A complete guide to the poochon dog breed

A Complete Guide to the Poochon Dog Breed

Poochon Breed Overview

The Poochon dog breed combines the Toy Poodle and Bichon Frise dogs. These dogs are very popular in families for their adorable personalities and small puppies with happy-go-lucky attitudes. This Poodle mix also comes from two incredibly intelligent parent breeds and are brilliant animals. This hybrid includes Bichpoo, Bichon Poo, Frise Poodle mix, and Bichon Poodle. Some people describe a Bichon Poodle mix as a teddy bear dog because of its adorable look. This article will help you decide if the Poochon puppy is right for your home and will tell you everything you need to know to care for this puppy. 

History

This hybrid breed likely existed naturally over the years. They made the breed on purpose in Australia in the late 1990s. The UK and US followed this trend and the Poochon became a very popular dog breed. This breed gets its best traits from both of its parent breeds. Its intelligence is enhanced thanks to the Toy Poodle, and its personality and playfulness thanks to its relationship with the Bichon Frise.

Size

The Poochon hybrid dog is tiny, and these dogs are great for apartment living. They stand between 9 and 15 inches tall and weigh between 6 and 17 pounds. The dog has the chance to take the statue or either parent breed, but thanks to its relationship with the Poodle, it can be bred with three different size Poodles. Some Poochon puppies might result from a Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, or Toy Poodle. But, Poochon puppies most often come from a Bichon Frise and a Toy Poodle, specifically. 

Temperament

This Bichon Frise Poodle mix breed is a very social animal. These pups are super social, and Poochon puppies love meeting people. These active dogs can make great companions for large families. They might get along well with other animals like cats, but they can do great in a home with other dogs. These dogs need a ton of attention and aren't great when alone. Poochon puppies would benefit from having another doggy friend to keep their company when their family is away from home. These dogs have great temperaments; as a bonus, they're super easy to train.

Intelligence 

The Poochon dog inherits the intelligence of the Poodle. The Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds in the world, and they're super easy to train. It's best for pet parents to start young; Positive reinforcement training is the best way to teach dogs behaviors. Never yell at your dog, or you'll dissuade them from liking to learn. The best thing you can do is purchase treats to reward your puppy for basic commands to get them to begin loving learning. Poochon owners will realize that the Poodle Bichon Frise dog is an adorable small dog who's a fast learner. Once you do that, practice regular training sessions daily, but keep them short. Dogs can do training sessions for ten to fifteen minutes up to three times a day. If you keep these moments as positive as possible, your dog will enjoy training and spending time with you. 

Shedding 

This breed is usually hypoallergenic. The Poochon hybrid dog breed tends to have medium-length coats with hypoallergenic fur. Their coats can be a blend of colors, one solid color. Cream, tan, and apricot are more common in the Poochon puppy, but black and gray are some rarer colors. 

Even though this dog is supposed to be hypoallergenic, it's best for allergy sufferers to spend time with these dogs before adopting one. If you spend about an hour with your potential Bichon Frise Poodle mix puppy, you should be able to tell if they're hypoallergenic enough for your situation. 

Poochon playing in the grass

Poochon Breed Health Overview

The Poochon dog breed has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years and is likely to be a pretty healthy dog. Poochon puppies are at risk of developing a few minor health conditions. Most of these conditions involve their joints and are low-risk issues. Most animals can be treated at home with just a few products pet owners can find at their local pet stores. This breed is also at risk of a handful of mental health conditions and might need some aid to help them overcome stress and anxiety. No matter, most Poochon dogs live happy lives and can receive help for any problems that may come their way. 

While this dog is a mixed breed, it doesn't make them inherently more healthy than either of their parent breeds. Even though most dogs will live their entire life without experiencing any health conditions, almost all dogs will experience stress and anxiety at some point. It's important for Poochon puppy owners to research what they can about dog stress and anxiety. Poochon dogs are more susceptible to anxiety because of their small size and parent breeds' anxious tendencies. 

Common Psychological Health Conditions 

Stress

All dogs experience stress differently. Many dogs will face stress due to noise and poor socialization. Poochon puppies might get stressed out when sirens, fireworks, or thunderstorms are around because of the loud noises they make. Sometimes these loud noises can send dogs into extreme moments of stress, but most dogs only experience minor stress symptoms. Sometimes dogs that aren't socialized properly will experience many stress symptoms. 

When dogs have symptoms of stress, they'll usually cower in fear, tuck their tail between their legs or hold their ears back. Dogs often bark, whine, or whimper when they're nervous. Some animals will get very close to their owners to look for comfort. Some dogs hide under some tables or something to try to protect them. There are tons of ways to help your dog feel safer if they're experiencing stress symptoms. Pet owners can let their dogs crawl into a safe space or allow them to take calming supplements. Many treats help dogs calm down.

brown Poochon dog

Anxiety

Anxiety is ais a very common occurrence in many dog breeds. The most well-known type of anxiety is separation anxiety. Dogs that experience separation anxiety gets nervous when they're left alone for long periods. Another common type of anxiety in dogs is seen in dogs who experience trauma. Shelter dogs are more likely to have anxiety because they're more likely to have experienced traumas like neglect, abuse, abandonment, abandonment, and homelessness. These dogs get anxiety when something occurs that reminds them of their past trauma. There are many signs that Poochon puppies will exhibit if they have anxiety.

Common signs of anxiety are when a dog paces, drools, barks, whines, or pants. Some dogs will shake, hide behind their owners, or try to escape their homes. Sometimes dogs with anxiety will urinate or defecate out of fear, and rarely, dogs will nip or bite at the thing giving them anxiety. Owners can easily help their pets overcome anxiety by providing them with calming treats or counterconditioning treatments. Calming supplements and methods like safe spaces provide temporary relief from anxiety, whereas counterconditioning treatment provides a more permanent result to treat their anxiety. However, counterconditioning training is often costly and requires a professional trainer, so it isn't always an option.

Calming Dog Products

Pet owners can purchase many products to help their dogs de-stress. If your pup is super anxious or stressed out, one of the most common things pet parents do to help their puppies is provide a safe space. A safe space is a room or area dedicated solely to your pet. This area should be quiet and away from foot traffic and somewhere your dog can go to be alone and unbothered by anyone, including you. In these spaces, owners provide their pets with things that help them feel relaxed and calm. So you can give your dog a cage, a soft bed, a water dish, or even some calming zen treats. Some owners go as far as putting a radio with classical music playing in these rooms or adding aromatherapy. Owners have full creative control over what they want to put in those rooms. 

Calming Dog Zen Chews

Photo Source: calmingdog.com

 

Common Physical Health Conditions

Patellar Luxation 

One common health condition a lot of dogs experience is patellar luxation. Patellar luxation is a condition that occurs when a dog's knee pops out of place. Usually, when dogs struggle with this condition, it's because they're born with it. Thankfully many animals won't experience signs or symptoms of this condition until they're much older and won't ever develop severe symptoms from the condition. When a dog is suffering from patellar luxation, it might lift one leg outwards as they run. It can look like they run on three legs for a quick moment before dropping back onto their four legs as if nothing changed. When Poochon dogs experience patellar luxation, they often struggle with arthritis or swollen joints from the pain. The only way to help these dogs is to provide anti-inflammation medicine, which you can buy at local pet stores. 

Hip Dysplasia 

Another common health issue that many dogs deal with is hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia can be a common occurrence in the Poochon breed. Although every dog in this hybrid won't experience this condition, many dogs start experiencing hip issues as they age. When dogs suffer from hip dysplasia, it's because their hip joint doesn't slide. Hip joints work as a ball-in-socket joint and are supposed to slide as a dog moves, but when they have dysplasia, this joint grinds on itself. Over time this can wear down the cartilage in the joint and cause increasingly painful experiences. Dogs with hip dysplasia might whimper when someone touches their hip or bite at someone who brushes their hip. Many dogs with hip dysplasia have trouble laying down, getting up, and using stairs.

It's very important to get your Poochon active when they struggle with hip dysplasia. An overactive dog can cause their joint to swell up a lot, but an underactive dog can let their joint freeze up. If dogs with hip dysplasia don't move enough, they risk injuring themselves by allowing their joint to lock up and grinding even more when they do normal tasks like walking to eat or go to the bathroom. Owners must provide their Poochon dogs with something that they can lay on that's soft and will allow them to rest their joints. They can also give their dog joint supplements that help provide more nourishment to the joints and increase the lubrication in their joints to avoid inflammation.

Elbow Dysplasia 

Elbow dysplasia is quite similar to hip dysplasia because it is also caused by birth. Dogs have three bones that align perfectly during birth for their elbow to function correctly. This alignment is very specific and can be the tiniest bit misaligned, and dogs will deal with elbow dysplasia. When a Poochon puppy has this condition, it might avoid jumping or using stairs, lift one of its front legs and walk with a limp or something too. 

There are plenty of options for treating your Poochon puppy's pain symptoms. Pet parents can give their dogs joint supplements to aid their elbows and give their pets a soft bed to lay on to rest their sore legs. An effective way to treat elbow dysplasia is with dog CBD. CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain management properties making it an excellent at-home remedy for your pup's joint issues. 

illustration of elbow dysplasia in dog

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Poochon Dog Oral Health

Poochon puppies can be small dogs, so their dental health is incredibly important. Many dogs have the first stage of dental disease, but their owners aren't aware. The first stage of periodontal disease, a dental disease, is swollen gums, and the most severe stage of this disease can injure their mouth enough that they have to get their teeth pulled. When dogs have dental disease, the plaque and bacteria they gather on their teeth turn into tartar, and their teeth can get decayed and eventually fall out or get removed. The only way to prevent this is to brush your pet's teeth with a dog-specific toothbrush and toothpaste. Human products are too rough, and human toothpaste is toxic, so only use canine products. Smaller dogs like the Poochon puppy are more likely to face difficulties with oral health because they suffer from tooth overcrowding. It occurs when dogs grow a lot of teeth but have a much smaller mouth, and bacteria gets trapped in their teeth easier in harder-to-reach areas. 

Owners should brush their pet's teeth three times a week to ensure their pup is healthy. There is a process to getting your pup used to having their teeth brushed, but the more you practice it, the more used to it they will get. Also, in between brushing sessions, owners can give their pets some oral health treats to help care for their teeth. Nothing will work as well as a dog toothbrush and toothpaste, but oral health treats can help scrape plaque and tartar off. 

1. Canine Greenies

2. Tartar Shield Soft Rawhide

Tartar Shield Soft Rawhide Chews for Small Dogs

Photo Source: tartarshield.com

 

Poochon Puppy Breed's Needs

Exercise 

All breeds of dogs need daily exercise. The Poochon breed can be an active dog for its small size and usually needs about 45 minutes of exercise daily. Pet owners can give these pups their daily activity by walking them around the block twice a day or taking them for a hike. However, it's important not to forget that this breed is particularly mentally active, so they also need plenty of mental activity.

Mental activity is anything that makes them think. Training sessions provide mental activity, as do regular everyday commands. It's best if a Poochon puppy gets no less than 30 minutes of mental exercise daily. Owners can plan these moments by planning training sessions. They can also purchase puzzle toys for their dogs that have treat rewards, or they can partake in enrichment activities. There are many options to choose from, but only enrichment activities target physical and mental activity at once. Without enough mental exercise, dogs can become bored and disobedient, develop bad behaviors and become depressed. 

Nutrition

Knowing what to food your Poochon is a very important part of taking care of them. The Poodle parent breed is known for eating as much as possible and is prone to obesity. It's important to factor this in and plan meals for your dog, with their daily amount of calories split into a minimum of two meals daily. So if your dog needs one cup of food a day, give them two ½ cups of food. 

About 50% of adult pet dogs in the US are obese because they're overfed and don't receive enough exercise. To break this chain, check in with your vet to ensure your dogs have the right weight for their breed and height. Remember that a dog's dietary needs can change based on sex, age, height, breed, activity levels, and health conditions. Also, owners can give their dogs up to 10% of their daily calorie needs in treats, but feeding more than that is considered unhealthy. 

spoon scoop of dog food and bowl

Grooming 

Poochon puppies have mostly hypoallergenic fur, which requires a lot of grooming. These dogs need brushes regularly and at least three times a week minimum. It's best if you purchase a pin brush. It's also important that you take your Poochon to get groomed every few weeks. Without proper fur care, they can get tears, knots, and mats in their fur. This breed is also prone to eye tear stains, but there are many home remedies to this issue. 

There are many ways to groom your pet, and you can do it at home. It's important to wash your dog regularly, and there are tons of shampoos and conditioners made specifically for animals with Poodle-like hair. 

Top Product Picks for The Poochon Dog Breed

Many owners accidentally forget that dogs can get very anxious from their move. When you bring a Poochon puppy home, you'll want to ensure they feel super welcome there. The best way to do this is to provide them with a bunch of stuff they'd love. Have a dog food bowl and water bowl ready before your dog puts their paws through the doorway. When your Poochon sees they're getting food, they'll os much more comfortable. It's also a great idea to buy a doggy bed to have their place to sleep while adjusting to their new home. Many pet owners also buy a cage since this can ensure that your dog won't trash your house while adapting to their move. 

There are necessities you'll need to take care of your dog. It's a great idea to have a collar and leash and buy a harness too. You may want to wait until after you have your Poochon puppy before buying a harness to ensure it fits.

You might also benefit from some dog car seat belts, doggie bags, and portable food and water bowls. It's also a good idea to buy one or two toys for your new puppy and treats. After some time spent with you, your puppy will feel happy in their new home. Poochon puppies are very affectionate, and after they adjust to their new home, they're sure to love their family. 

When you bring your Poocjon puppy home, ensure you give them plenty of space. It's always best to let your pup come to you when adjusting to a new place. Then talk in a steady voice and praise them when they do. The more pets and treats you give them when they come near you, the faster your Poochon puppy will associate you with happy things. Patience is your best friend, while your new puppy grows to be your furry friend. 

Other Resources 

  1. American Kennel Club Bichon Frise

  2. American Kennel Club Poodle

  3. Bichon Frise Club of America

  4. Poodle Club of America

  5. Poodle Club of America Foundation

 

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