Bichon Frise vs Papillon
Compare the Bichon Frise to the Papillon. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Bichon Frise and Papillons.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Papillon is better suited for new owners.
- Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Bichon Frise is the most friendly between the breeds.
- Grooming - The Papillon is easy to groom. The Bichon Frise has very high grooming needs.
- Barking - Both the Bichon Frise and Papillon are average barkers.
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| Breed Name | Bichon Frise | Papillon |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | Yes | No |
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-16 yrs. |
| Height | 9-11 in. | 8-11 in. |
| Weight | 7-12 lb | 4-9 lb |
| Intelligence | High | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Spain | France |
| Origin Year | 1300 AD | 1500 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | No |
| Medium Yard | No | No |
| Large Yard | No | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 50°F to 75°F | 50°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Medium-High | High |
| Exercise Required | Medium | High |
| Top Running Speed | 15 mph | 14 mph |
| Strength | Low | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | High | Low |
| Shedding | None | None-Low |
| Dander | None | Low |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Bichon Frise | Papillon |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | Yes |
| Family/Pack | Yes | No |
| Independent | No | Yes |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Very Low |
| Guarding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Herding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Hunting | Average | Below Average |
| Protection | Below Average | Very Low |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Below Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Bichon Frise | Papillon |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-16 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | Yes | No |
| Bladder Stones | Yes | No |
| Collapsed Trachea | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | No |
| Hypoglycemia | No | Yes |
| Juvenile Cataracts | Yes | No |
| Open Fontanel | No | Yes |
| Patellar Luxation | Yes | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Vaccination Sensitivity | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Bichon Frise | Papillon |
| Coat | ||
| Hair | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Single Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Wavy | Yes | No |
| Silky | No | Yes |
| Straight | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Long | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| White | Yes | Yes |
| White & Apricot | Yes | No |
| White & Buff | Yes | No |
| White & Cream | Yes | No |
| Black, Brown, & White | No | Yes |
| Black, Red, & White | No | Yes |
| Brown & White | No | Yes |
| Fawn & White | No | Yes |
| Red | No | Yes |
| Red, White, & Sable | No | Yes |
| Sable | No | Yes |
| White & Black | No | Yes |
| White & Lemon | No | Yes |
| White & Liver | No | Yes |
| White & Red | No | Yes |
| White & Sable | No | Yes |
| White & Silver | No | Yes |
| White, Black, & Tan | No | Yes |