Biton Dog Breed

The Biton dog, as a mixed breed, is not an official member of any breed group--but both the Bichon Frise and the Coton de Tulear are in the AKC's Non-Sporting group, so these hybrids would certainly fit into that category as well. Neither does any info exist about the Biton's origin, but their crossbreeding probably became popular during the "designer dog explosion" in North America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These affectionate little dogs are great companions for families of any size--but they're especially good for singles, seniors, or those living in apartments.

A few Bichon Frise-Coton de Tulear mix facts: they're small-sized, averaging 11 inches at the shoulders in height and 13 pounds in weight; they have medium to long, fluffy coats that don't shed much; and they're prone to separation anxiety if left alone.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Coton de Tulear-Bichon Frise mix:

The Biton, as the offspring of two charming, lovable small breeds (both of which have white coats), is itself a small, white-coated breed full of character. Friendly, low-shedding, intelligent, and usually not as fussy as similar small breeds, the Biton's good qualities seem to far outweigh its bad ones.

One bit of Biton information that's less than stellar: these hybrids need to be around people almost constantly. Since both parent breeds are prone to separation anxiety if left alone, their Biton offspring are also sensitive, and will need the same amount of TLC they're so willing to give. And though they don't bark as much as some other small breeds, if left at home alone for any length of time Bitons will get upset--and they're bound to express their loneliness through barking, howling, and frustration. As long as they have company, though, these will be playful, good-natured dogs.

As a small breed, Bitons aren't very strong, and overall they're not super-active either. These hybrids will usually fulfill their daily activity needs just running around being their playful selves, but a daily walk or two--even if they're short ones--is a good idea.

Since it's bred from two dogs that are similar in appearance, the Biton doesn't see much variety in physical features. Individual dogs may have differently sized legs, ears or tails, for example, but these are naturally occurring and don't signify a breed sub-type.

The Biton coat is pretty consistent in length and texture as well: medium to long and fluffy.

Size is standard too, at about 11 inches and 13 pounds--but breeders might use selective breeding techniques to develop even smaller Bitons. These little dogs can be as small as seven inches and eight pounds, and will be known as the Mini Biton, the Teacup Biton, or the Micro Biton; again, these size variants don't represent a Biton sub-type.

The Biton, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, some Bitons may suffer ailments common to both parent breeds including structural issues like patellar luxation and hip dysplasia, allergies, and sensitivity to some vaccines. Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for Bitons is quite long, at 15-18 years.