Bichon Frise Care

Ah, the Bichon Frise. These toy-sized, white-coated dogs are affectionate, intelligent, low-shedding, and playful, and are some of the most sought-after companion dogs on the planet. Bichons are also sensitive and needy, and will become highly anxious and destructive if left alone. Overall Bichon Frise care and maintenance will take some work, and will need to include a bit of daily exercise and some frequent grooming.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Bichon Frise: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and other Bichon Frise tips are all covered here. If you know of a Bichon Frise that needs a home, by all means adopt the dog--and learn how to care for a Bichon Frise in the following sections!

Though these dogs are active and playful, they're also small--so Bichon Frise exercise needs aren't very extensive. Bichons will normally fulfill most of their daily activity requirements just running around being their friendly little selves, but they'll still benefit from a couple of short walks and some playtime every day.

Specifically how much exercise does a Bichon Frise need? Adult Bichons will only need about 30 minutes of dedicated exercise per day. You can start exercising your Bichon puppy when it's 2½ months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Bichon Frise exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're eight months old
• A leash is recommended when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Highly prone to separation anxiety; exercises must be done together with people

It's a good idea to exercise your Bichon Frise every day. These dogs are happy, active, and enthusiastic--and without consistent activity they'll become fussy, disobedient, and even destructive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! Here are a few Bichon Frise exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 10-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use the dog's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Bichons enjoy the company of other dogs
• Laser Pointer: Your Bichon Frise will go nuts chasing that little red dot

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Bichon Frise access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that owners have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These dogs will need a good bit of maintenance overall. While Bichon Frise shedding and drooling are minimal, a lot of grooming will be required to maintain these dogs' beautiful white coats.

Bichons have medium-length, soft, double-layered coats. Does a Bichon Frise shed at all? It does--but since most of the shed hairs from the undercoat get trapped beneath the outer coat, for the most part the Bichon Frise is shedless. Even so, owners will need to brush their Bichons 3-4 times per week (if not daily) to keep the coats from turning into matted, tangled messes. It's good to have the coats clipped every 4-6 weeks as well--so many Bichon owners rely on monthly visits to a groomer to keep those white coats looking their best.

A Bichon Frise rarely drools, though. If your Bichon Frise is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Bichon Frise diet will need to include animal proteins, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Bichon Frise dog food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients. One premium brand even has a line of dry food specifically formulated for this breed: Royal Canin Bichon Frise Food is tailored to adult Bichons, and has nutrients that keep these dogs at their healthiest.

Specifically how much should a Bichon Frise eat? Adult Bichon food portions are about 1½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Portions of food for Bichon Frise puppy dogs are a bit smaller: depending on age, about a cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until five months old.

For more info on feeding these dogs from puppyhood through maturity, here's a Bichon Frise feeding guide:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If constantly overfed (and under-exercised), these dogs will become overweight--and a fat Bichon Frise will have numerous health problems and a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Bichon's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Bichon Frise is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

Though opinions differ, most veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best food for a Bichon Frise dog is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive, is much healthier, and will help your Bichon live a longer, happier life. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for this breed, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that simply don't meet a dog's nutritional needs.

Some recommended brands: Royal Canin Bichon Frise Food is specifically tailored to this breed; Blue Buffalo and Taste of the Wild also carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

Without a doubt, the Bichon Frise is an inside dog. These little animals love to be with their human family members, and will quickly suffer separation anxiety if left alone for any length of time. And are Bichon Frise apartment dogs? They're fantastic apartment dwellers--just make sure you take them for a walk or two, and perhaps have a period of playtime, on a daily basis.

In regards to climate: these dogs are pretty adaptable to both warm and cool weather. Note that your Bichon Frise might get cold in freezing temps, so owners might consider investing in doggy coats for winter.