Tell me about Bichon Frise

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CazD

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I quite like the look of these little dogs - there's a rescue one that I'm quite smitten with but OH says they look like they will be a lot of work. What are they like, how hard are they to keep clean etc etc.
 
Wonderful, wonderful happy little dogs.

We have a little bitch. Keep her very trimmed (so no Bichon cut), and love her to bits.

They need moderate amounts of exercise - although ours is happy to do as much as we ask of her.

I've not long got back from two weeks in Pembrokeshire, and she came with us in our campervan. She enjoyed the walks, the beaches and the pubs, and is the perfect 'van' size dog.

She seems to shed dirt, so don't have a problem keeping her clean. However, I do bath her maybe once a fortnight, to keep her sparkly bright.

She's due for a hair cut in these pictures.

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She is gorgeous. Makes me want one even more!! We have a cairn at the moment and I'd really like something of a similar size but OH says white fluffy fur will be a nightmare in the winter on wet muddy walks!
 
I've just edited my post. But just to say, she doesn't get particularly dirty. But if she does get stinking (walks through muddy fields etc.) then I bath her. It's also one of the benefits of keeping her trimmed so short. Easy to wash and dry :D
 
Clever, active little dogs with huge characters, very loyal little dogs, high maintenance on the grooming front but out of the small breeds they definately top my recommendations for a family pet. I have just rehomed 2 from our rescue both fab little dogs there new owners are in love with them. I also board a few of them all lovey little dogs with fab temperaments.
 
CazD said:
She is gorgeous. Makes me want one even more!! We have a cairn at the moment and I'd really like something of a similar size but OH says white fluffy fur will be a nightmare in the winter on wet muddy walks!
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As amymay suggests keeping them short helps immensely, it's only when you want a posh hair do (of which they do look very impressive with) that they become harder to keep clean, most of the ones i deal with bar 1 are kept short.
 
Definitely characters! I've only met a couple, both expert people-trainers - very sweet with it, but definitely clever enough to make them fun:D
 
I have a bichon X and he is exactley as described being a cross he is really a blck Bichon. So loyal and the most amazing companion, loves his walks (being black I dont have to worry about dirt) but I keep his coat short too!

Those who deal with Bichons do they usually like playing fetch with Sticks/balls as mine loves it and I'm not sure if its normal!!! (he is crossed with a caverlier and I know they dont)
 
Scarlett has no interest on sticks or balls at all. Just looks at you as if its all rather beneath her. However she will 'kill' her toy cat at every opportunity... lol.
 
my friend at work has had nothing but trouble with food allergies,skin complaints,dodgy tummy and ear infections.
 
Cahill said:
my friend at work has had nothing but trouble with food allergies,skin complaints,dodgy tummy and ear infections.
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Thankfully, we've had none of these.

She's a bin, and eats what we eat. And I think because she's clipped short, the skin can breath etc. so no problems caused. Her ears are fine also.
 
Around here they would be fodder for puppy farmers - probably why Cahill's friend is having a bad experience - all of those conditions can be hereditary. Different breeds have good and bad points - I have two dogs of the same breed, one is crippled with allergies (which is a recognised problem in many breeds), the other is tough as old boots, swings and roundabouts.

My experience is that they are fun, robust little dogs but all the ones I have met have been very vocal/gobby so I would ensure manners are instilled if I had one. It's not OK for big dogs to run up/strain at the leash and bark at people/other dogs and I personally don't think it is OK for small dogs either :p
 
My neighbour shows and breeds them and has 13 at the moment in a two bedroom terrace house! Because they are show dogs, he must spend half his life grooming them, but he is so devoted and loves them all to bits.

I can't tell the difference between them all, so may only ever meet the same dog, but I doubt it somehow. Anyway, they all seem to be lovely, happy, smiley little people and considering how may he has, don't make much noise at all. A bit of chatting to each other when he lets them out first thing, but other than that we don't really hear them.
 
PMSL, some doggy must have been reading this thread. Man walking three the other night dropped the lead of one while trying to pick them all up, it FLEW at us barking and did a few half-hearted nips of the Floofy one, who just stood there looking...extremely...confused.

While I would normally say to the owner 'careful now, he will do that to the wrong dog one day/that would not have been cool if my dog did that to your dog' all I could say was 'bloody hell, he's brave!!!'
 
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