The Bichon Frise is a breed of dogs originating from Spain, more precisely from the Canarian Islands. To this day, the Bichons have split into four categories which are treated as separate breeds: the Bolognese, the Havanese, the Maltese, and the Bichon Frise or Tenerife.
These dogs were originally used as sailing and herding dogs. Therefore they developed an affinity for water and became a faithful companion of people.
Bichon Frise is a breed of gentle, sensitive, curious, affectionate, and playful little dogs who get along well with children and other dogs. Bichons are very intelligent and obedient and therefore easily trainable. They are considered to be a hypoallergenic breed.
The average lifetime expectancy of Bichon Frise is 12 to 15 years.
Do Bichon Frise Have Health Problems?
Bichon Frises are generally healthy dogs, but like all other breeds, they are prone to certain health problems.
The health issues reported in Bichon Frise over the years are the following:
- Skin problems: demodectic mange, skin allergies
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes, cruciate ligament disease
- Eye problems: hereditary cataract
- Ear problems: ear infection, ear mites
- Respiratory problems: reverse sneezing
- Bleeding disorders: autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- Urinary problems: bladder and kidney stones, urinary infections
- Digestive disorders: gastritis, colitis
- Liver disorders: portosystemic shunt (PSS)
- Hyperadrenocorticism
- Diabetes
- Seizures
- Obesity
- Dental disease
- Vaccine sensitivity
Please note that the list is not ranked according to any special criteria so it doesn’t necessarily mean that the health problems from the top of the list occur more often than those from the bottom. Also, it doesn’t mean that every Bichon Frise will develop the health problems listed above, but their breed has a history of developing them.
Since Bichon Frises are prone to obesity, it is recommended to take them on regular 30 minutes daily walks. This, of course, must be accompanied by a diet adapted to their age and health status.
As for maintenance of the coat, Bichon Frise needs to be brushed a minimum of twice a week. You should bathe your pet once a month, and trim his nails regularly so that they do not overgrow and start causing problems when walking.
This breed is known to suffer from anxiety separation, so it is not advisable to leave them alone at home.
If you want to get a healthy Bichon Frise puppy, do so from a trusted breeder who has conducted hip and patella evaluation tests, as well as ophthalmic evaluation tests.