Breeds / Small
Poochon puppies
The Poochon is a small companion cross that is sociable, playful and quick to warm to new people and animals. They adapt well to flat living once their daily walks and play are done, and both parent breeds are people focused enough to dislike long spells alone.
The facts
- Size class Small
- A cross of Bichon Frise and Poodle
- Country of origin Not published
- Adult weight 4 to 8.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 9 to 18 lb
- Adult height 23 to 35 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming High
- Coat type Medium soft curly
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
About the Poochon
The Poochon, also sold as a Bichpoo, crosses the Bichon Frise with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. Adults are 4 to 8.2 kg and 23 to 35 cm, with a soft curly coat that sheds very little. Both parents are companion breeds rather than working ones, so the result is sociable and playful, quick to warm to new people and animals, and content in a flat once their walks and games have been done properly.
Daily walks plus indoor play cover the exercise. Grooming does not come so cheaply: this coat wants daily brushing and clipping every few weeks, and the white face stains without regular cleaning. Both parent breeds dislike long spells alone, so build up time by themselves in small steps from the first week. Weight and teeth are the two things to watch, since a small mouth crowds and a small dog gains quickly.
A cross, not a breed. The Poochon, also sold as a Bichpoo, is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and a first cross of two purebred parents is less predictable than a later generation bred back to a Poodle. Adult size depends on whether the Poodle parent was a Toy or a Miniature, and neither parent coat sheds much, so both need daily brushing and regular clipping.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Poochon puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, suspected from limping or leg holding and graded on orthopaedic examination
- Progressive retinal atrophy and hereditary cataracts, detectable by DNA test and by veterinary eye examination
- Bladder stones from the Bichon side, suspected from bloody or strong smelling urine and confirmed by urinalysis and imaging
- Diabetes mellitus, diagnosed by a blood panel and urinalysis after increased thirst and weight loss
- Periodontal disease, found at an annual veterinary dental examination
- Legg Calve Perthes disease, diagnosed by hip radiographs in a young lame dog
Your Poochon puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Poochon.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4 to 8.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 8.2 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Poochon
Previous: Pont-Audemer Spaniel · Next: Poodle (Miniature)
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and health notes
- petmd.com for coat type
- Health notes from Poochon breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/bichon-frise. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: JazzHandsIncarnate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.