Poochon Breed Information
Charming, friendly, and highly affectionate, Poochons are delightful little treats. They are loyal and devoted, have adoring personalities, and are always ready for a cuddle session. Poochon puppies are joyful little fluffs with bouncy paws and wiggly tails. They are lively and happy pups who love to jump around and they are excellent training students. Sturdy and small, Poochons have an average height between 9 to 15 inches and an average weight between 6 and 17 pounds. Poochon puppies are a mix between a Mini or Toy Poodle and a Bichon Frise.
For insights on how different breeds compare, check out our blog on Poochon vs Shichon Comparison or Poochon vs Cavachon Comparison
BREED TYPE / MIX
Doodle Hybrid / Poodle crossed with a Bichon Frise
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Minimum
TRAINING
Responsive
TEMPERAMENT
Gentle, Affectionate, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
6-17 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
9-15 in
LIFE SPAN
12-15 yrs
Characteristics
- The Poochon is sweet, affectionate, has a caring nature, and is a wonderful therapy dog
- They shed very little and are hypoallergenic dogs. Poochon hypoallergenic qualities are inherited from both parent breeds
- Poochons are the friendliest of dogs, they make fast friends with everyone they meet – children of all ages, other pets, and strangers. They are one of the most popular doodle breeds
- Poochons are highly adaptable pups – they are comfortable in both small city apartments and big countryside homes
- Friendly, fun, and playful - Poochons are best suited as companion pets for families with or without children, singles, and seniors
- Poochon dogs live longer healthier lives due to hybrid vigor
- Highly receptive, easy to train, groom, and adore, the Poochon is an excellent companion pet for first-time pet owners
- Poochons are alert and attentive dogs, they make excellent watchdogs and family pets
- Easygoing and devoted, the Poochon adapts well to both active and laid-back lifestyles
- The Poochon size is small to toy depending on the size of its parents. A Poochon adult may weigh between 6 and 17 pounds
- Because they are a mixed breed, Poochon puppies inherit a combination of colors from their parents. Their colors include apricot, white, black, tan, and blue
Appearance
Cuddly and sweet, the Poochon is a small dog with delightful features. Teddy bear-like in appearance, it has a sturdy-built well-proportioned body, dark soulful eyes, and cute floppy ears. The Poochon also sports a gorgeous, fluffy coat that can vary from wavy to curly. The coat is medium in length and soft and it can come in various colors that are seen in the parents breeds. Poochon colors include white, apricot, black, blue, and tan, or different color combinations with various markings and patterns. The most popular puppy colors are:
Their coat is also hypoallergenic with very minimal shedding, which makes these dogs great for owners who suffer from pet-related allergies. The Poochon adult (Bichpoo adult) most often comes in a curly Poodle-like coat.
The Poochon size can differ quite a bit even between puppies of the same litter. A full grown adult can weigh between 6 and 17 pounds depending on the size of its parents, more specifically, on the size of the Poodle used in the mix. Dogs that have a Toy Poodle parent will be smaller than those that have a Miniature Poodle parent. The height of a full grown Poochon is between 9 and 15 inches, also depending on the size of the Poodle used in the mix. There is also a Toy variety of this breed that weighs 6 to 8 pounds and can reach between 8 and 10 inches tall for a Toy Poochon full grown.
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Temperament
True to their parent breeds, the Poochon designer dogs are highly intelligent, sweet, and loving dogs with delightful personalities. They are outgoing, friendly dogs that make best friends with everyone they meet. Known to be gentle, calm, and patient with children of all ages, this breed is one of the best family companion pets in the world.
Poochons are moderately energetic, and they have sunny, playful personalities. They have a great love for the outdoors where they can roam around freely, and they love to be included in all family activities where they might steal the center of attention for a moment or two. As puppies, they are cuddly, joyful, and fun little dogs. They love to play and cuddle in equal measure. They are easy and fun to train and are always eager to impress.
Small, outgoing, with a curious nature and an adventurous spirit, the Poochon is a wonderful travel companion always ready to discover and explore new places. He is a non-aggressive, highly social pup, known to do well in multi-pet households as well as large families with children.
Highly devoted and affectionate, Poochon dogs are known to have unconditional love for their human family and to form life-long bonds.
To understand the importance of early training and behavior, check out our blog on Early Training Key Cavapoo Puppy Behaviors
Discover our puppies and adopt a Poochon.
Insights
Poochon vs Shih Poo Comparison
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Care
Grooming
Poochons have moderate grooming needs. Grooming these dogs involves bathing, brushing, clipping their nails, cleaning their adorable ears, and brushing their teeth. They require a daily brush to keep their coats from becoming tangled or matted. Daily brushing is recommended as these adorable dogs have curly hair that could easily tangle if left unattended for long periods of time. They can go on without brushing for a maximum of three days before their coats begin to tangle.
It is recommended to brush their teeth at least once every two days and clean their ears regularly. Poochons should also be bathed and have their nails clipped monthly. It is beneficial to give your dog a haircut every month or so. One of the most popular haircuts for this breed is the Teddy Bear cut. This haircut gives your dog a rounded, puppy-like appearance. The hair is cut relatively short and equal on all body parts. This is one of the most sought-after Poochon haircut styles.
For a comprehensive guide on grooming, you might want to read our blog on How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog
Learn more about Grooming your Dog at Home.
Exercise Needs
Poochons are moderately active dogs, much like their parents. They enjoy long walks, swims, short jogs, and fun indoor activities with family. One or two daily walks with some active playtime at home should suffice in keeping the pooch a happy and healthy dog. Make sure to include some games of fetch or hide-and-seek in your daily routines and allow some time for naps and cuddles. These are the Poochon’s favorite activities.
Get some insights on how to raise a puppy from our New Puppy Owner Guide.
Health
As a hybrid dog, the Poochon benefits from hybrid vigor, which ensures improved health. Adult dogs may be prone to some of the health issues associated with the breeds of their parents. Although rare for the Poochon, health problems that may appear include ear infections, eye issues, and teeth problems.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Poochon is very similar to that of the Mini/Toy Poodle and Bichon Frise breeds. Their life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years. The oldest Bichon Frise dog on record lived to be 21 years old, while the oldest Poodle lived to be 20 years old. Poochon dogs can live past their 15-year lifespan provided they are raised, fed, and exercised properly.
Training
Poochons are highly trainable pups. They are equipped with keen intelligence and an agile mindset and can pick up on tricks quickly. They are fast learners, love mental stimulation, and have eager to please personalities, which allow them to take on more intensive tasks like obedience and agility training. They respond well to treat-based motivation and positive reinforcement methods.
Leash training and socializing a Poochon puppy should be an easy task. They are easy-going, obedient, and friendly dogs. They enjoy exploring new places and meeting new people.
Poochons can get very attached to their human family. Because of this, they are sometimes prone to separation anxiety and can develop destructive behavior when left alone for too long. It is recommended to leave the them alone for short periods of time throughout the day to help them adjust to being alone on occasion.
History
The Poochon also referred to as the Bichon Poodle, Bichon Poo, Poochon Bichon Poodle, or Bichpoo (Bichpoo dog), is one of the most popular and sought-after Doodle Breeds. A crossbreed between a purebred Mini or Toy Poodle and a purebred Bichon Frise, the Poochon originated in Australia a little over three decades ago.
True to their parent breeds, these dogs are highly intelligent, have a sweet and caring nature, a playful personality, and a sunny disposition. Poochon breeders intentionally mixed the Poodle and Bichon Frise to create a new dog with the same desirable traits that the two breeds possess. Breeders at that time also set out to create a new hypoallergenic doodle breed with better health.
Learn more about Doodle Breeds.
With their ever-increasing popularity around the world, the Poochons became known for their three generations:
- A first-generation pup, known as an F1 Poochon, is a puppy that has a purebred Mini or Toy Poodle parent and a purebred Bichon Frise parent
- A second-generation pup, known as an F1B Poochon, is a puppy that has an F1 Poochon parent and a purebred Mini or Toy Poodle parent
- A third-generation pup, known as an F2 Poochon, is when a puppy has two Poochon parents
Learn more about Dog Breed Generations.
Although the designer breed is fairly new and without much history, we can look back at the history of the Poodle and Bichon Frise parent breeds in order to better understand it.
The Poodles are popular for their keen intelligence, elegant athletic body, and fun-loving nature. One of the most ancient dog breeds in the world, the Poodle is considered a member of the canine world aristocracy. Throughout the breed history, the versatile Poodles have been hunters and retrievers, soldiers, therapy dogs, circus performers, champions in dog sports, and adored companion pets at royal courts.
Poodles and Poodle puppies have been adoringly represented in literature, poetry, paintings, and sculptures around the world for centuries. They often appear in show rings and sports fields, movies and cartoons, and they are wonderful companion pets. Today, the Poodle is ranked as the second most intelligent dog in the world and one of the most popular and sought-after breeds.
RELATED: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Poodles
The Bichon Frises attribute their worldwide popularity to their affectionate nature, sunny disposition, and adorable, cuddly looks. Bichons originated during the 14th century in Tenerife (in the Canary Islands). Also known as the Bichon Tenerife, the Bichon Frise has been a greatly adored companion pet at royal courts in England, France, and Spain. It is said that his majesty King Henry III loved his Bichons so greatly that he carried them around with him everywhere he went. Upon their arrival in the United States during the 1950s, the Bichon puppies quickly became highly popular and ranked as one of the most loving dog breeds.
For more insights on various doodle breeds, explore our blog on Meet the 6 Most Sought-After Small Doodle Breeds.
Compare the Poochon with a similar breed:
