The Bichon Frise and Poodle mixed pup, more commonly known as the Poochon or Bichpoo, is an adorable little teddy bear dog who is winning the hearts of small dog lovers all around the world. Under all of that fluff a super-intelligent dog can be found, so don’t be fooled by his teddy bear cuteness. In fact, both breeds are quite popular with dog owners and are often compared to one another by potential dog owners.
Is this Bichon Frise mix the right dog for your family? If you are looking for a larger breed, or one that’s likely to repeatedly play catch, then the Poochon may not be the right pup for you. If a noisy pup is something that’s off your list, then that also means the Bichpoo should be off your list. If you want a small cuddle buddy that won’t leave your side, is great with kids, and will let you know that he misses you, then the Poochon might be the right breed for you!
He will outsmart you if you don’t stay ahead of him so he needs a family that is going to keep him on his toes as he is not a typical toy lap dog! If you like the look of him and you think that you are up for the challenge, then read this inclusive guide to the Bichpoo to see if he would fit into your and your family’s life.
Weight6-18 Pounds
Height9-15 Inches
Lifespan14-18 Years
ColorsBrown, Apricot, Fawn, White, Black, Blue, Cream, Red, Gray, Silver
Parent Breeds
Designer dogs are currently all the rage, and the Poochon is up there amongst the favorite designs. This is not a new trend but it is one that comes with a lot of criticism from purebred fans. Don’t be put off by this though, for this process has many benefits including the combination of the Poodle and Bichon Frise’s looks, as well as their intelligence. It also increases their genetic pool, and this process called hybrid vigor makes them slightly more vigorous against diseases and genetic mutations.
With all designer dogs, especially the first-generation pups, there is a wild variation of characteristics inherited from both the Poodle and Bichon Frise, and as such, you should be open-minded as to what they will inherit. It is often the case that a pup will be more like one parent with a hint of the other, but Bichpoo puppies will all be different, even within the same litter. In this guide we are going to outline the typical Bichpoo, however, just be mindful that there can be slight variations.
In order to understand him a little better, it is important to learn a little about his parents.
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise was a popular lap dog amongst the rich and noble, however, this lifestyle soon came to an abrupt end. The Bichon Frise soon found himself out on the cold streets due to the World Wars and families not being able to maintain their pet’s needs.
Thanks to Bichon Frise fanciers who rounded up all the homeless Bichon’s they soon found their numbers picking up again. He then found his way to America, and in 1964 the Bichon Frise Breed Club was founded.
During his time on the streets, he found employment as a circus performer due to his intelligence and quick ability to pick up on commands, and this is where the Bichpoo gets his quick learning trait from. The Bichon Frise is described as a playful, curious, and peppy character, and he makes a wonderful jolly family pet. In 2019, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has ranked him as the 46th most popular dog in America.
Poodle
The Poodle is an elegant dog who is known for his extravagant hairstyles and romantic ribbons, but under all that prettiness lies a supremely intelligent dog whose origins lie in Germany where he was traditionally used as a hunting dog.
The toy Poodles were created by the French bourgeoisie who bred the smallest of the litters in order to create an even tinier lapdog, and it is these toy and miniature Poodles who are mated with the Bichon Frise to create the Bichpoo, but they are just as intelligent and energetic as the standard Poodles. It is also the toy breeds who earned the Poodle their nickname as the ‘sleeve dog’ as they were often carried in the sleeves of the nobility.
The Poodle is described as an active, proud, and very smart dog, whose intelligence is very underrated, and this is where the Bichpoo gets his energy and inquisitiveness from. In 2019, the AKC ranked him as the 7th most popular dog in America. The Poodle is a popular designer dog parent breed and some other common poodle mixes include the Berner Poodle mix, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Poodle mix.
Poochon
It is believed that the Bichpoo was created in Australia in the 1990s to create a small but fun family dog that is good with children, and he certainly is a small dog with a big personality!
Despite his parents’ origins, he is not the typical lap dog, as he is a boisterous pocket rocket who doesn’t sit for long periods of time like his other toy brothers and sisters, so don’t expect him to be the pretty and quiet hot water bottle, because he might only be this for a small part of the day.
They go by many other names, such as the Poochon, the Frisepoo, the Bichdoodle, and the Bichoodle. If you are still interested and eager to know more about this guy, then sit back, relax, and read on to find out all about the dog with the wacky-sounding doodle name.
Temperament
The Poochon is a sprightly little guy who is energetic and lively like most other doodle mixes. He will keep you on your toes and will love a game or two in the backyard, or because he doesn’t need much room he is happy to play in the house without much trouble.
He needs to be with a family that is able to, and happy enough, to play with him for a few hours a day. They are also known for their outbursts of energy and are famous for their zoomies. If you don’t know what this is then just type it into YouTube and trust us when we say you won’t be disappointed.
He is quite a barky fellow, who surprisingly makes quite a good watchdog because he will always tell you when there is someone about, whether that be friend or foe. They may not be the scariest looking of guard dogs, but they are definitely worth their weight in gold when it comes to barking and making everyone in the neighborhood aware that there is an intruder about. So if it is a cute little watchman that you are after, then look no further than the Bichpoo.
Aside from his outbursts of energy, he is a happy-go-lucky dog who is patiently gentle and does love the odd snooze in his master’s lap, so you will get some rest bite. He is popular with the elderly who are able to play and expel his energy in the house while only needing to take him for short walks.
Size & Appearance
The male Bichpoo will measure between 11 to 15 inches tall, from paw to shoulder, and the female Bichpoo will measure 9 to 11 inches tall. The male Poochon will weigh between 10 to 18 pounds, and females will weigh slightly less at 6 to 12 pounds. They are considered to be small dogs who will not take up too much room in your home.
The Bichpoo has a curly coat that resembles that of a teddy bear, and he has dark-colored button eyes with a cute button nose to match. He is a well-proportioned dog, except for his ears which are quite long for his face, and generally fall on either side of his skull to reach his jawline.
Coat & Colors
The Bichpoo has a curly and wavy coat that is hypoallergenic, and because it hardly sheds any dander which is what causes reactions in people with dog allergies, the Bichpoo is suited to those with dog allergies who really want a dog! He looks like he has just stepped out of the hairdressers with that perfect perm of his!
His coat will take the color of brown, apricot, fawn, white, black, blue, cream, gray, red, or silver; basically, he will take any color of his parents. To get a better idea of what color he will be then it is best to look at his parents, just be mindful that it is not always guaranteed that because his parents are a certain color then he will be too. If he sports a solid color then it is quite common for him to have white patches across his body
Exercise & Living Conditions
Because of the Bichpoo’s compact size, he is suited to either larger or smaller homes, as well as apartments. He also does not need access to a backyard as he will expel most of his energy in the house without causing any chaos. He is an adaptable dog who will suit any home or family environment.
Because he is kind and gentle, he is suited to living alongside children of all ages. While normally toy dogs aren’t suited to younger children simply because of how delicate they normally are and children not knowing how to handle the small pups, the Bichpoo is slightly more robust than a normal toy so he is suited to living with children. As with any dog though, be sure to monitor him while he is with children just to be on the safe side.
As the Bichpoo is so gentle he is also suited to living in a multi-pet household as long as he has been socialized properly as a pup. The only factor to consider here is how barky he is, for if he is too barky then the other pets, in particular other dogs, may not like this.
If he grows up alongside other pets he is unlikely to bark at them, but if other animals are introduced into the family then just be sure to have a secure pre-meet to ensure that the other dog does not react adversely to his potential barking. However, his barking can be trained, and this is one of the reasons why we would advise this.
He requires around 30 minutes of exercise a day, so three walks or so around the block each day will allow him to enjoy his toilet breaks away from the backyard and to give him some fresh air. Other than this he is happy to play in between exercise sessions.
Training
The Bichpoo is a fast learner, thanks to the intelligence of both of his parents, and with his desire to please his master he is relatively easy to train as long as you are consistent with it. Positive reinforcement training is the best method to train a Bichpoo, and a little bit of verbal praise and plenty of pats on the back will go a long way.
It is important to socialize your Bichpoo from a young age to ensure that he is comfortable with a variety of dogs of all shapes and sizes, and this is particularly important given how small he is and how big the world will seem to him. Because he can be quite the yappy dog, it is also important to discourage him from barking at other dogs as not only does this undesirable behavior stress him out, but it will also stress out other dogs who may not be so forgiving as you.
Health
The Bichpoo is a generally healthy dog breed, with a long lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Because he is not a purebred dog he has yet to be given a full breed standard, and as such the best way to identify his health issues is to look at what his parents are predisposed to.
From the Poodle parent, it is likely that he will be predisposed to Progressive Retinal Atrophy, as well as a variety of other eye conditions which are shared by both parents, and as such he should undergo a regular Ophthalmologist examination to ensure that his eyes are in tip-top condition.
Both the Poodle and Bichon Frise suffer from Patella Luxation, which is where the kneecap is not properly formed and it dislocates causing severe pain, and often it will cause the pup to be lame in the affected leg so be sure to watch out for this. If left untreated then it will require surgery and it will not correct itself, so be sure to take him to the Veterinarian as soon as you notice it.
The Bichon Frise parent also has to be tested for Hip Dysplasia, which is where the affected joint is abnormally formed, and again it will cause pain and lameness.
Nutrition
The Poochon will only consume approximately 1 cup of food a day. This is great news for prospective owner’s pocket strings as he is not too costly to feed compared to the majority of other dogs.
If your Poochon is on the smaller side then you may have to purchase food that is specifically suited to toy breeds, as the kibble may be too big for his smaller mouth. Be sure to follow the instructions on the food packet, and if you are in any doubt then be sure to speak to your Veterinarian.
Grooming
The Bichpoo has curly hair, and as such, it is important to brush it every day to ensure that it does not become tangled or matted, particularly around the areas where his collar and harness is placed. As with any doodle dog, using a slicker brush, which is rectangular in shape with fine wire bristles, is the best brush to keep his coat in the best condition. He will rarely shed, and regular brushing will remove any of the hairs on his body to avoid it from getting on your clothes or sofa.
Bathing once every 6 weeks or so will keep him from smelling fresh, just be sure to rinse and dry him properly as this can be worse for his skin than being dirty. His hair will also grow quite quickly, so you should clip his hair once every two months or take him to a professional dog groomer if you would prefer.
Because the Poochon is a smaller dog with a small mouth, his teeth should be cleaned at least once a week with doggy toothpaste because he is prone to periodontal diseases more so than the average-sized dog.
Breeders & Puppy Costs
If you think this sounds like your ideal family pet then the next step is to spend time finding a reputable Poochon breeder. Typing Poochon breeders into any online search engine will generate results, but you need to ensure that you read reviews about them and learn exactly what to look for in a reputable breeder. Always insist on meeting them in person, and the puppy and his parents before any deposit or agreement is made, and be sure to see their health certificates to ensure that their parents are healthy.
Alternatively, joining social media groups such as ‘Bichoodles, Poochons, Bichpoos, and Bichipoos’ is full of members who also love this breed, so you could always ask them for recommendations of reputable breeders.
A typical Poochon puppy from a reputable breeder will cost on average $1,000. If you would like a typical Bichpoo, and you aren’t too keen on the idea of playing the gene lottery, then be sure to seek breeders who have second and third-generation puppies, who are called F2 and F3 puppies in the canine world. While they will be slightly more expensive, you are more likely to gain a more predictable pup, but just be sure to ask the breeder for certificates and parental lineage to prove that they are second generation and above.
Rescue & Shelters
Being a specific designer breed that is relatively new, there aren’t any breed-specific rescue centers just for the Bichpoo. However, being an increasingly popular breed there is likely to be a doodle dog of some sort in your local rescue center. If you are keen on rescuing a Poochon then speak to your local rescue centers and keep an eye on their websites for new dogs. It may take extra time, but it will certainly be worth it when you find him!
As Family Pets
- The Poochon is a sweet dog who is fun-loving, and very affectionate with his family.
- He will need a family that can give him cuddles and provide him with fun interactive games.
- He should be placed with a family who can provide him with at least 30 minutes of daily exercise.
- This breed is not a silent lapdog, so be prepared for that if you bring him into your home.
- The Bichpoo is known to be very barky, so he may not be best suited to apartments.
- He is a sociable dog who does not like to be left alone for long periods of time.
- The Poochon is the perfect size for young children.
- He’s not too big yet not too delicate for them to play with him.
- As long as he is socialized, he will also be suited to a multi-pet household.
- The Bichpoo is an adaptable dog who is suited to apartment living, or in a large home.
- He is a generally healthy dog, and he will be by your side for around 13 ½ years on average.
- The Bichpoo is hypoallergenic and as such he is suited to families with dog allergies.
- He is a barky dog who will either make the perfect cute watchdog or annoying neighbor pup.
Final Thoughts
The Poochon is an adorable little pup who is suited to most family homes. As long as you have done your research into the breed, and you know what to expect from both of his parents, then you will most certainly not be disappointed with him.
As long as you don’t expect him to be a quiet little lapdog, and you can spend quality time with him and keep his intelligent mind occupied, then he will fit into his new family just fine. There is no doubt that this small curly teddy bear look-alike will steal your and your whole family’s heart from day one!
