What do you get when you bring together two of the dog world’s most beloved breeds—the Lhasa apso, known for its beautiful coat and fierce loyalty to its family, and the bichon frise, known for its cotton-ball appearance and lovably goofy personality? You get a mixed breed that brings together the best of both dogs—the La-Chon.
The La-Chon is a perfect blend of both the Lhasa apso and the bichon frise’s best traits—and that includes their epic coats.
But those coats will definitely need some TLC in the form of regular grooming and hair trims to look its best. Let’s take a deeper look at grooming basics for the La-Chon, including a few of the hairstyles you’re definitely going to want to try on your pet.
La-Chon grooming basics
The biggest factor to consider when grooming a La-Chon is their coat. But because this breed is a mix between the Lhasa apso and the bichon frise, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to what, exactly, that coat is going to look and feel like.
The Lhasa apso has a straight, heavy coat that will get extremely long when allowed to grow; in fact, the coat can grow all the way to the ground! The bichon frise, on the other hand, has a dense, curly coat (“frise” is the French word for curly), giving these dogs the appearance of a fluffy cotton ball. As a mixed breed, La-Chons typically have a coat that falls somewhere in the middle, with a wavier texture, but they can inherit a coat that more closely resembles either breed.
The good news? Both dog breeds have minimal shedding, so you don’t have to worry about dog hair covering your clothes, furniture, and household.
Even though the La-Chon doesn’t shed much, they still need regular grooming to look and feel their best. Plan to brush your La-Chon at least two to three times a week—and more often (up to daily) if they have a longer or denser coat.
Proper grooming for this breed also includes regular baths. Plan to bathe your La-Chon at least a few times per month, more if you take your pet on any muddy trips to the dog park. Make sure to use shampoo, conditioner, and cleansing products specifically formulated for dogs and to rinse your pet completely; leaving excess product can cause skin irritation.
When you’re finished with bath time, spend plenty of time drying off your dog with a dog-safe dryer. Because La-Chons typically have a lot of hair, their coat can take a long time to dry, and your dog can feel chilly and uncomfortable if left to air dry.
Lastly, they need regular nail trims (if you can hear their nails on the floor, it’s time for a clip) and regular haircuts. Because this breed’s coat will grow long and fast, many people prefer scheduling trims with a professional groomer.
Top La-Chon haircuts
As mentioned, the LaChon needs regular hair trims to look and feel their best. But what haircut to get?
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular (and adorable!) hairstyles for your pet.
La-Chon haircut #1: Puppy cut
The puppy cut is one of the most popular hairstyles for a ton of dog breeds, including the La-Chon. And it makes sense! The puppy cut, which keeps the coat even and short throughout the entire face and body (typically between one and two inches of length) is not only much easier to take care of than a longer coat, but it also gives you a better look at your pet’s oh-so-cute face and eyes.
While this hairstyle is among the most low-maintenance in the world of doggie hairstyles, you’ll need to plan regular trims to keep the length tight and short (especially with the La-Chon’s fast-growing coat!).
La-Chon haircut #2: Fuller cut
This photo is of a Lhasa apso, but this fuller cut would work just as well on a La-Chon. With this hairstyle, the coat is allowed to grow slightly longer for a fuller appearance. This style will require a bit more brushing and maintenance than its shorter, puppy cut counterpart, but it’s a great look for your dog and can be a way to provide extra warmth in the winter.
La-Chon haircut #3: Structured curly cut
If your dog has a more curly texture, they take more after their bichon side—and going with a more structured cut can help keep those curls under control. The cornerstone of this hairstyle (featured in this photo of a bichon frise) is adding structure and shape to the curls, particularly around the face.