Breeds / Toy
Zuchon puppies
The Zuchon is a small, affectionate companion that is playful, outgoing and eager to please. They need a lot of company and do not like being left alone.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- A cross of Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 2 to 7 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 4 to 15 lb
- Adult height 24 to 29 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Coat type Long silky to curly
- Typical lifespan 10 to 18 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
About the Zuchon
The Zuchon crosses the Shih Tzu with the Bichon Frise and is also sold as the Shichon. The cross began in the United States as a small companion dog that sheds little and fits a home of any size. Purina UK gives adults as 24 to 29 cm and 2 to 7 kg. The coat can take after either parent, the Shih Tzu's long, flowing hair or the Bichon's curly, velvety one, and either way it needs daily care. PetMD says their lifespan is similar to the parents', which it gives as 10 to 18 years for the Shih Tzu and 14 to 15 for the Bichon.
Exercise needs are moderate: daily walks and play keep them fit, and they suit a flat and a first time owner. The work is the coat. Brush daily and book a groomer every month or two, and a shorter clip makes both easier. Purina UK's vet ratings give them five out of five for family friendliness but one out of five for tolerating being alone, so the real question before buying is whether someone is home most of the day. Low shedding still means high maintenance.
A cross, not a breed. The Zuchon is a cross rather than a standardised breed, so size, coat and temperament vary and can favour either parent, and puppies from one litter can look quite different. Purina UK notes that first crosses are more consistent than dogs bred Zuchon to Zuchon, and that the Bichon's longer muzzle should mean fewer breathing problems than in a Shih Tzu.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Zuchon 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 toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. 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, graded on orthopaedic examination and treated surgically in severe cases
- Periodontal disease, which small breeds are especially prone to, prevented by daily tooth brushing and professional cleaning
- Eye disease including cataracts, dry eye and progressive retinal atrophy from the Shih Tzu side and corneal dystrophy from the Bichon side, found on eye examination
- Hip dysplasia, diagnosed on x-ray
- Diabetes mellitus, diagnosed on blood and urine tests
- Bladder stones, found on urine tests and imaging
Your Zuchon puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Zuchon.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 2 to 7 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 7 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 toy breeds
More on the Zuchon
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- purina.co.uk for adult weight and height, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and country of origin
- petmd.com for life expectancy, coat type and health notes
- Health notes from Zuchon breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/shichon. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Hamberty, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.