would also need to dedicate the appropriate amount of time for training and other forms of care such as brushing and teeth cleaning. With the right amount of care, your Poochon can become a cherished member of the family.
Where To Find A Poochon Dog
You can visit nearby pet shops to look for Poochon pups. You may also opt for a reputable breeder. Breeders should be knowledgeable; they should make the dog’s comfort a top priority. You should do your research and look for a breeder with good reputation. Poochons are considered as designer breeds but they are also found in some shelters and rescue homes. Adoption will cost less, and you get to bring home an adorable dog and make it part of your family immediately.
Research shows that nearly a million dogs are euthanized in the United States. When you adopt, you get to save a life and get a new best friend. What could be better than that? The internet is also a nice place to look for breed specific rescue homes. There are many adoption pages and organizations across the world wide web.
Conclusion
Pets are loving animals that give us unconditional love without asking for anything in return. They are the most selfless being to ever exist, especially dogs. The decision of getting—or better yet, adopting—a dog is something that we should think hard about. It is both an honor and a responsibility. You are now responsible for the life of a whole being.