The Bichon breed
Bichon
Bichon Frise: a small bundle of joy in curls
The Bichon Frise is a small white dog covered in curls, cheerful and sociable. The ultimate companion dog, it adapts perfectly to apartment or house living.
Origins of the Bichon Frise
Descended from the Mediterranean Bichon family (alongside the Maltese, Bolognese and Havanese), it has been popular in European royal courts since the Renaissance. Standardised in France and Belgium, it now carries the name Bichon à poil frisé.
Temperament and personality
The Bichon Frise is known for:
- Almost permanent good mood
- Strong sociability with people and pets
- Strong attachment to its family
- Cheerful liveliness, never aggressive
It copes badly with long absences and prefers to live at the heart of family life.
Training and socialization
Intelligent and eager to please, it learns willingly in a positive atmosphere. It suits beginners well, provided clear boundaries are set from the start to avoid spoiled-small-dog behaviour.
Health and care
The Bichon is generally robust, with a few predispositions:
- Skin allergies
- Patellar luxation
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Urinary stones
Its curly coat hardly sheds but requires rigorous care: regular brushing (3 to 4 times a week) and grooming every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent matting.
The Bichon Frise in the family
It is an ideal companion: gentle with children, tolerant with other pets, adaptable to any lifestyle. It suits older people just as well as active families.
📌 Summary
Joyful, gentle and sociable, the Bichon Frise is an everyday companion whose only real challenge is the regular maintenance of its coat.