The Bichpoo is a mixed breed, resulting from a cross between the Poodle and the Bichon Frize, originally from Australia. The Bichpoo is an energetic, sociable, affectionate, playful dog, very loyal and dependent on his guardian, so much so that he can suffer from separation anxiety. However, education is generally not a problem, knowing that the best way to educate a dog is positive reinforcement.
As far as care is concerned, it is important to offer him long daily walks, and to keep his coat clean to avoid knots.Although it is a dog that is generally he althy, it is more exposed to endocrine, eye, bone and blood diseases. This is due to the predisposition of the parent breeds to suffer from it. The Bichpoo interests you and you want to know more about it? Continue reading this PlanetAnimal sheet and discover its origins, character, characteristics and much more!
Origin
- Oceania
- Australia
Physical Characteristics
- Muscular
- Proportional
- Short ears
Size
- Little
Height
- 15-35
Adult Weight
- 3-10
Life expectancy
- 12-14
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Society
- Very loyal
- Smart
- Active
- Affectionate
Ideal for
- Children
- Apartment
- House
- Allegric people
Recommended climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Medium
- Curly
- Big
Origin of Bichpoo
The Bichpoo (or Bich-Poo), is a dog resulting from the crossing between the average Poodle and the Bichon Frize, it is not a pure breed. He is also called Poochon.
This hybrid breed originated in Australia in the late 90s and was bred to satisfy families looking for an active, sociable dog with children, and hypoallergenic. This breed quickly attracted interest in the United Kingdom and the United States, where it also began to develop, and today it is very widespread.
He is a dog recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry and by the Designer Dogs Kennel Club.
Bichpoo Features
The Bichpoo is a robust little dog, with dense and thick hair. His physical appearance varies, he may look more like either parent, but it is his size in particular that can change, depending on whether he is descended from a Medium Poodle or a Toy Poodle. We can note other characteristics in the Bichpoo:
- On average, he weighs between 4 and 10 kilograms, and measures between 20 and 30 centimeters at the withers.
- His head is proportioned, his very dark colored eyes are round.
- Its muzzle is flat and its nose is dark, brown or black.
- Its back is slightly curved, which makes it particularly captivating.
- Her body is proportionate and robust.
Colors of Bichpoo
The Bichpoo's coat is fluffy, woolly, wavy or curly, dense and very soft. It is attributed a wide variety of colors, including the following:
- White
- Bronze
- Apricot
- Brown
- Gray
- Black
- Tricolor
Bichpoo character
The Bichpoo is an energetic dog, full of life, playful, intelligent, friendly and very affectionate with his family, including children. He also gets along very well with other dogs, especially if he was educated very young.
As he is playful and energetic, he requires a lot of attention, and he requires frequent outings. However, he tends to bark when he is left alone too long, because he is very dependent and needs the company of his guardian. He can therefore suffer from separation anxiety, which is manifested by the destruction of objects within the home.
Education of Bichpoo
The Bichpoo owes its great intelligence to the Poodle. He learns easily, so he is not a difficult dog to train, even at a very young age. He tends to learn with little repetition. In addition, the strong bond that unites him to his tutor makes the task easier.
As with other dogs, the best way to train him is through positive reinforcement. This method consists of rewarding good behavior, without punishing bad ones. Positive reinforcement has the advantage of not being traumatic, and it is much faster and more effective than other forms of learning.
How to take care of a Bichpoo
Here are the main care a Bichpoo needs:
- Long walks and exercise to burn off, at least an hour a day.
- Play inside but also outside the house.
- Cleaning the ears at least once a week to prevent ear infections.
- Daily cleaning of teeth to prevent tartar and periodontal disease.
- Frequent brushing, every other day, to avoid knots.
- Bath once a month at the groomer to shorten the hair if needed.
- Cut the claws regularly and when they are too long.
- Regular vaccination and deworming.
- Check-up visits to the veterinarian, at least once a year.
- Adapted diet, depending on age, activity, weather conditions.It must be complete and of good quality for your dog, you must also control the daily ration and not abuse the food. The Bichpoo tends to be gluttonous and therefore overweight.
Bichpoo He alth
The life expectancy of the Bichpoo is between 12 and 15 years. As this is a first generation hybrid, hereditary diseases are generally less common, but there are some common Bichon and Poodle conditions that should be considered and monitored during visits to the vet. These pathologies are as follows:
- Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease): endocrine disease linked to insufficient production of mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) and glucocorticoids by the adrenal glands. The main symptoms are anorexia, weight loss, weakness, frequent vomiting, muscle tremors, dehydration, lethargy and hypothermia.
- Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease): endocrine disease linked to an increase in the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. The most common symptoms are polyuria-polydipsia (increased thirst and volume of urine), obesity, a large and distended abdomen, alopecia, increased liver size, skin becoming thinner and more fragile, increased appetite, fatigue, muscle atrophy, reproductive cycle alterations in females, and testicular atrophy in males.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: degenerative disease affecting the photoreceptors of the retina (cones and rods). The retina is the part of the eye that captures the images detected by the lens and converts them into electrical signals sent to the brain via the optic nerve, which provides vision. If this structure deteriorates, the Bichpoo gradually loses its sight.This can lead to total or partial blindness.
- Legg-Perthes-Calvé disease: this is a degenerative disease of the head of the femur, the thigh bone attached to the hip. It occurs when blood no longer passes through this area, leading to ischemia, atrophy and necrosis of this part of the bone. The main symptoms are hip pain, strong tenderness, cracking joints, lameness and muscle atrophy.
- Patellar dislocation: the patella is a small bone located in the trochlea, a part of the femur that articulates the knee. Sometimes the patella can move out of place, resulting in dislocation. In this case, the dog shows symptoms like lameness and discomfort.
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: the immune system attacks and destroys red blood cells, causing a decrease in hematocrit (volume in % of red blood cells in the blood), resulting in signs of anemia such as tachycardia, tachypnea, paleness or yellowing of the mucous membranes, weakness and lethargy.
Where to adopt a Bichpoo
Bichpoos can be hard to find as they are not a very popular breed. Before adopting, you also need to know whether or not you are able to devote time to these dogs. Indeed, if you work all day away from home, and you don't have time to play with them or walk them, it is better to give up adopting a dog of this breed.
If, on the other hand, you are able to offer everything the Bichpoo craves, adoption is the best way to get one. You can find out about SPAs and animal shelters near you, for example. If they don't have any Bichpoo specimens to offer you, they can put you in touch with people who do, or offer you another way to adopt one. It is quite possible to search the Internet for an association dedicated to rescuing these dogs, or parent breeds if it does not have the hybrid breed.
Pictures of Bichpoo
