Bichon Frise dog breed

Some Bichon Frises are picky eaters, so it’s best to stick to food they like, as they might turn their noses up otherwise. Changing dog food can also upset their tummies, especially if it’s done quickly. Make sure the food you choose contains the nutrients needed for your dog. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

It's better to feed Bichon Frise puppies smaller meals more often, rather than one meal a day. Feed a puppy three to four times a day and as they get older move to twice a day. You’ll find guidelines on how much you should feed your Bichon Frise on the back of the food packaging.

The Bichon Frise coat is perfect for fancy haircuts, but unfortunately those tight curls are prone to matting. You’ll need to brush your dog two to three times a week to keep their coat knot-free and healthy. 

The Bichon Frise coat is thick and dense, so it will need washing every one to two weeks. Find a groomer your pooch is comfortable with and book them in for regular haircuts to keep their coat clean and healthy. Some people like the circular facial cut, but it’s up to you what style you want to go for.

Bichon dogs aren’t big walkers, so 30 minutes to an hour of daily exercise is enough. They’re happy to accompany their owners on a stroll, and they love to play and socialise with other dogs. Teaching your dog tricks is a great way to exercise them and keep them entertained. To them, it’ll feel like they’re playing a game. It’s easier to train puppies, but even an old dog can learn new tricks.

Bichon Frises are intelligent and want to please their owner, making them easy to train. But they can be stubborn and difficult when it comes to house training. You’ll need to be patient and dedicated, especially when toilet training a puppy.

Dogs naturally prefer to do their business on soft surfaces outside, like grass or soil. Take them out for toilet breaks regularly when they’re puppies, so they’re less likely to have accidents in the house. 

Luxating patella is an unstable kneecap that jumps out of its groove during movement. Some dogs are born with a shallow groove or a ligament that attaches to the wrong place. These dogs will develop lameness before they are a year old. It can also happen after an injury to the knee when the soft tissues are damaged.

Affected dogs will hop and have difficulty jumping. If left untreated it will lead to arthritis, causing permanent pain and lameness. Surgery is needed to give the dog a normal, active life. A deeper groove can be cut, and ligaments can be repositioned to hold the kneecap in place. Surgery is generally straight forward and usually has a good outcome.

This is an uncommon condition that affects toy dog breeds. The cause is unknown, but it’s an inherited condition. The problem develops due to a disrupted blood supply to the ball of the thigh bone. This results in the bone dying and collapsing, leading to osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

It can affect dogs as young as five months old. Hindlimb lameness is a sign of the condition, but x-rays are needed to confirm the diagnosis. Your dog will show signs of irritability when touched because they will be in pain.

Changes are irreversible and it’ll continue to get worse. Pain killers can be given to reduce the pain, but surgery or total hip replacement will be needed. This is expensive and has a long recovery time. Your dog will need rehabilitation therapy to strengthen the affected joints.

Periodontal disease is a dental infection that causes inflammation of the gums. It occurs when food and bacteria collect along the gum causing plaque. If this plaque is left it turns to tartar. This condition is common in older dogs.

You’ll know if your dog has periodontal disease as you’ll see a build-up of brown/yellow tartar on your dog’s teeth. They’ll also have red gums and may be unwilling to eat as it can cause discomfort. Your dog will need dental treatment to remove the tartar and any damaged teeth.

This progressive disease can be prevented by brushing your dog’s teeth daily to remove the plaque before it becomes tartar.