Essential Facts About the Poochon Dog Breed

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The Poochon, also known as Bichpoo or Bichon Poo is a designer crossbreed more pet owners should be aware of. Clearly, this is a mix between a Bichon Frise and a Poodle – in this case, a Toy Poodle. This is a curious mix as the Bichon Frise is a non-sporting breed whereas the Poodle is a sporting gun dog. So, even though this mix includes a Toy Poodle, it is technically a cross between different types of dogs.

Does this make the cross more or less successful, however? Does it make it suitable for you and your family? To find out, let’s go over the following 6 crucial things to know about the Poochon.

6 key facts about the Poochon

“Crucial” may feel like a strong word when describing a pet breed but we stand by it. Dogs are a long-term commitment and if you want to get the most of your relationship with your future pet, it’s important to know how it’s different from other breeds. So, let’s go through the following 6 points one by one.

1. The Poochon is on the border between a toy and a small breed – usually the former

As the Poochon is a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Toy Poodle and not a larger type of Poodle, these dogs are always consistently small. There is still a bit of variation, of course, but it’s not anything as significant as you’d expect from a mixed breed. So, most of the time, a Poochon will be somewhere between 9 and 15 inches tall at the shoulder or 23 to 38 cm. These dogs also weight somewhere between 6 and 17 pounds (2.7 to 7.7 kg), putting them at the border between toy and small dog breeds but typically in the former category.

This means quite a few things for you as a future Poochon owner:

These dogs don’t require much space, making them a great option for apartment dwellers
This isn’t a large or even medium sized breed that can act as a guard or even watchdog
Most importantly, Poochons are quite fragile and can be hurt by any accidental knock by a foot or something like that
This also makes them fantastic lapdogs, however, especially for elderly people
The Poochons are also fantastic for families with kids as there’s very little risk for the child – do keep point 3) in mind, however, as a child and even a toddler can accidentally hurt your Poochon. Supervision early in both the pup’s and the baby’s lives is important to protect them both from each other.

2. These dogs can have a single or double coat but will almost always require quite a bit of grooming

Poodles are a famous single-coated breed that sheds very little and is as close to being hypoallergenic as a dog can be. Bichon Frise dogs, on the other hand, are a double-coated breed. This means that they do have a second layer of thick fur under their coat to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Unlike other double-coated breeds, however, the Bichon also doesn’t shed all that much.

What does this mean for your future Poochon pet? It means that it can have either a single or a double coat – it’s a matter of chance. It also means that, regardless of the type of coat, your Poochon likely won’t shed all that much and will be relatively hypoallergenic – not at 100% and not as much as a purebred Poodle, but close.

All this doesn’t mean that your dog won’t need much grooming – it definitely will. The purpose of a good brushing and grooming isn’t just to limit shedding, it’s to prevent matting and entangling, to remove debris, and to keep the skin in a good condition. So, daily brushing is recommended for this breed, as are monthly baths and regular coat inspections.

As for the color you can expect from this crossbreed, it will be either white, cream, tan, or apricot. Black and grey is possible but very rare. Most Poochons will come in a single color but blends are also possible.

3. The Poochon is as social as it is attention-seeking – a lot!

With both its parent breeds being overly social and outgoing, the same applies to the Poochon. As long as this dog gets adequate socialization in its early months, it will grow up into quite the extrovert. This applies to having guests, meeting new people outside, playing with your child’s friends, interacting with other dogs, and even getting along with non-canine pets such as cats.

In the last of these cases, you may need some extra socialization as the Poochon’s hyperactivity can be a bit much for most cats. However, even that’s possible as these dogs are also quite smart.

4. These dogs are adaptable to any family and household, as long as they get the attention they need

Thanks to its small size, the Poochon is excellent for apartment dwellers. It can live just as well in a house with a yard, of course, as long as the yard is well-fenced. All in all, this is a very adaptable breed that can also feel fine in every type of household – single person, small family, large family, elderly people, and so on.

The only real requirement this breed has for its owners is that they give it plenty of attention. These dogs are very susceptible to developing separation anxiety so leaving them home alone for extended periods of time is a No-No. If you live alone and have to work away from home, this simply is not the dog for you. However, if there will be a family member home most of the time, the Poochon will feel perfectly.

For the times you absolutely need to leave your dog home alone, you can consider the following:

Hire a dog walker or a dog sitter
Arrange a playdate with another dog owner
Find a way to bring your dog with you
Exhaust your dog from playtime ahead of time

5. More than just cute, the Poochon is quite smart and easily trainable

As the descendant of a gun dog breed, the Poochon is highly intelligent and very trainable. Good obedience training early on in its life is still important, but with it out of the way, you should be able to teach your Poochon anything you want.

6. As a small breed, the Poochon has a long lifespan but there are a few health issues to watch out for

The average expected lifespan of the Poochon is quite respectable – somewhere between 12 and 15 years. This is in line with other small and toy breeds, of course. And, keep in mind that it is just an average – a healthy Poochon that gets quality food, plenty of exercise, and good care can go beyond the 15-year benchmark by quite a few years – sometimes up to 20!

This, of course, is largely contingent on how healthy the Poochon is. The fact of the matter is that a Poochon that isn’t being cared for properly or doesn’t come from a healthy stock may not reach the 15-year mark. They may not even reach the 12-year mark as that too is a part of the average range. So, the first step when picking a Poochon is to make sure it’s been bred properly.

To achieve that, always ask your breeder for a health certificate for the dog as well as its parents. You can also ask to see the parents as any reputable breeder should give you access to them. Avoid buying from puppy mills and pet stores at all costs. As for adopting, getting a health certificate there is tricky but you can always ask for a medical report.

Once you’ve got a healthy puppy, the rest is a matter of care. Poochons don’t have any special dietary requirements so just give your dog high-quality nutritious food, give them plenty of exercise, and don’t skip the routine vet checks. This should allow you to avoid most or alл of the common Poochon health problems such as:

With all of the above being said, it’s rather clear that the Poochon is an excellent choice for the more indoorsy households that want a playful and loving companion to play with. Whether as a pet for the elderly or for families with kids, a Poochon will feel great in any environment as long as it’s getting enough love, attention, and care.

There are little to no objective downsides to this breed so long as you’ve got a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder, however, that’s a consideration with any dog, be it a designer cross or a purebred pet. So, if this is the type of breed for you, definitely consider getting a Poochon.