Bichpoo or Poochon
Origin of the Bichpoo dog
The poochon dog consists of a hybrid between the small poodle and the bichon frize, it is not a pure breed as such today. The poochon is also called by names such as bichon poodle, bishapoo, bichon poo, bichpoo or bich-poo.
This hybrid breed originated in Australia in the late 90s of the 20th century, being bred to satisfy the desire of families looking for an active dog, sociable with children and hypoallergenic. This hybrid quickly caused interest in the United Kingdom and the United States, where they also began to develop it. Today it is very widespread.
This is a dog recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club.
Poochon Dog Physical Characteristics
They are small dogs, but robust and with abundant, woolly fur. The physical appearance will vary depending on whether it is more similar to one or the other of the parents, especially the size of the poodle, which can be very different. In addition, these other characteristics of the poochon stand out:
The average weight is between 4 and 10 kg, and the height between 20 and 30 cm.
Its head is proportionate, with round, very dark eyes.
The snout is flat and the nose is dark, brown or black.
The spine has a curve that makes it aesthetic and striking.
The body is proportioned and robust.
poochon colors
The fur of poochons is fluffy, woolly, wavy or curly, dense and very soft. The color of said fur can be very varied, including the following colors:
White.
Tanned.
Apricot.
Brown.
Grey.
Black.
Tricolor.
Poochon dog character
Poochon are energetic, vital, playful, intelligent, friendly and affectionate dogs with their families, including children. They also get along well with other dogs, especially if they have been trained since puppies.
Being so playful and energetic, they demand a lot of attention and frequent trips outside. However, they have a tendency to bark when left alone for a long time, as they are very dependent on the company of their caregivers, as well as suffer from separation anxiety, manifested by destroying household objects.
Poochon dog education
The poochon inherited its great intelligence and ease of learning from the poodle, so it is not a very difficult breed to train, even at very young ages. They tend to learn well with few repetitions. In addition, the strong bond with their caregivers makes the task much easier.
As with other dogs, the best type of training is that carried out with positive reinforcement, which consists of a form of conditioning in which good behaviors are rewarded, without punishing bad ones. Positive reinforcement has the advantages of being non-traumatic and faster and more effective than other forms of learning.
Poochon dog care
The main care of the poochon dog is detailed below:
Long walks and exercises to release your great energy, at least an hour a day.
Games at home as a combination of exercise outside the home.
Ear cleaning to prevent otitis at least once a week.
Daily teeth cleaning to prevent tartar and periodontal disease.
Frequent brushing, every two days, to prevent the formation of knots.
Bath every few weeks or once a month at the dog groomer to trim the hair if necessary.
Regular nail trimming and as long as they are long.
Routine vaccination and deworming.
Frequent veterinary checks, at least once a year.
Feeding according to the physiological moment, age, activity and individual climatic conditions with a complete and good quality feed for the canine species. The daily amount must be well controlled so as not to go overboard, they have a tendency to become overweight as they are very gluttonous.
Poochon Dog Health
The life expectancy of poochons is estimated to be between 12 and 15 years. Being a first generation hybrid, hereditary diseases tend to appear less frequently, however there are several common diseases in the bichon and poodle and they must be taken into account when we have a poochon, being especially controlled with veterinary checkups. These pathologies are:
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease): endocrine disease in which there is deficient production of mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) and glucocorticoids by the adrenal glands. The main symptoms are anorexia, weight loss, weakness, intermittent vomiting, muscle tremors, dehydration, lethargy and hypothermia.
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease): an endocrine disease in which there is an increase in the stress hormone cortisol. The most common symptoms are polyuria-polydipsia, obesity, abdominal distension, bilateral symmetrical alopecia, enlarged liver, thinning of the skin, increased appetite, exercise intolerance, muscle atrophy, anestrus in females and testicular atrophy in males. .
Progressive retinal atrophy: a disease in which the photoreceptors of the retina (rods and cones) progressively degenerate. The retina is the part of the eye that focuses the images detected by the lens and converts them into electrical signals that it sends to the brain through the optic nerve to allow vision. If this structure degenerates, vision is progressively lost until it can cause total or partial blindness in the poochon dog.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: consists of avascular necrosis of the head of the femur, the thigh bone that attaches to the hip. It occurs when blood stops reaching the area, causing ischemia, wear and necrosis of that part of the bone. The main symptoms are hip pain, tenderness, cracking, lameness, and muscle atrophy.
Patella dislocation: The patella is a small bone that sits in the trochlea, which is a part of the femur that articulates in the knee joint. Sometimes that kneecap can move, causing dislocation. In this case the dog will present clinical signs such as lameness, discomfort and discomfort.
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia: pathology in which the dog's red blood cells are destroyed by the immune system, causing a decrease in hematocrit (% of total red blood cells), with consequent signs of anemia such as tachycardia and tachypnea, paleness or yellowing of the mucous membranes, weakness and lethargy.