Bichon Frise: Temperament, Lifespan, Grooming, Training

Q: Are Bichon Frise yappy?

In theory, Bichon Frise dogs are not a particularly vocal breed. However, as companion dogs, they crave attention and often bark to alert their owners of their presence. Again, due to their lapdog roots, they will bark if left alone for any length of time. Crate training can be especially helpful for dogs who are prone to separation anxiety, but your Bichon Frise will be happiest (and quietest) in a household where someone is around most of the time.

Q: How to clean Bichon Frise eyes

Some eye discharge is normal for every dog breed, and simply keeps your pet’s eyes clear of dirt and debris. However, on white-coated breeds, such as Bichon Frise, this can lead to unsightly tear stains around your dog’s eyes. There are many ways to keep your pet’s eyes clean. Lots of owners opt for tear stain removal wipes and solutions, whilst others swear by simply wiping the dog’s eyes regularly with a damp wash cloth. Excess eye discharge or discharge that is yellow or green could be a sign of infection and it’s important to consult your vet.

Q: Where to buy a Bichon Frise

Whether you’re looking to adopt a Bichon Frise or buy a puppy, it’s important to make sure you’re getting your pet from a reputable organisation or breeder. If you’re looking to adopt, you can use Petplan’s rehoming directory to find an organisation. If you want to buy a puppy, make sure you find a reputable breeder.

Q: Are Bichon Frise smart?

Bichon Frise rank somewhere in the middle when it comes to intelligence. Whilst they’re not the smartest breed, their eagerness to please makes them highly trainable and this little companion dog loves to learn new tricks. They respond best to gentler training methods and often excel in obedience classes.

Q: How big do Bichon Frise get?

As a Toy breed Bichon Frise are known and loved for their smaller stature. An average height for the breed can be anywhere between 23 to 30 cm and their ideal weight is somewhere between 5 and 8 kg.

A star performer who is confident, amusing and eager to please

Once bred to be the stars in circuses and travelling shows, Bichon Frises are cheerful, intelligent and relish being the centre of attention. These energetic little dogs love to be part of the action and thrive in busy households with lots going on.

Vital Stats

Size:	Small
Coat:	Requires daily grooming and regular trips to a professional groomer
Exercise:	Up to 1 hour a day
Life span:	15+ years
Breed group:	Toy
Temperament:	Playful, affectionate, feisty

Size 23cm
-
30cm Coat short
coat Exercise up to1hr Life span 15+years

Bichon Frise Temperament & Personality

Adaptable and cheerful, Bichon Frises do well in most households, including those with children and cats.

Harking back to their history in the spotlight, these sociable little dogs love nothing more than being at the heart of the action.
Bichon Frises are born people pleasers with high intelligence and a willingness to learn.

This breed can be prone to separation anxiety and don’t like being left alone for long periods; they will thrive in environments where someone is home most of the day.
Bichon Frises can be quite vocal, so training and early socialisation is key.

Reveal more

Bichon Frise Training & Exercise

Intelligent and energetic Bichon Frises are keen learners and benefit from daily exercise.

Training tips

Willing to learn and eager to please, Bichon Frises 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 age.
Start puppy training from around three months old to reduce the likelihood of common Bichon Frise problems, including excessive barking and slow housetraining.

More puppy training tips

Keeping them happy

Prone to separation anxiety, Bichon Frises can exhibit unwanted behaviours such as barking, whining, scratching and chewing if they are left alone for too long, so they need lots of human interaction.
This breed has the energy of a dog twice their size and regular games and interaction are needed to keep their energy in check.

Exercise

Energetic and alert, adult Bichon Frises need 30 minutes exercise a day.

Reveal more

Get a Bichon Frise quote

Find out more about the conditions that we see most in Bichon Frises throughout their lifetime.

More Health Information

Bichon Frise Grooming

Bichon Frises’ curly coat makes them less likely to shed than other breeds and better suited for some allergy sufferers.

Adult Bichon Frises are known for their white, cloud-like coat, but puppies can also have overtones of other colours such as grey, buff or apricot.
Their trademark curls catch the shorter undercoat as it moults, meaning Bichon Frises don’t shed as frequently as other breeds, making them more suitable for some allergy sufferers.
As well as daily brushing, to prevent matting, your Bichon Frise will need regular trips to a professional groomer to ensure your dog’s health. You’ll also be able to choose different cuts and styles for your dog.

Bichon Frise Nutrition

As Bichon Frises don't require much exercise, it's important not to overfeed them- including sneaking them too many treats!

Bichon Frise puppies should be given a high-quality, breed-appropriate food in three to four small meals a day, up to six months of age, after which they can be fed twice a day instead.
Common Bichon Frise health issues, such as diabetes, liver problems, bladder stones and allergies, could mean your dog requires a special diet. If one of these conditions is diagnosed your vet will be able to help advise what changes they may need to their food.

Reveal more

What to know before you buy or rehome a Bichon Frise

Before you start looking for Bichon Frise puppies for sale or to rehome, here’s a few important things about what you should know and that will help ensure that your dog is happy and healthy.

Bichon Frises make great dogs for novice owners and families with children and other pets, who are at home most of the time.
You will need plenty of time for training and playing with this intelligent and high energy breed.
Like all dogs, Bichon Frises can suffer from a range of health conditions, so it is essential to get comprehensive pet insurance for your dog. A reputable breeder will be able to show you proof that your Bichon Frise puppy has been tested and cleared of specific conditions.

Remember ‘Lucy’s Law’. Anyone who wants a new puppy or kitten in England must buy direct from the breeder or adopt from a rescue centre. All dog breeders are required to show puppies interacting with their mother.
Choosing the right pet insurance plan for your Bichon Frise will get you the best possible care should they need it and provide you with peace of mind that the cost of their treatment will be covered.

Reveal more

FAQs

Are Bichon Frise yappy?

How to clean Bichon Frise eyes

Where to buy a Bichon Frise

Are Bichon Frise smart?

How big do Bichon Frise get?

Help & Support page

FAQs

Are Bichon Frise yappy?

How to clean Bichon Frise eyes

Where to buy a Bichon Frise

Are Bichon Frise smart?

How big do Bichon Frise get?

Help & Support page

Discover some of the most popular dog breeds

Beagle

Bichon Frise

Border Collie

Border Terrier

Boxer

English Bulldog

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavapoo

Chihuahua

Chow Chow

Cockapoo

Cocker Spaniel

Dachshund

Dobermann

English Springer Spaniel

French Bulldog

German Shepherd

Golden Retriever

Greyhound

Husky

Jack Russell

Labradoodle

Labrador

Lhasa Apso

Miniature Schnauzer

Pomeranian

Poodle

Pug

Rottweiler

Shiba Inu

Shih Tzu

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

Find out more about some of the UK's most popular dog breeds and discover which breed could be your ideal canine companion with our breed selector quiz.

Bichon Frise insurance considerations

Several of the common conditions that we see are more likely in Bichon Frises are long term conditions such as diabetes or Cushing’s disease. This means that they would likely need treatment for the rest of their life to help manage the illness. Making sure you consider if you want dog insurance that covers long term conditions is really important as not all policies will, and some have limits for certain conditions.

Physical & online
consultations

Diagnostic
tests

Prescription
medicine

Surgery &
specialised care

Physiotherapy &
pet therapies

Hereditary
conditions

Behavioural
conditions

Congenital
conditions

Dental illness
& injury

Cancer
treatments

Get a Bichon Frise quote

[{ "url":"/pet-information/blog/how-to-adopt-a-rescue-dog/", "image":"images/blog-assets/Winter-blues.jpg", "tags":"rescue pets petplan advice", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior youYourPet Rehomingblog", "title":"How to adopt a rescue dog", "intro":"Adopting a rescue dog can be a life-changing experience for…", "meta":"Adopting a rescue dog can be life-changing experience. Any person considering rehoming one of these dogs should ask some of these key questions.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/lucys-law/", "image":"images/pet-information/Lucys-Law.jpg", "tags":"", "species":"", "categories":"puppy gettingPuppy", "title":"The low-down on Lucy’s Law", "intro":"Lucy’s Law came into effect 6th April 2020, following a…", "meta":"Lucy’s Law came into effect 6th April 2020, following a petition against poor puppy farming conditions. We look at what this is and how it can affect UK dog and cat owners.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/puppy/advice/lucys-law/", "image":"images/pet-information/Lucys-Law.jpg", "tags":"", "species":"", "categories":"puppy gettingPuppy", "title":"The low-down on Lucy’s Law", "intro":"Lucy’s Law came into effect 6th April 2020, following a…", "meta":"Lucy’s Law came into effect 6th April 2020, following a petition against poor puppy farming conditions. We look at what this is and how it can affect UK dog and cat owners.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/dog-mot/", "image":"images/thumbs/mixed-sizes/dog-mot-banner.jpg", "tags":"health check-up senior", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior health brianFaulkner video", "title":"Dog Health Check", "intro":"As well as the annual dental checkup and booster vaccinations…", "meta":"Learn how you can play a part in your dog´s health by carrying out regular health checks. The faster a problem is identified, the faster it can be treated.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/what-dog-is-best-for-me/", "image":"images/thumbs/mixed-sizes/what-dog-is-best-for-me-thumb.png", "tags":"", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior youYourPet nickJones", "title":"What dog is best for me? ", "intro":"Getting a dog is an exciting time, but there’s lots…", "meta":"Getting a dog is an exciting time, but there’s lots to consider when choosing one so you can be sure the breed will suit your lifestyle.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/dog-breed-personalities/", "image":"images/thumbs/mixed-sizes/breed-personalities-thumb.png", "tags":"", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior behaviour", "title":"Meet the breeds: dog breed personalities", "intro":"Any dog lover will know that our canine friends can…", "meta":"Any dog lover will know that our canine friends can have big personalities! And, whilst every dog is different, most breeds have typical characteristics that set them apart from the rest of the pack. Read on to find out more about dog breeds and their traits.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/questions-for-your-breeder/", "image":"images/thumbs/mixed-sizes/2021/good-breeder-thumb.png", "tags":"", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior youYourPet", "title":"Questions for your breeder ", "intro":"If you are considering getting a puppy from a breeder,…", "meta":"Find out the key things to keep in mind when choosing a breeder.", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/blog/how-to-make-your-dog-happy/", "image":"images/thumbs/mixed-sizes/2021/dog-happy.png", "tags":"", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior behaviour", "title":"10 easy ways to keep your dog happy", "intro":"Try our simple tips for making sure you have a…", "meta":"Try our simple tips for making sure you have a relaxed and contented doggy every day", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/why-does-my-dog-follow-me-everywhere/", "image":"images/thumbs/mixed-sizes/2021/dog-follows-me.png", "tags":"", "species":"dog", "categories":"young adult senior behaviour", "title":"Why does my dog follow me everywhere?", "intro":"Is your dog like your shadow? Petplan’s dog behaviourist Nick…", "meta":"Is your dog like your shadow? Petplan’s dog behaviourist Nick Jones answers common questions about this canine behaviour, and explains what to do if your pet is a bit too, er, dogged in their devotion!", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" },{ "url":"/pet-information/dog/advice/five-games-to-play-with-your-dog/", "image":"images/blog-assets/games-web-dog-thumb.png", "tags":"", "species":"dog", "categories":"behaviour nickJones puppy 3m-6m puppyGames&Exercise", "title":"Five great games to play with your dog", "intro":"Playing regularly with your dog will keep them stimulated, teach…", "meta":"Playing regularly with your dog will keep him stimulated, teach you about his personality and strengthen the bond between you. ‘All dogs enjoy different games, so working out which kind he enjoys and the rewards he responds to is the first step,’ says Ali Taylor, Head of Canine Welfare at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. ‘Border Collies like to chase toys and bring them back, while a Springer Spaniel will enjoy interaction based on searching for a toy. ", "featured":"", "listingcustombuttontext": "" }]

All dog advice

A star performer who is confident, amusing and eager to please