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Bichon frise puppies are very popular with pet owners, but have you ever considered a crossbreed like a corgi bichon? There are many reasons that a bichon frise mixed breed might be a better fit for you.
A purebred bichon frise puppy could have traits that don’t work with your lifestyle, in which case the corgi bichon might be the ideal alternative for you.
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Corgi Bichon (Bichon Frise x Corgi Mix) History
The corgi bichon is a new desginer. The popularity of bichon crossbreeds has only increased since the early 20th century. However, the corgi bichon is not recognized as an official breed and has yet to gain a formal club. As such, to understand this mixed breed, let’s take a brief look at the history of its two parents.
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Corgi
The popular little breed has a rich, long history dating back to 1107 AD. The Flemish who would settle in Wales traveled with the original corgis to make their historic trek. The breed features in folklore, associated with tales of fairies and other early Welsh mythology.
The two types of corgis, the Pembrokes and the cardigans grew in popularity in the UK during the early 1900s. As a result, two separate clubs formed—each with a focus on the preservation and proliferation of the two kinds of corgis.
The corgi’s biggest claim to fame is as the officially preferred dog of Queen Elizabeth II.
Bichon Frise
The bichon frise traces its roots to a popular dog that came from the Canary Islands. The early ‘bichons’ were called little white dogs. These fluffy dogs became popular among the European aristocracy. It was not long before courts and castles hosted the unique little dogs.
Those dogs would separate and become four distinct breeds. The bichon frise was the breed most popular in France before the French Revolution. Said revolution saw most bichon frise owners parting with their heads. The destitute bichons found a new place in the entertainment industry and enjoyed popularity as show dogs.
Corgi Bichon Appearance, Coat, Size, and Weight
The corgi bichon inherits traits from both of its parent breeds. Therefore, they can range in size, weight, and appearance, depending on which parent breed’s genes are dominant. The average corgi bichon is between 9 and 12 inches tall and weighs between 10 and 30 lbs.
No breed standard informs the corgi bichon’s appearance. Therefore some of its characteristics can vary from dog to dog. It is a small-sized dog with a long body and a diminutive stature.
They often share the facial characteristics of the corgi, along with the corgis’ alert ears and alert expression. However, they differ most in their coat, which is medium length, soft, and usually very fluffy with dense soft curls.
The double coat is not as puffy as the bichon frise’s, and the corgi bichon is usually not as hypoallergenic as its bichon parent breed. Instead, the coat is usually wavy or curly and is usually tan, white, or a combination of the two. If the parent corgi is a Cardigan Welsh, you may see more interesting colors such as blue merles.
Corgi Bichon Maintenance, Activity, and Space Requirements
Next, let’s take a look at what it takes to keep one of these dogs at your home.
Grooming
The amount of grooming needed by a corgi bichon depends on which parent breed it most takes after. They tend not to share the corgi’s low-maintenance, shorter coat.
That said, a corgi bichon with a wavy, medium-length coat should do fine with bi-weekly grooming and a bath once every fortnight depending on their environment. A corgi bichon coat that more closely resembles that of a purebred bichon frise will need daily brushing and frequent bathing.
It’s also important that you keep an eye out for mats, especially behind the ears, and keep a fine comb close at hand to deal with mats and knots before they become a serious problem.
Aside from their coats, corgi bichons are pretty straightforward to take care of and shouldn’t take up too much additional time for maintenance.
Their nails need occasional clipping, although if you are uncertain how to clip your dog’s nails safely, it’s better to take them to a professional grooming parlor.
As with all dogs, dental hygiene is very important. However, it’s not enough to rely on dental hygiene promoting treats and chewing toys; you will have to brush your dog’s teeth at least three times a week.
Dental problems are more serious than just the potential damage to the tooth. Some dental health issues can affect the heart, liver, and other organs and negatively impact healthy bodily functions. Therefore, make sure to make dental hygiene a regular part of your dogs
Activity
Where many bichon frise crossbreeds are low to medium energy dogs, corgi bichons buck the trend and are often high energy little busy-bodies. They require anything between 45 minutes to an hour’s activity worth every day. That is 45 to 60 minutes, excluding playtime and their general play at home. That might be a bit much for some owners.
Fortunately, the corgi bichon is pretty fond of swimming, so you can split their exercise time between walks and swimming if you have a pool. They can also enjoy bouts of high-intensity workouts chasing a ball, so playtime can be a great way to burn off some energy.
Corgi bichons are very clever little dogs, particularly when playing. They are generally pretty great at fetch games, catching frisbees, and pull-rope. As long as they are having fun, they will continue playing till they drop.
That is important to keep in mind if you have a corgi bichon. These little firecrackers might need to be reeled in and limited in their play so that they don’t suffer frequent exhaustion. Remember, exercise is good. Overexertion is bad. But keep in mind, if they inherit their bichon parents’ more laid-back attitude, they may have much lower exercise requirements, so it’s important to use your judgment for your individual dog.
Space Requirements
The corgi bichon is an active little dog, and as with most high-energy small dogs, they need more space for play and work than your average lap dog. Unfortunately, that means that they might not be a great fit for apartment living, especially since corgi offspring love to bark.
A smaller home with a bit of a garden will do fine as long as they get plenty of walks, but the corgi bichon’s ideal environment includes room to play, a good bit of outdoor space.
A corgi bichon will enjoy a pool. They love water and will take to swimming. A corgi bichon that is very comfortable with water might even go for a swim independently. If you plan to leave your dog alone, make sure to block their access to the pool or any large body of water.
As far as their ideal living conditions go, the corgi bichon is well suited to a mild to moderately cold climate. However, they will probably not do well in arid or hot climates and will most likely need their coat kept short to deal with high temperatures.
Corgi Bichon Temperament and Intelligence
The corgi bichon has a genetic advantage over many other dogs when it comes to smarts.
The bichon frise excels at learning complex tricks and understanding their owner’s needs. Meanwhile, the corgi is a world-class herder, despite its small size. Herding dogs are some of the most intelligent dogs, with the border collie often called the smartest dog of all.
The corgi bichon inherits the smarts and wit of its herding parent breed, making for a genetic combination that is sure to deliver a savvy doggy Einstein with a hairdo to match.
In addition to being a smart little dog, the corgi bichon has a great personality. They are very friendly, alert, tenacious, and fun-loving, with humorous little quirks that will keep you entertained for hours at a time. They also make for good companion dogs and can grow very attached to their primary caregiver. Unfortunately, that attachment can sometimes backfire, and in severe cases, a corgi bichon can suffer from severe separation anxiety.
Ideally, a corgi bichon will find a home where at least one person works from home or stays at home for most of the day so that they need not be left alone for extended periods. For the most part, corgi bichon gets on well with other pets. However, their excitable behavior might annoy an older dog or alienate an unsuspecting cat.
Corgi Bichon Health and Lifespan
The corgi bichon is generally a healthy little dog that lives a long life of 12 to 16 years. They don’t suffer as high a risk of genetic diseases as purebred dogs.
There are still a couple of conditions known to affect corgi bichons, such as hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and various allergies.
Their diet needs to provide sufficient nutrients for a highly active small dog breed. If a corgi bichon experiences allergies, it will be necessary to change its diet accordingly.
Is Corgi Bichon the Right Breed for You?
If you are fun-loving and young at heart, the corgi bichon might be the perfect dog for you. They require a bit more upkeep than similar breeds, but they are by no means demanding to maintain.
The corgi bichon will be a great match for a moderately active family, as long as there is always someone to keep them company. Like all intelligent dogs, they need a lot of mental stimulation to keep themselves out of trouble.
The more space they have to play and keep busy, the better. The corgi bichon is better suited to an environment that doesn’t have them face to face with small children without supervision, but they do great with older kids.
They are usually fond of water and enthusiastically take to swimming. If you enjoy taking your dog to the park to play fetch or catch, the corgi bichon has got you covered.
Summary
The corgi bichon is a hybrid breed resulting from crossing a bichon frise and a corgi. It’s an energetic small dog that won’t take up too much of your time in grooming and general upkeep.
The corgi bichon needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. In addition to long walks, they need space to play and things to keep them busy. They are smart, lots of fun, and great little companion dogs.
Whether you are looking for food for your dog or other pet supplies, Chewy.com has them all. Right now, they are even running a promotion where you get 40% OFF your first Instinct Raw Frozen autoship order.