Breed library

Bichon Frise

Also known as Bichon Frise.

Bichon Frise photograph.
Bichon Frisé - studdogbichon.jpg - Heike Andres. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bichon_Fris%C3%A9_-_studdogbichon.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Breed overview

The Bichon Frisé or Bichon à Poil Frisé is a Franco-Belgian breed of small toy dog of bichon type. It was recognised by the Société Centrale Canine in 1933 and by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1959.

  • Breed classification: BichonBreed reference breed group.

Breed facts

  • In the 14th century, Italian sailors rediscovered the dogs on their voyages and are credited with returning them to continental Europe.
  • The Bichon à Poil Frisé was recognised by the Société Centrale Canine in 1933.
  • Some of the dogs were introduced to the United States in 1955 and to the United Kingdom in 1973.
  • The Bichon Frisé or Bichon à Poil Frisé is a Franco-Belgian breed of small toy dog of bichon type.
  • The French word bichon comes from Middle French bichon ('small dog'), a diminutive of Old French biche ('female dog', cognate with English bitch), from Old English bicce, and related to other Germanic words with the same meaning, including Old Norse bikkja, and German Betze.

Size and appearance

The coat is loosely curled in spirals or corkscrews, with a thick soft undercoat. On the Bichon Frisé's head, it is typically styled in a spherical shape, resembling a full moon. The coat is always pure white; only in dogs under a year old may it be slightly tinged with beige, this extending over no more than 10% of the area of the body. The head and legs are proportionate in size to the body.

  • Body mass reference: 5 kgBreed reference body mass. circa (approximately).
  • Height reference: 23 - 29 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 23 - 29 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 25 - 30 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 25 - 30 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 29 cmBreed reference height. maximum.
  • Height reference: 25 cm or moreBreed reference height. minimum.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: medium
  • Coat texture: curly
  • Height category: short
  • Weight category: small

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 2.11 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 1.67 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.71 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.98 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 1.53 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.18 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.37 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.88 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.20 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.72 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.60 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.82 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 1.09 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.29 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Bichon Frise.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: medium
  • Coat texture: curly

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.5 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

The French word bichon comes from Middle French bichon ('small dog'), a diminutive of Old French biche ('female dog', cognate with English bitch), from Old English bicce, and related to other Germanic words with the same meaning, including Old Norse bikkja, and German Betze. Some speculate the origin of bichon to be the result of the apheresis, or shortening, of the word barbichon ('small poodle'), a derivative of barbiche ('shaggy dog'); however, this is likely impossible, since the word bichon (attested 1588) is older than barbichon (attested 1694). While the English name for the breed, Bichon Frise, is derived from the French bichon à poil frisé meaning 'curly haired small dog'.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. Bichon Frisé - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Bichon Frisé, revision 1378970248. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bichon_Fris%C3%A9&action=history
  4. File:Bichon Frisé - studdogbichon.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Bichon Frisé - studdogbichon.jpg - Heike Andres. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bichon_Fris%C3%A9_-_studdogbichon.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.