Poochon Breed Info: Bichon Frise Poodle Mix (Bich Poo)

What is a Poochon / Bich Poo?

Heritage:

Bichon Frise Poodle Mix

Other Names:

Poochon, Bichpoo, Bichon Poo, Bichon Poodle, Bichon Poodle Mix, Bichon Frise Poodle Mix

Bichon Frise Poodle Mix Breed History

Bichon Frise Breed History:

The Bichon Frise (pronounced BEE-shawn FREE-say), got its start as a member of the Barbichon clan of tiny, white dogs. This ancient breed, popular with the local sailors, was found on the largest of the Canary Islands. Besides the Bich Poo, other doodle decedents of the Barbichon include the Maltipoo and the Havapoo.

Word of the Bichon Frise traveled quickly and this breed soon became the dog of choice amongst European nobles in the 13th century. The royal courts of Italy, France, and Spain all adored the Bichon Frise.

After the French Revolution, these dogs quickly lost their prominence as their owners were killed or imprisoned. They took to the streets where street performers took them in and trained them to do tricks for tips. Not long after, the Bichon Frise was a prominent circus dog due to their cuteness and trainability.

In the 20th century, thanks to two world wars, the Bichon Frise again found itself on the verge of extinction. Luckily, a few kind souls took these dogs off the streets in Belgium and France and the breed lived on and has thrived since. The AKC recognized the Bichon Frise in 1971.

Poodle Breed History:

While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.

Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.

While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”

Poochon / Bich Poo Breed History:

The Bich Poo surely has existed naturally for a long time now. However, as an intentionally-bred “designer dog,” they got their start during the 1990s in Australia. Bred for the Poodle’s intelligence and the Bichon Frise’s playful, cute personality this hybrid breed quickly caught on in the US and Europe.

Bichon Frise Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming

How Big Do Poochons Get?

Poochon puppies are so tiny, but don’t be prepared for them to get a lot bigger as adults! Most Bich Poos are bred from Toy Poodles with a few from Miniature Poodles. They are never bred from Standard Poodles. For this reason, as well as the Bichon Frise’s small size, a fully-grown Bichon Poodle Mix will weigh between 5-20 pounds and stand only 9-15 inches tall.

Poochon / Bich Poo Coat & Grooming:

If you’re looking for a very low-maintenance dog when it comes to grooming, the Poochon isn’t for you. This breed has a mid-length coat that tends to be very curly. As such, it takes a lot to keep it looking good as well as free of matting and tangles. Plan on brushing your Poochon puppy daily with monthly visits to the groomer.

The most common coat colors of a Bichon Frise Poodle Mix are cream, apricot, tan, and white. Usually they are single-colored but sometimes there can be a blend of two or more colors.

Are Poochons Hypoallergenic?
Do Poochons Shed?

Yes, Poochons are hypoallergenic and non-shedding. With most doodle breeds, thanks to having one hypoallergenic parent and one non-hypoallergenic parent, you never know for sure if a puppy will be hypoallergenic and non-shedding or not.

Because both the Poodle and the Bichon Frise are non-shedding and hypoallergenic, you can safely assume that Poochons will carry over those same traits. Other doodle breeds with two hypoallergenic parents like the Bichon Poodle Mix include the Yorkipoo, Whoodle, Woodle, and Schnoodle.

Bichon Frise Poodle Mix Health & Wellness

Poochon / Bich Poo Lifespan:

Getting a Poochon puppy is a long commitment. The lifespan of a Poochon dog is on average 12 to 15 years, assuming proper care and good health.

Poochon / Bich Poo Common Health Concerns:

Thanks to being a mixed breed, Bich Poos don’t have nearly as many genetic health issues as their purebred parents. However, that doesn’t make them immune and you still have to be on the lookout for some of the major health issues that plague the Bichon Frise and/or the Poodle.

Some of the more common health concerns that Bichon Poodle Mix parents should be wary of are Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Epilepsy, Patellar Luxation, and Allergies.

Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.

Click here to get an instant, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws!

Bichon Frise Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality

Poochon / Bich Poo Behavioral Traits:

The Bichon Frise Poodle mix is a spunky and friendly little dog, always prepared to be the center of attention! Poochons love other pets as well as children, however if you have small children you must be extremely careful that they are gentle with your Bich Poo dog as rough play can seriously injure these little pups.

Bichons need lots of attention and do not do well with isolation for extended periods of time. For that reason, they do best with families where someone is usually home.

While they are small and not very intimidating, they do tend to bark a lot. While that makes them a good watch dog, it doesn’t suit apartment dwellers with shared walls very well. To battle excessive barking, plenty of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation is important.

Poochon / Bich Poo Activity Requirements:

Don’t let their small size fool you—Bich Poos are energetic and need their daily exercise! Plan on an hour a day or more between walking, outdoor playtime, and other energy-exerting activities. This is particularly important to remember if you live in a smaller apartment or a house without a big yard to run around in.