How Easy Is It To Get Along With A Poochon Dog Breed?

Heritage and Registry

History

A Poochon is a cross between a Miniature or Toy Poodle and a Bichon Frise parents. While the history of both its parent breeds could be traced to many centuries before, the recorded history of the Poochon hybrid started only in the 90s in Australia. Thus, one could say that this is a fairly recent breed.

This breed was “designed” to lessen the probability of hereditary health issues that were common on inbreeding pure breeds. Moreover, there is the desire to create a hybrid dog breed that would have both the best-known traits of the Toy Poodle and Bichon Frise parents.

The result was proven successful because they were able to create a Poochon that epitomizes the best of both worlds of its parent dogs.

Registry

Due to the mixed heritage of a Poochon, a hybrid between a purebred Poodle and Bichon Frise, it is not recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Nevertheless, there are still clubs/organizations that recognize this breed such as the following:

• American Canine Hybrid Club
• Designer Dogs Kennel Club
• Designer Breed Registry
• International Designer Canine Registry
• The Dog Registry of America, Inc.

Parentage

Poodle

Who wouldn’t recognize the Poodle parent of a Poochon? This is perhaps one of the most popular dogs there is – a superstar of the dog kingdom. Its beauty is well-known and celebrated, and it is among the dog breeds that normally frequent dog shows.

Poodles may be known for their beauty, but they are very good hunting dogs also. They were traditionally known to be hunters of waterfowls. As such, it can already be expected that this dog is hardworking and full of energy. At present, Poodles are among the top choices as companion dogs because of their overall good temperament especially when trained well.

Size-wise, the Miniature and the Toy Poodle are on the small side of the Poodle group. But you will never really mind their size with how big their personalities are.

Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise parent of a Poochon would also not lag behind when it comes to being an adorable little pooch. There is mixed information on what country this actually originated but its existence had been recorded as early as the 14th century, with its presence gracing many noble courts in Europe.

Being around a Bichon Frise, there is no denying the sunny disposition this white as snow, toy-like dog brings everywhere it goes. It has an almost permanent doggy smile pasted on its face that makes it hard not to fall instantly in love with it. Its playfulness almost always translates to mischief if you are going to let it.

General Information on a Poochon

Physical Appearance

The fact that a Poochon is a hybrid makes it hard to predict how it would turn out during birth. In fact, it is not uncommon that puppies of the same litter look far apart from each other.

While one Poochon puppy could look a lot like its Bichon Frise, other Poochon puppies look more like Poodles. The combination of the parents’ physical characteristics could also manifest in one or more puppies they produce. But what is inarguable is that no matter which of its parents a Poochon would take after, it would still be a cute little fur baby.

Having small dog parents, Poochons are small dogs too. They only grow up to an average height of 9 to 14 in tall and weigh around 6 to 12 lb.

Getting a Poochon would be like buying your own cuddly teddy bear. They have a dainty look in them that could be related to their small size. Their body is compact but sturdy, and their legs are on the short side. Likewise, they have cute little paws also.

Poochons have dark eyes and a black nose. They have droopy ears on either side of their head that flops lightly like wings as it runs excitedly during playtime. They have a pretty short snout that looks almost flat when hidden under their long coat and viewed from a distance.

Normally, Poochons have silky soft, medium-length, curly coats. Said coat comes in a variety of solid colors such as apricot, blue, white, black, and cream, although there are also times when they are in two or more combinations of said colors.

Given the Poodle parentage of the Poochons, there are also instances when their coats are on the hypoallergenic side. If you have this type of Poochon, then you are lucky because this would be a lot friendlier to those people with allergies.

The coat of a Poochon is enough to protect it from normal weather. But it will be to its advantage if you could give it some additional layer of clothing during extreme weather conditions.

Grooming

Brushing

Perhaps no one would disagree that the coat of a Poochon is one of its assets that adds to its appeal. Thus, this is one of the things you need to prioritize when you are grooming it.

With a Poochon having the coat of either its Poodle or Bichon Frise parent, its coat would be curly and challenging to manage. It could easily be prone to matting and tangles if you don’t do daily brushing.

The last thing any fur parent would want for a doggo with a coat like the Poochon is to end up with a tangled and matted mess. This would be challenging to fix. Not to mention, could cause pain to your fur baby.

There are even instances when the coat of your pooch needs to be shaved off because of the severity of the tangles. Because of this, brushing your fur baby should be among your priorities.

You should invest in a good-quality detangling brush and detangling spray for this task. This would help make the routine easier for you and your dog.

Brushing your Poochon has other advantages too. Not only does it helps spread evenly the oil produced naturally by its skin, but it also aids in removing the dirt and debris that get stuck in its coat. Further, brushing helps manage the dead hair especially during shedding season so this won’t get everywhere including the furniture in your home.

Brushing also gives comfort to your Poochon since dogs are very tactile. Thus, it can serve as a type of bonding experience between you and your fur baby.

It is normal if your Poochon wouldn’t be as receptive to brushing at first. But making this its routine would help it acclimate through the process. You could also give it treats every after brushing so it could relate the routine to a good experience and be more welcoming of it.

Bathing

Bathing a Poochon is essential to keep it clean. However, there’s also harm in going overboard when bathing it.

The coat of a Poochon produces natural oil that keeps its coat moisturized and shiny. Frequent bathing could wash away this oil and make the coat of your dog look dry.

You can do away with just bathing it at least once a month. Use mild shampoo only when you give it a bath. It would help your fur baby if the shampoo you will use also has detangling properties.

Dry your Poochon afterwards. Watch out for any skin problems that you may need to address before they worse.

Other Grooming Requirements

The grooming requirements of Poochon mixed breed dogs do not stop after brushing and bathing alone. There are other parts of it that would need extra attention to ensure that it would maintain good hygiene.

For one, you need to take care of its teeth. Brushing its at least thrice a week could keep it from developing plaques and tartar that could cause damage to its teeth. You can use toothpaste and toothbrush for dogs for this task.

With a Poochon’s always camera-ready brilliant smile, the last thing you’d want is for that to be ruined by tooth decay.

There is also a need to clean the ears of a Poochon at least once a week. Since the ears of your fur baby are droopy, it is susceptible to bacterial growth because of the lack of air circulation. Thus, it could be prone to ear infections.

There are ear solutions for dogs available for this care. Use it with soft cotton and thoroughly clean the outer part of the ears.

Never put any sharp objects inside Poochon’s ears including Q-tips as this may cause permanent damage. If you smell anything odd coming from the ears of your pooch, this means that they may be infected and need to be seen by a vet.

The nails of a Poochon also need to regularly be trimmed. Once every two weeks is the ideal schedule. But one sign that you cannot postpone this anymore is when you start hearing its nails clicking on the floor as it walks.

Just be careful not to hurt the soft tissue under the nails of your Poochon when you trim them. This could cause bleeding and could traumatize your fur baby.

Lastly, you may want to pay attention to the development of the tearstains on the face of your Poochon. This is particularly when you have a light-colored fur baby.

One way to get rid of this is to wipe it whenever it started to accumulate moisture. But there are also tear-stain removers at the pet store that you could buy for your dog.

It is important to remember that whatever grooming process you need to take care of with a Poochon, it is important that you only use products that are formulated for dogs. Human products have ingredients that may be harmful to your fur babies so these shouldn’t even be considered.

There are also pet groomers available that could provide the care your fur baby needs if you are having trouble grooming a Poochon. With a small fee, you can have the assurance that your pooch will be well-pampered and will be as good as new after thorough grooming.

Food

The meals you serve your Poochon daily would be its number one source of nutrition. As such, it is important that you plan this accordingly to help them grow strong and healthy.

Poochons, like other dogs, would need different types of food from puppyhood up to their senior years. The type of food should be formulated considering their size, activity level, and even dietary restrictions.

It’s a good thing that there are ready-to-serve types of dog food nowadays that are available commercially. You don’t need to think hard about what to serve your Poochon. All you need is to choose a high-quality dog food brand that is not made of too refined ingredients and fillers because your fur baby wouldn’t get much nutrients from that.

As a puppy, your Poochon would need about 1/2 to 1 cup of dog food daily. But you can adjust this to 1 to 2 cups as it develops into a fully mature Poochon. Divide this into two feeding schedules to prevent it from being bloated from just one feeding.

The amount of food mentioned above could still be adjusted. If you think your Poochon is not getting enough then you could increase it. On the other hand, decrease it if you think it is getting a bit rotund around the stomach area. This is not an exact science and is subject to the need of your fur baby.

If you don’t want to feed your Poochon commercial dog food, that is just fine as well. You may just settle with cooked food.

Keep in mind though that this will take more effort and research. You need to be mindful that it should contain all the necessary ingredients to create a balanced meal.

Don’t know how to create a balanced diet for your Poochon? No problem because the vet could recommend the best combination and serving. The vet could also recommend vitamins or supplements that would help boost its immune system.

Training

Right Training Approach

The training of a Poochon is made easier with its natural intelligence and eagerness to please. It is important for it to go through training to instill discipline in it and to eliminate the development of undesired behavior as it grows older.

Let’s admit it. It is challenging to discipline a Poochon especially when it is still a puppy. With its adorable look alone, you can already be willed to give it everything it wants even before it gives you that sad puppy look.

However, it will be to your advantage if you won’t. Instead, deter it from its bad habits while it is still young. Teach it to distinguish bad habits from good. In that way, this wouldn’t translate into a problem in the long run.

Note that starting its training as early as possible would enable a higher success rate.

It would also be important to choose the best strategy when training a Poochon. Definitely, with how gentle this dog breed is, enforcing negative reinforcement could break its spirit. It could even break your special bond with it and it could turn your fur baby against you.

Like with other dogs, positive reinforcement is still the best strategy. This means using rewards as a motivation for your Poochon to repeat the desired behavior until it becomes a habit.

Rewards are not limited to just yummy doggy treats. Rewards could also be in the form of praises, additional tummy rubs, and even cuddles.

Basic Training

Among the ultimate dream of dog owners is to have fur babies that could be dependable. This couldn’t be achieved without proper training from puppyhood.

Of course, included in the basic training you’d likely want your small dog to have is house training. This would prevent you from stumbling into a stinky surprise every day.

When you start house training your Poochon, it is important to be strategic about the schedule you will follow. What works would be upon waking up, before going to sleep, and every after its feeding schedule.

Bringing your Poochon out during this time to pee or potty would help establish a routine. It would also teach it that inside the home is not the right place to do its business.

However, you should also be rational in your expectations. Successful housetraining doesn’t happen overnight. You should accept that smelly accidents could happen along the way and instead of getting mad at your fur baby, work harder to help it more.

Obedience training is also another beneficial training your Poochon could go through. This could help keep them and the people around them safe during critical circumstances, and could help strengthen the bond between you two.

You can start the obedience training by teaching your Poochon to respond to simple commands such as sit, stay, stand, and no. Keep your voice firm and clear. With consistency, patience, and perseverance, your Poochon would learn this in no time.

It would also make your training successful to keep the training sessions with your Poochon short. In that way, you can have the guarantee that you are maintaining its focus.

Socialization 

Among others, socialization training shouldn’t be forgotten. This would help build the confidence of your Poochon and would make it a well-rounded dog.

Socialization training wouldn’t ask much from you. All you need is to look for ways to expose your Poochon as much as possible to people, places, and other animals outside its comfort zone. In that way, it will not be caught off-guard when faced with strangers or when brought to a different place.

You can provide the needed exposure of your Poochon by walking it through busy streets when you let it out for its daily exercises. You can let it mingle with other pets and other dogs at the nearby park. Further, introducing it to people whenever there are gatherings could also help.

It is important though that when you do socialize your Poochon, you create a safe environment for it. Avoid scenarios wherein it would feel threatened and defensive. In that way, accidental aggression could be prevented.

If you are not confident that you could provide socialization training to your Poochon, then you could also enroll it in puppy training classes. They have programs there that would not only provide socialization training to your fur baby but other types of training also.

With professional help, it will not be impossible for your Poochon to reach the best that it can be.

Exercise and Physical Activity

You will be surprised at how energy-packed a Poochon is with its small size. It is a lively little dog that needs an outlet for its excess energy daily.

You may see it as a happy dog contented on accompanying its favorite people indoors but it won’t be absolutely happy without getting its required dose of mental stimulation and physical activity. With its level of energy, expect that you will need to meet at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.

You don’t need to meet this in one go. You could divide it into two sessions per day so you won’t also over-exhaust your fur baby. Moreover, instead of just going on routine walks, you could also mix it with playtime so it could have a variety of activities to entertain it.

As small as it is, this fur baby has a big appetite and is prone to eating more than its fair share of dog food if you’ll allow it. Because of this, it is prone to weight gain.

Daily exercises could also help in burning your Poochon’s excess fat. It could prevent the development of obesity and could help maintain its ideal weight.

Keep in mind that if the exercise needs of a Poochon are not met, it would be prone to depression. It could also look for an alternative outlet of energy that results in destructive behavior such as non-stop barking, gnawing your furniture, and even digging.

Health Concerns

Poochons are bred to possibly create a healthier dog breed. While this hybrid is found to be healthier than their purebred parents, there are still instances when they do inherit hereditary diseases. This is most especially when the breeders are not careful about choosing the parent dogs.

Below are some of the disorders commonly observed among Poochons:

Patellar Luxation

Patellar Luxation is when the kneecap of a Poochon moves away from its original location. The consequence of this is that the leg affected cannot be straightened properly. This has four grades based on the severity with Grade 4 being the most severe. This disorder affects dogs of all sizes.

Lameness on the affected leg is observed for Poochons suffering from this condition. While lower grade Patellar Luxation could be managed without the need for surgery, Poochons with Grades 3 and 4 normally need surgical procedures to correct the dislocation.

Retinal atrophy

Retinal Atrophy is a disorder affecting the vision of Poochons. Their photoreceptors decline over time and cause partial or total blindness.

Early symptoms of Retinal Atrophy include the inability of the affected Poochon to see at night causing it to bump into the furniture. It could also be noticed that it would have a hard time following your signals.

Retinal Atrophy is incurable although there are still ways for fur parents to help improve the life of Poochons suffering from this condition.

Von Willebrand’s Disease

Von Willebrand’s Disease is brought about by the inability of the Poochon’s blood to clot properly due to malfunctioning or insufficient amount of a specific protein in their blood which enables clotting. This is characterized by heavy bleeding during injuries, nose bleeding, blood in the urine and stool, and bruises.

This cannot be cured but there are treatments that could be facilitated by the vet to reduce the bleeding especially during surgery. Unfortunately, this is normally left undiagnosed until it is too late.

Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s Disease is when the body of your Poochon produces excess amounts of cortisol. This then makes it prone to develop life-threatening health conditions such as diabetes.

Your Poochon may have this disorder if you observe that it is always thirsty, lethargic, panting excessively, and has non-stop skin infections. A vet could help prescribe the right medication for your Poochon if it is suffering from Cushing’s disease.

Hip dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a disorder affecting the skeletal makeup of a Poochon. This is when its ball and socket joints are not a perfect match for each other. So instead of working seamlessly, these two parts rub against each other causing pain on the affected hind leg. Due to the friction, this also leads to the development of osteoarthritis later on.

A Poochon with Hip Dysplasia would exhibit lameness on the affected leg. It could also walk carrying said leg in a bunny hop motion. Later on, due to the absence of movement on the leg affected, its muscle mass gets significantly reduced while its chest becomes more muscular since it exerts more pressure as the Poochon moves.

There are treatments available to manage Hip Dysplasia but there is no cure for it.

Lifespan

The average life expectancy of a Poochon hybrid is 12 to 15 years on the average.

However, how long will they live would still depend on the lifestyle that we have. Poochons who have a healthy lifestyle are known to live longer than those who do not. Thus, it is very important that your fur baby has access to a balanced diet, proper exercise, and medical care throughout its lifetime.

Poochon Temperament

There will be no dull moments having a Poochon in your home. This is a very playful and happy dog that never runs out of antics to show. It even seems as if it brings a shine with it wherever it goes with how positive it looks.

Poochon is also a very charming dog breed. Be cautious because it would have no qualms using its charm in full force to get out of the consequences of its mischief.

The Poochon’s natural intelligence and eagerness to please make it a lot easy to train. It would want no other but gain the approval of its favorite human. It is affectionate, loving, and sweet even to strangers that would be introduced to it.

The friendliness of a Poochon is one of the reasons why it is easy to get along with as a family pet. It is kind and gentle which makes falling instantly in love with it an effortless feat.

Energetic it may be, a Poochon could be pretty laid back too. It would just be happy curled up with you as you binge-watch your favorite series or sit beside you as you read a good book.

What you should be on the lookout for is the tendency of a Poochon to bark incessantly which it may inherit from its Bichon Frise parent. Although it could be a good warning mechanism against trespassers, sometimes a Poochon would do it without reason which could really be annoying. However, this is not anything training couldn’t address.

Poochon As A Family Dog

The personality of a Poochon would make it a great family dog. It is extremely personable which makes getting along with it a non-issue. You would have no problems integrating this fur baby into your family because it could easily adjust also.

A Poochon would best fit with a moderately active fur parent. Although it is quite an energetic doggo, it cannot be considered athletic so making it your company for long hikes wouldn’t be to your advantage. Such type of activity could also be harmful to this fur baby especially since its little strides need to compensate with your bigger ones.

However, this doesn’t mean that a Poochon wouldn’t be fit for other types of adventure. It would do well on other types of activities that are not too strenuous such as long walks, short runs, or even playing fetch at a nearby park.

Poochons would also make great family pets for fur parents who have kids. They would definitely adore playtime with your little ones especially if there is running and squealing involved. But small kids need to be taught how to handle these fur babies because they could easily be injured because of their fragile size. Thus, utmost supervision is needed during the interactions of small children and your pooch.

You could trust that a Poochon would also get along with your other pets in no time even if they did not grow up together. It is a social animal and it would enjoy the more if it is not alone. But don’t neglect giving it some extra time with you every now and then because it could easily get jealous also if you are not giving it enough attention.

The size of a Poochon would make it a good apartment dweller. However, you should be cautious because it could be a barker that could disturb neighbors living nearby. As such, early training and socialization are mandatory if you want to curb this habit.

Needless to say, the bigger its playground, the better. So it would still do better living in spacious homes with an enclosed yard.

The Cost of Getting a Poochon

Purchase Price 

If you want to take home a Poochon then expect that it would cost you around USD1000 to USD3000 to take home one. The price is still dependent on the pedigree of the pup and the breeder from whom you will get it.

The higher the quality of its parent dogs, expect that the higher the price you will need to pay. Add more if it would come with a rare coloring from its Poodle parent and it is from a champion line. Definitely, the price will also skyrocket.

You are getting a good deal paying above price though if you are buying a Poochon from a reputable breeder. They have controls in place that would guarantee you that you are getting a high-quality puppy.

The parent dogs they cross are carefully vetted. They go through multiple health checks and are supported by health clearances. This lessens the likelihood of the puppies developing any hereditary health issues.

Even after the birth of the Poochon puppies, the same health checks are extended to them. They even get the primary care until such time that they are released to their new fur parents. There is no cost spared for their care because the goal of reputable breeders is to create a Bichon Frise Poodle mix that will be a perfect companion dog to its owner.

Admittedly, there are also backyard breeders and puppy mills that sell Poochon puppies. Although they do sell Poochons at a relatively cheaper cost, it is not advisable to grab this opportunity. They do not have the same controls and place and normally produce pups that are in poor condition. You will be lucky if you could even get a first-generation Poochon for them.

Considering the Shelters

You may also want to test your luck and look for Poochons at your nearby shelters. Unfortunately, these beautiful fur babies also end up abandoned there by their fur parents for various reasons. You would make at least one of them happy if you would choose to adopt from shelters. Moreover, it wouldn’t even cost you as much.

Other Costs for a Poochon

Know that when you decide to bring home a Poochon, you are owning the responsibility for their upbringing which is a very serious commitment. This would not just entail work on your part but this would mean additional repetitive costs also.

It should be noted that like humans, Poochons would have needs also. Among the basic needs include food, dog accessories, and regular medical care. There is also the need for services such as grooming and professional training. Aside from this, there may be a need to dog-proof your home which could be categorized under the miscellaneous cost.

The affordability of these expenses should be gauged first if within your budget before you proceed to get your own Poochon.

Conclusion

Poochon has the making of a good companion dog and house pet. There is no doubt that when you get one, it would shine light into your life. It is a very affectionate dog that will no doubt be loyal to you until the end as long as you’re going to give it the care and dedication it needs.

But when you think of getting one, determine first if its upbringing would be within your budget. If yes, then you should get one only from a reputable breeder to get the best value for your money. Another option is the doggy shelter if you want to make a change to an abandoned dog’s life.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Do Poochon dogs bark a lot?

A: Bichon Poodle mix or a Poochon mixed-breed dog has the tendency to be a barker. While this could be a good way to advise if there are trespassers, it could also be annoying if it does it to just get attention. Nevertheless, this wouldn’t pose a problem as long as you will introduce it to socialization training at a young age.

Q: Is a Poochon a good family dog?

A: It is without a doubt that a Poochon is a good family dog. It has a good temperament that makes it easy to get along with. It is not also aggressive which would work well even if you have children and other pets.

Q: How much does a Poochon dog cost?

A: Buying a Poochon, expect that this would cost you around USD1000 to USD3000. Thus, it is important to spend your money wisely and get one only from a reputable breeder. Another option if you are a bit low on the budget is to try your luck at the nearest doggy shelter in your area.

Q: Does Poochon shed?

A: With the type of coat they have, you could expect that Poochons would be light shedders. Thus, you may need to increase the frequency of brushing your fur baby during the shedding season.

If you would neglect to do this, then expect that the dead hair would spread throughout your home including your furniture which would be challenging to clean. It could also develop into matted and tangled hairs which you don’t want to happen. Further, frequently brushing it particularly during this season could help significantly improve its look.