Robert C asked:
We have a toy poodle (we believe), however people are always telling us she looks like a Bichon. How do we confirm she is a poodle?
We have a toy poodle (we believe), however people are always telling us she looks like a Bichon. How do we confirm she is a poodle?
Tags: Bichon, People, Poodle #8, Poodle Toy, Toy Poodle
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I have a miniature poodle and i think they are usually much more playful and they have a longer nose than a bichon. Hope this helped.
March 5th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Go to and read the breed standards for each breed. However, without registration papers, you really can’t confirm she’s not a mix or something else other than what the breeder represented.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
There is a company that does canine DNA testing. Bichons look like cotton balls and poodles have fur that is more curly.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:03 am
Go to the AKC website and look at pictures of poodles and Bichons. They will list the “confirmation” points for each dog and that should tell you. I think the Bichon has a shorter, wider nose.
March 10th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
Do an online search for both breeds – bichons have much rounder heads than poodles, who have sharper muzzles too.
Poodles have tighter hair as well, there really is a big difference in looks unless you are talking about a young puppy, that would be the only time you could confuse a bichon with a poodle.
March 14th, 2006 at 4:54 am
a bichon has flatter faces than a toy poodle
March 16th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Toy poodles have longer, thinner legs, a lighter body, and usually a shortened tail. There are also not often pure white poodles, mostly you see apricots and creams which will have darker points on their hair, whereas a Bichon should always be pure white.
You can also tell by face shape:
Versus:
You can just see that the Bichon is a shorter, heavy-set dog (usually around 15lbs) compared to the tall, leggy, slender build of a poodle. Most people think ANY curly dog with a puffy non-shaved face looks like a Bichon. It’s just lack of education.
March 18th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Just look at the top of her haed and if its pointed then yep its a poodle but Bichons are a little bit heaver than a toy poodle and Bichons coat is more of an Afro than curly like a toy poodle.I really hope that helps your understanding or your dog.