Bichon Frise Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em
By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010
The AKC Standard calls the Bichon Frise "a white powder puff of a dog whose merry temperament is evidenced by his plumed tail carried jauntily over the back and his dark-eyed inquisitive expression."
The Bichon Frise is easy to live with, a cheerful, pleasant house dog who enjoys playing games, snuggling into laps and pillows, and perching on the back of the sofa so he can peer out the window.
Exercise needs are easy to meet: a daily walk or two, plus a small yard in which to trot around and stretch his legs.
Bichons are peaceful with everyone, including other pets. There is timidity in some lines, so early socialization is important to develop their confidence.
Though he does have an independent streak, the Bichon Frise is not a dominant dog and responds well to nonforceful training. He prefers learning tricks to formal obedience and is especially bright-eyed when food treats are offered as rewards. Harshness only makes him spiteful.
The three most common behavioral issues with the Bichon Frise are: 1) housebreaking: Bichons are usually difficult to housebreak; 2) separation anxiety: Bichons are so sociable and dependent on human companionship that they don't do well when left for long periods of time; and 3) some Bichons are barky -- and some have a high-pitched bark that can set your teeth on edge.
If you want a dog who...
A Bichon Frise may be |
If you don't want to deal with...
- Notorious housebreaking difficulties
- "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much
- Shyness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
- Frequent clipping of the curly coat
- Potential for excessive barking
A Bichon Frise may not be right for you.
If I were considering buying or adopting a Bichon Frise
My major concerns would be:
- Housebreaking. As a behavioral consultant, I would put the Bichon Frise on my Top 10 List of "Hard to Housebreak." Consistent crate training is mandatory. Sometimes a doggy door is necessary, and it should lead out to a COVERED potty yard. Housebreaking issues are a major reason why Bichons Frises are turned over to rescue organizations. Just so you know!
- Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, the Bichon Frise needs a great deal of companionship and does not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking.
- Barking. Bichons Frise are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them.
To learn more about training your Bichon Frise to be calm and well-behaved, consider my dog training book,
Teach Your Dog 100 English Words.
It's a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will make your Bichon Frise the smartest, most well-behaved companion you've ever had.
Teaches your dog to listen to you, to pay attention to you, and to do whatever you ask him to do. - Grooming. To keep their coat free of mats, Bichons require regular brushing and combing, and also clipping and trimming every 6 weeks. Just don't expect your pet Bichon Frise to look like the "puff-ball" Bichon Frise show dogs you've probably seen on the Westiminster Kennel Club show on TV. That particular look takes hours of work by experienced show groomers and then they can never let the dog out in the yard to play. You don't want that! Instead, just clip your Bichon's coat short so that brushing and combing is minimized -- an additional benefit is that he will look like an adorable puppy throughout his life!
- Finding a healthy one and keeping him healthy. Many Bichons scratch and chew themselves into horrendous skin conditions. They are often allergic to fleas, chemicals, grass, pollen, and so on. Urinary infections and stones are a concern in the breed, along with loose knee joints, ear infections, eye diseases, and more.
My dog buying guide, How To Buy a Good Dog, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a healthy Bichon Frise. Health problems have become so widespread in dogs today that this book is required reading for ANYONE who is thinking of getting a purebred, crossbred, or mixed breed dog.
If you'd like to consult with me personally about whether the Bichon Frise might be a good dog breed for your family, I offer a Dog Breed Consulting Service.
Once you have your Bichon Frise home, you need to KEEP him healthy -- or if he's having any current health problems, you need to get him back on the road to good health.
My dog health care book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy is the book you need.
Raise your dog the right way and you will be helping him live a longer, healthier life while avoiding health problems and unnecessary veterinary expenses.
Please consider adopting an ADULT Bichon Frise ...
When you're acquiring a Bichon Frise PUPPY, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important.
But when you acquire an adult dog, you're acquiring what he already IS and you can decide whether he is the right dog for you based on that reality. There are plenty of adult Bichons Frises who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics that are "typical" for their breed. If you find such an adult dog, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. Just be happy that you found an atypical individual -- and enjoy!
Save a life. Adopt a dog.
Adopting a Dog From a Dog Breed Rescue Group
Adopting a Dog From the Animal Shelter
Copyright © 2000-2010 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website,
or distributed in any way without the express permission of the author.