Bichon Frise Grooming Information

The bichon frise is a small, frisky cousin of the water spaniel. He has a snow-white double coat that requires grooming in order to keep him looking his best. The American Kennel Club inducted this personality-filled dog into its registry in 1972, where it has remained a favorite in the non-sporting class for many years. Because the bichon has a tendency to become matted, grooming is a necessity rather than a luxury. Regular brushing, bathing and clipping are required to keep this dog in tiptop shape.

  1. Professional Grooming

    • Having your bichon professionally groomed is highly recommended to achieve a show quality look, especially when it comes to keeping the coat trimmed. A professional groomer has extensive training and experience when it comes to making sure that your dog not only looks great, but has healthy skin and coat. Professional groomings should be spaced no more than five weeks apart with a commitment from you to maintain a regular brushing routine.

    Brushing

    • Spritz your dog thoroughly with de-matting spray. This spray is comparable to the leave-in conditioner humans use. The idea is to cover the entire dog with the solution; however, it is best to refrain from soaking him in it. Most bichon owners find that brushing at least twice a week helps prevent the undercoat from matting. A slicker brush is helpful for pulling the dense undercoat out from under the top layer of hair, and a comb is helpful to detangle mats in the top layer. When brushing and combing, be extremely careful not to pull too hard and hurt the dog or he will be resistant to grooming in the future. Large mats should be cut out with clippers.

    Bathing

    • While it's true that giving your dog too many baths can dry out his skin, not giving him enough will allow his coat to become dirty and unmanageable. Wash your bichon in a whitening shampoo and follow up with a conditioning rinse to prevent tangling. Wet bichons are extremely prone to matting. You should wash your dog at least once per month, before clipping. Take care to dry your bichon thoroughly with a towel and a blow dryer with a low heat setting to avoid scalding him. Brushing your dog while drying will help prevent matting.

    Clipping

    • Clip your bichon's coat short. While it's a shame to have to cut your dog's beautiful coat short, having a grown-out bichon is impractical. Invest in a good quality pair of electric clippers and a few extra blades so you always have a sharp one. Ablade will give you a 1" coat while a #4 will clip your dog closer to the body. When clipping, gently and slowly run the clippers over the dog's body and allow the clippers to cut the hair as you move. Do not pull the clippers through the hair as this will cause pain for the dog. Periodically take a break and let the clipper blade cool to keep from burning him. Using blade lubricant will also help. You should clip your dog's coat every three to five weeks.

    Considerations

    • Bichons' grooming requirements are moderate. Before deciding that a bichon frise is the right breed for you, make sure that you can commit to the responsibility. It is best to keep your bichon on a grooming schedule so you are less likely to forget.