Apartment Dog Great

Zuchon or Shichon is a hybrid breed dog with a mix between Bichon Frisé and Shih Tzu. It is a small dog breed with a short history beginning only at the turn of the century.

The Zuchon is a small dog only with a possible height of about 12 inches and weighing 12 to 14 pounds. It is a dog that does not shed making it great for keeping the house clean, but it also requires maintenance with grooming regularly. Because it is a hybrid dog from two purebreds, it is known to have hybrid vigor, if they are first generation, allowing them to normally obtain much better health than purebred dogs. This toy dog is said to have a "great" personality, and it is very playful and well-mannered. They can be a bit stubborn, but when they are trained well, they are a great family pet. The dog is also hypoallergenic, making it great for people with allergies to dogs.

Because the dog is so small and usually has great health, the zuchon will have a longer life expectancy than larger dogs. The longevity of this dog is one difference between small dogs and large dogs. The amount of money needed to care for a smaller dog is usually less as well.

Description

Appearance

The Zuchon is a cross between a Bichon Frisé and Shih Tzu. The Zuchon is also known as a Shichon, teddy bear dog, or fuzzy wuzzy puppy. According to "Dog Breed Info", The two small designer dogs form to create a small cross breed dog. This does not always mean it will be exactly 50% of each, but can be later generations of the dog. They claim to reach an average height from 9-12 inches from the shoulder, and a weight of 7-15 pounds full grown. 'Dog Breed Info' says the Zuchon is a dog "known for his endearing face, large expressive eyes, and his soft teddy-bear coat."

The Zuchon usually has a longer coat that does not shed very much, if any. This quality allows families with allergies to own a dog of this sort without any consequences of an allergic reaction to the new pet. This longer coat may lead to more time for maintenance and grooming, but this is truly a "beautiful" dog. Another important factor with the Zuchon hybrid breed is its longevity. The average life-expectancy of a Zuchon is over 15 years.

Temperament

The Zuchon usually has a very lively and playful personality.. The Zuchon is a very well-mannered dog known to be very social, happy, and gentle. Sometimes the Zuchon may be stubborn and in need of training, but this will prove to be an important step with these dogs. The Zuchon will remain well active and great with children.

            The Dog training will help the dog become even more obedient and caring for the family. With the Zuchon, the training is usually very quick and easy for the owner. The Zuchon can be a "great" family pet with a "great" personality.
          

Cross Breed

The Zuchon as said before is a cross breed. The difference in the dog, because it is a hybrid, is whether or not it is a first generation dog or not. The difference between a first generation breed is that one parent was a full bread Bichon Frisé, and the other a full bread Shih Tzu. If the dog is not first generation, the combination of parents includes at least one Zuchon. The other parent could possibly be another Zuchon, Bichon Frisé, or a Shih Tzu.

Health

The Zuchon like many hybrid breeds is usually very healthy not showing congenital defects like other purebreds and from inbreeding. The Zuchon is known to possess hybrid vigor giving it a very healthy life.

Hypo-Allergenic

A Hypoallergenic dog is one who does not leave pet dander around affecting people in the house with allergies to dogs. The Zuchon is a hypoallergenic dog. As stated before, the Zuchon has a long coat but does not shed. This leaves no hair or dander in the air keeping the house allergy free. A hypoallergenic dog is a great idea for homes with allergy problems amongst the inhabitants.

Small Dog

The Zuchon being a small breed dog has many advantages over larger dogs. Small dogs can cost less to feed and care for. Also they can easily get much exercise within a small house or apartment. Large dogs may need to do more to participate in the exercise needed on a daily basis. Small dogs also usually have a much greater life expectancy getting close to 17 years on average. A small dog such as the Zuchon controlling them is a much easier task than with a large dog. Some large dogs can be as strong or even stronger than the human owner. A small dog is easy to pick up and control to transport them anywhere needed such as the Veterinarian. A large dog may have "more to love," but many times the small dog is the right choice when choosing a new pet.

History

The Zuchon is a new breed of dog. Not long ago Americans began breeding these designer dogs. This crossbreed began only around the early 2000s. The Zuchon comes from an oriental Shih Tzu and a Mediterranean Bichon Frisé. Although this breed of dog is relatively new, the popularity and fame is growing quickly. The Zuchon is still not thought of as an official breed of dog, only a cross-breed. This fact may be changing as the dog is becoming a very popular toy dog being classified with all other toy dog purebreds. Even though the Zuchon is highly thought of as a designer dog, only a few organizations recognise this breed. The organizations include the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Zuchon Charateristics, tinytracks.net, 2001, accessed October 20, 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Shichhon Information, dogpage.us, 1997, accessed October 20, 2009.
3. ^ ^{a b} Small Vs. Large Dog, smalldogsparadise.com, 2006, accessed October 20, 2009.
4. ^ Dog Breed Info, dogbreedinfo.com, 1998, accessed October 20, 2009.
5. ^ Hybrid Info, dogbreedinfo.com, 1998, accessed October 20, 2009.

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