The Goldichon is a mix between a Bichon Frise and a Golden Retriever.
Other names for the Goldichon include the mystical-sounding “Golden Bichon” or “Golden Frise.”
Also mystical is the very Goldichon herself, as she is but a rare mixed breed. More common is the Goldendoodle/Bichon mix, which is a mix of Golden Retriever, Poodle, and Bichon Frise.
The Goldichon Temperament and Personality Traits
The temperament of a Bichon Frise Golden Retriever mix is about what you would expect.
The Bichon Frise is a friendly, gentle soul, as is the Golden Retriever. Together, they make a simply delightful dog.
Don't be fooled by her calm demeanor, though. She loves a good adventure, and won't think twice about instigating a chase.
This is a great dog to have around children. Not only does she love them, but she is also gentle and friendly enough to make a lovable and fluffy companion.
There are six traits that are “need-to-know” about the Goldichon temperament. What follows are clear explanations of these traits.
Friendly
The Goldichon definitely takes after both of her parents in that she is a very friendly dog.
Gentle
Also, like her Golden Retriever parent, the Goldichon is a gentle dog, one you would not mind leaving with your children.
Calm
The Goldichon is, for the most part, a calm dog, but don't let that fool you. If you give her the signs that you want to play, she'll be gladly up for a game.
Playful
You might not think so to look at her, but the Goldichon has a playful soul and will give chase if the opportunity presents itself.
Golden Retriever Characteristics of a Goldichon
While the Bichon Frise Golden Retriever mix remains a bit of a mystery due to her rarity, you can glean a lot from the temperaments, personalities, and health of her parents.
The Golden Retriever is the quintessential family pet – everyone wants a Golden. With a Goldichon (Golden Frise), you get the best of both worlds: the most popular breed in the world, but in bite-sized form.
While a Golden is not good at living in smaller spaces, a Goldichon is. So, if you want a Golden, but you don't have the room, the Goldichon makes a fine substitute.
However, like her Golden parent, the Golden Frise hates when you leave her alone for long periods of time. If you work long hours, you may want to invest in a crate and lots of exciting dog toys.
Goldens are also known to shed. A LOT.
Therefore, Goldichons may have a thicker coat than their Bichon Frise parent and may require more maintenance to prevent tangles and matting.
Like Goldens, Goldichons are smart, easy to train and have a high energy level.
Bichon Frise Characteristics of a Goldichon
Both the Golden and the Bichon are happy dogs who love to spend time with their people. So, essentially, the Goldichon or Golden Bichon is happiness personified…and squared!
This Bichon Frise Golden Retriever Mix takes after her Bichon parent in that you must take her for daily walks to socialize her.
But if it's raining, or if you otherwise can't walk her, the small Golden Bichon is perfectly happy to scamper around your apartment or yard.
Also, like her Bichon parent, a Goldichon is great with children, but you should supervise your children with her nonetheless.
This is because the Goldichon is a smaller animal, making it easier for her to get hurt.
A Goldichon may be prone to falling, or someone might accidentally step on her. You must always keep an eye on the area around your feet when walking around your Goldichon.
Like her Bichon parent, a Goldichon is relatively easy to train. However, she can also be thickheaded and independent at times.
This may make housebreaking difficult and so, for this, those in-the-know recommend a crate until she becomes an expert at it.
A Goldichon is not quite as big as her Golden parent, but not quite as small as her Bichon parent. She's somewhere in between, but she tends to lean more toward the smaller side.
Many owners overprotect their Goldichons due to their size. However, this can backfire, as the independent little dog may develop shyness, or can become scared or spoiled.
Helpful Dog Training Resource
For help with training your Goldichon dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
Health Problems that Can Affect a Goldichon
Because the Bichon Frise Golden Retriever mix inherits traits from both the Bichon Frise and the Golden Retriever, it is important to be aware of the health problems that can plague both breeds.
For instance, a Bichon is more susceptible to conditions like:
- Bladder problems
- Hip dysplasia
- Vaccination sensitivity
- Shaker dog syndrome
- Dislocation of the knee
- Allergies
Whereas, problems that are more likely to affect a Golden Retriever include:
- Hip dysplasia (so, double the risk for the Goldichon)
- Allergies (another doubled risk for the Goldichon)
- Heart problems
- Cataracts
- Elbow dysplasia
- Von Willebrand's Disease (issues with the blood clotting properly)
The average lifespan of a Goldichon is between 12 and 15 years.
Note: Don't let the many issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely Golden Frise pet from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancyancy.
Grooming
The Goldichon's coat is typically wavy, and it can be either short or long, depending on the parent she takes after more.
As for colors, the Goldichon most often comes in cream, red, or gold.
The Goldichon is not a high-maintenance dog, as she doesn't shed much.
You only need to brush her two to four times per week to pull the dead hair out of her coat and to prevent it from tangling or matting.
Take her to a professional for clipping every four to six weeks or so, and bathe her every other month to lock in that healthy glow.
Some say these dogs are “hypoallergenic,” but there is truly no such thing. If you don't have a reaction near a Goldichon, then you're not allergic – that's the only true way to know for sure.
Exercise
Goldens need regular exercise, but Goldichons do not. This is a plus if you don't have the time or energy to regularly exercise your pet.
Of course, you should still take your Goldichon out occasionally for fresh air and to socialize with other people and animals.
A short daily walk should do a world of good – for both of you!
Finding the Perfect Goldichon
That's it – it's settled. You want a Goldichon puppy…but how do you go about getting one?
You essentially have two options when it comes to finding a Goldichon for sale: buy one from a breeder, or adopt one through your local rescue or adoption agency.
There are several pros and cons for each of these avenues. Let's explore some of them together.
Goldichon Puppies for Sale
The average Goldichon price varies quite a bit, depending on who you buy from. Because this mixed breed is rare, it is not so easy to get an “average figure”, so to speak.
So, how do you know how much is too much? Or too little?
You can probably gauge what to pay based on the prices breeders charge for each breed.
So, for example, a Golden Retriever will run you between $500 and $2,000 – a pretty wide margin.
And for the Bichon Frise, you'll pay between $250 and $2,500, with the average settling around $600.
So, it's probably a good guess to assume that a Goldichon would run you between $600 and $2,000, though you should probably aim higher since it's rare.
That means that a breeder charging less than $500 for a Goldichon is probably trying to sell you a dog who is either sick, or not the mix she says the dog is.
And, of course, anyone trying to charge more than $2,500 or so is probably just trying to rip you off.
Goldichon Adoption and Rescue
If you would like to adopt a Goldichon, the first thing you should know is that your odds are high of getting an adult dog. This is because people start out with the best of intentions but may not be able to care for the dog for the entirety of her life.
I know you probably want a puppy so you can start fresh, but hear me out. There are some serious pros to adopting an adult dog.
For one thing, someone along the line has probably trained her, so she already knows not to pee on the rug. Plus, she's older, so she's less likely to chew your prized possessions.
However, I would be doing you a disservice to not let you know there are serious cons, too. For instance, shelters do not always (in fact, mostly never) know the dog's history.
This means you could end up with a sick dog, or with a dog who is not the mix you think it is. In fact, the dog may have many breeds in her mix, and it's truly a crapshoot the kind of dog you end up bringing home.
This is not to say that dogs up for adoption are bad, but you also have to be prepared to deal with any unfavorable traits you may end up with.
If the shelter or rescue group you're contacting does not have any Goldichons at the moment, you can always put your name on a list. That way, when one comes in, they know to call you and have you come in for a visit.
Municipal adoptions charge a lower fee than private rescue groups do. Either way, both are still less expensive than going through a breeder – plus you get to give a homeless dog a loving home.
Goldichon Breeders
The Goldichon is a rare breed in the U.S., so you may find it takes you a while to find a reputable Goldichon breeder. But be patient and do your research, so as not to inadvertently give your money to an unethical breeder or worse: a puppy mill.
One thing you should never do is purchase Goldichon puppies over the internet or from a pet store. These are the surest ways to both fund puppy mills and get a dog who may be sick or have other problems.
If you can, try to get a referral for a good breeder from a dog show or even a sporting event. You can then make an appointment to meet with the breeder in person.
But, before you do that, you should check the breeder out online. See what others have to say about their interactions with that breeder.
When you get to the breeder's home, make sure the breeder is keeping her dogs are in a safe and clean environment. You can also talk with the breeder about the breed in general, including the medical conditions that can affect the breed and whether her pups have any of them. Ask to see the medical records for the pup's parents too, while you're at it.
A good Goldichon breeder will probably ask you to agree to neuter your puppy once she reaches the appropriate age. She will also ask you to bring the puppy back to her if it turns out you're not a good match.
A Final Word about the Bichon Frise Golden Retriever Mix
The Goldichon temperament is just as sweet as that of her parents: happy and loving. Despite the fact that Goldichons have Golden Retriever lineage, their size runs on the small side.
Goldichons also take after their Golden Retriever parents in that they love children. However, their smaller Bichon size requires you to supervise children when they play together.
Don't helicopter-parent your Goldichon, though. Her Bichon side may lead her to develop a diva-like personality, leaving her shy or fearful when her protectors aren't around.
This is easy to prevent, though, if you keep in mind that the Goldichon can fend for herself. In most situations, you just need to keep an eye on things and not involve yourself in the situation.
Like both of her parents, the Goldichon is smart. While this can make her easy to train, her stubbornness may sometimes get in the way, too.
Remain firm and consistent, and she will come to realize that you are her pack leader. Reward her when she does well with plenty of treats, pettings, and smooches.
More Bichon Frise Mix-breeds
If you did not find what you looking for maybe our article on the Top Bichon Frise Mix will answer your question. Or you can check out each Bichon mix directly by clicking on the links below:
- The Bichpoo – Bichon Frise Poodle Mix
- The Shichon – Bichon Frise Shih Tzu Mix
- The Maltichon – Bichon Frise Maltese Mix
- The Yorkie Bichon – Bichon Frise Yorkie Mix
- The Chi Chon – Bichon Frise Chihuahua Mix
- The Kashon – Bichon Frise Cairn Terrier Mix
- The Chonzer – Bichon Frise Miniature Schnauzer Mix
- The Glechon – Bichon Frise Beagle Mix
- The Corgi Bichon – Bichon Frise Corgi Mix
Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.