In the 17th and 18th centuries, it sat for portraits. According to the FCI standard, the Bichon Frise (Bichon à poil frisé) appeared in many famous paintings alongside royalty and nobles. Later, the two world wars almost saw it disappear. Today, it is a companion that comes everywhere and rarely loses its composure.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 1.1 Bichons, Standard No. 215, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France and Belgium (a Franco-Belgian breed) |
| Size (height at the withers) | 25 to 29 cm; tolerances of 1 cm above for males and 2 cm below for females |
| Weight | around 5 kg, depending on size |
| Life expectancy | median 12,5 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | abundant, loose corkscrew curls with a silky, fine undercoat |
| Colours in the standard | pure white; before the first birthday, a slight beige shade (champagne) is permitted on no more than 10 per cent of the dog |
Origins
According to the standard, the Bichon came from Italy to France during the Renaissance. Resembling a small Barbet, it was first called Barbichon, later shortened to Bichon. Under Napoleon III, it was fashionable as the Ténériffe. After the world wars, breeders in France and Belgium secured the population; the current name was established in 1978.
Temperament
The standard calls it a true companion that can be taken everywhere, never nervous or yappy, very sociable even with unfamiliar people and dogs, adaptable and affectionate. That affection has a downside: being alone must be taught gently.
Exercise and activities
A Bichon needs no marathon distances, but enjoys daily walks, search games and small tricks. It learns willingly and quickly when training stays short and friendly.
Grooming
This is where the work lies. The curly coat sheds very little but mats quickly. Brush down to the skin several times a week and arrange clipping around every six to eight weeks. Keep the eye area clean; the standard even classifies tear staining in the coat as a serious fault.
Health
A common issue in small breeds is a kneecap slipping out of its groove (patellar luxation). Swedish Kennel Club screening data for 1.071 Bichons showed a frequency of 12 per cent and estimated heritability of 0,21 (Nilsson et al. 2018). Watch for hopping on three legs or briefly stretching out a hind leg, and ask the breeder for the parents’ knee examination results.
Who is a Bichon Frise right for?
First-time owners, families and older people seeking a cheerful, friendly companion, happy to groom or budget regularly for a salon.
Who is it less suitable for?
Anyone wanting an easy-care dog, and homes where the dog stays alone for many hours.
Our breed quiz shows whether a Bichon fits your daily life; our book offers more thorough help: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Those white curls look especially lovely in a picture: explore our dog portraits from your own photo or a digital artwork to download.
Further reading
- Maltese: plenty of character, with grooming as the full-time job
- Havanese: suitable for beginners does not mean undemanding
- Leaving your dog alone: learning without drama (step by step)
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 215 Bichon à poil frisé (fci.be, version dated 06.01.2020); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Nilsson K et al., Heritability of patellar luxation in the Chihuahua and Bichon Frise breeds of dogs and effectiveness of a Swedish screening programme, Veterinary Journal 2018.
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