Bichon Frise

curious / playful / peppy

Non-Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

9.5-11.5 inches

Weight

12-18 pounds

Life Expectancy

14-15 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
100% 100%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
20% 20%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
100% 100%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
20% 20%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
100% 100%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
80% 80%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
40% 40%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
80% 80%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
80% 80%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
80% 80%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
60% 60%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
100% 100%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
20% 20%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
100% 100%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
20% 20%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
100% 100%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
80% 80%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
40% 40%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
80% 80%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
80% 80%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
80% 80%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
60% 60%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The little but sturdy and tenacious Bichon Frise is one of the world’s great ‘personality dogs.’ Since antiquity, these appealing canine comedians have weathered history’s ups and downs with charm, beauty, and intelligence. A healthy Bichon will stand just under a foot tall at the shoulder. The breed’s crowning achievement is a white hypoallergenic coat that is smooth and velvety to the touch, with rounded head hair that complements the huge, dark eyes and black leathers of the nose and lips. Bichons are flexible canine companions who get along well with both other canines and children. Bichons make good tiny watchdogs since they are alert and curious, but they are lovers, not fighters, and they believe there are no strangers, only friends they haven’t met yet. Their self-assurance and small size make them perfect city dogs. Bichons train well and enjoy performing for their family. Finally, there’s the cheerful Bichon demeanor, which attracts smiles and embraces wherever they go.

What To Expect When Caring For a Bichon Frise

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Bichons are generally healthy dogs, and a professional breeder would examine breeding stock for health issues including allergies, bladder infections, luxating patella, cataracts, and other eye problems. If dental care and frequent teeth brushing are not prioritized, Bichons may face early tooth loss or issues from gum infection. Regular ear cleaning is suggested to avoid ear infections.

Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:

Patella Evaluation
Hip Evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

Bichons should be brushed at least twice a week, but every day is preferable. They should be bathed and clipped at least once a month. Owners who show their Bichons become adept at this, but the majority of pet owners take their Bichon to the groomer every four to six weeks. Because shed hair is gathered up in the undercoat of the Bichon, the breed is considered relatively hypoallergenic. To prevent mats from forming, shed hair must be combed out. The Bichon's nails, like those of all breeds, should be cut on a regular basis.

Exercise

The Bichon is considered'somewhat active,' although this is only an average. Long periods of stillness are broken up by small bursts of high activity, usually just running through the home or around the yard. In addition to walking, daily play sessions are essential. While another dog might be an excellent exercise buddy, the Bichon will still require quality playtime with his owner. A fenced-in backyard is a good idea; Bichons are remarkably swift, and if one escapes, he may be tough to capture or return to you. Many Bichons enjoy competing in obedience, agility, and rally events.

Training

Early socialization and puppy training sessions are advised for all breeds. Bichons are known for being tough to housebreak. They are, however, incredibly easy to train in every other way. Bichons, for example, enjoy doing tricks and learning new ones quickly. They react better to positive reinforcement teaching rather than harsh or negative ones. A Bichon needs to be with his family, and if he is frequently left alone for lengthy periods of time, he will exhibit undesired tendencies.

Nutrition

The Bichon Frise should thrive on high-quality dog food, whether purchased commercially or produced at home with your veterinarian's supervision and consent. Any diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be a valuable training aid, but feeding too much can lead to obesity. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not. If you have any concerns regarding your dog's weight or diet, consult with your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.

History

Bichons are a sort of small white dog that belongs to the Barbichon breed. (These old varieties are also known as the Bolognese, Havanese, and Maltese.) It is believed that these historic breeds began their contemporary evolution in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. One of these varieties grew so popular among the island’s sailors that it was dubbed the Bichon Tenerife, the ancestor of today’s Bichon Frise.

The breed’s intimate relationship with European aristocrats originated in the 13th century. They particularly endeared themselves to the royal courts of Spain, Italy, and France, and rose to prominence throughout the Renaissance.

With the advent of the French Revolution in 1789, the Bichon’s days as the pampered and perfumed lapdog of aristocrats came to a rude end. One by one the breed’s benefactors were trotted off to prison and the guillotine and their Bichons lost their positions of privilege. Many were turned out into the street to fend for themselves. Street entertainers took in the bright, agile dogs and trained them to coax a coin or two from passersby with their antics. Soon, the Bichon was earning his keep as a circus performer. Trainable, impossibly cute, and always at their best when in the spotlight, Bichons were excellent candidates for showbiz success.

Bichons endured new hardships in the twentieth century as a result of the shortages and austerity imposed by the two world wars. Once again, many Bichons were left out in the cold. The breed survived thanks to a few fanciers who rescued Bichons from the streets of France and Belgium, and it was recognized in France under the auspices of the Societé Centrale Canine in 1933 as the Bichon a Poil Frisé—the “Bichon of curly hair.”