The Shih Tzu’s natural intelligence, combined with the Bichon Frise’s desire to please, make them easy to train. Once the initial training phase is complete, positive reinforcement methods can turn your teddy bear dog into a trick-performing superstar. You might want to consider introducing crate training as soon as your Shichon gets home and then use these handy tips and techniques to move onto the next level. If you’ve had any experience potty training a stubborn puppy, you’ll know how frustrating it can be.Īlthough the Shih Tzu’s stubborn streak is counterbalanced by the Bichon Frise’s willingness to learn, you’ll need to take things slowly. Like other small dog breeds, the Shichon has a small bladder, making potty training rather challenging. When it comes to training, the early lessons are often the hardest with a Shichon. If you want to accentuate his teddy bear characteristics, a teddy bear trim is ideal, whereas the lion cut is both chic and low-maintenance.Īs with any dog, the Shichon will require regular dental care and nail trimming to keep him in optimal health. Owners of both the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise find their dog’s grooming regime easier to manage if the dog is clipped regularly, and there are some irresistibly cute hairstyles available to these dogs. Having said that, Shih Tzus, in particular, are prone to being a little smelly, so regular bathing might be the only way to ensure your teddy bear dog remains hug-able. If you suffer from allergies, regular bathing with special shampoos can help keep these under control, although bathing your Shichon more than once a month may dry out their skin, causing discomfort and irritation. Although it doesn’t lose much hair, your Shichon will require daily grooming and, potentially, regular trims. Like its Bichon Frise ancestor, the Shichon is a low shedder and produces little dander, making it one of the more hypoallergenic breeds around. The Shih Tzu parent is the one adding the color variations to the breed!
Some Bichon Shih Tzu’s have solid coats in various shades of buff, apricot, and cream, while others will display a mix of three different colors. This designer dog also sports a wide range of coat colors, although most are white with flashes of a second color, especially around the ears and eyes. There’s a lot of character packed into that compact body, however, making the Zuchon a great companion, family dog, and, would you believe, watchdog!Īn energetic little dog, the Zuchon enjoys games of fetch and tug-of-war as much as the next dog but will happily adapt to indoor living, turning the living room into a playground and the bedroom into his favorite place to sleep.Īlthough you can be sure any Bichon Shih Tzu cross will be small, that’s about as much guarantee as you’ll get regarding its appearance.Īs with many designer and crossbreeds, the Zuchon varies widely in appearance, with some sporting curly coats and others the long, flowing locks more commonly associated with the Shih Tzu. Standing around 9 to 11.5 inches tall and weighing somewhere in the vicinity of nine to 18 pounds, the Zuchon is only a little bigger than your standard teddy bear. The Zuchon’s Appearance And Attitude to Lifeĭescended from the Bichon Frise and the Shih Tzu, there’s no way on earth the Zuchon is going to be anything other than a small, cuddly companion. The Bichon Shih Tzu, therefore, is a noble companion dog who’s liable to prove as comfortable in a royal palace as he is in an inner-city apartment. The Bichon Shih Tzu is a cross between the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise, both of which were originally bred as companion dogs.īoth parent breeds were favored by the nobility, with the Shih Tzu occupying a special place in the hearts, and palaces, of Chinese emperors, and the Bichon Frise gaining popularity in the European royal courts of the 16th century. Although the exact origins of this hybrid designer breed are unknown, it’s believed to have first appeared in the US around 20 to 30 years ago.
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