Bichon Frise - Small Dog Breed

Bichon Frise

Breed Group: Toy Group

Size Group: Small Dog Breeds

Origin: Europe, although there is debate as to where – between France, Italy, Spain

Height9”-11.5”

Weight: 10-18 lbs

ColorWhite, White &apricot, White & buff, White & cream

Lifespan14-15 years

Temperament: Cheerful, humorous, affectionate

Overview

These cotton ball pups were originally named “Barbichon” which means “curly coat”. Curly coat indeed! This adorable entertainer has so many positive characteristics and top of the list is Bichon Frise does not shed. For centuries Bichons have been desirable companion dogs. Throughout history when life served Bichon a tough hand, these pups rose to the occasion. They started as elite lapdogs and became street and circus performers when war left them homeless. These little pups will truly help you make the best of any situation.

The best match for a Bichon is someone who loves to laugh, cuddle and does not spend excessive time away from home. Your sweet little cotton ball can get destructive when left alone too long.

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Celebrity Owners

Ashley Tisdale, Kristin Chenoweth, Susan Sarandon, Doris Day, Kathie Lee, Barbra Streisand, Anita Ekberg, Eva Longoria, Demi Lovato, Maria Menounos, Coleen Rooney, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Martha Stewart, Alessandra Ambrosio, Richard Belzer

Fun Facts

  1. A king in 14th century Europe loved Bichons so much he bred many and wore his favorites in a basket around his neck. Does this make Bichons the original purse pup?
  2. Tintin was a Bichon

Health

As with most pups, Bichone Frise are relatively healthy pups. Some not so common concerns include:

  • Allergies: Histamine, which is a chemical in the body associated with immune responses, is released during allergic reactions.
  • Dental disease: Dental disease effects 80% of dogs over three. This condition is among the most common seen by vets.
  • Luxating patella: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A Luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: This disease occurs at the head of the femur (the ball and socket joint in your dog’s hips. Here, the femur degenerates which can cause the hip to collapse and can cause arthritis.
  • Bladder infections: This infection in the bladder can lead to cysts and can be accompanied with other complications.
  • Cataracts: A dog develops a cataract when the lens in its eye clouds. The clouding is caused by changes in the water balance or proteins in the lens.
  • Hip dysplasia: This condition is when the socket joint in the hip isn’t large enough, or more often too shallow, for the femoral head.
  • Hemophilia: This condition effects the body’s ability to clot. Here, excessive bleeding an occur on injuries that would otherwise be minor.
  • Atopic dermatitis: Otherwise known as eczema, this condition effects the skin. Typically, skin will be dry, itchy, and inflamed.

You never know what can happen with health. It is always best to get ahead of it and have Pet Insurance.

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.

Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.

Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.

Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:

  1. Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
  2. Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
  3. Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
  4. Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
  5. At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.

Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.

Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.

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Grooming

While every other day brushings will suffice, daily brushing will keep you pup looking its finest. Further grooming to wash and cut pup’s hair needs to occur monthly. Many experienced owners learn how to do this themselves, otherwise a monthly trip to the groomer is necessary. Bichons need to have their faces cleaned more regularly to remove any remnants of dirt that can leave stains. This pup is prone to of redness and irritation in the ear canal. Regularly check their ears to make sure they are clean and clear of stray hair and wax. As with all dogs, keep your pup’s nails clipped and brush their teeth several times a week.

Cost

$1,000 – $2,000

Exercise

At most your Bichon will require an hour of activity a day between short walks and playtime. They spend much of the time lounging about with brief bursts of action. Having a fenced in area for your pup is always nice place for them to play.

Nutrition

On average Bichons eat 1 cup of food per day. As with all dogs, the amount will vary depending on your pup’s age and activity level.

 

premium dog food is the best way to give your pup a strong healthy foundation.

Are You Feeding Your Dog The Best Food?

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Training

As with all dogs, early socialization with people and other dogs is the best way for your pup to succeed. Training with lots of positive reinforcement will have your pup trained in no time! Bichon love to learn tricks and are big people pleasers. The one area that may take additional time is house training.

Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!

Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.

Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.

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Supplements

A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.

Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.

Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.

Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.

Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.

As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.

Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.

Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.

Have You Tried CBD For You Dog's Health?

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The "Ruff"

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Annual Vet Bills: $1,500+

Be Prepared for the unexpected.