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Bichon Frise

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1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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We include the following list of misspellings so our internal search tools can send you to the right place. People often misspell Bichon Frise as Bichon Frisse, Bishon Frise, or Bichon Freese.