Known as the Teddy Bear Dog, the Shichon is a crossbreed between the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise.
Other name combinations would be Shih Tzu-Bichon Mix and Zuchon, but basically, they all refer to this cuddly, playful, and all in all cute doggo that could just melt your heart every time.
A relatively young breed combination, the Shichon has only been around for around 20 to 30 years and is believed to have first been bred in the United States.
Although not yet considered a breed of its own, it may well soon become established since more and more are opting to have this particular mix breed as their pet and companion.
With a height that can range from 9 to 12 inches and weight that can range from 9 to 15 pounds, this breed can fit into any household, whether it be a loft or a studio apartment in the city or a farmhouse with a huge space to run around in.
Shichons also have relatively long lives that range from 12 to 18 years or more. So, you can expect many great memories and awesome stories from these cuddly lumps of fur.
It is said that they take after their Shih Tzu parent in terms of size, making the Zuchon quite portable and easy to manage.
Usually, a combination of black, cream, apricot, white, grey, reddish-black, chocolate, and tan, their fluffy, silky coat is mostly curly and soft that you may be tempted to keep petting this loveable dog for hours on end.
Some come in a solid color, but they are still equally cute and adorable. Some Shichon might even change coloring once it starts to enter a more mature age.
They are characterized by their hanging ears, a black button nose, an average length tail that tends to curl towards their back and, gleaming brown eyes that just beckons you to play or gives off the most irresistible puppy dog eyes ever, literally!
Setting aside the fact that this dog breed is just cuteness on four legs, let us discuss further why this particular breed will make an amazing addition to your family.
Why We Love The Teddy Bear Dog
The average cost of a Shichon puppy is between $800 to $1,200 USD.
When a Shih Tzu mates with a Bichon Frise, because of breed-size differences, typically the mother is the Bichon Frise.
Their litter size will likely be around 4 or 5 Shichon puppies.
This breed will keep growing until around 12 months of age and mentally mature at around 18 months:
| Age (months) | Weight (lb) |
| 3 | 2-4 |
| 6 | 5-8 |
| 9 | 7-12 |
| 12 | 10-15 |
Teddy Bears Love to be Near You
One of the facts about the Shih Tzu is that they love nothing more than being around their favorite humans; the same is true for the Shichon. Much like a child doesn’t want to go anywhere without their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal, a Shichon loves nothing more than to be with their favorite human. Both of the parent breeds of the Teddy Bear are loyal and devoted to their families and this little cotton ball is no different.
Because they are happiest when they are with you, they don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time. They can also be prone to developing separation anxiety if they are not socialized or trained early and often. You don’t want to leave them alone for a long time, but you also don’t want them to be anxious and scared if you are out of sight.
How often should Shichons be groomed?
Despite being all such a fluffball, Shichons do not shed like other dog breeds.
This means that you will not be finding tufts of dog hair all over your bed or furniture, and you will not need to follow your dog around with a broom or vacuum.
They are also a hypoallergenic breed, which only means you can enjoy its company even if you suffer from allergies.
However, they require regular grooming, especially around the eye area, where they tend to grow excess hair.
If left unattended, this may cause vision impairment or can lead to an eye infection. So, a visit to the groomers should be done once every month.
Clipping of hair can be done once every three months to preserve the curls’ lusciousness and silkiness and prevent getting too shaggy and unruly.
If you are one who loves kisses and enjoys face-to-face interactions with your dog, brushing its teeth is essential once every other day so that tartar build-up will be prevented.
As for the nails, trimming or filing them down once every two weeks is necessary, but they will naturally wear down their nails more often.
A once-a-week brush session is advised to keep the hair from getting tangled or matted.
Bathing can be done once a month, but no more than that. Overbathing dogs can cause their skin to dry out, leading to irritation and overall discomfort to your dog.
Try using a pet-safe shampoo, which will help clean out any oil and debris caught into the dog’s coat.
After, apply some conditioner so that the hairs retain their smoothness and then brush it out while the hair is still a little wet so that the hair does not get tangled.
Being a small dog breed, Shichons may need an extra layer of clothing during cold weather, so it is good to pick up a sweater or two.
The Shichon have relatively sturdy health and, with proper care, will maintain this healthy and robust stature for a long time.
They are considered one of the healthiest dog breeds and only require occasional visits to the vet.
There are some things that you have to look out for, as the Shichon has also inherited some of its parents’ common health problems.
It tends to have sensitive skin like dryness, which can later become inflamed or irritated. You can look out for any manifestations, particularly around the ears, feet, and anal region.
It is important to use pet-friendly products when caring for this dog. Also, as earlier mentioned, they may have some issues with their eyesight due to the overgrowth or hyper-growth of the hair around their eyes.
As a small dog breed, they can also be prone to fractures, hip dysplasia, or bones’ dislocation. So be mindful when going about or playing with your dog.
Due to this particular dog breed’s high tendency to become obese, having patellar luxation is also high.
This happens when the knee cap rides outside the femoral groove when the knee’s position is flexed. This occurs because the leg of the dog is having difficulty in bearing the body weight.
Although they may not outwardly show signs of pain or distress and may even be able to relieve the pressure by kicking their leg, the dog is still experiencing some discomfort.
During their more advanced age, they may develop cataracts and have chronic dry eye.
This can be potentially dangerous as the tear glands’ ability to produce tears is impaired, and the much-needed lubrication for the eyes is not supplied.
This can lead to trauma in the eye itself. This may result from medication, so be wary before supplying your dog with over the counter cures.
The size of the Shichon makes it a great pet for the urban dweller who does not have a vast amount of space to let their dog run free.
It can easily fit into any dog carrier suited for mobility needs and does not require too much space for you to house them. They are also not so demanding about physical activities.
This breed only needs around five miles of walking a week and at least 45 minutes of running and playing every day.
They love doing fetch and doing tricks to burn off any extra energy they may have and help keep obesity at bay.
Despite being playful, the Shichon is a pretty calm dog breed and is not excitable. They do not bark incessantly, unlike most small dog breeds, which can get quite annoying.
They are also adaptable to their surroundings and are generally considered one of the most well-mannered canine companions, even in a small household.
Their ability sense when their human is down or is experiencing any distress makes them a perfect fit for those who cannot easily articulate their emotions.
Since they hardly tend to seek prey or be dominant, they go wonderfully well and co-exist with other household pets.
They are not an aggressive breed, which makes them a good playmate for children as they tend to be very careful and very tender towards their humans.
However, it is always recommended that playtime be supervised to avoid any physical harm due to the dog’s small size and fragile physique. A drop, even from a short height, may cause physical injury on the dog.
Shichons are acknowledged as the perfect breed if you lead a very hectic and fully packed schedule as they do not need hours on end to get the required exercise time.
They can even complete their requirement in a small space. A few tosses with a ball or several minutes walking around the apartment will suffice nicely.
They also do not need too much attention; however, they also tend to develop separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods.
To combat any boredom, it is essential to have a variety of chew toys so that the dog will not resort to chewing on your slipper or your furniture.
Their caring, loving, and loyal nature and the fact that they do not require too much extraneous physical activity makes them suitable companion dogs for seniors.
Although lauded for being a family pet, Shichons will also be a wonderful fit for single individuals. They live for cuddles and give their full attention to their humans.
They are surely an amazing source of entertainment and delight and, at the same time, can become mellow depending on what it can gather from its surroundings and the behavior of its human.
FAQ
At what age is a Shichon full grown?
What are Shichon Teddy Bear puppies?
How long does it take to potty train a Shichon?