Bichon Frise, pronounced as Bee-shon Free-zay, is a small, sturdy and cute dog breed. The Bichon is a soft, little white dog that loves human company. It has an independent spirit, is intelligent, affectionate, bold and lively. This charming, gentle dog has a self-assured, happy temperament that is easy to live with, which is why these bright little dogs are so easy to train. This breed is naturally sociable and happiest when they are part of a family that can take them anywhere. This sociable trait also means that they are fine in the company of other dogs and pets. They are also excellent with children.

But aside from their very sociable nature, you can even train these little guys to be watchdogs and to perform certain tricks because they are very competitive and obedient. Like a lot of smaller breeds, the Bichon may be difficult to housebreak. The Bichon Frise needs rules to follow, and limits to activities that they are allowed and are not allowed doing. He also needs a daily pack walk. But do not allow this little dog to develop a Small Dog Syndrome, where the dog feels he is pack leader to humans. This can cause varying degrees of a wide variety of behaviour problems, including, but not limited to, obsessive barking, guarding, separation anxiety, snapping, and even biting. These are not Bichon traits, but rather behaviours brought about by how the dog is treated. If you let your dog see you as his pack leader by being self-assured, consistently calm, and assertive towards the dog during his daily pack walks, the Bichon will be a very stable minded and trustworthy dog. Moreover, the Bichon Frise can live in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. He is fairly active indoors and will do fine without a yard.

Finally, this breed also needs to be groomed frequently and bathed every month. Professional grooming is recommended every four weeks. Trim around the eyes and ears with a blunt pair of scissors and clean the eyes extensively to prevent staining.

Photo lifted from Wikipedia.org.