Bichon Frise

If the movie biz was composed entirely of canines, the Bichon Frise would win a People’s Choice Award. Their charming personality effortlessly captures everyone’s attention, including other pups. The Bichon is a lover, not a fighter and has a natural urge to engage with other people and pets. Smart with plenty of emotional intelligence, a Bichon can be adept to navigating the needs of people around them—especially if trained and socialized at an early age.

The Bichon Frise dog breed is great with kids and babies and can happily spend the morning romping with toddlers in the backyard. Later in the day, they’re content to spend hours curled on the lap of your great grandma. In fact, it’s this calming characteristic that makes them great emotional support and therapy dogs.

Velcro dog alert: Bichons do not like to be left alone for long (their name does mean “curly lapdog” after all), but that doesn’t mean you need to entertain them 24/7. (It does mean you can say goodbye to peaceful soaks in the bathtub.) They need to have people around during the day.

Small and hearty with a long lifespan, Bichons are a delightful addition to your family. Yes, that powder-puff coat requires a lot of maintenance, but their grooming time is perfectly balanced by their low exercise and average training needs.

Bichons are a hearty breed with a relatively long life span of 14 to 15 years, but like any breed, they are prone to certain illnesses. It’s important to know what these health issues are in advance, so you can help your pup live a full and active life.

• Joint Problems: Bichon Frises can be prone to a condition called luxating patella, in which the knee joint moves out of place. Over time, this can damage cartilage and result in pain and a reduction of movement. Environmental factors, such as obesity, can trigger this sometimes-genetic condition. Treatment may include medication or surgery, depending on the severity.
• Eye Problems: Bichon Frises are prone to cataracts, leading to blindness as your dog gets older. While surgery is an option if your dog develops cataracts, many dogs are able to adjust to blindness, especially if it’s in one eye. Frequent vet visits can help monitor any slow-developing vision problems. Bichons are also susceptible to distichiasis, a condition where an eyelash grows inward toward the eye, causing irritation and pain. Treatments can vary from lubricating gels or ointments to surgery, depending on the severity.
• Allergies: Bichons often have allergies that affect their skin (feet, belly, ears and folds of the skin). Symptoms include licking paws, rubbing the face or frequent ear infections. Depending on what your pup is allergic to, treatment is often a change in food or medication.
• Skin Warts: These are actually benign tumors called papillomas. These may disappear on their own when your pup develops an immunity to them. The most common treatment is patience; it may take a month or two for the wart to go away. If it hangs around longer or becomes inflamed, check with your vet to see if surgery is recommended.
• Bladder Stones: Bladder stones are the fourth most common disease for Bichons. They develop due to excess minerals in the bladder. Just like with humans, bladder stones can be painful. Depending on the type and severity, treatment options range from a special diet to surgery. If you see your dog peeing more often, straining while peeing or licking their genitals more frequently, talk to your vet.
• Liver Problems: Bichons are prone to a liver disorder called portosystemic shunt (PSS). In PSS, the blood supply is diverted from the liver, resulting in toxin buildup over time. Medication, monitoring and surgery are all ways to deal with this condition.
• Obesity: Just a pound or two of excess weight can put pressure on multiple systems in your small dog and can exacerbate other health conditions. Keep your pup’s weight in check by balancing mealtime (snacks, too!) and exercise. Check with your vet if you need help creating a plan to help your pup shed some extra weight.

Use your grooming time each week to assess your Bichon’s overall health. Take note of anything unusual or any unusual behaviors. Conditions diagnosed and treated early may have better outcomes and may have less invasive treatment options, including monitoring, medication and diet modification.

The Bichons have a history full of folklore that would make for a fascinating drama—their origins are shrouded in mystery. (Are they Egyptian? Maybe Greco-Roman.) Regardless, it’s widely believed a popular, small white dog is the ancestor to the modern Bichon. (Side note: These dogs were so desirable, they were often used for bartering—apparently even Cleopatra adored the “little white dog”!)

What we do know is that the Bichon began their journey to becoming the dog we love today on the Canary Islands (Tenerife, to be precise). There, the four “cousins” (Havanese, Maltese, Bolognese and Bichon) were developed and called barbichons. The Bichon, so closely tied to the island, was known as the Tenerife Bichon.

Around the 13th century, Bichon Frises were brought to the European mainland and were the delight of royal courts across the continent; you often see them in paintings from the Renaissance era. It’s been said that King Henry III of France was so taken with the breed, he carried a few with him everywhere in a shallow basket suspended by neck ribbons! (Truly, the Bichon was the “it” accessory of the day.)

In the 18th century, as revolutions swept the world, the Bichon breed became collateral damage. Instead of living in palaces, they were living on the street. But don’t fret! This is not where our story ends. Street performers found that the Bichon’s winning personality and quick-study intellect made them ideal performing partners. Soon, these plucky pups graced European circuses with their delightful presence.

In the early 20th century, Bichons again became collateral damage to global forces. Both world wars shook Europe, reducing the demand for circus dogs. The breed faced extinction, but Bichon lovers found surviving dogs and led the charge for modern breed recognition. In 1933, France’s Societe Centrale Canine coined the Bichon breed “Bichon a Poil Frise,” meaning “Bichon of the curly hair.”

In 1956, Bichons made their way to California, and the Bichon Frise Club of America was founded in 1964. The American Kennel Club added them to the Miscellaneous class in 1971 (dogs on their way to AKC status), and they received their full breed recognition in 1973.

Want to add a Bichon Frise as a pet? You can find a list of reputable breeders on the AKC’s website. A Bichon Frise puppy can cost between $600 to $1,000. But for that, you usually get a dog screened for health and temperament issues, and they might even come with pedigree papers. You can also look for the breed at local Bichon Frise rescues or animal shelters. (A great way to give a fully grown Bichon some much-needed love!) Don’t forget to include regular grooming as part of your “Bichon budget” as well as other expenses such as vet visits, food and treats.

Sometimes unscrupulous breeders will use terms to charge you more money for a puppy. The AKC does not recognize “teacup Bichon Frises.” These tiny dogs were often bred for the recessive dwarf gene. While they may look cute, these dogs may actually have more health issues down the road than a normal Bichon would. Also, if anyone tries to sell you a “rare” black Bichon—run. It’s possible the pup is a Poochon (Bichon-Poodle mix), but a purebred Bichon is always white.

“Lonely” is not an option with a Bichon Frise. A Bichon Frise will always be up in your space (and under your covers) and will keep you and your family laughing with their antics. Because they require plenty of human attention, it’s important to prioritize your Bichon’s emotional needs the same way they prioritize yours. Having plenty of time to hang out at home (or bringing your Bichon along with you on errands) will lead to plenty of memories together.