How to Give a Bichon Frise Dog a Haircut

The bichon frise, meaning "curly lap dog" in French, is a small, sturdy dog with fluffy white hair. They are similar to the Maltese, but are generally larger. Although they are a nonshedding breed, they need daily grooming and the occasional haircut. Professional groomers are trained to do this, but you can give your bichon frise a haircut yourself. Let's get ready to watch the fur fly!

Things You'll Need

  • Electric dog clippers
  • Straight scissors
  • Curved scissors
  • Brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Trim the dog with the electric clippers, starting around the genitals. Do this area first while the clipper blades are still cool. Do not use the electric trimmer on the tail.

    • 2

      Raise the dog up on its hind legs and trim the belly with the clippers. Work your way up to the second set of nipples. Move hair out of the way so that you can always see exactly where you are trimming.

    • 3

      Clip the hair on the rest of the body using straight scissors. Leave slightly more hair on the chest area. Try to cut the hair on the body to maintain a rounded, even appearance.

    • 4

      Brush the hair on the head forward. Use the curved scissors to cut horizontally, following the contour of the skull. Then even out the hair around the head and face, creating a "helmet" look. The hair on the head should match the length of the hair on the chin to keep the "round" appearance.

    • 5

      Cut the hair on top of the nose with the straight scissors, and continue up to the apex of the eyes. Use the straight scissors to cut the tail hair and brush it well.