Meet the Breed: Bichon Poo

Tuesday, December 1, 2020 13:22:24 PM America/Los_Angeles

Bichon Poos are a relatively new breed, but their cuddly teddy bear looks are here to stay. A mix of the Bichon Frise and the Poodle, the Bichon Poo dog breed was created in the late 1990s to be a hypoallergenic family dog. They’ve since become known for their fluffy locks and endearing personality.  

Photo by John Holden

Basics

Size, coat, and physique depends hugely on the poodle parent. Some poodles are toy or miniature breeds and this will influence the puppies. This means their weight can range anywhere from 6-20 pounds once they are full grown. One thing you can rely on is that the Bichon Poo will inherit the soft curls of both the Bichon Frise and Poodle dog breeds. Though this means that you’ll have to provide special attention to grooming (due to the tendency for their curls to get matted), they’re hypoallergenic, which is a big plus for dog lovers who have allergies. 

Pedigree

Bichon Poos are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make fantastic pets. One of the reasons for this is that the Bichon-Poodle pairing makes for particularly non-uniform looks and breeds. Not to worry--this is very typical of early and first generation mixes. Though breeding this mix might not guarantee a certain color or an even distribution of Bichon and Poodle traits yet, they’re still known to be one of the best breeds to have as a first time pet owner. Because the Bichon Frise-Poodle dog breed was bred to be family friendly, it does well with kids and other animals in the house.

Training

Due to their Poodle genetics, they should take to training and housebreaking easily. An indoor pet potty like Bark Potty should be no problem for this intelligent pup to master. Be sure to start Bichon Poos on a natural pee pad early on, because they can also be stubborn. They learn quickly and having a real bark pee pad can help make training a smoother process. You want to be sure that they are potty trained ASAP, so you don’t run into any issues down the line. Be sure to use positive reinforcement when training, as Bichon Poos as a breed are eager to please and are especially treat motivated.