Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise has no shortage of cuteness and life. These vivacious dogs are playful and curious, always looking to spend time with you or a fun toy. This breed’s claim to fame is their soft, plush, and hypoallergenic coat.

Combine this with their sturdy yet compact size, lovability, and energy and they truly make a wonderful dog for pretty much anyone. Read on to learn more about the Bichon Frise.

Description of the Bichon Frise

This plush dog looks like a beautiful doll from afar, but upon closer inspection you will find a buoyant and affectionate breed that loves everyone he meets.

They stand just under a foot tall, but the Bichon Frise has plenty of fire to make up for it. They are playful and athletic, always up for a good game. But this breed is also a snuggly love bug and enjoys quality time with his family.

The history of this breed is quite diverse. Originally, they are thought to have become popular with sailors on the Canary Islands.

From here they spread and became a favorite among royal courts in Spain, Italy, and France. But with the turning of the tide after the French Revolution, these sweet dogs were turned out onto the streets and began making their keep as entertainers.

They were adopted as circus performers and then, when World War II brought about the end of such frivolities, they once again found themselves on the streets where they were saved by fans of the breed.

Thanks to the efforts of these people, the Bichon Frise is still around today. But given their petite size, adorable round faces, and ever wagging plumed tail, it is no surprise these dogs have survived through the centuries.

The most striking and popular physical attribute of the Bichon Frise is its plush coat. The undercoat is soft and full while the topcoat is curly and slightly coarser than the undercoat. It is a beautiful snowy white and can have slight shading around various body parts.

Life Expectancy and Size

The Bichon Frise is a generally healthy dog that lives an average of 14 – 15 years. Working with a reputable breeder is a great way to start your puppy off on the right foot. But always be prepared for potential health problems that may spring up down the road.

These pint-sized pups are a great small dog for those wanting a portable yet hardy breed. They stand 9.5 – 11.5 inches tall and weigh 12 – 18 pounds.

Protective Ability

The Bichon Frise is an alert and ever watchful dog. These dogs pride themselves on their ability to alert their humans to strangers. But what they love even more than warning you of an approaching person is greeting visitors with the most affectionate welcome they have ever received.

Training

The Bichon Frise is a true performer and will pick things up quickly. They are incredibly outgoing and love training time because it means they get to be with their humans! Often the most difficult thing for this breed to pick up his housebreaking, but with patience and consistency they will succeed.

These dogs love treats and respond well when they are used as training motivation. Just be sure not to overfeed as the Bichon Frise can become overweight.

As natural performers the Bichon Frise thrives on positive, rewards-based training. Always be consistent, kind, and patient with your dog. They are smart and love to learn.

Energy Level

The Bichon is an incredibly energetic and curious breed. They love to play, so plenty of daily exercise and games are a must. While moderate exercise is enough to keep these dogs healthy, they love to do tricks, play games, and spend quality time with you.

These dogs are also lovers and enjoy spending time snuggled up with their family. They love relaxed activities that let them hang out with you like helping you garden in the backyard or enjoying pets while you read a book.

The Bichon Frise is incredibly social and will not do well if left alone for long periods of time. They will quickly become miserable or destructive so always be sure they have company.

What Living with a Bichon Frise is Like

This is an all-around kind breed.

These beautiful dogs are a beautiful addition to big families or single homes alike. The Bichon Frise loves kids, seniors, other dogs, and practically anyone or anything they see. If you give them lots of love and playtime these dogs will be your ever-loyal companions.

Whether going for long walks, playing in the backyard, or snuggling up on your lap, this breed is happy so long as he is with you.

Care of the Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise is quite adaptable and does well in big homes or small apartments. Just provide him with plenty of fun games and love and he will do well.

Environmental Needs

This breed doesn’t have many particular environmental needs. They do well in hot and cold climates, just be sure to keep an eye on them as they are small and are prone to getting too cold. A jacket may help protect your Bichon Frise in chilly weather.

Exercise Needs

These dogs are quite energetic but only need moderate exercise to be healthy. A long walk, backyard playtime, and games are all great ways to get your dog moving.

Shedding and Grooming

Ideally, the Bichon Frise should be brushed every day, but two or three times a week can be enough. When they shed it gets caught in their undercoat and this is what gives them their hypoallergenic status, and also gives them mats if you don’t brush them.

This breed sheds little.

A bath and clipping are a must every month or so. This can be done at your local groomers or you can learn. Regularly brush your dog’s teeth so he doesn’t get any oral problems.

Ideal Home Environment

These dogs are popular with all different types of people. Their versatility, adaptability, friendliness, and wonderful, snuggly size makes them a wonderful companion.

The Bichon Frise loves to play and will always be happy to have a partner to goof around with. Be sure you can provide him enough companionship because he will be unhappy and destructive without you.

Your Bichon can have health issues that may impact his life and be expensive to deal with.

Health Concerns

Ironically, these hypoallergenic dogs can suffer from allergies. Working with a reputable breeder can help combat this issue. Other problems include bladder infections, patellar luxation, cataracts and other eye problems, ear infections, and oral problems.

Behavior Problems

The Bichon Frise loves your companionship and will become quite miserable if he is excluded or left alone. Be sure to provide him plenty of time with you so he doesn’t become destructive.