The Bichon Frise dog is a little beautiful and attractive dog. With its black eyes and fluffy white coat, they just look like a child’s toy, indeed they are categorized as “toy dog” breed. The Bichon Frise thought to be a descendant of French water dog and poodle, and it was allegedly taken from Tenerife to France. Bichons have long been recognized as a good companion dog with a friendly, curious and peppy temperament.
They get pleased by spending time with you, the more time you give them more they will get pleased with your company. Bichon Frise dogs have excellent learning skills, they can adapt themselves to your house very quickly, and they love to socialize with children and other pets at home. They are very gentle and playful too.
Breed Characteristics:
Bichon Frise is a small-sized dog with height ranges from 9 to 11 inches and weighs between 12-18 pounds with an average lifespan of 12 – 15 years. Its characteristic white color coat is coarse from the top while dense and soft underneath. It has round black eyes, pendant ears, their head is well-proportioned to their bodies, plumed tail and round foot exaggerated by the cut of coat, makes him extremely appealing breed.
Temperament:
Bichon Frise dogs have the friendly temperaments, they are sensitive, and they have a cheerful attitudes towards their owners and they try to impress their owners with their social, gentle and playful nature.
They are of sensitive nature
– By nature Bichon Frise are sensitive, they do not tolerate rude behavior and show no resilient towards the noisy and chaotic environment in the house. Bichon Frise does not like bullish behavior of their owners, so, if you are of assertive nature then you shouldn’t own this dog.
They love to socialize
– This dog loves to socialize, they are happy when you are around them. Bichon builds a bond with its owner and other family members who are around, other than that they are playful with other pets at home like cats and cockatiels. If you left your Bichon alone at home, then it can get anxious and it will show annoyance by barking and roaming around in the house.
They do not tolerate hot weather
– Their coat is dense and fluffy and they do not tolerate much heat. Do not take him outside if it’s sunny weather and never leave him alone inside your vehicle especially in summer or have someone sit in the car with your dog. However, while travelling during summers, make sure that your dog is vaccinated against major diseases like parvo, distemper & rabies. Bichons have moderate energy levels and they require almost 20-30 minutes daily exercise, while its tendency to drool is low. In summers, be careful about their exercise routine, do not take them for a walk in the heat of the day. Panting, drooling and elevated pulse are some common signs of heat stress, if you witness any of these signs in your Bichon then immediately consult a vet.
Friendly Behavior
– Their overall behavior is friendly, not only with their owners but they are comfortable with the strangers as well, they can bond quickly with their new owners, they are affectionate with the family, they do not feel good if you left them alone in the home while going outside. Although all dogs are not friendly with kids, some breeds such as Boxers which apparently look fierce and have strong jaws are considered good with children, while some breeds which otherwise look small and elegant such as American Staffordshire Terriers aren’t so family-friendly.
Bichons, on the other hand, are friendly with the kids, their toy-like appearance attracts children towards them. They have all the traits that make them kids friendly, they love to play with the children. Although they are not harmful to the kids still you should not leave your kids alone with them, even dogs of any breed should be supervised by the adult when they are with the kids.
Grooming
– Bichon falls into the “high maintenance” dogs category, more care, and regular cleaning is mandatory in them, they have a curly coat and it is of white color with shadings of cream. Due to coarse and curly coat characteristics, they need a considerable time for coat care, they need grooming, bathing and trimming on a regular basis. You might see fur discoloration due to tears staining as older Bichons show more frequent tearing as a part of normal aging process. Professional groomers recommend brushing two to three times weekly. Bichons remain calm and they can be handled easily while grooming.
Training
– Bichons are intelligent, obedient and quick learners, they are easy to train. You can use rewards and games to teach them to comply with your requests.
Diet and Nutrition
– Bichons should be fed twice daily i.e. in the morning and evening and the meal should be ¼ to ¾ cup of dry food, but this amount also depends on dog’s size age and other factors. This breed is prone to kidney and bladder stones and may need a special diet and more water to help prevent these problems.
Overfeeding and less exercise may lead to obesity which can reduce its lifespan. Be sure to monitor your dog’s weight and general temperament and discuss any nutritional and health concerns with an appropriate veterinarian.
Conclusion
Overall Bichon Frise is a cute, fluffy and obedient companion. They are affectionate towards their owners. Especially the novice owners who want to own a dog, then Bichon Frise will be the best match for them. You’ll never feel alone while having this dog with you.
Moreover, every pet you own needs some special care, you need to look for their food routine, take them for exercise, have them dewormed and vaccinate them against all major diseases like rabies, parvovirus, canine distemper, etc. Bichon especially needs some extra care in case of grooming, routinely comb its coat and arrange veterinarian visits to make sure that your dog is sound and healthy.
