Bichons are naturally outgoing and friendly dogs, always on the lookout for new people to meet. They enjoy charming strangers and other dogs, and it’s rare to find a Bichon Frise that is shy or withdrawn. 

The Bichon Frise is also surprisingly good at taking stock of a person’s emotions and giving them exactly what they need. As a result, they can be excellent therapy dogs. They’re almost always affectionate and gentle with everyone they meet, and are sweet towards children and other dogs. But they love their family more than anything else in the world. 

However, this does mean that they become unhappy if they’re left alone for too long. Bichons need a great deal of attention and may develop separation anxiety because of how strongly they bond with their owner and family. 

The Bichon doesn’t just want to be part of family activities, they need to be there and feel included.  They’ll stick to people like velcro, but if that’s something you can handle, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more loyal and loving lap dog. 

Bichons are surprisingly high-energy dogs for their size, which is part of the reason why they’re such great performers. However, that doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to keep up with full-fledged working breeds. They’re fast and agile dogs with a surprising turn of speed, but they don’t have a great deal of stamina. 

Because of this, short and lively exercise sessions are best for the Bichon Frise. A couple of sessions of fetch or light jogging is enough for most of them. You can aim for 30 to 45 minutes of total exercise in a day, split into two or three walks or play sessions. 

Due to their high top speed, it may be difficult to catch up to a Bichon that gets away from you. Off-leash playtime should be done in a secure, fenced yard so that the Bichon can sniff around and engage their senses without risk of escape. 

The Bichon’s playful nature means that they won’t limit themselves to playing outdoors, but will also enjoy indoor games. Thankfully, they’re small enough that it’s possible for them to have a good play session in the house. Be creative with the games you play so that your Bichon gets a good amount of mental and physical stimulation.

The Bichon Frise has a double coat of curls that only comes in pure white. Their undercoat is soft and dense, while the top coat is coarse and stands away from the body – which is what gives them their trademark poofy appearance. 

This coat traps a lot of the Bichon’s shed fur and dander, which may make them hypoallergenic for most people. However, some people may still be allergic to the Bichon’s saliva. 

Their double coat needs to be brushed regularly to get rid of tangles and mats before they cause skin problems. A slicker brush for a first pass of brushing will help get to the dense undercoat, then a dog comb will help even out the curls of the top coat and keep it neat. 

Most Bichons will need baths every other week to keep their white coat clean and spotless. They’ll need to be brushed before their baths, as any tangles will set and become nearly impossible to remove once they get wet. 

Apart from these regular brushings and baths, Bichons will generally need to visit a professional groomer once a month for a full grooming. Keeping the fur around the Bichon’s face trimmed and clean is important so that mucus and eye discharge does not discolor their fur and cause other health problems. Tear stains are common with this breed, and regular wiping of the face is a must.

The Bichon, like other small breeds, should get their teeth brushed regularly, at least three to four times a week, or daily if possible. Nail trimming can be done during their professional grooming sessions or at home once a month. 

The Bichon Frise is adept at learning new tricks, as they love to perform for their owners and friends. They’re smart and eager to please, which makes training a breeze for most owners who have any sort of experience with training a dog.

However, the Bichon is also known for being an independent thinker on occasion – this can make them reluctant to follow more basic commands. Patience and consistency are the keys to getting a Bichon Frise to learn the basics. Positive reinforcement will also go a long way toward motivating a Bichon to obey. 

Bichons are also very sensitive to their owner’s moods and emotions, so getting frustrated or angry during training may make them shut down. If things aren’t going well, it’s always better to stop and reset or take a break. You can try again later when your Bichon is more receptive.

Bichons Frises are generally healthy and can live for up to 14 to 15 years. Bichon may be prone to:

• Hip dysplasia – a condition where the thigh bone does not fit properly into the pelvis, causing pain and weakness of the hind legs
• Patellar luxation – a condition where the knee joint (often of a hind leg) slides in and out of place, causing pain
• Skin warts – these are benign tumors called papillomas, and may disappear on their own
• Bladder stones – a buildup of excess minerals in the bladder, which may cause pain and difficulty urinating

Bichons are small dogs and don’t need much space to live in, so they are well suited to apartment living. They will typically only weigh between 12 to 18 pounds, and will stand between 9.5 to 11.5 inches in height. There isn’t a significant difference in size and weight between males and females. 

The Bichon Frise also doesn’t bark a lot, and gets along well with neighbors. They’re excellent in situations where you are in close proximity to other people, so apartments and condos are a natural fit for them. However, they’re adaptable and will do well in any type of home, whether in the city or in rural settings. 

While they enjoy being outdoors just like other dogs, they aren’t suited to living outdoors as their coat does not protect them from the elements very well. They also require close contact with their family, so they need to be indoor dogs.