The French are known for their fries, their funny accents, their famous bike race and the Bichon Frisé. Okay, maybe the latter is not the most well known breed of dog, but it is gaining in popularity due to the widely held belief that it is a non-shedding breed. These small dogs are smart, playful and like being the center of attention. If you’re thinking of adding a Bichon Frisé to your family, read the steps below to ensure that you know the responsibilities involved with caring for this breed.

Step 1: Make a commitment to daily grooming. As mentioned above, this breed is widely known for its reputation as a non-shedding breed. While it’s difficult to say whether or not there really is such a thing, it’s true that the Bichon Frisé is a recommended pet for humans with allergies. However, in order to live up to its reputation, the Bichon Frisé must be groomed daily. Daily grooming will remove loose hair and dander. This breed also needs frequent trimming of their curly coat. Aside from the daily grooming that is to be done at home, plan to visit a professional groomer about once a month.

Step 2: Take care of his eyes. Ask the groomer to remove the hair around your dog’s eyes in order to keep that area clean and healthy. You might also want to invest in some tear stain remover as this breed tends to have stains from tears, mucus and discharge.  (The tear stains aren’t something to be concerned about; they are common in white dogs.)

Step 3: Take care of his ears. This breed has adorable floppy ears that can be seen bouncing to and fro when the dog is playing. However, because of their floppiness they tend to get things stuck inside of them, which can cause infection. Floppy ears can also be breeding grounds for ear mites. Perform routine checks in and around your dog’s ears.

Step 4: Take care of his skin. The Bichon Frisé breed is susceptible to skin allergies. Because of this, you’ll want to keep a close watch for signs of irritation, such as redness, itching, etc.  With regular grooming and special attention to his coat, dog owners should be able to quickly recognize any irregularities in their dog’s skin.

Step 5: Don’t leave him alone for long. This breed is playful and likes to be kept occupied. If left alone for too long, a Bichon Frisé will make mischief.  Dog owners who leave this breed home alone all day might be greeted with a mess, despite the fact that the breed is easy to potty train.

Step 6:  Be aware of health issues that are known to plague this breed. Some of the health issues you might want to talk over with your veterinarian include dental disease, bladder and kidney stones, and patellar luxation.

Step 7: Proper nutrition is an important factor in this breed’s health. Because Bichon Frisés have been known to have issues with their liver, a low protein diet might be in order if your dog is at risk for conditions affecting the liver. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the specific nutritional needs of your Bichon Frisé.

Step 8: Enroll your dog in obedience training. The Bichon Frisé is an overall very obedient breed. In order to have the most successful outcome in obedience classes, enroll early and remain very consistent with the techniques learned in obedience class.

Should you decide you are ready for the commitment, you can expect to enjoy many years of companionship with your Bichon Frisé. Following the steps above will contribute to your dog’s overall good health and well being. And should you determine that the dog is in fact non-shedding, spread the word! Long-haired Golden Retriever owners everywhere will be jealous! 

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