Bichon Frise Dog Breed Profile Information

• Height: 9.5 -11.5 inches
• Weight: 12-18 pounds
• Life expectancy: 14-15 years
•  Breed Group: Non-sporting
• Shed Level: Low
• Temperant: Friendly, Playful, Affectionate
• Energy level: Active
• Coat: Requires daily grooming and regular trips to professional groomers
• Exercise: Upto 1 hour a day
• Common Health Concerns: Diabetes, Eye problems, bladder stones, dental disease

The Bichon Frise is a small-sized dog that is a playful and affectionate member of the nonsporting group. They mix well together with children and are friendly with the other dogs, being curious and enjoying meeting new friends. 

Despite their big personality, they stand just under 1 foot tall and weigh an average of 12-18 pounds, enjoying a lifespan of 14-15 years. They love to play and be social with their family and with their favorite toys.

Due to their smaller structure, they make good apartment dogs. Also, they are easily trainable because they are eager to please their humans and bark when alerted to foreign sounds. 

Are Bichen Frise Friendly?

Known for their friendly and affectionate personalities, they thrive on human companionship and love to be around their people.

This makes them excellent family dogs, especially with children, as they are gentle and playful. Bichans are also naturally friendly with strangers, although they might be more reserved than outgoing.

Bichons are a member of the clan of little white dogs formally known as Barbichon varieties including the Bolognese, Havanese, and Maltese.

These ancient breeds began their modern development in Tenerife. the largest of the Canary Islands. One of these became famous with the island's sailors, known as Bichon Tenerife, the primary ancestor of Bichon Frise. 

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 these breeds lost their positions of privilege.

Street entertainers took in the bright, agile dogs and trained them for a coin or two from passers with their antics. Soon these dogs earned their keep as a circus performer.

Later in the 20th century, they faced a hard time because of shortages from the two world wars. Later the breed survived and was recognized in France under the auspices of Societa Centrale Canine in 1933 as Bichon a Poil FrisA.

Years later, The Bichon Frise Club of America was founded in San Diego in 1964, accepting the breeds and providing full breed recognition in the Nonsporting group two years later.

Known for their delightful personality and white coat, the Bichon Frise's charming personality, trainability, and adaptability make them excellent companions for various lifestyles.

Here's a breakdown of some key traits and characteristics with a rating scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest:

Bichons are adaptable companions who can get on well with the other dogs and children. Alert and curious. They make nice little watchdogs but they are lovers, not fighters, and operate under the assumption that they are no strangers.

Their confidence and size make them ideal city dogs. Adaptable and cheerful, they do well in most households, including those with children and cats. 

Listening back to their history, these sociable little dogs love nothing more than being at the heart of the action. This breed can be prone to separation anxiety and doesn't like left alone for longer periods.

They will thrive in environments where someone is always home most of the day time. Also, these dog breeds are born people pleasers with higher intelligence and willingness to learn. Also, they can be quite vocal, so training and early adaption is a key.

Bichon Frise is a keen learner and can benefit from daily exercises. They are willing to learn and eager to please their favorite human. They tend to pick up training easily and respond well to positive reinforcement methods. 

This self-assured breed may become overbearing if not trained well from an early stage. Start puppy training from around 3 months old to reduce the likelihood of common bichon problems, including excess barking and slower house training.

Also, they can exhibit unwanted behaviors if they are left alone for too long so they need more human affection and interaction. They possess the energy of a dog twice their size and regular games are needed to check their energy. 

Fun Activites For The Bichon Frise

• Daily Walk And Playtime
• Agility Training
• Hide And Seek
• Swimming with Supervision
• Interactive Toys
• Tug of War
• Fetch
• Lounging In their human's lap

The Bichon Frise curly coat makes them less likely to shed than other breeds and better suited for some allergy sufferers. They are known for their white cloud-like coat but puppies can also have overtones of other colors like grey, buff, or apricot. 

Their trademark curls catch the shorter undercoat as it molts meaning they don't shed as frequently as other breeds. 

Skin Care

Bichons should be bathed for at least a month. A good quality dog shampoo and conditioner will help your dog's coat stay soft and white. Also, excessive bathing should be avoided to prevent drying out skin and coat. 

Coat Care

Ideally, Bichon Frise should be brushed every day to prevent matting. Monthly trips to the groomer will likely be required to keep them neat and trimmed too.

As with all dogs, it's recommended to keep their nails trimmed, helping to keep their balance and grip on the floor as they zoom around.

Eye Care

They are predisposed to ocular diseases such as corneal dystrophy and cataracts. So, consistent physical eye exams should be done by your vet to check for excess tearing, squinting, or vision impairment. 

Ear Care

A Bichon Frise should have her ears cleaned once a month. This can be done by a groomer or at home using ear cleanser. They have excess hair that can predispose them to ear infections.

If your puppy is scratching excessively at their ears or if their ears are either smelly or painful, its time to take them to your vet for examination.

As Bichon Frises don't require much exercise, it's crucial not to overfeed them, including sneaking them too many treats. The puppies should be given high-quality, breed-appropriate food in 3-4 small meals a day, up to 6 months of age, after which they can be fed twice a day. 

Common health issues including diabetes, liver, problems, and bladder stones could mean your dog needs a special diet. If any one of the conditions is diagnosed, take the advice from the vet, on what changes need to be made to their food.

Small Breed Considerations

They are small dogs with relatively small stomachs. They need smaller kibble sizes or food portions compared to larger breeds.

Balanced Diet

Choose a high-quality dog food produced for small breed dogs. These diets are balanced to provide all the essential nutrients your dog requires for optimal health.

Age Matters 

Puppies require a diet rich in protein and calories to support growth, while adult ones need a balanced diet to maintain health.

Seniors may benefit from a diet prepared to contain lower calories and easier-to-digest ingredients.

Certain health conditions can affect the Bichon Fries more frequently than the other dogs. Their charming personality and fluffy white coats steal hearts, but like all breads, they are predisposed to certain health conditions.

Being aware of these potential issues allows you to proactive care and ensure your furry friend enjoys a long and healthy life.

From the studies related to these breeds' health issues, we have listed some of the health issues that are found in Bichon Frises below:

Diabetes

They generally are more prone to developing diabetes than the other dogs but can develop as a result of other conditions due to being overweight, inflammation of the pancreas, or taking other drugs.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, needed to regulate body sugar and fat metabolism. 

Signs of diabetes in dogs are similar to humans; excess thirst, increased urination, and weight loss are potential signs so make sure to consult your vet if they appear. 

Cushing's Disease

This disease occurs when an excessive amount of cortisol builds up in a dog's body. This can happen naturally or as a side effect of the long-term use of medication. The ongoing increase of this hormone can lead to significant disruption. 

Also, normal metabolism can be managed by using medication, allowing your dog to continue living a normal life.

Cruciate Ligament Disease

The cruciate ligament disease is something we see frequently in Bichon Frises. The cruciate ligaments are found inside the knee joint and hold it stable, but cruciate ligament disease means that this ligament slowly frays and gets weaker and can worsen as time passes.

The treatment is surgery to help stabilize the knee joint. 

Skin Disorders

This skin is the largest organ of the dog's body and can be affected by several disorders. Like many other breeds, these dogs can suffer from allergies that lead to dermatitis.

Also, Allergies can be caused by several things including or inhaled, items that are eaten, or if the dog comes in contact with washing powders or any chemical. 

As allergies can't be cured, treatment may be required to ensure your dog has a happy life. 

Patella Luxation

A relatively common condition in these dogs and other small breeds, dislocation happens because the alignment of bones from the hip through the knee to the ankle is not straight, which pulls the kneecap to one side.

Surgery may be required to reduce the likelihood of arthritis and enable them for a normal life.

Dental Disease

As with all small dogs, these dogs may develop dental disease. Bichon should get their teeth examined and cleaned by a vet once a year to prevent infection and tooth loss. Also Brushing your dog's teeth at home will help too. 

Bladder Stones

Urolithiasis, also known as bladder stones, occurs when stones made of calcium, oxalate, cystine, or calcium phosphate are made in the bladder. This can be hereditary, secondary to urinary infections, or diet-related.

Cataracts

Cataracts, which are likely hereditary in Bichons, are when the eye lenses harden. The rate of advancement varies, but cataracts can start developing when Bichon frise puppies are just 6 months old and should be treated with surgery.

Here are certain things you should know before buying Bihon Frise for your home:

• They are great dogs for novice owners and families with children and other pets, who stay at home most of the time. 
• You should give him plenty of time for training and playing with their intelligent and high-energy breed. 
• Like all dogs, they can suffer from a range of health conditions, so it is crucial to get comprehensive insurance for your dog. A reputed breeder can show you about your puppy tests and whether is it clear from specific conditions or not. 
• All the dog breeders are required to show the puppies interacting with their mothers.
• Choosing the right pet insurance plan for your Bichen will get you the best possible care, they need and provide you with peace of mind, covering the cost of their treatment. 

• The Bichon descended from the Barbet or Water-spaniel from which came the name "Barbichon" later, contracted to Bichon. 
• Appreciated for their dispositions, Bichons traveled much through antiquity, finding early success in Spain and frequently used in barter internationally. 
• The Bichon made their first appearance in France under Francis I, the patron of the Renaissance, but its success was during the court of Henry III.
• The Bichon was developed in the Mediterranean area. 
• These dog breeds were rediscovered by the Italians in the 14th century and became favorites of the Italian nobility. 
• Also, Bichan was a favorite in Spain, becoming a favorite of the Infantas and painters of the Spanish school.