Bichon Frise Pros And Cons – Complete Owners Guide

The Bichon Frise is a breed of dog which is white in colour. They were originally bred and found in the Mediterranean countries.

The word Bichon means white and the word Frise describes the curls of its coat, a fitting name then, looking at these beautiful coats. The Bichon Frise is a small but sturdy breed of dog considered to have one of the greatest personalities of any breed of dog.

Known for getting along with children, other dogs, and almost anyone it comes into contact with. Their size along with their confidence makes them ideal living in cities, in smaller apartments, or the countryside with wide-open spaces.

Bichons are one of the easier dogs to train provided you start at a young age and are always willing to put on a show and perform for others. Standing under a foot tall the Bichon Frise is sometimes seen as lap dogs, but don’t get them wrong they love to play and are very happy to be social with other dogs and people.

They have a Hypoallergenic coat similar to poodles. Consisting of a curly outer coat and soft undercoat, which is a beautiful shade of snow-white, with a lovely soft almost velvety touch to it. Its white coat makes their dark eyes and black snout stand out.

Originally bred as an entertaining dog and companion, the Bichon Frise’s wonderful and loving personality draws smiles and attention wherever it goes but is more than happy entertaining his loved ones at home.

 

Bichon Frise Overview Table

Size	The Bichon Frise breed is a relatively small breed of dog. Average weight: 5-8 kg Average height: 24-30 cm
Coat	Bichon Frise have a coarse and curly outercoat combined with a denser and softer undercoat. Due to this combination, it gives a soft, delicate but substantial feel that can be compared to the likes of velvet.
Personality	The Bichon Frise breed can be relatively energetic and playful, requiring some need for exercise and mental stimulation. For the most part, they are a loving, happy, and playful breed.
Temperament	The Bichon Frise Breed, while sensitive, is considered to be a cheerful, affectionate, playful, and gentle-mannered breed.
Tendency To Bark	The Bichon Frise breed has an above-average tendency to bark. Some of these dogs will tend to bark at anything from birds to the mailman, while others are more likely only to bark in certain situations.
Family Dog	This breed of dog is said to be wonderful with children and most people it may come into contact with making it a wonderful addition to any family.
Guard Dog	While the breed has a tendency to alert you to any potential threat, it also has a very likely chance it may warm up to any strangers that may appear. Overall, the Bichon Frise Breed is not recommended as a great guard dog.
Training	It is recommended to start training and socialisation while they are still in their puppy stage. Bichons are known to be an easy breed to train for most aspects but have a reputation for being a difficult breed to housetrain. The most effective means of training is said to be done through positive rewards and not negative methods.
Shedding Level	The Bichon breed is somewhat hypoallergenic, meaning that it does not shed. This breed shed very little this is due to it the curly hairs that get caught up in the undercoat.
Exercise Needs	The Bichon Frise does require daily play sessions as well as walks. They are generally classed to a certain extent as active, with long periods of calm combined with short periods of high activity.
Health	Bichons are normally healthy dogs. Some may have a tendency to experience earlier than usual tooth loss or other complications of the gum. Dental care and tooth brushing should be considered a priority for this breed. Other health conditions that the Bichon Frise may be prone to are ear infections, cataracts, heart disease, and diabetes.
Life Expectancy	14 to 15 years
Price	A Bichon Frise puppy on average is priced around 920USD with is price ranging roughly between the 600USD and 1700USD

Bichon Frise pros:

Friendly nature

Bichons have no problem socialising with other dogs or people and tend to be comfortable with anyone they meet.

Fast adaptation

The Bichon Frise has an amazing immunity to temperature changes and is able to adapt to any condition no matter the weather. They will be content in the cold or the heat.

Hypoallergenic

This is one of the many reasons why a Bichon Frise is a wonderful dog to own. Their hypoallergenic coats mean that they do not shed their coats easily. This type of dog is best for people with allergies as it means hair loss will be kept to a minimum resulting in less chance of having allergies as well as not having to clean up hair all over your house.

Perfect size to accommodate your living arrangements

Due to their small size, these dogs are able to be kept in any size house or apartment and still feel as if they have enough space to live but keep in mind it is still necessary to take your dog outside for regular walks and not keep it couped up in a small apartment all day.

Excellent with children

Bichons are amazing with children. For the most part, this depends on the personality of the dog, generally, Bichons are gentle and very affectionate with most people, especially the children. Often matching the energy of the children they play with.

Ideal for first-time dog owners

Bichons love to please people and are extremely easy to keep happy and healthy with little experience needed in looking after dogs, so long as you have the time and affection to give to them.

Long-term companions

Due to the lifespan of these dogs ranging from 14-15 years, this makes for the ideal pet to accompany you through life and potentially have a dependable best friend to grow old with or have through your younger years.

Bichon Frise cons:

Expensive

Bichon Frise puppies are not a cheap breed of dog, on average costing about 920USD, then factoring in grooming, regular medical check-ups, and maintaining a well-balanced diet for your Bichon, they can become costly. One needs to make sure they can afford to look after this Breed financially before a spur-of-the-moment adoption.

Very sensitive

A Bichon Frise does require a lot of time and attention and can be very sensitive to being treated negatively. Shouting at a Bichon or even just a disappointed or bad look a likely to break its heart.

In need of much time and attention

Extended time away and busy lifestyles from you are not what a Bichon Frise needs in order to be happy. If you spend a larger amount of time away from your Bichon Frise, they may likely suffer from separation anxiety and start to panic. In many cases, this can lead to your dog being destructive in its behaviour. If you cannot avoid being away from your Bichon for extended periods of time it is best to leave your dog with someone who can look after it such as a friend or family member or consider another breed of dog that does not require as much time and attention.

High maintenance

Aside from the high amount of attention and time needed to look after you Bichon, grooming is an important part in order to keep their hair free of tangles as well as keeping that adorable look the Bichon Frise is known for. keeping the facial hair well-trimmed and short is often required and If not cared for and groomed considerably as a puppy, tear stains may form which may become untreatable.

Fur coat gets dirty easily

Due to its very white complexion, the Bichon Frise’s fur coat gets dirty very easily and is in need of regular grooming to keep it clean.

Prone to various health issues

The Bichon Frise may be prone to are ear infections, cataracts, heart disease, and diabetes and dental issues. It is always good to choose a good reputable breeder.

Interesting facts about the Bichon Frise

There are 4 Breeds of Bichon Frise

According to Britannica the original Bichon Frise travelled around the world with Spanish sailors and bred in countries around the world.

This first breed was known as the Tenerife. The other 3 breeds are known as the Havanese, bolognese, and the Maltese breeds. The breed known as the Havanese breed of the Bichon Frise was bred in Cuba and is the national dog. It was derived by breeding the Bichon Tenerife and another breed called the Blanquito de la Habana which no longer exists.

The Bolognaise breed of the Bichon comes from the Bologna region in Italy. And the Maltese Breed of Bichon was originally bred in Malta and it is often called the Maltese Lion Puppy.

Oldest living Bichon Frise lived to the age of 19

The Bichon Frise breed lives longer depending on where they live. An interesting fact is that most Bichon Frise live longer in the UK than the Bichon Fries that live in the USA.

Some suspect it may be because this is closer to where it originates from, but this is just speculation. The most common cause of death is due to old age and for the most part, the Bichon Frise’s life span is similar to that of other breeds of dog of a similar size.

In the 19^th century, they were bred as performers

The Bichon Frise were often bred as street performers or performers in a circus, this was due to their intelligence along with their bubbly personalities.

Originally seen as a dog for royalty throughout the 16^th century, they eventually became known as a breed of dog for the common folk. They were the preferred dog of choice for travellers as well as performers who preferred them because of their ability to attract an audience with their tricks and the ease of training them.

Allergies can affect the Bichon Frise

Often considered one of the best pets for owners who suffer from allergies, due to their hypoallergenic fur, many don’t realise that the Bichon Frise can be prone to allergies themselves.

There are many things that can cause allergies in the Bichon Fries that range from chemicals, dust, and pollen to fleas. There are many treatments available to help your Bichon Frise that may be suffering from some of these allergies and should be available from your local veterinarian. It is recommended to keep your dog indoors during times when there is a high pollen count as well as that you clean your house with natural products on a regular basis.

Conclusion

This playful and cute personality of the Bichon Frise makes it a wonderful breed of dog. Often great with the family, especially children.

This highly sociable breed is smart, loving, affectionate, and will follow you wherever you go. If you train it as a puppy it is an easy breed to train and will become a lifelong dependable companion who will happily sit by your side.

As long as you have the time and affection to give to your Bichon Frise, this is the perfect breed of dog and will be extremely rewarding to look after, watch grow and build a loving relationship with.