Even if you’ve never heard of a poochon before, it’s entirely possible that you’ve already seen and met one. A Poochon is a small to medium sized, mixed breed dog, the result of a cross between bichon frise and a toy poodle.
Tiny and adorable, but with a definite attitude, Poochons are adorable little dogs and perfect for people looking for a dog that doesn’t shed so much. They are known by a multitude of other nicknames, such as bichon poo, bichon poodle, bichoodle, bichdoodle, bichdoodle and bichpoo. (If you’re looking for a cute nickname for your Poochon, this is a pretty handy list to pick from!).
They are fairly popular dogs, and also affordable, despite being a somewhat designer breed. They are also a relatively young breed, having made their first official appearance in the 90s.They do well in small spaces as well as in larger setups, and adapt well, whether being adopted into a small or large family.
Highlights about Poochons:
- Poochons are not purebred dogs but rather the result of a cross between two pure breeds – bichon frise and toy poodles.
- Poochons are officially recognised by the Dog Registry of America, International designer canine registry, Designer breed registry, American canine hybrid Club, and the Designer dogs Kennel Club.
- The breed is not recognised by the American Kennel Club, despite the parent breeds being officially accepted.
- In both size and temperament, Poochon babies inherit their traits heavily from their parent breeds.
- Although a small dog, they are very loving and playful, very affectionate.
- They grow to an average height of 12 inches I 30 cm.
- Usually weighing between 6 to 18 pounds or 3 to 9 kg, these dogs look larger because of their fluffy coat.
- Characteristically, they are hypoallergenic breeds that do not shed much.
- Poochons can come in many colours because of the natural variety of colours in their parent breeds. They can be black, white, brown, or have patches of two or three colours.
- Their fur coils densely and gives them a permed appearance.
- They typically have small dark oval eyes, light to dark brown in colour.
- They are also extremely intelligent dogs and benefit heavily from being trained early on.
- Despite their diminutive size, poochons require daily exercise and engagement to keep them active and entertained. So, if you have an apartment, daily walks would be beneficial for your Poochon.
Height: Even at their largest, poochons are very small dogs. On average Poochons grow to be 12 to 15 in or 30 to 40 cm tall. There is not a significant size difference between sexes.
The reason for this miniature size is that toy poodles, one of the parent breeds of bichon doodle dogs, are also very small dogs, who as a standard must measure less than 9 inches or 22 cm. Since bichon frise do not grow very tall either, large Poochons are an unlikely find.
Weight: on an average, Poochon adults do not weigh more than 6 to 18 lbs, or 3 to 9 kg. Dogs heavier than this are obese and have a poor quality of life. And because the dogs themselves are generally small, weight gain can become significant very quickly.
Conformation: Poochons are dogs that look like little teddy bears on legs with their curly hair, button eyes, tiny shiny noses, and floppy ears. There can be many variations in their outward appearance and facial features depending upon their parents. Generally speaking, their ears hang down to about the base of the skull, and their fur gives their snout a whiskery, or bearded appearance. They have full eyebrows and pronounced orbital ridges. The snout is relatively short but not in the league of brachycephalic dogs. Basically, picture a toy dog, the kind you’d see on a shelf in a children’s store. That’s your average Poochon dog.
Poochon Temperament and Personality
Relationship with owners: poochons are incredibly social dogs who adapt well with first time owners. They love to spend time with their owners and revel in receiving positive attention. However, because he loves receiving attention, a poochon may quickly start exhibiting negative habits in order to seek attention from the owner. These are behaviours that have to be trained out as early as possible.
There is a lot of variation in their personality from dog to dog. Some of them love physical attention, cuddles, sleeping in the same bed, etc. Others will tolerate physical attention well but given the chance, will establish their own personal space. But the vast majority of these dogs love being in the proximity of their owner or family, regardless of physical contact.
Poochons are dogs that benefit from being around their owner all day long. If you work all day or are away from home for long periods of time, Poochons may not be the best dog for you. Poochons require frequent attention and companionship from their owner or family. If left alone for long periods of time, they may lapse into destructive behaviour and develop separation anxiety very quickly. This can lead to other psychological problems as a consequence.
Relationship with children: Poochons are generally very good with children and flourish in families which have children. Like most small dogs they are not very tolerating of very small children who often hurt dogs without meaning to. So if you have a small child or a particularly handsy child who keeps smacking dogs, you should keep him or her away from the dog. Pochons do not bite unprovoked, but a small child may hurt the dog enough to snap at it.
With children who are old enough to understand how to behave around a dog, Poochons do very well. They love playing with children as well as roughhousing with them. It’s also the best possible exercise for the dog. In fact, if you leave the two to play together outside, you hit two birds with one stone and let both of them tire themselves out- and have a gala time, too!
Relationship with other pets: Poochons do very well and households with multiple pets. Poochons who have been raised with their littermates in early life, or who have been socialized early on, adapt very well to having other smaller animals around them. They lack a sharpened or extra honed hunting instinct, which is why they do well with cats, as well as rabbits and hamsters. These behaviours are harder to achieve in a dog who has been isolated since birth, or who has had very little to do with other animals. So, depending on what pets you already have and what your specific dog’s background is, your new bichdoodle may be a welcome new addition to a happy furry family.
Overall, Poochons are very social, playful, affectionate dogs and benefit from receiving stimulating activity and attention. They love playing indoors as well as outdoors, and love interactive toys which help build their problem-solving and puzzle solving skills.
Because they are a mixed breed dog, which ones are spared a lot of the health issues that are associated with purebred dog lines. However, they are prone to some conditions. These include diseases that are coming in bichon frise and toy poodles, and are inherited from the specific parent.
- Hemolytic anaemia
- Addison’s disease
- Cushing’s disease
- Corneal dystrophy
- Progressive Retinal atrophy
- Early onset blindness
- A predisposition to developing cataracts
- Autoimmune disorders
- Perthe’s disease
- Bladder dysfunction
- Patellar luxation
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Hip dysplasia
- Von willebrand’s disease
In addition to this, Poochons are susceptible to developing allergies to commonly available grooming products because of chemicals in some shampoos, or even seasonal allergies, as well as to common contaminants such as dust mites, household cleaning products, fleas, pollen, dust, and food sensitivities and allergies. It’s advisable to take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice an allergy-like symptom pattern developing in connection with any specific substance.
It’s also important to remember the first generation Poochons are less likely to have inherited disorders. After the second generation onwards, the likelihood of diseases manifesting early on or even congenitally, increases proportionately.
Lifespan: in the absence of any serious health conditions and with a good quality diet with adequate exercise, Poochons live on an average between 12 to 15 years. This range maze shows severe fluctuations in dogs of subsequent generations being repeatedly bred together.
Poochons are certainly small dogs but require a certain amount of care and grooming on a regular basis to keep them healthy. They are highly energetic, though not on the level of working dogs. They require an average of 20 to 40 minutes of exercise every day; so you might have to take them on a walk twice a day to meet their quota.
In addition, Poochons need toys and games that mentally stimulate them. Whether you get them interactive games or choose to play with them yourself, they flourish when faced with activities that challenge their intelligence – because they are very intelligent dogs. They do quite well when left to their own means. But bear that in mind, that you need to make sure that they are trained enough before they develop their independent streak.
Another reason to make sure they exercise regularly is that Poochons are prone to gaining weight quickly disproportionate to their size. And for a dog that’s that small, this can add up to unpleasant health consequences.
Poochons are generally not fussy eaters and do well on a dry food or kibble diet. It’s a good idea to make sure that they eat food specifically designed for small dogs.
Their nutritional requirements also change from puppyhood to adulthood. It’s best to let your vet recommend how much your dog should be eating daily. Even treats can add up quickly!
While they may be lower maintenance and other aspects of their keeping, Poochons require regular grooming. Their coats are made of curly fur in loosely wound spirals. The exact texture and length varies depending upon the fur coats of their parents. They come in a variety of colours from cream to apricot, to brown and black. Oftentimes they display a pattern that’s a mixture of two or more colours, although two is typical.
Poochons pups need to be brushed daily to get the loose hair and tangles out of their coat. Additionally, they need full and thorough shampooing every two to three weeks with a mild formulated shampoo for dogs. They also need monthly grooming and trimming of their hair and nails. This might add up to a little expense, but it is an absolute essential for Poochons.
Another thing to bear in mind is that Poochons are very prone to developing tear stains. Dogs do not clean their eyes themselves and tear stains show up in the area of tear ducts very quickly. You might need to wipe their eyes and nose area everyday with moist a Cotton cloth, to prevent a stain from developing there. This will also reduce the possibility of them developing eye infections.
Poochons need their ears and ear flaps checked for dirt and fleas on a daily basis. They may also need to be cleaned every day. You should ask your vet for suitably mild, dog friendly products for this. Because of their small paws, they also need their nails trimmed once to twice a month. If you hear your dog’s nails clip-clopping on the floor, you know it’s time for grooming. Eventually you might be able to do this at home yourself with enough practice.
Poochons: Everything Else
Poochons are intelligent dogs who are very easy to train, making them especially suited for new dog owners. However, their social nature also means that they need company to be happy. if left alone too long, they develop destructive behaviors and separation anxiety.
This is why it’s a good idea to get a poochon as a companion dog, or when there’s enough going on at home to keep them entertained. As they get older, their energy levels ease up, and they are more comfortable being left alone in the daytime. They also make excellent little watchdogs.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
Are Poochons good dogs?
Yes, Poochons are great dogs, even for novice owners. They are easy to train, intelligent, and sociable. They also do not require a very large amount of living space.
Do Poochon dogs bark?
Yes. Poochons have a tendency to bark, but this behavior can be trained out of them.
How much are Poochons?
Poochons’ costs vary depending upon their parents’ lineage. But even for dogs who come cheap or can be adopted from a shelter, the costs of their care and grooming should be taken into account, because they need regular maintenance.
Are Poochon easy to train?
Yes! Poochons are good at picking up cues and can be trained well, the earlier, the better! They respond well to positive reinforcement and treats.
How long can you leave a Poochon alone?
Poochons should not be left alone for more than 2-3 hours every day. While they are not unusually prone to developing separation anxiety, they do not do well when left unattended and unaccompanied.
Are Poochons aggressive?
No. Poochons are not aggressive dogs, although they might bark at strangers. But they are also not excessively patient when being annoyed for any reason.
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