Doxie-Chon (Dachshund & Bichon Frise Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts
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| Height: | 9–11 inches |
| Weight: | 10–35 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Colors: | White, brown, black |
| Suitable for: | Large families with older children who can provide plenty of attention, people who stay home all day, apartment dwellers |
| Temperament: | Loyal, obedient, sociable, laidback, low energy, goofy |
The Doxie-Chon is quite a unique designer breed. They’re a mix of two dogs with wildly different temperaments and physical features. But the result is one of the most adorable, clingy lap dogs you’ll find anywhere.
They’re a cross between the Dachshund and the Bichon Frise, and they inherit the best of both worlds. This breed gets a loyal, obedient sense of purpose from their Dachshund side and a laidback, loving side from the Bichon Frise.
That said, Doxie-Chons require constant companionship, so don’t be surprised if yours follows you around like a shadow.
Doxie-Chon Puppy
Before you pick up a Doxie-Chon, you need to know what you’re getting into. These are super loving and affectionate pups. They don’t do well being separated from you for even a minute.
They’ll even panic if they’re on the other side of the house and will race through just to find and shadow you. They’re stage-five clingers but in a sweet, adorable way. However, if you have to leave them alone for extended periods of time, there’s a very good chance they’ll develop separation anxiety.
However, Doxie-Chons do extremely well in apartment living—provided that you’re always there or work from home. They’ll be perfectly content to just curl up in your lap and be pet to sleep because there’s no other place they love to be than snoring cuddled up with you.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Doxie-Chon 🧠
Inheriting traits from both of their parental lineages, these dogs are a bit of a unique specimen. They are highly intelligent dogs, to say the least. However, the headstrong nature of the Dachshund shines through with early attempts at training. They’ll be stubborn and independent.
But once they start taking to training, the Bichon Frise side takes over. The Bichon side will want to do every at all possible to please their owner. As a matter of fact, they’ll easily blow through basic obedience courses and excel at learning even the most advanced of tricks and commands.
Despite all the training they can receive and take in, the one command you’ll probably use the most is that of a stop-bark. When they get excited or stressed, they tend to be a bit barky, especially if left alone.
Are Doxie-Chons Good for Families? 🏡
These pets are absolutely great for families and the bigger, the better. This is because they absolutely hate being left alone. But when given a bunch of companions to snuggle up and play with, these can be some of the happiest dogs around.
One thing to mention, though, is that they’re best for families with older children. They can startle easily with jerky movements and grow impatient faster than other breeds. However, older children who have been taught how to be around smaller dogs will do just fine.
Do Doxie-Chon Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
Being a Velcro dog, they don’t really care for other dogs or pets. Doxie-Chons don’t enjoy competing for your love. They want you all to themselves and become very protective of their families. So it’s best not to bring a Doxie-Chon into a house with other animals already competing for your affection.
Things to Know When Owning a Doxie-Chon
When taking care of a Doxie-Chon, you’ll need to pay close attention to a few key aspects.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Being a smaller dog, they don’t require as much food as some other breeds. But you’ll still want to feed them a high-quality dry dog food such as Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed. This will provide them with all the nutrition they’ll need to stay happy and active.
Also, they only really require around 1 cup of food a day. This makes the Doxie-Chon a pretty cost-effective breed when it comes to feeding. So, go ahead and ensure you’re picking up quality food.
These designer dogs do have a penchant for obesity, though. So, despite what those puppy eyes tell you, they probably don’t need any more food than what you’re giving them.
Exercise 🐕
Just because these are lazy little lap dogs doesn’t mean they don’t need to play or get exercise. You’ll know when they’re ready to go when they get a lovable case of the zoomies!
Doxie-Chons should ideally get around 30 minutes of exercise a day. A leashed walk in early morning light or late afternoon would be best. That way, their delicate little feet don’t get burned from hot sidewalks during the summer heat.
Training 🦮
Training a Doxie-Chon is a balancing act. Their Bichon Frise side can make even learning the most advanced maneuvers possible, while the Dachshund half will be stubborn and strong-willed. To say these dogs aren’t intelligent is just not correct. They’re actually very smart, and that’s what makes them a bit more difficult to train.
The best way to train them is through early, positive reinforcement. Your pup will eventually understand and adapt to the training. But you’ll just have to be patient. Once the training barrier has been cracked, though, you’ll find that your Doxie-Chon is super capable of learning many different commands.
Grooming ✂️
They have a medium-length coat that’s relatively wiry, which means they are prone to tangles. But they don’t shed as much as many other breeds. A weekly brushing with a wire pin brush should be sufficient to keep their grooming needs under control. However, you’ll need to be careful and move delicately when brushing, just in case you run across any knots or tangles.
You should also bathe them only once every 4–6 months and with a sensitive shampoo, as they may have skin allergies to other harsher soaps.
Health and Conditions ❤️
The Doxie-Chon isn’t the world’s most fragile dog, but they are prone to ailments more than other breeds. They suffer from common diseases, such as patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and diabetes. However, they are also subject to von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), which is a bleeding disorder caused by the lack of a particular protein and may cause spontaneous bleeding. Also, Doxie-Chons can be sensitive to vaccines, as inherited from the Bichon Frise side of their lineage.
- Vaccine sensitivity
- Corneal dystrophy
- Seborrhea
- Allergies
- Patellar luxation
- Hip dysplasia
- vWD
- Atrophy
Male vs. Female
There are no real differences between the sexes, but there are reports that females are more likely to develop a “diva complex.”
3 Little-Known Facts About the Doxie-Chon
1. Dachshunds were originally bred to be German hunting dogs.
Their long narrow bodies made them absolutely perfect for darting in and out of fox holes and rabbit dens. Their name literally means “badger hound,” with the word “Dachs” meaning European badgers. Yes, these pups were once fierce enough to take down a badger! But in the Doxie-Chon, that “killer instinct” has been translated into a sassy, royal personality aura.
2. Bichon Frises were once sailor companions.
In order to provide company to old Spanish and French mariners, Bichon Frises would travel along. One of the main reasons this breed was chosen was because the boat rocking didn’t bother them. They’d actually enjoy hopping up in your arms and letting the motion of the ocean rock them to sleep. That’s easily seen in the Doxie-Chon today.
3. Doxie-Chons love being warm.
Don’t be surprised if you find that your Doxie-Chon has a favorite blanket or towel. These little pups just love to snuggle up and get cozy.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a true companion dog, look no further than the Doxie-Chon. They’re super adorable and just want to be loved by their owner(s). However, you’ll need to ensure you get a head start on early training and establish a routine with them.
If you’re not able to provide constant attention to them or need to leave them alone for extended periods of time, we seriously recommend reconsidering a Doxie-Chon. They’re a special breed that needs extra love and attention. We’d hate to have their little hearts broken and develop severe separation anxiety. Here’s hoping your lifestyle matches up with these adorable balls of fluff!
Related Reads:
- Doxie Cairn (Cairn Terrier & Dachshund Mix)
- Dameranian (Dachshund & Pomeranian Mix)
- Doxie Pin (Miniature Pinscher & Dachshund Mix)
Featured Image Credit: Pxfuel
