The name Bichon Frise in French means a curly lap dog and truly, he is a cute and curly dog who loves to spread happiness all around. While choosing a small dog breed, you can always bring home a Bichon Frise as they make popular pets. They are look somewhat similar to the Maltese but are bigger. Extremely intelligent, the Bichon Frise is a lively and happy-go-lucky dog. You will really be proud to own one.

Compatibility and Usage: Due to his happy disposition, he makes for a complete family dog. The Bichon Frise is not a guard dog nor is it a popular show dog. He loves being indoors but at the same time will love to take a walk outdoors or at a dog park where he will happily make many friends.

Physical Appearance: Most dogs of the breed have the characteristic non-shedding white coat although there are others that display off-white, beige or yellow-orange with dark shades around the ears. Purebreds have a white coat, black or brown eyes with the clearly identifiable mask around the eyes.

Temperament: The Bichon Frise is a dog with a happy disposition and can make friends easily even with strangers and hence can’t be considered as a good guard dog. He is also quite sensitive and affectionate. The most important trait is his cheerful attitude, which is why he is so popular. They have an overall great temperament, which helps them to socialize with humans and other dogs alike.

Although they have a streak of stubbornness but it is rarely displayed. Sudden bursts of energetic display is quite common with a Bichon Frise and most of the time you will end up having a laugh especially when they start running after their tail. They are very good around children and elderly people.

Caring & health: A Bichon Frise has a life span of around 12 years and a male dog will have a height of up to 12 inches while a female or a bitch can have a height varying from 9 to 11 inches. They have a non shedding coat and hence need regular grooming. Bichons are also susceptible to different types of skin allergies and other skin problems, which makes grooming necessary.

Regular brushing is necessary to remove the hair tangles of the Bichon’s coat; tedious as this may be, it contributes to making the dog’s coat puffier, more beautiful and highly attractive. Do not feed your dog with high fat content foods to avoid their common affliction, pancreatitis. To ensure your dog’s health, it is necessary to walk him regularly on a daily basis.

Some of the other medical problems that the Bichons are susceptible to include skin irritations allergy, cataract (happens with age), senility and vestibular disease. The last one is a disease of the ear and needs to be taken care of immediately. Minus the diseases, which are common for almost all breeds, choosing a small breed dog like the Bichon Frise is like bringing home a fur ball of happiness!

About the Author: Mike Mathews is the owner and editor of the popular Dog Breed Facts website. His new ebook titled “Choosing a Dog For Your Lifestyle” is a fantastic resource for the new dog owner.