Guest blog by author Vincent Hill
If you are looking forward to having a cute little pet, then perhaps a Poochon is the right dog for you. In comparison to other dog breeds, the Poochon is a newer breed. It came to existence in the late 90s. Since then, they have succeeded in winning the hearts of lots of dog lovers.
It is a designer breed that is small, friendly, lovable, and low shedding! They make great family dogs. They are very smart in nature. Poochon is also known as Bichoodle, Bich-poo, and Bichonpoo.
Poochon Breed: A Mix of Bichon and Poodle
Poochon is a crossbreed between the Poodle and the Bichon Frise. They have low shedding characteristics from their parent breeds. Their non-shedding wool coat makes them a perfect companion for those suffering from pet allergies. They are highly energetic, adorable, and lively little dogs.
Owners of this breed tend to attract lots of attention. So, if you have a Poochon, it might just improve your socialization skills. Besides this, a well-bred Bichoodle gets along with almost everyone, which makes them an attractive breed for senior citizens living in group homes or elderly facilities.
Facts About Poochons
Let us discuss some basic facts about this adorable pet.
Origin
As discussed earlier, the first breed of Poochon came around the late 90s in Australia. This cute little toy dog was created by breeding two pedigree dogs Miniature/Toy Poodle with the Bichon Frise. The breeders created them with the intention of getting a low-shedding, affectionate, and robust dog breed. Poochon turned out to be the most appropriate solution for people who want to own a pet but suffer from allergies.
Size
Poochon falls into the category of small dogs.
- The size of a full-grown Toy Bich-poo ranges from 10-15 inches at the shoulder.
- The size of a full-grown Mini Bich-poo ranges from 15-20 inches at the shoulder.
Because of their small size, Poochons make suitable pets for people who live in apartment settings. Adults of all ages can enjoy the companionship and unconditional love that comes with owning a Poochon. Small sized pets such as the Poochon are great animal companions for retirees. Seniors who consider moving into a pet friendly senior living community may be happy to learn that Poochon dogs are often accepted by senior living centers that allow small dogs.
Grooming
Just like their parent breeds, Poochons are low-shedding dog breeds. The grooming needs of this breed depend on its coat size. Though they have low shedding coats, they need frequent grooming. To prevent matting and tangling of hairs, clipping after 6-8 weeks is necessary. Regular and frequent clipping keeps the coat shorter in length, which makes it easier to groom. Besides this, a Poochon with shorter hair needs brushing, once every 2-3 days. Whereas a Poochon with longer hair needs to be brushed every day or more often.
Training
Both the parents of this crossbreed are known for their smartness and intelligence. Poochon is no exception. It is a very smart and quick learning dog breed. To make them comfortable with others, early obedience and socialization are highly recommended. Training Poochons requires patience, firmness, and consistency.
One thing that needs more attention, as far as training is concerned, is Poochon barking. If not trained properly, the Poochon can bark at every indoor, as well as outdoor noise. Hence, training in this respect is essential. They respond very well to training and learning new tricks. Keep changing the training routine so that your Poochon pup does not get bored.
Activity Level
Poochons are very energetic, active, and playful dogs. Hence, to keep them healthy and happy, they need their regular dose of exercise. An exercise session of around 20-40 minutes per day would keep them healthy and happy. The exercise can be in the form of a simple walk. Lack of exercise can easily make them feel bored, and as a result, they might show some destructive behavior. This is their way of relieving stress.
Poochons also enjoy roaming around a yard or a back garden. Just make sure that the fencing is safe and secure for these little puppies.
What Makes the Poochon an Excelled Companion?
Now that we know the basic facts about this breed let us understand why they make an excellent companion.
Low Shedding Coats
One of the major concerns for a dog owner is shedding. Poochons do not have the undercoat of fine hair. As a result, Poochons either shed very less, or they don’t shed at all. Even if they shed hair, it gets tangled with the existing hair on their coat. This means that with a Poochon in the house, you don’t need to worry about vacuuming hair frequently. However, you need to brush your dog regularly to remove the tangled hair from the coat.
Very Playful and Outgoing by Nature
The Poochon is a very active dog that loves to entertain their owners. They have a high-spirited personality and love playing. As a result, they keep their owner mentally and physically active and happy.
Highly Intelligent and Easy to Train
Poochon is a very intelligent dog. House-training of this breed is quite easy as they are quick learners. Everyone loves to have an intelligent dog as they are easy to train.
Good Choice for First-time Dog Owners
The Poochon’s loving, lively, and adaptable nature makes them a perfect dog for first-time puppy owners. However, they are more suitable for families with slightly older kids. In case you have a toddler or a very young child, then you need to be a little bit more careful around any young puppy.
Color Varieties of the Poochon
Having Poodle as one of their parents, Bich-poo tends to have a soft and curly coat. Most common coat colors of Poochon are:
- Blue
- Black
- Apricot
- White
If you are looking forward to bringing this lovable, adorable, energetic, and intelligent puppy home, than be careful while selecting the breeder. It is advisable to get the puppy from a reliable source/breeder.
Check out Puppies N Love/Animal Kingdom’s available puppies.
