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Breed profile

Bichon Frise

A cheerful white powder puff that gets on with nearly everyone. Low shedding, high grooming, and very fond of company.

Fluffy white Bichon Frise sitting on a car seat with its tongue out
Bichon FrisePhoto: TudorTulok / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
5–8 kg11–18 lb
Height
23–30 cm9–12 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Group
Toy / Non-Sporting
Origin
France & Belgium
Popularity
#49 US#77 UK · 2025

Known for: Flat-friendlyFirst-time ownersLow sheddingFamily dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Cheerful, Affectionate, Gentle, Playful.

Health problems to know about

  • Bladder stones
  • Cataracts
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Daily brushing to stop mats, plus a professional groom about once a month. Half an hour of walks and play a day is plenty. Tell your vet about any straining or blood when it pees.

A good fit for

Flats, first-time owners, families and multi-pet homes, people who are around most of the day.

Probably not ideal for

Anyone who won't pay for regular grooming, owners out all day, people wanting a hiking dog.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Bichon Frise
  2. Wikipedia: Bichon Frise
  3. PetMD: Bichon Frise

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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