FAQ – Simply Dog Owners

FAQ Bichon Frise. We are working on Helping you with some of the most Frequently asked questions about the Bichon Frise Dog Breed. The answers that we are giving are based on our Raising Bichons for over 30 Years. We have had maybe 30 adult dogs that we have had for Breeding and we have helped give birth to Many, Many Litters - God Bless Greg & Darlene FAQ Bichon Frise / What is Bichon Frise Cost Expense Table for Owning Bichons Frise Average Cost of AKC PuppyPuppy ShotsFoodGrooming 4 / per yearCage / Accessories / Bowls / Brushes / Leash / CollarAKC - Registration Within 6 Months of PurchaseMicro ChipYearly Meds Heart Worm WormingDog LicenseTotal InvestmentPuppies Possible / Year $ 450 - No Breeding Rights$ 120$ 10 / Wk High Quality Food$ 45 ea / $180 YrCage - $50 Rest - 50$ 35$ 45 - One Time Cost By VetHeart Worm Meds - $60 / Yr Worming - $ 30 / YR$ 35 / Yr$ 1575 / Dog1-6 Puppies Average 3 $ 750 - $ 950 Puppy with AKC Papers and No RestrictionsTotal Investment This Table just shows you the Expenses in Keeping a Bichon That we have found in Owning a Bichon FAQ Bichon Frise- 99 Frequently Asked Questions Do Bichons like water? Our Bichons did not willingly enjoy Water. We took them in the pool and they were capable swimmers. We had to put them in we could not encourage them to Jump in on their own Do Bichon Frise Shed? Bichons are called Hypoallergenic, that is because they do not shed. Because of that, you need to keep them brushed or their hair will matt. We had so many Dogs that we normally would give them a puppy cut every three months. - If you had the time or only one dog daily brushing will keep them in their Puffy Cotton white appearance. Is Bichon Frise a friendly Dog? Bichons are extremely friendly Dogs. They at the same time are protective. They would Bark at strangers and make alot of noise, but none of ours ever bit anyone , even if they were a stranger What Health Poblems Does Bischon Frise have? They need to be kept clean because of their thick coats. We had 2 over 30 years that a balls did not drop, and we had one that had an undeveloped thyroid. She Passed away before reaching 3-4 months. Older Dogs they have the same problems that older dogs have, Cattarachs, Arthritis, and Teeth Problems Bichon Frisee Temperament? Bichons are very playful, friendly dogs. Like all dogs they are protective of their homes, against other dogs, and will put on a fierce show for stranges. very rarely did they bark at children, but they would strange adults Are Bichon Frise yappy? Bichons are very Yappy Dogs. I hired an Expert in Security to train my security Guards at a Plant that I managed. He came in and gave 3 months of classes to my guards. He said that the Tops Things that hinder theft were these FencesNight LightingNoisy Small Dogs Are Bichon Frise Clever? Bichon's Frise is very Intelligent dogs, they are smart and are easily trained. We have to watch they will grab your socks, underwear, and hide them in their cages. Unless they are teething they don't tear them up but can grab them quickly. Are Bichon Frise always White? Bichons are almost always White, and the AKC standard allows a light peach or apricot on their Ears. Our Purest ones had All WhiteBlack Noses and ToesPink with blotchy brown skin on their bellies Are Bichon Frise Smart? Yes, they are very Intelligent - many people train them to do tricks. Their ancient history they were used for circus dogs because of their above-average intelligence Are Bichon Frise Brachycephalic? No, They do not have genetics short snouts, or noses. None of Our Dogs had any respiratory problems unless they caught colds, and that was very rare. Are Bichon Frise easy to Potty Train? Yes, We found it best to follow these small suggestions First thing in the morning - as soon as they get upImmediately after you feed them - food goes in - Poop goes outAs soon as you get home from - being gone - they will be so excited to see you - if you don't immediately - they may dribble - from excitement Are Bichon Frise Easy to Train? Yes, we have always found that as with a child repetition is best. Also, rewarding positive actions always works well Are Bichon Frise aggressive? No, They are Friendly and Great Family Dogs. Especially if you get them early, as young Puppies Are Bichon Frise Hypoallergenic? Yes, they need to be brushed daily - because they don't shed - but that also means you will not be sweeping up hair all the time. It also is great if someone in your family is allergic to dogs. If makes the reaction to dog hair so much less. What are Bichon Frise's Life Stages? PuppyhoodAdolescentAdulthoodSenior stage/ Seniority We have found with the majority of our dogs - remain extremely playful even to old age. We have at least 3 of our dogs that have lived up 18 years of age. Are Bichon Frise Good with Cats? We have had two cats with our dogs, over the years. They were both Himmilain Cats and they were adults when puppies arrived. They both got along very well. If puppies got two frisky - which they did the cats would simply smack them and the puppies learned quickly. They never slept together but ours were never adversarial. Are Bichon Frise Good with Babies? It is always best never to leave a baby with any animal. The animal could become jealous of sharing your attention. The animal might want to snuggle so much could jeopardize the infants. Saying that all our kids, grandkids, and Darlene was a babysitter all the years we bred Bichons and never had a problem Are Bichon Frise good for allergies? Yes, Because of their not Shedding of Hair, your house, clothes are alot cleaner. Many of the Bichons we found homes for were with people that loved Dogs but had dog allergies. Are Bichon Frise Good with other Dogs? Yes, We always only had one Dog Breed, but many people that we are close to having had other types of Dogs. They are very sociable and love to play. Are Bichon Frise related to Poodles? Yes, Bichons are a designer Breed that has a lot of Similar Characteristics with Poodles. Are Bichon Frise good Family Dogs? Yes, They are Great with families. They are extremely Playful with Other Dogs and Children especially/ They are great Lapdogs, so if you are an older couple, they love to receive a lot of attention and loving Are Bichon Frise Lactose Intolerant? Yes, they can be just like people. If you give your Dog Dairy Products, Cows Milk, cheeses, Ice Cream - They can suffer same problems people do with being Lactose Intolerant Are Bichon Frise Pedigree? Yes, Bichon Frise is a Registered Sporting Dog Breed with the AKC. As with all puppies the Mother and Father must be registered for the puppies to be eligible. You have to send in their Paperwork yo get them Registered. AKC also has DNA kits if you would like to Check Are Bichon Frise Lazy Dogs? No, None of our Dogs ever were Lazy, in fact, they remained playful to an older age. If the Dog becomes very old, then he will naturally slow down, as do we all. Do Bichon Frise like water? Drinking Yes, we always kept Fresh Water for them. None of our dogs seem to want to swim on their own. We always had a swimming Pool. Can Bichon Frise eat eggs? Yes, Bichons are able to eat Eggs. Eggs are very healthy for them. We always would give the eggs off and on, they seemed to like scrambled better, but they also would eat them if they were fried. We never had much luck with them eating a boiled egg. We never fed them Raw eggs. Do Bichon Frisee like to cuddle? Yes, Bichons are the perfect Lap Dog. They do not shed so they can stay on your lap without you getting any hair on your. Truthfully I got Cancer in 2015 - 11 surgeries later I am doing well - but I have to sleep elevated on the couch every nite - but Tiny our small Male Bichon Sleeps with me every night. I go to bed, and immediately I feel him coming up and laying beside me snuggling. Tiny - He is 1 Year Old - He had a Undescended Testicle Can Bichon be left alone? Yes, We leave our Dogs up to 8 hours in their cages - we do not like to do it - but it will help if you make sure that as soon as they Eat - you put them out - when they can relieve themselves. What we have done that works well for us. We have fenced in Back Yard. We installed a small dog door in our living room. So when we leave our three dogs have the complete run of back yard, on their own. works great. In our Living Room - Door has double sealing flaps - so we do not get any Drafts Our Dog Door Outside - Kind of Muddy But Works Real Well Can Bichon Frise eat beef? Yes, they love it and the fat in it is good for them. many times we fry some up and mix it with their dry dog food. What human food can a Bichon Frisee eat? We Give our Dogs Table scraps - I would use trial and error, to see their taste. Our Dogs eat fruit, eggs - Cooked, potatoes - cooked, green beans - cooked, they have a lot of time eaten our strawberries out of our gardens. We try to avoid anything spicy, or too greasy. You don't want them to become upset, diarrhea, or obese. Just watch their stool. Is Bichon Frisee a picky eater? Yes, I would say that they are somewhat. We have experimented with various dog foods. to see what they like best. They all love puppy chow - but be careful here you don't want dog to become fat, we think puppy food is sweeter to encourage pups to start eating it. Why do Bichon Frise Eat Grass? When we see our Dogs chewing grass we do two things Examine their dietWe worm the Dogs Can Bichon Frise swim? Yes they Can, They have swam in our pool many times, But ours would not jump in willingly. Also make sure when they are swimming and go to get out of the pool, that their claws do not tear your line while they are trying to get out. Can Bichon Frise eat cheese? Yes, they can - Ours did not seem to like it. We would suggest two things - one try cottage cheese, and don't give them so much they bind up. Dogs digestive tracts are built differently - they are carnivores. Can Bichon Frise drink milk? Yes, It would be good for them. But from another point of view. Cows Milk is for young Calves - to help them grow Can Bichon Frise eat bananas? Yes, Would be good for them. Our Dogs did not Seem to care for them Can Bichon Frise be aggressive? Yes, they can be very Protective toward strangers, I have only seen them aggressive in a good way. We never had a Bichon that we felt were Biters or mean. Can a Bichon Frise live in hot weather? Yes , They can. We had so many Dogs at one time we had 9 Females and One Male. For you to maintain a show dog, powder puff appearance. You need to brush them every day. For one Dog that would be fine, but we had a lot. What we did, especially in summer we gave the Dogs Puppy Cuts, Because of their Non-Shedding Nature their Hair can get very thick. But a puppy cut costs their Hair down to maybe 3/8" in length - Keeping their Hair longer on Ears and Head. Made their care - Cleaning - Bathing very easy to manage. Rodney and Cleo - Just Back from Groomers with Puppy Cuts Can Bichon Frise eat grapes? Yes, We found some of our Dogs liked Grapes - even eating them from our vines Can a Bichon eat peanut butter? We are not sure - We never ate it in our Household - so not sure - Probably would not hurt them at all - nuts - butter all good ingredients Can Bichon Frise eat turkey? Yes, Our Dogs all ate Turkey - They Generally like eating Poultry - Chicken and Turkey Can Bichon Frise eat carrots? Yes, It would be very good for them - Our dogs did not care for them - Darlene has prepared Homemade dog food for them and she used Chicken, Pork, Turkey, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes - carrots - they ate this well But it was all cooked. - Nothing Raw Can Bichon Frise eat rice? No, None of our Dogs ever would ear Rice - I imagine if you flavored it right - they would be good for them. Can Bichon Frise eat salmon? Yes, Our Dogs liked fish - But we were very careful that they could not accidentally get any bones. Can Bichon Frise eat pumpkin? Yes, They can - In all the time we fed vegetables in our homemade dog food - the majority was meat - with smaller amounts of cooked veggies Can Bichon Frise eat pork? Yes, our love pork - they would eat it as often as we would give it to them Can Bichon Frise eat apples? Yes, Ours would eat apples. We had apple trees in our Back 2 Acres. They would eat them off ground Can Bichon Frise eat tuna? Yes, Our Dogs Loved Tuna, Salmon, Cod, Halibut, all types of Fish - Just be wary of Bones - the fish Oils would be good for any of their bones and joints Bichon how to pronounce? The correct pronunciation is bee-SHAWN free-SAY. How long Bichon Frises live? Bichon Frise Have a Reasonable Life Span - It has not been uncommon for them to see 15 Years Old. We had one was over 20, Two others 18,19 How much Bichon Frise cost? The Cost I am quoting is for Puppies - that were AKC - but we did not give Breeding Rights - Sold them as Pets - we sold them easily for $450 - we just ran Adds in our Local Newspaper - we never had Puppies that we did not sell. The Puppies that we bought for Breeding were in the Range $900 - $750 AKC with Papers How much Bichon Frise puppies for sale? Repeating, Cost I am quoting is for Puppies - that were AKC - but we did not give Breeding Rights - Sold them as Pets - we sold them easily for $450 - we just ran Adds in our Local Newspaper - we never had Puppies that we did not sell. The Puppies that we bought for Breeding were in the Range $900 - $750 AKC with Papers - When we had Mothers that were 6-8 Years old we found them good homes - gave many of them to widows, and widowers for companions - We would Spay Them and then find them a good Home How did you Use Micro-Chips We Micro-Chipped all our Adult Dogs. The Puppies we Found Homes for we left that to the Buyers. It is a very good Idea - If Dog gets Lost - Stolen and Somehow ends up at a Pound. The first thing they do is they will scan it - and give you a call. You can get your Dogs Microchipped from Your Local Vet How big Bichon Frise get? Our Dogs probably Averages 12 Lbs. The Breed Standard is 12 - 18 Lbs - We purposely Bred them Smaller - So we kept them toward the smaller weight. We also Kept them White - Where the AKC Standard Allows some Light Apricot Coloring of the Ears How to Bichon Frise grooming? You Know with all the Dogs we had we never did the Grooming. I tried several Times - But Darlene would say never again. We had a Local Groomer that would do our Dogs for us for $30 Each - we would have them done once every 3 Months - With Puppy Cuts How do Bichon Frise shed? When a puppy is born it will have a Puppy Coat that it will shed as it Grows. When the bichons have their Adult Hair, they do not Shed - If you do not Keep them Cut and Combed - Their Hair will Matt. In Bichon's that is very bad - They can easily become matted that you will only be able to shave their hair and let it grow back. We had this happen many times. How stop Bichon Frise barking? We never worried about it because we wanted them to bark if someone strange came - But we have talked to those that have bought our pups and the best luck they have was with an electronic training collar. How much Bichon Frise worth? In our experience they are only worth money as Puppies, or Show Dogs and Then Studs. It is very hard to sell an adult Bichon - Just feel there is no market for that. What Bichon Frise eat? We fed our Dogs, First a high-Quality Dry Dog Food. We then mixed in Home aid or Canned / Gravy Style to moisten it up. With the homemade it included fresh meats - and cooked veggies - we avoided Commercial generic Dog Foods, because of the Bi Products - and Fillers - we noticed a direct correlation between the Quality of Dog Food and Hot Spots which are a Problem with Bichon's Bichon what's good about em ? LoveableSocialLet you know if Stranges comeEasy to TrainDon't ShedVery AttractiveGood with ChildrenEat LittlePoop LittleUsually High Demand What does Bichon Frise mean? Curly Lap Dog What does Bichon Frise mean in French? Curly Lap Dog - or Pet What causes Bichon Blitz? Bichons have an absolute burst of energy at a time and will shoot around like a rocket. It is very fun to watch. It is like an explosion. Our Dogs even did this as they got Older What are Bichon Frise mixed with? They Descended from the Barbichon Dog Family - from which Descended Bichon Bolognese Bichon Havanese Bichon Maltese Bichon Tenerife What were Bichon dogs bred for? What are Bichon Frise allergic to? They have sensitive Skin - we chose medicated shampoos - Kept Fillers and Bi Products out of all their foods - Kept their coats clean and short = When Bichon Frise full grown? We Started Allowing the Males to Breed around 12 Months. We found the Fully Developed and to their full size by that time. As Dogs got older they would get heavier but did not increase in size. When does Bichon's hair change? By the time they are 12 months old, they have their permanent Coat When do Bichon stop growing? By the time they are 12 months old, they have their Full Size When do Bichon Frise die? We have had several live to 15 + When do Bichon Frise mature? We did not Breed any Males or Females until they were 12 months old Where Bichon Frise originate from? France and Belgium Where do Bichon Frise like to be rubbed? HeadFlat of BackShouldersEars Where to buy Bichon Frise? We would Suggest Finding a local Breeder - Buying AKC - See Both Parents - Check References - we always had a list of previous owners that bought our dogs, many families bought more than one, and would return years later for others. - There are also Bichon Frise Rescues - if you would like an older Dog Where to buy Bichon Frise puppies? We would Suggest Finding a local Breeder - Buying AKC - See Both Parents - Check References - we always had a list of previous owners that bought our dogs, many families bought more than one, and would return years later for others. - We would ask to see the whole liter. If you know to find out when it is due to be born. then you can have your choice = we would not let our puppies leave until they were 8 weeks old and had both sets of Puppy Shots Which is better Bichon or Maltipoo? We cannot say we do not have any experience with Maltipoo - a cross between a Maltese and a Toy Poodle Bichon who won Westminster? Flynn - 5 Year Old Bichon - in 2018 Why do Bichon Frise lick so much? If There skin is irritated they will lick - Keep them Clean - sometimes from nervous - a flea or tick will also cause them to dig Why do Bichon Frise have Tear Stains? Tear Stains usually are the result of PH in Balance in their Diet - suggest adding a little vinegar to their water - it fosters yeast growth Why do Bichon Frise bark so much? They have a tendency to Bark a lot - Strangers - Dogs - animals - we had one male that loved to chase and bark at birds. They are known for Playfulness and energy Why are Bichon Frise so expensive? The Price is a result of Demand and how many Dogs are available. They are very Attractive - very Smart Why do Bichon Frise pant so much? Physical ExertionAgeDiseaseThirstSee our Article on this Subject Why do Bichon Frise smell? Breath - Bad Teeth - Diet - DiseaseOurs did not smell - only their breath and that was usually teeth needed to be removed Why do Bichon Frise sleep so much? Ours Normally went to bed at Sun Down - Got up at Sunrise - as they got older they slept more - in winter - rainy days - they slept more Why do Bichon Frise eat poop? Lack of NutritionBehaviorsee our Article on Bichon's Eating their own Poop Will Bichon get along? Yes, they get along with Children - Families - Cats - Other Dogs - Sometimes Can Bichon Frise survive in India? Yes, we would suggest they keep their coat a proper length for the Temperature they are in Can Bichon Frise be black? No, They are always white with Black Noses and Paws - Light apricot coloring on the ears is permissible - according to Breed standards, Can Bichon Frise eat strawberries? yes, Our would eat them as we picked them, sometimes we would turn around and they had been eating them out of our pail Are Bichon Frise Good Guard Dogs? I say Yes with reservations Will they attack - probably notWill they scare off trespasser - noDo they Make a lot of Irritating Noise - YesWill they let you know of trespassers - yesThey have excellent Vision and Hearing What does AKC Stand for? American Kennel Club What does UKC Stand for? United Kennel Club How Many Pups are in Average Litter? We had many Litters that Ranged from 1 Pup to 6 was the most we ever had. Average Litter size was 3-4 Dogs Is There alot of Puppy Loss? Yes without Experience we had a lot Heat LossPuppy not eatingBorn Not BreathinCleft PalateCheck out our article it will help a lot Have you had any Puppies where a ball did not drop? Yes - We had two in 30 Years Why are there Runts in a Litter? A female's Heat Cycle is usually about a week. She can tie with the male and fertilize a puppy, she then can be caught at the end of her heat cycle and be fertilized again during the same cycle. You can have smaller and larger puppies depending on when she was caught. How often do they need Groomed? Brushed Every dayFor Show, Dog Cut need every 30 DaysFor Puppy Cut every 90 DaysYou will need to groom them before their Hair matts - or you will wish you did What is a Puppy Cut? A short Haircut for Bichons that cuts the length of their hair to about 3/8 inch - Leaving Tail, Ears, and Head Longer Tiny just back from Grooming with Puppy cut What are the characteristics of Bichon Frise poop? Small ElongatedNot RunnyNo undigested FoodNo Worm Eggs - Looks like specks of White Rice What does it mean when Bichon is Tied? When a Male Breeds a female - after he plants the head of his male organ is swollen - it cannot be removed from the female until the swelling goes down. It is best to keep everyone away when dogs are tied. we have seen a frightening female drag a male around by his male organ until the swelling goes down - He will yipe in pain. It is completely natural. it keeps the sperm in the female for as long as possible How Long does Female Heat Cycle Last? The week before you will notice changes is the female's female organShe will become PinkerMale will begin chasing herYou can tell when she is ready for him - she will hold and allow him to mount herWhen she is not quite ready she will wiggle awayHeat cycle will generally last about one week - at most twoWhen it is over she will not allow herself to be mounted