Bichon Frise Grooming

It's a well-known fact that grooming a Bichon Frise is a pretty time-consuming task. The breed's sparkling white, curly coat, while low-shedding, requires frequent brushing to avoid matting and tangling. Since their coats are white, these dogs also need baths frequently--and bathing your Bichon can take some work. Plus, a majority of owners give their Bichons monthly haircuts to keep the coats looking good.

Here you'll find plenty of details on Bichon Frise grooming, including info about brushing, bathing, hairstyle options, and more. Get answers to your questions about how to groom a Bichon Frise in the following sections!

Overall Bichon Frise grooming takes a good bit of work--and a lot of that effort will involve caring for that sparkling white coat. Because these dogs' coats mat pretty easily, brushing will need to take place about every other day. Baths will need to happen at least once a month--and most owners give their Bichons a trim once a month as well.

Because the Bichon groom is so involved, many owners make monthly visits to professional Bichon Frise groomers. Depending on whether the dog just needs a touch-up trim, or a bath and a full haircut, the Bichon Frise grooming cost will be moderate to high. Still, visits to a pro are great, because not only will the groomer will give the dog a thorough makeover, but he or she can demonstrate how to groom a Bichon Frise head and body, and offer tips on how to groom a Bichon Frise at home.

Those who do chose to learn Bichon Frise care and grooming for themselves will need to do a good bit of research and practice--especially for Bichon head grooming, which can be tricky. It can be done, though! Home groomers will also need to assemble a good Bichon Frise grooming kit. Included in the necessary Bichon Frise grooming tools: a greyhound comb, a pin brush, a slicker brush, a hair dryer, de-tangling solution, shampoo and conditioner, nail clippers, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Read on for more details on brushing, bathing, and haircuts.

Bichons have double-layered coats--and they don't shed much. That's because the dead hairs from the undercoat, instead of falling out, get trapped beneath the outer coat. This means a Bichon's coat will get matted very easily! Frequent brushing will minimize the matting, plus it'll keep the dog's coat looking great.

The best dog brush for a Bichon Frise--and the one you'll use most often--is a pin brush. Other brushes for Bichon Frise dogs will need to include a greyhound comb for working through mats, and a slicker brush for that final Bichon Frise brush.

How to brush a Bichon Frise: start brushing your Bichon while the dog is still young puppy, so it can get used to the process. It'll also help to teach the pup to lie on its side, which makes for easier brushing. Before you brush, it's a good idea to wet the coat with mist from a spray bottle (with some de-tangling solution added, if desired). Start by brushing the dog's side, using the pin brush to brush upwards toward the spine. Continue by brushing the legs, tail, and ears in the same manner. Along the way, you're sure to encounter mats; first try working through them with your fingers, then use the greyhound comb to continue working them out. Brush the hair on the head towards the dog's face. Finish by going through the coat again with the slicker brush for the Bichon Frise, to shape and style it in your preferred manner.

A matted Bichon Frise can be quite a headache to deal with. The best way to avoid having a Bichon Frise with matted hair: don't let the mats start forming on the first place!

On dogs, mats and tangles form mainly because of friction and dryness in the hair. That's why mats most often form under the dog's collar, in its leg pits, on in areas where the legs rub together. This is most easily prevented by brushing the dog often, which among other benefits will help remove static electricity in the hair (which aids in mat formation); using a de-tangling solution while brushing will keep the hair moistened, conditioned, and hopefully mat-free.

If mats or tangles do form, though, removing them will take some patience. The best way to do it: first spray the mat with some de-tangler to lubricate the hairs. Then starting with your fingers, separate the hairs, doing so strand by strand if necessary. (If a mat is especially large and stubborn, you can cut in half or even in fourths to make this easier.) Once you've begun the separation, switch to using the end of the greyhound comb to continue working through the mat as best you can. After the mat is broken apart as much as possible, brush through the area with a pin brush to further straighten it--and monitor that area for a few days to make sure the mat doesn't re-form.

(NOTE: According to groomers, using a de-shedding tool like a Furminator on a Bichon Frise is not recommended. The tools are designed to remove hair from the dog's undercoat--which simply won't work with low-shedding breeds like the Bichon.)

Bathing a Bichon Frise isn't a difficult task--but Bichon Frise bathing can be time-consuming. How often should you bathe a Bichon Frise? Most owners give their Bichons a bath every 3-4 weeks (with supplemental "emergency baths" if the dog's white coat gets especially dirty).

A few tips on cleaning your dirty Bichon Frise: first, these dogs have pretty sensitive skin, so it's very important to use canine shampoo. Dog bath products have the proper pH balance, so they won't irritate your Bichon's skin the way human shampoos will--plus they'll make your Bichon Frise smell great! It's also good to use canine conditioner during these dogs' baths, to help keep the coat fluffy and soft and to minimize the appearance of mats and tangles.

The best shampoo for Bichon Frise puppy and adult dogs is from brands like Earthbath, TropiClean, and Vet's Best, among others.

How to bathe a Bichon Frise dog: first give the dog a thorough brushing, making sure the coat has no mats or tangles (which, if they get soaking wet, will become nearly impossible to remove). These little dogs are small enough to bathe in the kitchen sink. Wet the coat completely with warm water, then apply a small amount of Bichon Frise shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (And don't forget the legs, belly, and tail!) Use a washcloth to clean the dog's face and ears, then rinse the entire coat very thoroughly, as any shampoo residue will cause skin irritation. Repeat the entire process with conditioner.

Drying your Bichon has a few steps too: first towel-dry the coat, then continue drying with a hair dryer; make sure the dryer is on a low setting, as too much heat can burn the Bichon's skin. As you dry, use the the slicker brush to comb and shape the coat to your liking. After you're done with the hair dryer, give the dog a final brush-through to make to coat look clean and neat.

Cutting a Bichon Frise's hair can be an appealing undertaking--and with this breed's curly white locks, many a haircut style for Bichon Frise dogs exists! Most owners prefer Bichon haircuts that keep the hair shorter, manageable, and easy to maintain. Here are a few of the most popular Bichon Frise cuts:

• Puppy Cut: Bichon Frise coats are cut fairly short (1-1½ inches) all over. Some owners prefer a modified Puppy Cut: while the hair on the body is closely shaved, the Bichon Frise head, legs, and tail are left a bit longer (see the Bichon Frise Teddy Bear Cut below). Can be done at home with a bit of practice.
• Show Cut: Also called the Bichon Cut. The Bichon Frise Show Cut is done only with scissors, and sees the body and legs left long and full. The head is cut long, either round or square, and "teased" to its full length. This Bichon Frise hairstyle takes a good bit of skill, and is best done by a professional groomer.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Similar to the Puppy Cut, but the hair on the head, legs, and tail are left a bit longer, and are carefully rounded and sculpted; the overall look makes the dog resemble a stuffed animal. Can be done at home, but will definitely take some practice.

Besides its coat, your Bichon Frise will need regular care in these areas as well:

• Teeth: Just like humans', Bichon Frise teeth need regular brushing to prevent plaque and tartar--and to help minimize that Bichon Frise bad breath! Use a regular toothbrush on your Bichon's teeth 2-3 times per week--but make sure to use canine toothpaste (available at pet stores), as the human kind can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Nails: If your Bichon's nails "click" when the dog walks or runs on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Use regular nail clippers to cut the nail close to the toe--but be sure not to cut it too short! Doing so can cut into the nail's "quick" (the blood vessel running through the nail), causing it to bleed and be painful.
• Paw Pads: Dogs' paw pads can become dry and cracked, especially if the dog walks or runs a lot on hot asphalt or ice and snow. Apply commercial paw pad moisturizer to the pads every few days to keep them moist and healthy.
• Tear Stains: Like other white-coated breeds, tear stains on Bichon Frise dogs are a common issue. Why do Bichons get tear stains? Bichon eye staining is naturally occurring and painless, and happens when the area below the eyes is stained a reddish-brown color from the dog's discharge of tears (which contain a lot of iron, hence the rusty color). Any Internet search for "bichon frise eyes tear staining" will produce a multitude of results, but veterinarians say cleaning the area with a cotton ball moistened with a solution containing boric acid (like contact lens cleaner) works well. Another answer on how to get rid of tear stains on a Bichon Frise: tear stain remover that's sold at pet stores, from brands like Angels' Eyes or Burt's Bees.