Bichon Frise
A Mediterranean sailor's dog that became a circus performer and then a lap dog. The coat curls back on itself and sheds into itself rather than onto the floor.
Photo by Petful.com, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Bichon Frise is a small Mediterranean companion dog with a double coat that stands out from the body rather than lying flat, which is where the powder puff look comes from. It was traded around the Mediterranean by sailors, became a favourite of French and Spanish nobility, and then spent a century as a circus and street performer's dog.
It is one of the longer lived breeds at fourteen to fifteen years, and it is cheerful in a way that is close to relentless.
Temperament
Happy, sociable and attention seeking. Bichons are good with children, good with other dogs, and genuinely enjoy strangers, which makes them poor watchdogs and excellent company.
They are prone to separation anxiety more than most breeds, and a Bichon left alone for long days is a common route to barking and destruction. They are clever and easy to train and they respond well to reward.
Care and grooming
A high maintenance coat that does not shed. The curly double coat mats down to the skin if it is not brushed thoroughly two or three times a week, and it needs professional grooming every four to six weeks.
Because it does not shed, it is often recommended to allergy sufferers, and no dog is genuinely hypoallergenic. Bichons are prone to allergies themselves, and to bladder stones, patellar luxation and early dental disease.
Living and exercise
Thirty to forty five minutes a day plus play. They suit flats well.
House training is often slower with this breed than owners expect, and small dogs with small bladders benefit from a schedule rather than an assumption. Tear staining on the white coat is cosmetic and constant.
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