Are Bichons Frises High-Maintenance Dogs?

The fluffy bichon frise is one of the most energetic and charming breeds. If you are looking for the perfect family companion, this playful pooch can add plenty of love and affection to your household.

Check out the following sections to find out if bichon frise puppies are high maintenance and find out what you need to know about their care routine!

Space

The bichon frise pooch is a lovely tiny, puffy breed, so it may be enough for them to live in a small apartment, unlike large dog breeds. However, bichon owners will find that their pooch requires a lot of exercise, so you should have access to dog-friendly parks or a generous backyard.

You can also introduce the friendly bichon to other pets to keep them sociable and avoid fear-based aggression. If you live in an apartment, you may notice that bichons love barking, and some of them have a high pitch. Nonetheless, bichons are brilliant dogs, so they can be easily trained, especially when treats are the reward for good behavior!

Exercise

Despite the small teddy bear look, bichons need plenty of exercise to burn their energy. They love running and walking, so you need to dedicate some time to take your dog to the park or your backyard.

It is also highly recommended to keep your pup engaged in different activities. If you leave it by itself, make sure you have enough dog-friendly toys to fill up its activity quota while avoiding loneliness. You can also play with them to keep them active as they love attention, games, and companionship.

Diet

Bichons require high-quality kibbles that provide plenty of vitamins and nourishment to keep them healthy and energetic. The diet should be well-balanced and rich in omega fatty acids. For instance, eggs and fish will provide plenty of nutrients to keep the coat healthy and youthful. As a bichon owner, you may want to invest in high-quality kibbles that are enriched with vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, biotin, and vitamin E.

If you cannot find food rich in omega fatty acids, you can opt for fish oil supplements. This will keep your pooch’s fur healthy and nourished while supporting overall health.

Similar to many other small breeds, bichons may develop urolithiasis, known as stones in their urinary tract. This condition can be managed with increased water intake and special diets.

Most bichons weigh approximately 15 lbs at maturity, and they need approximately 500 calories per day. However, just like humans, bichons have unique, individual needs. The appropriate amount of food depends on the dog’s age, size, metabolism, build, and activity.

Avoid leaving food out all the time. It is best to opt for high-quality, nourishing food twice per day for adult dogs. Apart from this, make sure your dog gets enough exercise to keep unwanted weight at bay.

Some bichons may have a sensitive digestive system and can suffer from food allergies. If you think that is the case, you need to take your pooch to a vet, ensuring that it receives a customized diet according to its needs and sensitivity.

Grooming

In terms of grooming, bichons are high-maintenance, unlike other breeds with short hair, such as dachshunds. There are multiple haircut styles popular with bichon frise owners. One of the main problems is that they are prone to eye issues that make them produce discharge, leading to tear stains on their face. Therefore, you need to keep your pooch well-groomed and trimmed to avoid eye infections.

Similar to poodles, bichons require grooming twice per week to avoid knots in their curly coat. Some owners also choose to take their dogs to a professional salon to clean their ears, professionally cut the fur, and even trim their nails if they are not naturally worn down.

Thankfully, their cloud-looking coat is hypoallergenic, so you won’t find any tight curls around your home. Although bichons shed seasonally similar to other dogs, the loose fur gets stuck in the coat, so practically bichons do not shed much. Excessive shedding is a sign of skin diseases or a poor diet, so your dog requires medical attention if you notice clumps of hair around your home.

In addition to this, you need to brush your pooch every single day. The tight curls are prone to tangles, and, apart from this, brushing also helps to distribute natural oils evenly throughout the entire coat. This will make your pup look shiny and healthy.

Cleaning

The eye-catching bichon frise is a dog with a “puffy” appearance, similar to a white cloud. In other words, the coat is also high-maintenance, especially since you need to take them out several times per day, so they will get dirty. For tips on how to keep them white, read this article.

Many owners have a regular routine of washing them, but you can also do it whenever you notice that they need a bath. Before cleaning the pup, make sure its coat is free of tangles; otherwise, the knots will tighten during the bath and become almost impossible to detangle afterward.

Another critical step is to clean and check your pooch’s ears. Many owners also have to pluck out hair growing inside the ear canal to prevent health issues. Alternatively, you can take your bichon to a professional groomer. Regular ear checking is essential for their well-being as wax build-ups, redness, or unpleasant odor may be present. In this case, the bichon may have an ear infection, and you need to take it to the vet.

Finally, you need to check their teeth on a weekly basis. It’s recommended to brush them at least twice per week to eliminate bacteria and tartar. If you have time, you can also opt for daily brushing, which will help your pooch maintain excellent oral health while preventing gum disease.

Attention

Similar to huskies, bichon frise is an extremely affectionate and sociable breed. These dogs are extremely outgoing and can quickly befriend other humans and pets. Unfortunately, this need for socialization will turn into a disadvantage if you cannot spend much time with your pooch. Most importantly, bichons can suffer from anxiety and stress if they are left alone for a long time.

Bichons are extremely friendly and playful. They are considered great city dogs, but puppies can be quite shy in the beginning. It is important to take them out to socialize and improve their confidence.

Summary

With a tiny body and a love-seeking behavior, the curly bichon frise can be the best companion for you and your family. They are extremely intelligent and relatively high maintenance because they require plenty of exercise, frequent grooming, and lots of attention to prevent loneliness and anxiety.