Goldichon (Golden Retriever & Bichon Frise Mix): Dog Breed Info & Pictures

When it comes to family dogs, the Golden Retriever is the quintessential choice. But what about apartment dwellers? Goldens need room to stretch out their legs. That becomes much more difficult in smaller living spaces.

And that’s where the Goldichon comes into play. It’s a designer dog bred between the Golden Retriever and Bichon Frise that couples the desirable traits of a Golden with the size and energy of a Bichon Frise. When pitted against the Golden Retriever for the title of “Best Family Dog,” it can give the Golden a run for its money.

The Goldichon (also known as the Golden Bichon, Golden Frise, or Golden Retriever Bichon Frise mix) is an absolutely wonderful dog to have as part of the family.

 

Goldichon Puppies

At first glance, the Goldichon may look like the perfect dog for your home, and it may very well be. But there are some caveats you should fully understand before bringing one into your life.

First, these dogs aren’t necessarily defined as high-maintenance, but they still require frequent grooming. While some dogs may get along just fine with weekly brushing, you’ll need to increase that to at least twice a week for the Goldichon.

Second, despite their Golden Retriever parentage, Goldichons tend to run on the smaller size of the spectrum. And while your first instinct would be to coddle them and protect them at all costs, this would be a mistake. Both Golden Retrievers and Bichon Frises are sociable breeds that love people—a trait which is clearly inherited by the Golden Bichon. And by sheltering them from the world around them, they’ll develop an unusual shyness and fear of people not typically seen in the breed. Or they’ll become a little diva that runs the house, and we’re not sure which is worse.

Lastly, while they may do well in smaller spaces, they still don’t like being left alone. Golden Frises are very sociable pups and absolutely can’t stand extended periods of isolation. This could lead them to start chewing or other destructive behavior.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Goldichon

1. They’re Often Confused With Goldendoodles

These little designer dogs are often confused with the Goldendoodle, and it’s easy to see why. They look very similar; however, the Goldichon the smaller of the two. The Goldendoodle is actually a hybrid between the Golden Retriever and Poodle!

2. Goldichons Can Be Hypoallergenic

These pups can be considered hypoallergenic, meaning they’re safer for people with allergies. However, that doesn’t mean allergic people are off the hook. You can still have allergic symptoms around these pups. It just depends upon the severity of your allergies.

3. They Aren’t Very Vocal Dogs

While many smaller dogs are very barky, the Goldichon is not. Their mellowness is one of the most desirable traits they have.

 

Temperament & Intelligence of Goldichons 🧠

Don’t get us wrong, the Golden Bichon is an absolutely gorgeous pooch, but that’s not why they’re so desired among families. It’s because of their well-mannered, mild temperaments, and high intelligence.

These dogs take after their Golden Retriever parentage and are super mellow. They’ll have their playful bouts of energy and an occasional case of the zoomies. But afterward, they’re content with just lounging about or just spending time hanging around you.

And they have some of the gentlest touches and mouths out of any dog breed. This is another desired quality they’ve received from their Golden Retriever side as Goldens were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl in mid-19^th century Scotland.

But that doesn’t mean they didn’t pick up a few things from their Bichon Frise lineage. Bichon Frises have distinct individual personalities that are absolutely charming and captivating. Your Goldichon will develop their own little unique quirks that make them even more loveable than thought possible.

And they’re just generally happy dogs. They never seem down in the dumps and have a special way of cheering up anyone they’re around.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

If you haven’t figured it out by now, we’ll spell it out: these dogs are 100% great for families. The Goldichon is a super affectionate and loving dog that will do anything to make their families happy. They’re also a very sociable breed and just love being part of the group.

There’s only one minor concern when keeping them in a family with children. Goldichons have immense patience with kids and will oblige them almost indefinitely. However, the Goldichon doesn’t always seem to be aware of its size, and they can be injured if a young child gets way too rough with them.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

There’s very little that this dog doesn’t get along with. In fact, they make for terrible watch dogs. And instead of stopping a robber, they’ll probably just lead them to where the good stuff is hidden. So, if given another pup to play with, they’ll be in heaven.

And they don’t have a high prey drive at all either. This will allow them to get along with even the smallest of other pets including rabbits, hamsters, and even birds. Goldichons will even try to befriend the family cat—provided Whiskers is willing to accept the challenge.

Things to Know When Owning a Goldichon:

One of the joys of owning a Goldichon is knowing just how simple they can be to properly care for. Let’s look into some of the basics of caring for these adorable little furballs.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Keeping your Goldichon well-fed is pretty easy to do, as they’ll eat just about anything. This they get from their Golden side. And if you’re not careful, they’ll overeat, which can lead to obesity. Depending on their size, you’ll only need to feed them about 1½ to 2½ cups of high-quality food each day.

And since they don’t need a whole bunch of food, you should be sure what they do eat is of great nutritious value. We recommend going with food like Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Bites to ensure they’re getting a healthy meal.

Exercise 🐕

Another easy part of raising a Goldichon is their exercise requirement. Golden Retrievers need plenty of exercises to keep them stimulated. However, the Bichon Frise does not. In this case, the Goldichon has inherited the Bichon Frise’s trait.

You’ll only really need to give these pups only 30 minutes of exercise each day to keep them engaged. And it’s OK if it’s raining outside; they’ll be perfectly content bouncing around your apartment before tuckering out on the couch.

Training 🦮

Training is really the only aspect of Goldichons that can wildly vary from dog to dog. Both parent lineages are exceptionally intelligent dog breeds capable of performing many tricks and following even complex commands.

However, the Bichon Frise can have an independent streak whereas the Golden is always eager to please. The Goldichon can take on one of these personas or even a combo of the two. Either way, once training begins, your Goldichon will catch on very quickly.

Grooming ✂️

The Goldichon isn’t a high-maintenance dog, but they’re not quite low-maintenance either. They fall somewhere in the middle. Golden Frises have thick, short wavy coats that don’t shed nearly as much as their Golden Retriever parents. In fact, their unique coat helps to make them hypoallergenic to all except for the worst allergy sufferers.

They need to be brushed twice weekly at a minimum in order to keep them mat and dinge free. We also recommend having them clipped once a month to keep their coats nice and healthy. And if they stay primarily indoors, they don’t require heavy bathing. Once every other month should do the trick.

• Also see: Best Dog Shampoos – Reviews & Top Picks

Health and Conditions ❤️

Being a hybrid breed, the Goldichon is susceptible to a wide array of different ailments. It can inherit essentially any disease that the parent lineage is vulnerable to. That being said, the probability of that happening is much less than if it were a purebred pooch.

 

Male vs Female

When it comes to differences between the male and female Goldichon, there are no real discernable differences. The idiosyncrasies of your Goldichon will be derived more from their particular set of parents than from their sex.

Conclusion

The Goldichon is a wonderful little pooch if you’re looking to expand your family. They’re great with children, don’t require tons of room, and are even more hypoallergenic that other breeds, although there is no truly hypoallergenic dog. And while they aren’t technically low-maintenance, Goldichons are relatively easy to maintain and care for.

The only reason we would recommend another pooch is if you’re looking for an astute watch or guard dog, and that’s because these little pups are just too darn nice.

• See Also: Goldendale (Airedale & Golden Retriever Mix): Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

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Featured Image Credit: Dylan Xu, Shutterstock