The Bichon Frise-Poodle mix is a wonderful dog with many endearing characteristics. If you are thinking of getting one home, then DogAppy will help you decide, by providing some interesting information about the breed.
Crossing Generations
First-generation puppies are those whose parents are purebred dogs. Second-generation puppies typically come from one purebred and one mix, or both mix parents. All crosses except first-generation are prone to health issues. Hence, be sure to find a good Bichon-Poodle mix breeder, so that you know which generation your Bich-Poo pup belongs to.
When buying a mix breed, you should check out some pictures of the concerned breed beforehand, as is always recommended. But I must warn you about the mix breed that we will be talking about in the following paragraphs; the images are not for the faint-hearted. They are lethal – lethally cute! That amount of cuteness cannot be handled by everyone, and hence the heads up. You are probably wondering who we are talking about here. I will tell you, without any further delay, that this immensely adorable designer breed is the Bichon Frise-Poodle mix!
This is a very very popular dog, greatly in demand by both, families and the elderly folk. The reason being, it is a delightful breed with many endearing characteristics that make it a suitable pet for any household. It is small, it loves its family to death, it is fiercely loyal, friendly, affectionate, and thrives on human company. What more could anyone ask for? Owing to its small size, it can easily accompany its owners anywhere, which defeats the problem of separation anxiety! It loves kids, any pets, and is gentle and caring. Anyway, let’s not give away everything here. Continue reading to find out more about this lovable Bichon-Poodle mix, the Bich-Poo (also called the Poochon or Bichapoo).
We Are Family
The Bichon
The mini Poodle
The Bich-Poo puppy – Cuteness overload!
Physical Characteristics
As is obvious from the genetics, the Bich-Poo does not grow very big. The only difference is that miniature Bich-Poos are smaller than the standard Bich-Poos, depending on the Poodle parent. The height range of this dog is around 8 to 14 inches, and the weight is between 6 and 18 pounds. Its face is a lot like the Bichon Frise, with the large, expressive eyes, flappy ears, and small tail.
As with any mix breed, it is not possible to predict how the puppies in a litter will look. Even immediate siblings will have a variety in colors. First generation crosses generally tend to inherit more of solid colors than patterns. With every subsequent crossing, patterns may develop more.
Its coat can either be wiry and hard or curly and soft. It helps keep the dog warm. This coat is hypoallergenic, like the Poodle’s, and to some extent, the Bichon’s, making the Poochon a good pet for people with allergies. The most common coat colors are white and apricot, but brown, gray-black, and red are also seen. A very cute dog from the looks of it!
Personality Traits
The Bich-Poo is an absolute darling that will never cease to amaze you. It loves everyone, and I mean everyone. Little people, adult people, other pets, stranger animals, people it does not know – really doesn’t matter who. It is, however, an alert pooch that will bark to let you know if someone is at the door. It is gentle, kind, patient, dependable, friendly, social – you name it, the Poochon’s got it. It is an equally excellent pet for families with children as well as the elderly, owing to this wonderful temperament.
The only thing to remember, especially for parents of very small kids, is to always supervise the playtime between the little ones. The Bich-Poo is a small dog that can get grievously hurt fairly quickly. It is also prone to developing a small dog complex, and reacting furiously out of fear of injury. The rough playing techniques of small kids do not help matters here. Hence, until the kids are old enough to learn how to approach and play with such a small dog, it is best not to leave them together unattended. But all in all, this is an almost perfect dog to have as a family member.
Training Techniques
The Poochon is not unintelligent by any means. It is very quick to grasp any new commands, and is quite a delight to train. It responds well to positive reinforcement and praising, and will detach if yelled at. Be gentle and kind, and make the experience an enjoyable one for the both of you. Your dog must want to participate in training, and even believe that it is a good idea! Remember to not repeat the same commands over and over, and space out the sessions to multiple times a day, 10 minutes at a stretch. This will give your dog the mental stimulation and challenge that he/she needs, and will also keep his/her interest in training sustained.
Obedience training and socialization are important for a small dog like this, as there is always a risk of the puppy growing up to be a timid or nervous dog. To make sure that the dog is confident, secure, and good with children and other animals, interacting with neighbors and their pets, or enrolling in puppy kindergarten are good options. This is more for the sake of the puppy than anyone else; an emotionally and mentally healthy puppy is a happy puppy.
Exercise Requirements
As feisty as its size will allow it to be, the Bich-Poo is no couch potato. It is energetic, active, and quite enthusiastic. But like I said, only as much as its size will allow. Moderate levels of exercise are enough to tire it out. It enjoys walks, and requires at least one a day. This is apart from the extra playtime, which is also important. If you do not have a yard, then take your pooch out more than once a day for it to burn off that extra energy.
Another notable characteristic that this dog displays is the sudden, random, and short-lived outburst of energy, that is commonly seen in the Bichon. Many owners have claimed that their Poochons suddenly take off running furiously around the house, without any prior warning. This event ends as abruptly as it starts, within a few minutes, and then the dogs just fold into themselves and slumber off. Nothing to worry though, this is a very normal, common, and comic trait witnessed not just in the Bichon, but in many other dogs too.
Health Issues
A first-generation cross, one which has both purebred parents, is generally the healthiest, with the lowest health risks. However, it is always better to know of the common health problems that can affect the parent breeds, so as to get an idea of the possible issues to watch out for in your mix. Poodles are susceptible to cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, gastric torsion volvulus, and skin allergies. The Bichon Frise is prone to liver problems.
Hence, it is always better to access the medical records of your pup’s parents, and find responsible breeders who only breed first-generation crosses. The average lifespan of the Bich-Poo is 12 to 15 years.
Grooming Requirements
The coat of a Poochon needs to be brushed regularly, at least 3 to 4 times a week. This helps to get rid of the dead hair, which may otherwise cling to the furniture. For the grooming part, you will first have to decide whether you want your pup to have the Poodle cut or the Bichon cut. Grooming is best done by a professional. Apart from this, clipping the nails regularly is also important. Teeth brushing, cleaning the eyes, and keeping the ears dry are the other requirements.
Suitable Abodes
The Bich-Poo does best in a house with a fenced yard. It requires space to play and romp so that it can let off some steam. Not that it cannot live in an apartment, but it will be happy and calm only if it receives its daily workout. Hence, if you live in an apartment, you will have to walk your Poochon more than once a day, and maybe find a nearby dog park for the extra playtime that is required.
The Bichon-Poo is a very cute, sweet, and gentle dog. It is hard to believe that a dog so small can have so much love filled inside it. Bring a Bich-Poo home, and everything will change for the better; you will be left wondering why you never thought of getting this dog before.
