Bichons Frises : the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find about Bichon Frise temperament, personality, and behavior.

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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."

Cheerful and playful, the Bichon Frise enjoys dashing around the house and yard and accompanying you for walks.

Bichons are so sociable and dependent that they don't do well when left for long periods of time without companionship.

There is timidity in some lines, so early socialization is important.

Though he does have an independent streak, he 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.

If you want a dog who...

• Is small but sturdy
• Doesn't need much outdoor exercise
• Has a curly coat that doesn't shed (one of the best breeds for allergy sufferers)
• Makes a good watchdog, but is not aggressive
• Is good with other pets

A Bichon Frise may be right for you.

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
• Stubbornness (mind of his own)
• Frequent brushing and clipping of the curly coat
• Barking
• Chronic skin problems

A Bichon Frise may not be right for you.

If I were considering buying or adopting a Bichon Frise

My major concerns would be:

1. 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 some owners never do get their Bichon Frise fully housebroken.

2. 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.

3. Providing enough socialization. The Bichon Frise needs extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural "softness" can become shyness or suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with.

   Bichon Frise puppies are NOT suited to small children, no matter how well-meaning the child. Children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Bichon Frise puppy who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Even Bichon Frise adults may feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and stress and shyness (even defensive biting) may be the result.

4. Mind of their own. Bichons can be somewhat stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

   To teach your Bichon to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Bichon Frise Training Page discusses the program you need.

5. Grooming. To keep their coat short and free of mats, Bichons require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every few months. But don't expect your pet Bichon Frise to look like the Bichon Frise show dogs you've seen in books and on TV. That particular look takes hours of work by experienced show groomers.

6. 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. If you work all day and have close neighbors, the Bichon is not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Bichons should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, some Bichons have intense, high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge.

7. Skin problems. Many Bichons scratch and chew themselves into horrendous skin disorders. They are often allergic to fleas, chemicals, grass, pollen, and so on.

   To keep this breed healthy, I strongly recommend following all of the advice on my Bichon Frise Health Page.

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.



My dog buying guide, How To Buy a Good Dog, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a healthy Bichon Frise puppy. 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