In French a Bichon Frise means curly lap dog. He is the best known member of the Bichon family of dogs.

HISTORY

Bichon Frises originated in the Mediterranean region and have existed since the Middle Ages. Bred as a lap dog for the French royalty they became court favorites in the 15th century. During the French Revolution they ended up on the streets. They were then caught and trained as circus dogs.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

They have round dark eyes that have a inquisitive expression. Their ears are dropped and covered with long flowing hair. Skull is slightly rounded with a black nose. A plumed tail is carried over their back.

Their coat is loosely curled consisting of a textured outer coat with a soft undercoat which is curly thus the powder puff look. The coat should spring back if touched. Their coats are white but can have shades of buff, cream, with apricot around ears or body.

They are a non shedding dog so they are popular with people who have allergies.

Height: 9 ½ - 11 ½ inches
Weight: 7-12 pounds
Life Expectancy: 15 years

CHARACTERTICS AND TEMPERAMENT

Affectionate
Sensitive
Playful
Inquisitive
Non-shedding
Energetic
Very trainable
Happy
Gentle
Rarely aggressive
Charming
Dignified

Bichon Frises can live in an apartment, condominium, or house, but they do enjoy walks. Sturdier than many dogs of their size they adapt to any environment as long as they are with people.

These little guys are affectionate, playful, charming yet dignified. The cheerful attitude is the hallmark of this small dog breed. His merry temperament makes him a good companion.

They need people a lot and are most comfortable being close to their owners. They enjoy being a lap dog.

Bichon Frises like children more than many other small breeds and are good with other animals.

TRAINING

A Bichon is easy to train but it should be gentle and firm - no scolding. They need to have socialization training as a puppy to learn manners since he is a highly sociable dog.

They are easily housebroken by using the crate method. They are intelligent but not always cooperative with this chore. Just establish a routine and stick to it but do add praise to further motivate them.

GROOMING

Regular brushing is needed. They require a thorough shampoo and rinse with combing it's curly coat while blow drying it. Use a slick brush. You will need to wipe around their eyes because of eye discharge as mucus accumulates in the fur in front of their eyes. Trim around the eyes and ears with a blunt nosed scissors. A professional grooming is recommended to achieve the Bichon "look".

You need to brush their teeth 2-3 times a week with a yearly check-up.

Bichon Frise is generally healthy but are prone to:

Cataracts
Knee dislocations
Ear infections
Eye infections
Skin allergies
Early tooth loss
Bladder infections and stones

They love to eat so their diet must be watched so they don't become fat. A responsible breeder will give you instructions on feeding your puppy. You should feed him a premium dog food and puppy food till he is a year old. Feed him about one cup in a 24 hour period about 4-5 hours apart. Adult dogs are feed two meals a day.

Always provide fresh water.

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