Bichon Frise

Appropriately, their name translates into “curly lap dog,” both because of their size, and because of their affectionate and attached nature. Because of their loving personality, they are one of the most popular dogs for people to buy.

Appearance

Often times mistaken for the Standard Poodle, the Bichon Frise is smaller in size, weighing up to only 20 pounds, and stands a little 12 inches off the ground at the shoulder. They have white, curly dense coat of fur, with proportionate legs and and head. Both their ears and tail are natural, instead of docked.

Behavior

Bred to be a companion dog, they are very good with children and other dogs that may live in the home. They have a very merry attitude. They are gentle-mannered, craving human company, and very demanding of attention.

Since they crave companionship, they would most likely need an owner who works from home, or is not gone from the house for too long. If this is not possible, you either have to already have another dog to keep it company, or not consider having one at all.

They are a barking dog, so extra training would be required to soothe their anxieties about strangers.

Grooming

To care for a Bichon Frise at home, the necessities include a coarse-medium greyhound-type comb, a pin brush, a slicker brush, a blow-dryer, grooming scissors, blunt-tip tweezers, along with the other necessities for their nails. Their fur contains both soft and coarse hairs, which can induce matting. To start brushing, use the pin brush to take out the minor snarls, then comb through his coat as a touch-up. It is more common to find matting on the legs and tail, which are especially sensitive, so take great care in where and how you brush and what with.

When looking at grooming this breed, it is important to brush both hair and teeth frequently.

Brush and bathe at least once a month. Make sure to not bathe before brushing, though, otherwise that will make the knots even tighter.

Make sure that if you get a Bichon Frise as a pup, you get them used to the idea of frequent brushing, since it gets progressively more difficult to brush them as they age.

Their fur is hypoallergenic, though they do shed a minimal amount.

If anyone was thinking about having a pet to age with, the average lifespan of a Bichon Frise is 15 years, sometimes as far as 20. Unsurprisingly, the two most common deaths to happen to them is cancer and old age.

They are prone to “liver shunts,” or by having a bypass of the liver into the main system of the dog. It can be either hereditary, or caused by their external environment.

History

They are a mix of the Barbet and the Standard Poodle. It originates from primarily France during the Renaissance. However, popularity grew when Henry the III took the throne.
They were also found to be popular in Spain, given that their presence is hinted at in some of their most famous artwork done by Francisco de Goya.