Content
- Origin of Shichon
- Shichon Features
- Shichon colors
- Shichon puppies
- Shichon personality
- Shichon care
- Shichon Education
- Shichon Health
- Where to adopt a Shichon?
Shichon arose from a cross between Bichon Frisé and Shih-tzu dogs. Therefore, it is a crossbred dog that has become increasingly popular for its beauty and personality. This dog stands out for being active, energetic, affectionate and fun. In addition, it has other qualities that make it an excellent companion dog for people allergic to dogs, as it is considered to be hypoallergenic.
If you want to know all the Shichon features, your basic care and possible health problems, stay here in this post by PeritoAnimal and check this and much more!
Source- America
- U.S
- provided
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Strong
- Sociable
- Intelligent
- Active
- Tender
- Kids
- floors
- Houses
- Older people
- Allergic people
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Fried
Origin of Shichon
Shichon goes by many different names, like zuchon, tzu -frisé or even teddy bear. Whatever the name, the Shichon is a dog that arises from the crossing of two iconic breeds, the Bichon Frisé and the Shih-tzu. So the Shichon it's a hybrid dog, which emerged in a controlled way in the last decades of the 20th century, being a breed of recent appearance.
The specific location and date of birth of the first Shichon puppies are unknown, but are believed to have been the result of mating done with great care by an expert in breeding both parent breeds, and with veterinary advice. As it is a hybrid breed, it does not have the official recognition of most cynological organizations, but it has an official standard established by others, such as the American Hybrid Club (AHC).
Shichon Features
a Shichon is a small dog, measuring between 22 and 30 centimeters in height to the withers. The average weight of a Shichon ranges between 4 and 10 kilos, with males generally being slightly more robust than females. Their average life expectancy is approximately 16 years.
The Shichon has a proportional body, so that none of its component parts stand out. Its tail is medium in length and covered in soft fur. The eyes, which are very round and brown or dark brown, are incredibly expressive. On the other hand, the ears are located halfway up from the face, which is relatively wide. They have rounded ends and hang slightly forward.
The Shichon's fur is medium to short, with slight undulations, and it has the characteristic of almost not losing hair, which makes it a dog classified as hypoallergenic.
Shichon colors
The Shichon's mantle is very varied, therefore, it presents different varieties of color. The most frequent tones of this hybrid breed are: grey, black, brown, cream, white, brown and possible combinations of the above.
Shichon puppies
Shichon puppies tend to be very small in size, although this can vary depending on the parent breed whose genetic load predominates in the offspring.
whatever your size, they are dogs very active and playful, who spend hours and hours looking for new and fascinating things to enjoy nonstop. Of course, they also need a good rest so that their growth happens correctly and they can develop without any problems.
Shichon personality
These puppies have a very strong personality, which can even be contradictory due to their small size. A Shichon's great personality can be surprising, although it's not so great if you've dealt with Shih-tzu or Bichon Frize specimens, as these also tend to have quite a pronounced personality.
they are dogs active, which store large amounts of energy, so they are quite restless and playful. Thus, it is important that they practice physical activities and can play daily. In general, they are intelligent, attentive and obedient dogs, although the latter also depends on how they were trained.
In addition, they are extremely affectionate, so they tend to be very devoted to the family. They adapt very well to life both in homes with young children and the elderly, and it is always preferable that they live indoors, as they are not prepared to withstand the rigors of outdoor living.
Shichon care
The Shichon is not one of the most demanding breeds about the care it needs. What is usually worth highlighting is your need to receive attention and affection, as they do not deal well with loneliness and the lack of affection and company makes them suffer high levels of anxiety.
As for the necessary physical activity, it is highlighted how the Shichons are energetic, that's why they need exercise daily to channel all that energy constructively. However, this activity does not need to be vigorous because, due to its small size, daily walks and games will suffice. In addition, it is advisable to play games of intelligence or logic that also keep them active and stimulated at a mental level.
On the other hand, within the Shichon cares we also find those referring to the coat. Its coat requires some care, such as the frequent brushing, which should be performed at least twice a week, although the ideal is to do it every day. Only then can the Shichon show its shiny, smooth coat in good condition, free from dirt and any tangles.
Shichon's food must be adjusted to its small size, as eating in excess will cause the animal to gain weight, becoming overweight or even obese, and suffer the negative health consequences this entails, such as cardiovascular problems or articular.
Shichon Education
As we already mentioned, Shichon has a rather strong personality, so it is necessary to carry out training adapted to that personality. The best thing is to start training the Shichon when it is a puppy, as this way it learns much faster and training seems to be more effective if it is continued as an adult.
It is best, as in the case of any other breed or crossbred dog, to carry out a respectful training adapted to each specimen. In general terms, it has been shown that the techniques that present more and better results are those based on positive training. Some specific recommendations for the Shichon case are:
- The minimum duration of training sessions is around 10-15 minutes, it is advisable that each session lasts between 30 and 45 minutes maximum.
- It's best to start by teaching them basic commands, and gradually increase the difficulty.
- Given his energy level, games can also be a good way to train Shichon without losing interest.
Shichon Health
As a hybrid breed, the Shichon has a much more robust health than any of its purebred parents, as the genetic combinations resulting from the crossing generate a breed more resistant to disease. However, some of the most common diseases in Shichon are those related to the circulatory system and specifically the heart. They can suffer from high intracardiac pressure and also a change in the mitral valve, which leads to a cardiac insufficiency.
Also, your joints can be affected by various problems, such as patellar dislocation or dysplasia of the kneecap. In this case, the patella leaves its usual place, causing a lot of pain and discomfort to the animal. In severe cases trauma surgery is required.
Another disease that can occur in Shichon is the progressive retinal atrophy, quite frequent especially in older animals. Retinal atrophy is an eye health problem that can lead to blindness when it is very advanced.
In any case, it is best to go to the veterinarian and make an adequate preventive medicine plan, as this will allow you to detect any symptoms or anomalies in time.
Where to adopt a Shichon?
Adopting a Shichon can be a really complex task, especially if you are outside the United States, where its popularity has made it a fairly common hybrid breed and relatively easy to find. However, this does not mean that it is impossible, in fact many copies are adopted in kennels, shelters and associations. Therefore, the most advisable is to go to places where there are animals looking for a home, giving them the possibility to enjoy a happy and welcoming family life.
Before adopting a Shichon, your specific needs, such as companionship and dedication, should be taken into account, and ensure that you can take it for a daily walk and that you can face a veterinary expense in the event of an emergency.