Bichon Frise

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Breed Attribute

Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Bichon Frise originated in Spain and was bred purely for companionship to people. They are a mixture of the Poodle and the Water Spaniel (Barbet). Although these dogs were common in Spain, they quickly became very popular in Belgium and France because they were distributed by Spanish sailors!

The Bichon is a cheerful, upbeat breed that literally lives for human affection. They are cuddly, loving dogs that need to have an owner who has the time to spend with them and who don?t leave them alone often. The Bichon has a happy-go-lucky attitude and will get along with people, dogs, cats, and smaller pets making them a great candidate for any family!

Fluffy, white, and petite, the Bichon Frise is a dainty little dog that has a lightweight body and a graceful presentation. They have large dark eyes and a tiny muzzle. These dogs have a long tail that is coiled over onto their back with the fur cascading down. Their legs are fine boned and their paws are rounded like a cat.

Color

The Bichon Frise will only come in white. Off whites, such as grey or apricot are accepted but they are preferred to be completely white.

Coat

This breed has exceptionally soft fur that is curled and fleecy. They have a double layered coat with the outer layer being long wispy hairs, and the under coat being lustrous and fluffy.

Personality

The Bichon is an outgoing, energetic breed that has an uplifting character. They are charismatic, sweet, loveable and affectionate dogs that would make great pets for families, single people or the elderly. These dogs will get along very well with dogs and small pets because they have a laid back, cheerful attitude. This breed is known for their gentle behavior and calm disposition. These little dogs are clowns that want to entertain and please their masters. They have the ultimate motivation to learn and will do whatever it takes to make people happy! The Bichon was owned by royalty in the 16th century for the traits that people of today continue to pursue.

Care

This breed will need a large amount of grooming maintenance to upkeep their coat. Brushing 2-3 times per week and bathing monthly will be needed as their fur will tangle quite easily. The Bichon Frise is hypoallergenic and might be prone to skin problems such as allergies, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, epilepsy and cataracts. Most commonly seen are the skin ailments or allergies because they have very sensitive skin.

Training

The Bichon Frise will need a gentle training method and repetition to grasp the basic obedience concept. They are very intelligent little dogs and can be taught many little tricks that will impress any audience! The Bichon will be an easier dog to train because they have such a high motivation to please their masters, although house-training might take more time.

Activity

This breed will need about a half an hour of exercise per day which could be time spent in an off-leash park or on a walk. They usually play during the day which will tire them out significantly but will still need more exercise to burn off all their energy. The Bichon will do well in an apartment as they are small and don?t need the space of a household to live in. A backyard is not necessary for them but would be a bonus so they can run around in an outside environment at home!