Breeds / Small
Poochon puppies
The Poochon is a small companion cross that is sociable, playful and quick to warm to new people and animals. It adapts well to flat living once its 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
- 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
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
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 it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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
From Poochon breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/bichon-frise. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
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.
Other small breeds
Previous: Pomsky · Next: Poodle (Miniature)
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.