Bichon Frise Dog Breed Information
The Bichon Frise dog breed is a small pup with a big personality. They were bred to be a companion for people of all ages who want a sweet, friendly dog that would follow them around everywhere. They're also one of the few breeds with hypoallergenic fur—which means they don't shed much and are great for owners with allergies. Bichon Frises are cheerful, adaptable, and small, making excellent apartment dogs.
If you're looking for a great family dog, the Bichon Frise dog breed is an excellent choice. They're loyal, playful, and gentle with children. Bichon Frises also make great companions for seniors due to their small size and easy-going nature.
Bichon Frise Dog Breed Rundown
Height: 9.5 to 11.5 inches (males and females)
Weight: 12 to 18 pounds
Lifespan: 14 to 15 years
Origin: France
Personality: The Bichon Frise dog breed is a small dog with a big personality. These pups are happy, friendly, sociable, loyal, playful, and love to be the center of attention. They are gentle dogs and get along well with other pets and children. Bichon Frises love people and are usually friendly to everyone, including strangers.
Bichon Frise Appearance
The Bichon Frise dog breed is a small, often white dog with a curly coat. This breed also comes in the following color variations, according to the American Kennel Club:
White
White and apricot
White and buff
White and cream
Their small size and curly coat often get them the nickname "fuzzball" or "snowball" due to their fluffy white appearance. Their tails are groomed to be long and curly, carried over the back, adding to their fuzzy appearance, and are typically not docked or cropped.
The Bichon Frise dog breed is generally easy to groom, just requiring a periodic bath. The coat of this breed does not grow long, so there is no need for extensive trimming. Some people prefer to shave their dogs' coats down during the summer when they get hot.
To care for your Bichon Frise dog, make sure you do the following:
Brushing once a week will help keep your Bichon's coat healthy and reduce shedding.
Trim nails regularly to prevent them from getting too long and causing discomfort.
Clean ears regularly with an ear cleaner made for dogs.
Bichon Frise History
The Bichon Frisé comes from the phrase bichon à poli frisé, which means “curly haired dog” in French. The Bichons are descendants of Spanish sailing and herding dogs that the French developed as lap dogs. Bichons have water dogs and poodle-type dogs as ancestors, which explains their curly, hypoallergenic coat.
Bichons were often used as companions for traveling seamen, and they enjoyed popularity in Spain and the Canary Islands as well as in France. The Bichon Frise dog breed was a favorite of French, Spanish, and Italian royalty beginning in the 13th century.
In addition to being popular with French royalty in the 16th century, Bichons also accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte when he went into exile on Elba Island following his defeat at Waterloo (he didn't want any other type of pet).
Bichons have also been used as circus performers because they are incredibly easy to train and can use their little paws and agile bodies to perform tricks such as jumping through hoops and walking on their hind legs.
The Bichon Frise has been used as a companion dog since then - especially good for people who live alone or work long hours because they're known for being playful yet affectionate dogs who love attention from their owners but don't demand it all day long.
The Bichon was brought to the United States in 1955 and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1971.
Bichon Frise Dog Breed Personality
The Bichon Frise is a happy, affectionate dog that loves to play and be around people. Their intelligence makes them easy to train, but these pups do have an independent nature so you will need to provide consistent guidance. The Bichon loves being around other dogs and is often called a "dog's dog" because of its tolerance for other animals.
Bichon Frises are small, playful dogs that make ideal companions for young families with children or seniors who may not be able to handle larger dogs. They're also good at adapting to new environments and situations, making them easy to travel with as well as great apartment dogs.
Because of their small size and friendliness to strangers, Bichon Frises are not going to be the best guard dogs or running partners. They're more likely to scamper around the house playing with kids or other family pets than to be alert to intruders.
Training Bichon Frises
Bichon Frise dogs are smart, but they may be stubborn at times. They are also very sensitive and require early socialization to prevent poor behavior later on. If this breed doesn't receive enough attention, they can become destructive or bark excessively. As with all dogs, basic obedience training will help to socialize your pup and establish some ground rules for your relationship.
Bichon Frise dogs are great with children and other pets because they're very social animals. However, supervise them with large dogs because their small size could put them at risk of being accidentally hurt during rough play.
To train a Bichon Frise, you need to be consistent and reward good behavior. One school of thought is to ignore bad behavior, making this a punishment since Bichons love attention. If your dog is barking or jumping up on people, don’t give them attention and see if this helps curb the behavior. You can also address basic problem behaviors by enrolling in an obedience class with your pup.
Training a Bichon Frise is a lifelong process, but it's well worth the effort. The more you put into training your dog, the more you'll enjoy each other’s company. It's also important that you find what works best for your dog—that way, everyone will be happy!
Famous Bichon Frises
There are many famous people who love their Bichon Frises. Some even have multiple Bichons! Here are some celebrity Bichon Frise owners:
Celebrity Bichon Frise Owners
Actress Ashley Tisdale has a Bichon pup named Maui
Actress Kristin Chenoweth has a Bichon Frise named Thunder
Comedian Kathie Lee Gifford has a Bichon named Chardonnay
Actress Barbara Streisand has two Bichons, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlet
Actress Eva Longoria has a Bichon Frise named Jinxy
Pop star Demi Lovato has a Bichon pup Cinderella
As you can see, the Bichon Frise is a popular dog breed choice among the rich and famous.
Bichon Frise Health
When you have a Bichon Frise, you can expect them to be generally healthy and not require a lot of vet visits. Most Bichons don’t need special care aside from regular trips to the groomer (or if they get into something they shouldn't) and annual check-ups.
If you have a Bichon Frise dog, it's important to know that they're prone to certain health issues.
Eye Problems: This breed is prone to eye problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). If you own a Bichon Frise dog breed, you should consider having your pet's eyes examined regularly. Your veterinarian can recommend the best way for you to monitor your pet's condition so that any changes that might be caused by these diseases can be detected early on.
Dental Care: The teeth of the Bichon Frise require regular cleaning because they grow rapidly throughout their lifetime. Brushing daily with dog toothpaste will help keep them clean, but dental chews are also recommended since they help scrape away plaque from teeth that brushing alone doesn't reach.
If your dog becomes ill, take her to the vet immediately. The sooner you get treatment for an illness, the better your pup’s chances of recovering will be. If your dog is acting differently from normal, take him to the vet for a check-up as soon as possible. For example, if your Bichon is not eating much or seems depressed, or has diarrhea or a sudden weight loss, get your pup checked out immediately because these can be signs that something's wrong.
Bichons are active little dogs who need their daily dose of exercise in order to remain happy and healthy. The minimum time you should dedicate to your Bichon's exercise is 30 minutes per day, but if possible, try to give them as much time as possible outside for playtime and walks around the block.
Where to Get a Bichon Frise Dog
If you have decided that the Bichon Frise is the right dog for you, it's time to take action. There are many Bichon Frise rescue groups where you can adopt a Bichon for a fraction of the price of a breeder while also saving a life.
Here are a few organizations that you cna check out if you want to adopt a Bichon Frise:
The Bichon Frise Club of America is the AKC-recognized national club of the Bichon Frise dog breed. The group has helpful resources for Bichon owners.
Bichon Rescue of Tennessee is a rescue group that has adoptable Bichon Frises in the Tennessee area.
Tidewater Bichon Rescue is a Virginia Beach rescue organization that has Bichon Frise dogs for adoption.
Delaware Bichon Rescue is a Bichon Frise rescue based in Delaware that has adoptable Bichons.
Bichon FurKids Rescue is a California Bichon Frise Rescue that has adoptable pups.
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what to expect when bringing a Bichon Frise into your family. If you are looking for more information on the Bichon Frise or another dog breed, check out our breed section. If you're looking for more information to prepare for adopting a Bichon Frise, check out our 10 Tips to Prepare Before Adopting a Dog.
