Bichon Frise: temperament, training and care

At a glance

Temperament

• Cheerful and friendly
• Hardly sheds, needs clipping
• Can be hard to house-train

Training tips

A strict potty routine pays off: take them out on a schedule.

Bichon Frises usually pick things up quickly, which also means they learn bad habits quickly. Keep sessions short and varied, and reward the calm behavior you want to see more of.

Start with a marker word, sit, come and leave it. For a puppy, see the puppy training guides.

Exercise and energy

A healthy adult Bichon Frise typically needs around 30 to 45 minutes of activity a day. Mix walks with sniffing and short training games: mental work tires dogs as much as running does. Puppies need much shorter sessions while they grow.

See how much exercise a dog needs and our games and enrichment ideas.

Health to watch

Things the breed is known to be prone to. Ask your vet what to check for your dog.

• Skin. Folds and allergies need care: keep folds clean and dry, and watch for itching. See: Allergic Reaction.
• Teeth. A small mouth crowds the teeth: brush them a few times a week.
• Kneecaps. Kneecaps can slip: a skip or hop on a back leg is worth showing the vet. See: Broken Bone or Sprain.