If you want a puppy that is sweet, adorable, as well as loving and affectionate, this is the puppy for you. The Bichon Poodle is all of those things and more.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What Is A Bichon Poodle?
What Do The Look Like?
Size
Coat & Colors
How To Care For Your Bichon Poodle
Food & Dietary Needs
Exercise
Training
Health Concerns
Grooming
Temperament and Personality
How To Find A Bichon Poodle
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thought
What Is A Bichon Poodle?
The Bichon Poodle, also known as the Bichon Poo, Bichpoo, or Poochon is a Poodle Mix hybrid. They are the result of breeding a toy or miniature Poodle with a Bichon Frise.
The Poochon first made it’s appearance in popular culture in the late 90s. Designer dog breeders in Australia bred them to incorporate the superior intelligence of the Poodle with the playfulness and affection of the Bichon Frise.
The experiment was a great success and the hybrid quickly made it’s way across Europe and into the United States.
What Do They Look Like?
A teddy bear. Seriously, they look like a child’s stuffed toy.
When people talk about teddy bear dogs, they are usually thinking of the Bichon Poodle.
This breed looks very much like a split down the middle cross between both parent breeds. Their coat is generally a medium length and curly; requiring a good bit of daily maintenance.
To get an idea of what your Bichon Poodle might look like, here are the breed standards for Bichon Frise and Poodles according to the AKC:
Bichon Frise
- Round, dark brown or black “button” eyes
- Soft and dense undercoat
- Coarse and curly topcoat
- Puffball appearance
Bichon Frise dogs only have a few recognized colors:
- White
- White & Apricot
- White & Buff
- White & Cream
Poodles
- “very dark”, oval shaped eyes
- hanging ears; close to the head
- curly or corded coat
The accepted colorings/markings for poodles are:
- Apricot
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Cream
- Gray
- Red
- Silver
- Silver Beige
- White
Your Bichpoo may possess any combination of the above features from either breed. Part of what makes Poodle mixes so much fun is the variety in ways they can look.
Size
Parental genetics play a large role in the size of your puppy, just like they do in their appearance. We have made a chart below with the average sizes of the Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Bichon Frise.
We skipped the Standard Poodle since they are unlikely to be used for this breed.
| Height | Weight | |
| Poodle (Toy) | under 10″ | 5 to 10 lbs |
| Poodle (Miniature) | 10″ to 15″ | 12 to 20 lbs |
| Bichon Frise | 9″ to 11″ | 7 to 12 lbs |
| Bichon Poodle | 9″ to 15″ at the shoulders | 6 lbs to 17 lbs |
Coat
Since both Poodles and Bichon Frise are low shedders, they are also considered hypoallergenic. That is great news for those of us that want a loving lap dog but struggle with allergies.
The coat on a Bichon Poodle is about medium length and generally wavy or curly.
Color
Bichpoos come in a variety of colors similar to their parent breeds. Those colors are:
- Apricot
- Black
- Cream
- Grey
- Tan
Most of the time, these dogs are a solid color. However, it is not unheard of for them to be a blend.
Breed Recognition
Being a mixed breed/hybrid, the Bichon Poodle mix is not a recognized breed. Both of the parent breeds are, however.
While the AKC does not recognize this breed, there are a few other organizations that do.
Those organizations are:
- American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC)
- Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA)
- International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
- Designer Breed Registry (DBR)
Temperament and Personality
Bichon Poodles are some of the friendliest dogs you will meet. They love to run, play, exercise, cuddle, and sleep in your lap.
These canines are perfect fits for almost any living situation. Do you have a bunch of kids in a large home? The more playmates and space for them to run and play.
Are you a single adult living in a studio apartment? They will never bee too far away and will love all of the focused attention they can get.
Seriously, these dogs have such a positive and energetic personality, it’s hard to think of a better breed as a companion.
How To Care For Your Bichon Poodle
We’ve covered some of the history, appearance, and personality of the Bichon Poodle. Now let’s go over how to care for them.
Food & Dietary Needs
Almost any type of dog food you can buy will have feeding instructions right on the bag. Generally, these instructions are pretty spot on.
But, when switching to a new food, you will definitely want to keep an eye on your dog’s weight and body condition. Take note of any changes that you see and adjust the feeding amount accordingly.
As we said above, your dog’s parents will play a large role in their size. generally, a Poochon will weigh between 6 and 17 lbs. If you can see the parents you will have a good idea of where they will fall on the spectrum.
You want them to stay at a healthy and constant weight, as well as maintaining a good body condition.. If they are getting the correct amount of food, this won’t be a problem.
If you are unfamiliar with how to evaluate your dog’s body condition, World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has created an easy to read chart to help educate on what it is and what it means.
Fluctuations in weight are not abnormal. But, if you notice any extreme changes or your dog’s body condition seems to be in decline, take them to the vet and have them checked out by a professional.
Additionally, small breed dogs have different nutritional requirements than larger breed dogs. You will want to make sure your Bichon Poodle is getting a dog food recipe made specifically for small breeds.
Exercise
Poochons have a good bit of energy and love to play. If you can get in a good 30 minutes or so of playtime or walking, they will love you all the more for it.
As we mentioned, both Poodles and Bichon Frise are very intelligent animals. One drawback to very smart dogs is that if they do not get enough exercise or external stimulation, they will seek an outlet of their own to avoid boredom.
Often times, their outlet will come at the expense of your home and property. They may be small, but you’d be amazed at the wake of destruction a tiny, and very bored, dog can leave behind. If you want to avoid unfortunate chewing events (UCEs), make sure they get plenty of exercise.
Training
Both Poodles and Bichon Frise are very intelligent. Training them is a fairly easy task. Just keep a consistent schedule and offer lots of praise and positive reinforcement.
Health Concerns
Poodles and Bichon Frise dogs are, for the most part, fairly healthy breeds. However, like any breed, there are some health issues that can cross from parent to offspring.
Some of these issues are more likely than others and they also vary in severity.
- Addison’s disease
- Allergies
- Bladder issues
- Cushing’s disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Periodontal disease
- Retinal atrophy
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Von Willebrand disease
Grooming
Bichpoos are fantastic dogs in just about any situation. Obviously, you are starting to wonder what the catch is going to be. They have to have some kind of flaw.
If they do have any flaws, this is it.
Both Poodles and Bichon Frise have beautiful coats. They have passed this trait down to the Bichon Poodle, as well. Unfortunately, they both also require A LOT of grooming and coat care. And, unfortunately, they have also passed this trait along, as well.
In reality, it really isn’t as bad as it may initially seem. They will require, if not daily, 3 to 5 brushings a week. Their hair is easily tangled, knotted, and matted. When these things occur, they can become a problem quickly.
Most dogs produce their own body oils to help keep their skin and coat healthy. That means they usually only need to be bathed every month or so. These pups are the same but they may need a bath a little more frequently.
Another good idea is to take them to a professional groomer on a regular schedule. A professional will be able to help keep any grooming issues from coming up in between visits so all you will really need to do is keep them brushed.
How To Find A Bichon Poodle
I’m sure you are ready to jump right into the world of Bichon Poodle ownership!
Fortunately, they are not too difficult to find. However, that is because they are victims of the designer dog dilemma.
People see them on TV or online and become obsessed. They find a pet store or backyard breeder that does not practice ethical breeding standards (aka puppy mill). They quickly realize that a puppy is a lot of work and not just a cute photo opportunity and that poor puppy ends up at the pound.
The above scenario happens time and time again. If at all possible, we absolutely recommend adopting or going to a rescue. If you must use a breeder, please do the extra legwork to find a reputable breeder*.
*We understand there are many different opinions on the ethics of designer dog breeding. However, we believe that breeding can be done ethically and responsibly. It is those breeders that we support.
Find A Rescue Or Pet Adoption Agency
If you want to help a dog that has been abandoned or surrendered to a shelter or rescue, kudos to you. You are doing a great thing for an innocent animal.
Adopting not only helps them out, but often times, you can skip the puppy phase. Puppies are super cute but they are a lot of work and can be more than a handful.
Just be aware that it is possible for an abandoned dog to have some behavioral and/or trust issues. Going from a home and family to a new environment with no warning can be quite traumatic. You will likely need to work with them to work through those issues.
Please don’t let any of that scare you off. Adopting a dog and working with them through their trauma through love, affection, and training is so rewarding. You both will be bonded in a way that you just won’t be able to get with a puppy from a breeder.
You can look at your local SPCA, animal control, or specialized rescue groups. It will vary depending on where you live but you can usually search for things like “bichon frise rescue near me”, “poodle rescue near me”, or some other variation of those search terms.
Find A Reputable Breeder
You will notice we say “reputable” breeder.
A reputable breeder is someone whose first priority is that of the health and well-being of their dogs. Often times, they will breed their pets and not have animals solely for reproduction.
Good and responsible breeders make sure their own pets are happy and healthy and not in a constant breeding cycle.
One benefit of going to a breeder over adoption is that you will likely have the full medical history of your dog and their parents. This is great information to have if there are ever any medical issues down the line.
Another benefit is that of time. Some people may not be in a professional or health position to be able to dedicate enough time to rehab an abandoned dog. In those cases, adopting may be a disservice to both you and the dog.
If you do decide to go the breeder route, make sure to ask as many questions as you can. A responsible breeder will not be offended. They will likely be happy their dog may be going to a good home that cares.
You can ask about things like:
- where do they keep their dogs?
- how many puppies/litters do they have a year?
- how many dogs do they breed at a time?
- are these “breeders” or are they their pets?
You may also want to ask them if they offer any sort of health guarantee. It’s also a good idea to ask for testimonials and recommendations from other folks who have purchased from them.
Frequently Asked Questions
While researching Bichon Poodles , we found a few questions that kept popping up. Here they are:
Are bichon poodles good dogs?
Yes. They are sweet and non aggressive. Bichon Poodles are also very affectionate and great with kids.
What is a bichon poodle mix called?
Typically, they are called Poochon
Do bichon poodles shed?
No, they are considered to be low shedders and hypoallergenic.
Do bichons bark a lot?
The Bichon Frise part of your mix may be pretty yappy.
Do bichons smell?
Not particularly. However, if they are poorly maintained (not groomed or bathed when dirty, eyes kept clean, etc) they can develop an odor.
Do bichons like to cuddle?
Yes! They are very affectionate and love-love-LOVE! to cuddle with their family.
Can bichon be left alone?
Not for extremely long periods of time. They should be okay for you to go to work (8 hours). But longer than that and they can start to experience separation anxiety.
Are bichons hard to potty train?
No. They are very intelligent and pick up on training very quickly and easily.
Are bichon poodles smart?
Yes! Both Bichon Frise and Poodles are some of the more intelligent breeds out there.
Do bichons have health problems?
According to petmd.com they can suffer from things like “hyperadrenocorticism, allergies, and patellar luxation…cataract[s] and canine hip dysplasia (CHD), Legg-Perthes and liver disease.”
What is the lifespan of a bichon poodle?
The Bichon Poodle, or Poochon, usually lives between 12 and 15 years.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! The Bichon Poodle is such a warm, sweet, and loving breed. You can’t go wrong adding one to your family.
