Non-Sporting group · Small · Canary Islands / France
Bichon Frise
Also known as: Bichon, Tenerife Dog
The Bichon Frise is the happiest dog in most rooms it enters: a curly white charmer bred to be everyone's friend, sturdy enough for kids and merry enough for retirees. The honest headline is the coat — that powder-puff look is a monthly professional grooming bill and real between-visit brushing, forever.
Height
9.5-11.5 in
Weight
12-18 lbs
Lifespan
14-15 years
Coat
Curly, plush double coat; low-shedding
Exercise
30+ min/day
Puppy price
$1,500-$3,000
AKC popularity
#49
Best for
Families and first-timers who want a cheerful, sturdy, low-shedding small dog and are honest about paying a groomer every month for the rest of its long life.
Trait Scores
What owners love
- +Relentlessly cheerful temperament — Bichons like everyone: kids, dogs, cats, strangers, your mail carrier
- +Low-shedding curly coat makes them a top pick for allergy-prone households
- +Sturdier than toy breeds at 12-18 pounds — a small white fluffy dog that can actually handle family life
- +Genuinely trainable and eager to work for attention; they were literal circus dogs for centuries
- +The famous 'Bichon blitz' zoomies are a daily comedy show included free
- +Long-lived, with 14-15 years the norm and plenty reaching beyond
What owners warn about
- −The coat mats fast without brushing every other day, and professional grooming every 4-6 weeks at $70-$120 a visit is effectively mandatory
- −House-training is famously slow — Bichons routinely take 6-12 months to be reliable
- −Bred for constant companionship, so separation anxiety and lonely barking are common in work-away households
- −Skin allergies are the breed's biggest medical headache and can mean special diets and dermatology bills
- −Dental disease comes standard in small mouths; brushing is a job, not a suggestion
- −That happy energy needs an outlet — a bored Bichon becomes a barky, mischievous Bichon
Common Health Issues
How the Bichon Frise Compares
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bichon Frises hypoallergenic?+
They're one of the closest things to it — the curly double coat traps shed hair and dander instead of releasing it into your house. No dog is 100% hypoallergenic since allergies are triggered by dander and saliva, so spend time with a Bichon before committing. Regular grooming keeps allergen levels down.
How much does Bichon grooming really cost?+
Plan on $70-$120 every 4-6 weeks for a professional groom, which is $800-$1,400 a year for the life of the dog, plus brushing at home several times a week to prevent mats between visits. Some owners learn to clip at home, but the coat is genuinely technical. If that budget makes you wince, pick a smooth-coated breed.
Why is my Bichon so hard to potty train?+
Breed-wide trait — small companion breeds top every 'hardest to house-train' list and Bichons are charter members. Small bladders, indoor-living heritage, and subtle signals mean you need rigid scheduling, crate training, and zero unsupervised freedom for months. They all get there; the owners who struggle are the ones who declared victory at 4 months.
Are Bichons good with kids and other pets?+
One of the best small breeds for both. They're sturdy enough to enjoy (supervised) kid play rather than merely survive it, and their social, non-territorial nature makes multi-pet households easy. Just teach kids that even a sturdy small dog isn't a toy, and give the dog a retreat space.