The Bichon Frise is also known as: Bichon Tenerife, Bichon a Poil Frise
When the Bichon is out of its crate, you want to keep a good visual on it. For instance, if you will be cooking dinner, go ahead, and set up baby gates at the entrances so you
Say Hello to Cottonball - the happy female Bichon Frise that a MyDogBreed.com staffer adopted from the local humane society. She came to us a little shaken and timid, but quickly warmed up and took to her house training like a champ.
know where the little fellow is at all times. Then, be sure you have a solid routine that is followed carefully. The more you can get this dog on a normal regimen the quicker it will understand. When the dog is successful with an outdoor trip, offer praise and a tiny treat to support the good behavior.
As mentioned, the Bichon Frise tends to be on the shy side. Therefore, it is very important this breed have early socialization. If you are buying a Bichon for a family pet, you want to teach the children the proper way of handling and disciplining. Again, if not done right, the dog could become aggressive. Keep the shyness in mind while training.
As with any puppy, general obedience training is highly recommended. The Bichon Frise can be a little on the independent side, which is part of its wonderful personality but when it comes to training, it can be frustrating. The best option for success is to work with the puppy from a young age. We suggest you begin with training tips such as sit, stay, come, and lie down. From there, you can always expound.
Remember, with a Bichon, you want to keep it simple and supportive. Do not use forceful tactics or you could draw out the negative temperament traits that include biting and aggressiveness. With a loving hand and voice, along with some favorite treats, you will be amazed at just how well the Bichon Frise does with training.
This adorable ball of white fluff has proven to be an exceptional breed for families with or without children and pets. The breed is overall a healthy choice, loving, friendly, playful, devoted, and highly intelligent. When training this breed, it is important to use praise and positive reinforcement rather than harsh punishment. Since the Bichon Frise can be somewhat shy, improper training could lead to additional problems of biting and/or aggression.
One of the main challenges associated with training the Bichon Frise is housebreaking. For some reason, many owners claim this dog is relatively difficult to potty train so you need to be prepared to have lots of patience. Although intelligent, the breed is not always cooperative with training methods. Just remember, it is not impossible to housebreak this breed of dog but plan on spending time getting through the process. Additionally, we recommend you use crate training in this case, which has shown to be more effective.
Fast Facts
| Group classification: Non-Sporting | Country of origin: Mediterranean environs | Date of origin: Antiquity |
| Weight (M): 11 - 16 lb | Height (M): 10 - 12" | Life expectancy: 13 - 15 years |
| Weight (F): 10 - 15 lb | Height (F): 9 - 11" |
General Description of the Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a small, stocky dog of balanced proportions. The gently rounded skull features a lightly accentuated stop and well-balanced muzzle. The round eyes are dark brown or even black in color, with a curious yet soft expression. Surrounding the eyes are dark brown to black skin known as halos which serve to accentuate them. The drop ears are high-set and covered with long hair, and frame the face well when the dog is alert. The Bichon’s nose is sensitive and always black, while the lower jaw area is sturdy and strong. A gracefully arche neck leads to a firm and muscular body and broad chest. The plumed tail is level with the topline and curled over the back so that the hairs of the tail touch the back. The coat is one of the most distinguishing features of the Bichon Frise. While the undercoat is thick and soft, the outercoat is more curly and coarse. The texture and look of the coat, especially after grooming, is springy and puffy. While the hair on the body is often clipped slightly, the hair around the face is left longer. Coat color is always white, yet can take on a slight tone of cream, apricot or buff in certain areas.
Bichon Frise Temperament
The Bichon Frise, unlike many other small dog breeds, is not yappy by nature. They adore the company of humans and make fantastic family pets. The Bichon is smart, affectionate and energetic. Because this breed is so sociable, they shouldn't be left alone for long periods of time. They are great with kids and other family pets, and excel at obedience training. Though not much of a guard dog, the Bichon Frise is a more than respectable watchdog. As is the case with many small breeds, housebreaking the Frise can be trying at times; firm, consistent training should overcome this challenge, however.
Caring for a Bichon Frise
Because of the high maintenance coat, the Bichon Frise should be bathed and groomed monthly. You will need to trim the body with electric clippers, while the hair around the face can be trimmed with scissors. The Bichon tends to stain around the eyes so care should be taken to keep this area clean. Make sure the ears are free of dirt and mites and the nails are trimmed. These dogs may require a bit of care, but they are ideal for allergy sufferers and people worried about dog hair because they shed very little, if at all. Bichons require a moderate amount of exercise, including a daily walk, and make perfect indoor dogs. The dog sometimes suffers from patellar luxation, Cushing’s, allergies, cataract and canine hip dysplasia.
The Bichon Frise is a small, stocky dog of balanced proportions. The gently rounded skull features a lightly accentuated stop and well-balanced muzzle. The round eyes are dark brown or even black in color, with a curious yet soft expression. Surrounding the eyes are dark brown to black skin known as halos which serve to accentuate them. The drop ears are high-set and covered with long hair, and frame the face well when the dog is alert. The Bichon’s nose is sensitive and always black, while the lower jaw area is sturdy and strong. A gracefully arche neck leads to a firm and muscular body and broad chest. The plumed tail is level with the topline and curled over the back so that the hairs of the tail touch the back. The coat is one of the most distinguishing features of the Bichon Frise. While the undercoat is thick and soft, the outercoat is more curly and coarse. The texture and look of the coat, especially after grooming, is springy and puffy. While the hair on the body is often clipped slightly, the hair around the face is left longer. Coat color is always white, yet can take on a slight tone of cream, apricot or buff in certain areas.
Bichon Frise Temperament
The Bichon Frise, unlike many other small dog breeds, is not yappy by nature. They adore the company of humans and make fantastic family pets. The Bichon is smart, affectionate and energetic. Because this breed is so sociable, they shouldn't be left alone for long periods of time. They are great with kids and other family pets, and excel at obedience training. Though not much of a guard dog, the Bichon Frise is a more than respectable watchdog. As is the case with many small breeds, housebreaking the Frise can be trying at times; firm, consistent training should overcome this challenge, however.
Caring for a Bichon Frise
Because of the high maintenance coat, the Bichon Frise should be bathed and groomed monthly. You will need to trim the body with electric clippers, while the hair around the face can be trimmed with scissors. The Bichon tends to stain around the eyes so care should be taken to keep this area clean. Make sure the ears are free of dirt and mites and the nails are trimmed. These dogs may require a bit of care, but they are ideal for allergy sufferers and people worried about dog hair because they shed very little, if at all. Bichons require a moderate amount of exercise, including a daily walk, and make perfect indoor dogs. The dog sometimes suffers from patellar luxation, Cushing’s, allergies, cataract and canine hip dysplasia.
Other
When the Bichon is out of its crate, you want to keep a good visual on it. For instance, if you will be cooking dinner, go ahead, and set up baby gates at the entrances so you
Say Hello to Cottonball - the happy female Bichon Frise that a MyDogBreed.com staffer adopted from the local humane society. She came to us a little shaken and timid, but quickly warmed up and took to her house training like a champ.
know where the little fellow is at all times. Then, be sure you have a solid routine that is followed carefully. The more you can get this dog on a normal regimen the quicker it will understand. When the dog is successful with an outdoor trip, offer praise and a tiny treat to support the good behavior.
As mentioned, the Bichon Frise tends to be on the shy side. Therefore, it is very important this breed have early socialization. If you are buying a Bichon for a family pet, you want to teach the children the proper way of handling and disciplining. Again, if not done right, the dog could become aggressive. Keep the shyness in mind while training.
As with any puppy, general obedience training is highly recommended. The Bichon Frise can be a little on the independent side, which is part of its wonderful personality but when it comes to training, it can be frustrating. The best option for success is to work with the puppy from a young age. We suggest you begin with training tips such as sit, stay, come, and lie down. From there, you can always expound.
Remember, with a Bichon, you want to keep it simple and supportive. Do not use forceful tactics or you could draw out the negative temperament traits that include biting and aggressiveness. With a loving hand and voice, along with some favorite treats, you will be amazed at just how well the Bichon Frise does with training.
This adorable ball of white fluff has proven to be an exceptional breed for families with or without children and pets. The breed is overall a healthy choice, loving, friendly, playful, devoted, and highly intelligent. When training this breed, it is important to use praise and positive reinforcement rather than harsh punishment. Since the Bichon Frise can be somewhat shy, improper training could lead to additional problems of biting and/or aggression.
One of the main challenges associated with training the Bichon Frise is housebreaking. For some reason, many owners claim this dog is relatively difficult to potty train so you need to be prepared to have lots of patience. Although intelligent, the breed is not always cooperative with training methods. Just remember, it is not impossible to housebreak this breed of dog but plan on spending time getting through the process. Additionally, we recommend you use crate training in this case, which has shown to be more effective.
