Bichon Frise identification: curls, head and tail
Pure white, corkscrew curls and a powder-puff head: the Bichon Frise looks simple, but several small white breeds share the look. Upload a photo to see which is closest.
Also known as: Bichon, Bichon à Poil Frisé, Bichon Tenerife
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About the Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise belongs to the old family of small white Mediterranean companion dogs, alongside the Maltese, Bolognese and Havanese. The modern breed was standardised in France and Belgium in the 1930s, which is why the FCI lists it as Franco-Belgian, in the companion and toy group. Bichons are cheerful, sociable and easy to live with, comfortable in a flat and good with children and visitors. They dislike long periods alone and can be slow to house-train. The coat sheds little but needs regular care.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Small
- Adult weight
- 5–8 kg
- Life expectancy
- 14–15 years
- Exercise
- Moderate
How to recognise a Bichon Frise
- White coat: the FCI standard asks for pure white, while the AKC tolerates cream or apricot shading around the ears.
- Fine, silky, loose corkscrew curls over a soft undercoat, standing away from the body rather than lying flat.
- Rounded head in the usual grooming style, with a black nose, black eye rims and round, dark eyes.
- Drop ears hidden in long hair; tail carried curved over the back, its plume resting on the spine without curling tightly.
- Small but sturdy, slightly longer than tall, with a level back and a proud, alert head carriage.
Photo tip. Photograph in soft daylight against a darker background so the curls stand out. Curl texture is what separates a Bichon from a Maltese or a Coton.
Bichon Frise or look-alike?
Maltese
Straight, silky white hair that falls flat to the ground when left long, with no curl and no undercoat. A Bichon’s coat stands out in curls and gives a rounder silhouette.
Bolognese
An Italian cousin with an open, fluffy coat of loose flocks rather than corkscrew curls, and a squarer body. It is usually left natural, without the Bichon’s sculpted round head.
Havanese
Longer-legged, with a lighter, wavy coat that comes in many colours besides white. Even a white Havanese looks less sculpted and more tousled than a groomed Bichon.
Coton de Tuléar
The coat feels like cotton and hangs in soft, slightly wavy locks rather than curls. Some have light grey or lemon patches on the ears, which a Bichon never shows.
Bichon Frise mixes
The Bichon is a common parent in small designer crosses: the Cavachon (with a Cavalier), the Poochon or Bichpoo (with a Poodle), the Shichon (with a Shih Tzu) and the Maltichon (with a Maltese). The white, low-shedding curly coat is the trait most often passed on, along with the black nose and round eyes. Because Poodles and Maltese bring similar coats, the identifier usually names two or three small white breeds for these dogs; a DNA test gives percentages.
Health and care
- Patellar luxation and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease are known in the breed; ask about the parents’ knee and hip checks.
- Cataracts can appear young in Bichons, so ask for recent eye exams on both parents and keep up regular eye checks.
- Dental disease is common in this small, crowded jaw: brush the teeth often and offer suitable dental chews.
- Brush down to the skin several times a week and book a groom every few weeks; a coat brushed only on top mats underneath.
- Skin and food allergies and bladder stones are reported in the breed. Make sure your Bichon drinks well, and note any itching or tear staining.