Meet the Bichon Frise

Pawfect Personality

Pawfect Personality

Apartment Friendly

Apartment Friendly

Couch Cuddler

Couch Cuddler

Are you in need of a fun-loving, easy-going ball of fluff with a pawsonality that’s to die for? Look no fur-ther! Not to brag, but we Bichons Frises are known for our cheerfulness, playfulness, AND our cleverness. My super soft, super fluffy coat makes me the best cuddle buddy around – plus it’s cute! I’ll even let you brush it for me (2 to 3 times a week, pawlease!) I’m happy living in any size space as long as I’m with my humans. I’m also grrreat with kids, probably because I’m their size, and I get along with other pets in the house, too! I’m generally easy to train because of my high IQ, but I am known to be difficult to potty train – I’m trying, OK? I need some exercise every day, but you’ll notice that I mostly just get the zoomies whenever I feel like it and then crash for long periods of time. Overall, I’m sweet, I’m fun, and I have a cozy, cute coat. What’s not to like!
关于我

Personality

Easy-going

Playful

Friendly

Group

Non-sporting

Origin

Canary Islands

Life Span

14-15 Years

Breed Popularity

#45 of 195

Height Range

9.5-11.5 Inches

Weight Range

12-18 Pounds

Coat Details

Type

Short

Texture

Soft, Smooth

Features

Double Coat

Colors

White, White & Apricot, White & Buff, White & Cream

Hypoallergenic

Yes

Cost to Buy

$600-$1,700

Lifetime Care Cost

$20,520

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

Training Ability:
Intelligence:
Exercise Needs:
Health Issues:
Affection Level:
Grooming Effort:
Pet-Friendly:
Shedding:
Kid-Friendly:
Barking:
Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

I’m French! That probably comes as no surprise, being the sophisticated pups that we Bichons are, but I bet you don’t know what my name means. Don’t worry, I’m about to tell you. In France, they called us Bichon a poil frise. “Bichon” means small dog and “frise” means curly. Put it all together and what do you get? A cute little pup with curly hair who you can’t help but fall in love with! By the way, it’s pronounced “free-zay” not “fries!”
As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

History of My Breed

History of My Breed

My breed’s history starts with the Barbet, also known as the French Water Spaniel. Over 2,000 years ago, the French wanted a smaller (and cuter!) version of the Barbet, so they made a dog breed known as Barbichons. Barbichons include a whole crew of little white dogs: Bichon Bolognese, Bichon Havanese, Bichon Maltese, and Bichon Tenerife. What about the Bichon Frise? Great question. I’m glad you asked! The Bichon Tenerife hailed from the Canary Island of the same name, in Spain. Sailors in the Mediterranean grew fond of us (can you blame them?) and transported us around the world, bartering us little powder puffs for goods. Eventually, European nobility started fawning over us – Spanish, Italian, French. We were loved by the royal courts and even became Henry III’s favorite breed! He carried a basket around his neck to hold his beloved Bichons. You can also find us in the paintings of centuries-old artists, from Francisco de Goya to Pierre-Auguste Renior. Despite our lasting appeal, we
Care Tips

Care Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Watch out for your Bichon’s allergies.

Bichons are prone to skin allergies, like dermatitis, so keep an eye out for irritated areas of the skin. Skin can become red, flaky, and itchy. The irritation can also spread fairly quickly. Talk to your vet about giving your dog allergy medication, or about topical ointments and treatments that can help ease irritation.

2

Maintain your Bichon’s ears.

Bichons Frises are known to have frequent ear infections, so be alert from the start and regularly check your dog’s ears for infection.

3

Take care of your Bichon’s tear stains.

Tear staining is caused by an overproduction of tears or a dog’s inability to drain away tears like normal. This causes unsightly dark marks around the dog’s eyes. Be sure to work with a good groomer to maintain proper hygiene.

Training Tips

Training Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Potty train early and tightly.

While potty training, take your Bichon outside frequently so you gain an understanding of their restroom schedule. Designate a specific spot for them to go outside and take them to that spot on a leash. Give them a huge amount of praise when they do their business outside, but ignore them when they go anywhere else. If ignoring them isn’t working, put bitter apple spray on spots to give off a scent that repulses them from the area.

2

Exercise your Bichon’s mental muscles.

Keep your Bichon sharp by giving them treat puzzles and consistently training them. Be wary of letting your dog’s training plateau. All dogs thrive from opportunities to keep learning new things.

3

Invite your Bichon onto furniture.

Instead of picking your Bichon pup up to take them to furniture, invite them up onto furniture. You should have some control over cuddling on furniture, otherwise they’ll feel like the couch and bed are theirs and they won’t have to listen to you. If you’re going to make your Bichon a lap dog, pick a spot where you let them sit in your lap. Don’t let them cuddle with you on everything, although you may feel the urge to. There have to be boundaries somewhere.

关于我
  • Personality

    Easy-going

    Playful

    Friendly

  • Group

    Non-sporting

  • Origin

    Canary Islands

  • Life Span

    14-15 Years

  • Breed Popularity

    #45 of 195

  • Height Range

    9.5-11.5 Inches

  • Weight Range

    12-18 Pounds

  • 动物皮毛

    Type

    Short

    Texture

    Soft, Smooth

    Features

    Double Coat

    Colors

    White, White & Apricot, White & Buff, White & Cream

  • Hypoallergenic

    Yes

  • Cost to Buy

    $600-$1,700

  • Lifetime Care Cost

    $20,520