Fall in Love with a Cuddly, White Puff - the Bichon Frise
Posted by Mike Mathews | Filed under Home & Family
A curly-haired lap dog is the direct translation of Bichon Frise in English, a translation that justifies this lovable, curly-haired dog that is smart, full of life and easygoing. It’s a bundle of joy and energy that every owner will surely be pleased to have as a companion at home.
Compatibility and Usage: The breed’s small size and friendly nature does not make it the first choice as a good guard dog however, it more than makes up for this shortcoming as it adequately fulfills the role of a family dog without equal! Its disposition, playful character and antics would surely liven up any person’s life - be it in the city or in the countryside.
Physical Appearance: The Bichon Frise sports a loose, curly double coat. The outer coat is textured while the undercoat is 3 to 4 inches long and is soft, fine and silky undercoat. The usual color is all white but some members of the breed may have cream, gray or orange colored coats. It has round, black intelligent eyes, drooping ears and a tail curved over its back.
Temperament: its overfriendliness with humans including strangers makes the Bichon Frise a poor choice for a guard dog. Nonetheless, its cheerfulness, warm and loving attitude make it very popular as a family dog especially those with small children. Its temperament makes it easy for the Brison Frise to ingratiate itself with humans and even other dogs.
Although they have a streak of stubbornness but it is rarely displayed. Sudden bursts of energetic display is quite common with a Bichon Frise and most of the time you will end up having a laugh especially when they start running after their tail. They are very good around children and elderly people.
Caring & Health: Average lifespan is normally 12 years, give or take a year or two. The male of the breed has a maximum height of that reaches up to 12 inches while the female can be anywhere from 9 to 11 inches. Their non shedding coat requires regular grooming and can be a source of various types of skin allergies and skin problems, making grooming a regular necessity.
If you own a Bichon then you will need to brush his coat several times within a week so that hair tangling can be prevented. The more frequently you groom him, the puffier his coat will be. A balanced diet with moderate exercise will do him a lot of good. One of the most important health risks that a Bichon Frise might face is that of pancreatitis, which is more often caused due to eating fatty foods.
Bichons are also prone to skin irritations and allergy (if not groomed regularly); old age cataract, senility and diseases of the ear; although ear disease is very easy to treat. Owning a Bichon is no different than owning a cuddly, barking fur ball that would give all members of the family extreme joy and pleasure!
Author Info: Mike Mathews is a writer and publisher of the popular Dog Breed Facts website. His new ebook titled “Choosing a Dog For Your Lifestyle” is a great resource for the prospective dog owner.
Tags: Bichon, Bichon Frise, choosing a dog, choosing a dog for your lifestyle, Dog breed, dog breeds, dogs, Home & Family
