We begin this article with the basic facts about the breed, then follow up with an in-depth look at their personality.

Breed group: Non-sporting

Weight: 7-12 lbs

Height: 9.5-11.5 inches

Overview

The Bichon Frise is a cross between the Poodle and the Barbet Water Spaniel, and made its first appearance during the 14th century. The Bichon was traded by Spanish sailors traded the Bichon, and during the 16th century they became a firm favourite of the French royal courts. These dogs were circus performers and very popular organ grinder's dogs. Today they are primarily show and companion dogs.

Temperament
The Bichon Frise has a very sweet, lively, bouncy and active temperament. They are very fond of playing, and will have erratic bursts of liveliness that will lead them into many unfamiliar adventures. This is usually outside of the yard, or when they are off the leash. This breed is very playful and friendly toward strangers - they also make excellent watchdogs. The Bichon Frise is one of the very few smaller dogs that get along very well with children. You will find that these dogs are very care free, and that they get along well with other dogs and animals. They are however very sensitive and they like to cuddle up one a member of their family's lap. The Bichon Frise is a very independent dog that is also highly intelligent. They show a lot of affection toward others and they are also very confident and charming.
Care

The Bichon Frise is a dog that requires a lot of maintenance, and should be brushed often and bathed once a month. It is recommended that they are groomed by a professional every 4 weeks. The hair around their ears and eyes should also be trimmed with a pair of blunt scissors - it is also advised that their eyes should be cleaned to prevent staining. Electric clippers should be used to trim the body of the dog, but a scissor should still be used to trim the rest of the dog. The Bichon does not shed a lot of hair, and is therefore ideal for those suffering from allergies.

Training
The Bichon Frise is a very intelligent dog, but they are fairly difficult to housebreak. They are slow to grow up, and they males are usually somewhat easier to train than females. Crate is recommended for the Bichon Frise, and it is vital that the training should be conducted in a consistent and patient manner. These dogs will do well with obedience and agility training, especially if it is started at a young age. The Bichon Frise flourish when they can socialise, and they are very fond of performing tricks.

Health problems

Some of these dogs tend to suffer from watery eyes, cataracts, skin and ear ailments, epilepsy and also dislocated kneecaps. The Bichon Frise is very sensitive to flea bites.