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.
Facts & advice
Bichon Frise
A star performer who is confident, amusing and eager to please.
Vital stats
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| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
Common Bichon Frise health conditions
There are certain health conditions that affect Bichon Frises more frequently than other dogs. In this section, we’ve outlined some of our recent claims data to help you understand some of the health issues we see more in Bichon Frises than in other dog breeds. If you’re buying a puppy, you can increase your chances of having a happy and healthy dog by choosing a reputable Bichon Frise breeder.
Bichon Frises generally are more prone to developing diabetes than other dogs, but can also develop it as a result of other conditions such as being overweight, inflammation of the pancreas or taking other drugs that interfere with insulin production.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin which is required to regulate body sugar and fat metabolism. Without the regulation of sugars much like humans this can cause various issues such as cataracts and other organ damage.
Signs of diabetes in dogs are also similar to humans; excessive thirst, increased urination and weight loss are all potential signs so speak to your vet if you're concerned. Diabetes can be successfully managed but is a long term condition requiring an injection of insulin once or twice a day, along with regulated feeding routines.
Cushing's disease occurs when an excessive amount of cortisol (or 'steroid') builds up in a dog's body. This can happen naturally or as a side-effect of the long-term use of corticosteroid medication. Either way, the ongoing increase of this hormone leads to a significant disruption in normal metabolism. Cushing's can be managed and controlled using medication, allowing the dog to continue to live a normal life.
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 get worse over time. Treatment usually is surgery to help stabilise the knee joint. However, like all dogs they can also develop arthritis from this condition, and long-term treatment is often required to keep them active.
The skin is the largest organ of a dog’s body and can be affected by a number of disorders. Like many other breeds, Bichon Frises can suffer from allergies that lead to dermatitis (skin inflammation). Allergies can be caused by many different items, including things that are inhaled (such as pollen or dust mites), items that are eaten (for example, wheat), items that the dog comes into contact with (for example, washing powders), or bites from parasites such as fleas. As allergies cannot be cured, treatment may be required for life, but is usually effective enough to ensure that the dog can enjoy a happy, normal existence.
The kneecap (or ‘patella’) sits in a groove at the end of the femur (thigh bone). A dislocating (or ‘luxating’) kneecap is one that pops out of its groove. A relatively common condition in Bichon Frises and other small breeds, dislocation happens because the alignment of the bones from the hip through the knee to the ankle is not straight, which pulls the kneecap to one side. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition, but surgery may be required to reduce the likelihood of arthritis and enable them to live a normal life.
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.
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.
Bichon Frise frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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